Tera Simons

Do you remember during season 4 of The Bachelor when Brad Womack rejected 29 year old DeAnna Pappas.  Well, she finally is a Bachelorette no more!  She walked down the aisle on Saturday to marry her fiance’ Stephen Stagiano, 27 and the twin brother to fellow reality star Michael Stagliano.  Do you remember the groom’s brother Michael?  Like DeAnna, he is a fellow rejectee of The Bachelorette/ Bachelor/ Bachelor Pad programing system.  He appeared on The Bachelor Pad with his then girlfriend Holly Durst only to have her trade him in for a new guy.  The season of Bachelor Pad ended with Michael being blindsided by Durst’s engagement to a fellow contestant.  

The Bachelorette/Bachelor/Bachelor Pad or triple B programing is a breeding ground for 

matrimony and heartbreak.  Would you go on a reality show to find love?

Tera Simons

The Sing Off never seems to disappoint me.  They deliver some really great music from energetic musicians every season.  This season the stage is seeing lots of talent and the groups are impressing the judges and audience.  

First up was The Dartmouth Aires a group founded back in 1946 from the University of Dartmouth.  The came on stage with the best combination of colors, style and sound ,functioning like a unit of very close friends.  The lead singer lead the group through a great rendition of “Higher Ground” by Stevie Wonder.  Shawn Stockman said It was a great rendition with a great front man.  Sara Bareilles thought the marriage of physicality and breath control was spot on.  The group was spot on and will move on in the competition.

Pentaonix from Arlington, Texas sang Katie Perry’s “E.T.” decked out in black and pink.  Sara told them that they each had a moment to shine on stage which they did in style.  She saw the dimension in them all.  They were given the go ahead to continue for another week.

Messiah’s Men are a group from Minnesota that are all about gospel and afrocentric soul music.  They are comprised of refugees from Liberia’s civil war.  They started singing to create a center for joy in the mist of their struggle.  One of the “Men” said “Singing is like setting a caged bird free.”  They made us feel that feeling of freedom as they sang “People Get Ready.”  Ben Folds told them they had a big sound that was interesting with a refreshing groove.  Shawn praised their storytelling voices and Sara reassured them that we all felt their emotional connection.  Unfortunately, they won’t be moving on.

Sonos is a group that likes to take a song and turn it on it’s ear.  They sang “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak and Shawn thought it was an ambitious song but “overall pretty good.”  Sara loved the arrangement saying it was sexy with kick ass beat boxing.
Ben thought they were dead on but asked them to come out a little more confident next time.  There will be a next time for them.

The Collective is a group comprised of solo singers out of Nashville Tennessee.  They decided to collect their efforts in one group which is working out very well for them.  The judges were impressed.  Ben liked their solid sound and that Ruby Amanfu owned the lead.  Sara said their blend was solid gold and Shawn though their voices were thick and rich.
They got the OK to move ahead.

Soul’d Out is a high school group from Wilsonville, Oregon and they sang “Let The Sun Shine In” from the Broadway classic “Hair.”  Shawn told them they held their own and that they captured the feel and essence of the song.  Sara declared they showed a lot of maturity and Ben thought the first half was much better than the second half.  He said they didn’t drive it home and it blew up in the end.  Not good news for these kids.

North Shore hails from Boston Mass. and this group has lots of group experience (30 years) singing back up for the Temptations and Frankie Valle and on the street corners of Boston. The performed “Runaround Sue” with infectious enthusiasm.  Sara told them she was in love with them all and Ben thought they were relaxed and hung on to the groove all the way through.  They were given a pass to the next round.

The Deltones are from the University of Delaware.  They chose “Feels Like Home” by Randy Newman.  Sara thought the arrangement was beautiful and Ben said they had a slow build that was very artful.  Shawn liked their sincerity and praised the leads beautiful voice.  In the end he said “You (the group) have lots of potential” They will come back for another go around.

The two exiting group sang their swan songs with style and flare.  Messiah’s Men sang “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” and Soul’d Out sang “Mama I’m Coming Home” as their farewell.

Do you agree with the eliminations?

Tera Simons

ABC’s Pan AM debut took us on a ride through the “friendly skies” giving us a look at what Pan Am symbolized from 1920 to 1991.  It was a golden age of luxurious air travel when the ladies of the sky were trained to deliver babies as well as fold cocktail napkins for the US’s first international carrier.  They globe trotted in fitted pencil skirts designed by Beverly Hills couturier Don Loper.   The women that took flight for Pan Am had both beauty and brains.  

The show, full of drama and intrigue, is based in New York in 1963.  In this episode there was romance and espionage plus an historical depiction of the transport of prisoners from Cuba during the Bay of Pigs.  The main plot is set on the maiden voyage of the Clipper Majestic from New York to London.  Before the flight the stewardesses were weighed and checked to make sure they met the strict Pan Am standards.  Flying without wearing a girdle could get you grounded!

Producers are trying to hone in on the success of AMC’s drama, Mad Men, but Pan Am shows a different side of the decade.  A more optimistic side full of glitz and glamor and globe trotting.  Do you think Pan Am will take flight?

Tera Simons

Fox’s X Factor’s season opening clip was full of computer generated cosmic stirrings and outer space explosions.  Then cameras showed 20,000 hopefuls crowding together for LA’s auditions.  Each person out seeking a chance to share their music and get at least three out of four “yeses” from the judges in order to move on to what they call X Factor Boot Camp.  Simon Cowell selected judges that work well together avoiding the possibility of one emerging as the dominate force like we saw on American Idol.  We watched L.A.Reid challenge Simon Cowell several times and the three women judges on the panel, Nichole Scherzinger, Paula Abdul and Cheryl Cole, shared their  relevant critiques and expertise. 

By the time the first contestant 13 year old Rachel Crow hit the stage there was a frenzy of energy that remained through out the premiere.  This 8th grader didn’t disappoint us when she nailed “Mercy” by Duffy.  LA thought she was funky and sassy and Simon was happy they took the age limit down to 12 years. When asked what she would do with the money she said she wanted her own bathroom!

Single mother Stacey Francis got everyone up on their feet with her rendition of “Natural Woman.” LA told her that everything he does musically depends on him having his spirit stirred and the hair on his arms raised up.  Then he declared she did both.  She got her “yeses” for boot camp.

20 year old Marcus Canty told us that his mother gave him a 2 year window to pursue his music career and the 2 years are almost up.  She is going to make him get a degree after the X Factor if he isn’t successful tonight.  But he struck the jackpot singing Stevie Wonders “I Wish”.  LA told him “I’ve worked with Bobby Brown in the 80’s and I’ve been looking for a Bobby Brown ever since.”  Abdul thought he was fresh and relevant.  Simon praised him with “You remind me of Usher.”  Looks like college will not be needed after all.

Then the “grand finale’” singer Chris Rene, 28 years old, took the stage with his original song “Young Homey” - he wowed everyone.  Simon said “My favorite feeling is when I meet a star for the first time.  There’s something about you.  Maybe you need the show and maybe we need you.”  He was referring to the fact that Chris is 70 days out of rehab and still clean.  It was an inspirational moment and full of the X Factor.  

These four singers are what I consider the best of the bunch.  Maybe you agree with me or maybe there is another you think is better.  It is really too early on in the show to know for sure, but out of these four which audition did you like the best?

Tera Simons

Ella Nolan and Kirk Dewindt may be the most boring couple out of the four left on The Bachelor Pad but they are my favorite.  We all know that boring doesn't make for good TV and since I believe that most of the reality in reality TV is fabricated by producers, I'm thinking Ella and Kirk will be riding home in a limo next.  The reason I like them is that they make a strong and pretty normal type couple.  Whereas, the other three are really a mixed bag.  Kasey Kahl  and Vienna Girardi are weird and it's spooky how they can manipulate a crowd.  They aren't even good at it but they have been successful and that's what's so strange.  It's got to be the producers directing things again.  Holly Durst and Michael Stagliano would be a likable couple if she wasn't so resentful and angry with him.  She's mad at him for breaking up with her in the past and now he's got to pay.  He looks as if his heart can't break anymore without him falling completely apart.  Holly may be trying to see how mean she can be before he hits the floor.  Graham Bunn and Michele Money seem like they are getting along really well but I have never liked Michele.  She was really psycho on The Bachelor, but maybe that was the result of producers editing.  She hasn't punched herself in the eye so far this season.  If she did I wonder what Graham would think?

Tera Simons

Big Brother is heading towards the final five and it’s interesting to see which six house guests we are left with in this competition for half a million dollars.  Watching tonight’s episode I realize that there are three levels of players among the BB remnant.  At ground zero is Adam Poch, and Jordan Lloyd, and one tier up from the bottom is Porsche Briggs and Kalia Booker.  In my opinion, my two least favorite players might have played the two strongest games.  That would be Shelly Moore and Rachel Reilly. Ones strength is the the other ones weakness, but Shelly and Rachel are totally different players with one thing in common - they are difficult to watch. 

Rachel has got an annoying laugh and she is obsessed with her fiance-fiance-fiance! (Who is also very annoying, but no longer in the game.)  She is overly dramatic - who can forget her crying in the bushes after loosing a competition.  Which reminds me of her strength - she is competitive and athletic. In my opinion, she is the best athlete left in the house.  Jordan pointed out Rachel’s biggest flaw  when she said “Rachel has to keep her mouth shut.  Rachel’s the worst at talking to people.”   Rachel is not a social player in this very social game.

Shelly is a social player in the sense that she understands people and uses that insight to manipulate them.  She has flipped sides more than any player I have ever watched, on any season of BB, by lying, back stabbing and playing off other house guest weaknesses and strengths.  Tonight she went to Jordan and Rachel trying to finagle a vote in order to stay in the game.  We watched as she talked herself off a cliff and made this very convincing plea, “ I’m offering you guys a chance to get further in the game.  I’m offering you the money.  If we are in the HOH and it comes down to you and you against me I will quit and you have my word on it.”  Later to cameras she said “ If they take me to the final 3 there is no way I’m handing them the money.”  We will see if her lying will keep her butt safe.   The thing I can't stand about Shelly besides her shady game is the fact that she says she is a moral player.  Finally, unlike Rachel her greatest weakness is her lack of athleticism.   

Two strong players Rachel Reilly and Shelly Moore, which one do you dislike the most?

Tera Simons

Bachelor Pad had it’s seasonal kissing contest and we were able to collect some pretty good quotes surrounding the event along with some really whinny complaints.

Ella Nolan:  “Number 5 had one of those baby making kisses.”

Holly Durst:  “Erica has those giant lips!”

Michael Stagliano:  “So like Blake Julian laid it on her (Holly) - tongue in there, head movements, some swag, the motion of the ocean - you know what I mean.”

Melissa Schreiber:  “When Blake was taking Holly on the date I felt pretty disgusted.  There was a collective nausea going on in the room.  Everyone knows he’s a snake.  Everyone knows he’s a pig and Holly plays this innocent.... Don’t let the door hit you on the ass on the way out.”

Erica Rose:  “Kasey Kahl and Vienna Girardi are just sitting in there with their smug ugly little expressions on their ugly little faces.”

Tera Simons

Best quote of the night:

Rachel Reilly:  (She is listening to the fight between Shelly Moore and Jeff Schroeder) “I just don’t want to deal with all this fighting!”  (This is quite a quote from the drama queen of The Big Brother House.)

Porsche Briggs:  “Thank you dad for taking me to the ball pit as a kid because it definitely helped me today.” (After winning POV)

Rachel Reilly 2:  As Rachel ushers Jordan Lloyd away from her fight with Shelly she says  “Come on Jordan, this isn’t you.”  (We all know she was thinking - this isn’t you - it’s me!)

Kalia Booker:  “Porsche in the game of poker when you have a full house you don’t trade in your cards.”  

Porsche Briggs 2:  “Opening Pandora’s Box was the worst game move I’ve made so far.  Now when I put up Rachel and Jordan and one of them win it (the POV) they will both be safe.  I’d have Adam and Shelly that’s one newbie out and 2 vets in. Oh no!”

Tera Simons

Day 55 in The Big Brother house became double eviction night and two of the strongest players in the game packed their bags for the jury house.  First one out the front door was Daniele Donato followed by Jeff Schroeder.  Julie Chen said that Jeff has had his eye on Daniele as a power player all season. Unfortunately, they will have plenty of time to eye each other at the jury house.  It will be a chilly reunion for the two enemies as they relocate.  I bet Brendon Villegas will be shocked to see these two strong players walk through the front door.  

Some would argue that they both deserve to be in the final three because of their superior game play.  Daniele stood out because she was willing to make some big game moves.  We could count on her to shake things up!  Jeff seemed very arrogant at times - like he was in charge of everyone and everything (which he was up to 5 minutes before the eviction).  But he was a very strong player that took on the lead role in the house and for that he deserves respect.  

Daniele Donato or Jeff Schroeder - which eviction are you most happy about?

Tera Simons

In a lot of ways I think Kalia Booker was right when she said “The worst week ever in the Big Brother house has come to a screeching halt in the worst way ever.”  Jeff Schroeder is left gloating over his Veto win again.  By gloating I seriously mean what the definition says: He’s dwelling on his own success and misfortune of another with malignant pleasure.  He’s expressing great pleasure and self satisfaction.  It’s a little hard to watch and I’m getting tired of listening to him call himself “Big Jeff”.  Here’s his latest “gloat”:  “Once again I put my money where my mouth is and I won the veto.  Now all the power in the house is mine.”  

He has wanted to crush Daniele Donato for a long time.  So I wasn’t surprised when he took Porsche Briggs off the block and back doored Daniele.  Daniele’s comment as she walked from the couch to the eviction chair was “big surprise.”  Obviously, she was expecting the double cross, but she looked disgusted with him.  I hope she gets to stay to retaliate because as long as Daniele is in the house there is a chance Jeff can be held back.  Unfortunately, this looks like the end of the road for her and the last phase of the “Big Jeff” regime.  

For the first time ever, even Jordan Lloyd looked unhappy with Jeff.  She has her own issues with him and Zingbot seemed to stir them up a bit tonight with a zing about Jeff not proposing.   She said to the cameras “Jeff doesn’t feel any pressure to get married.”  I feel a little sorry for her but maybe he isn’t such a great catch anyway.  After all, Jordan is the best thing about Jeff.

It’s too bad Jeff keeps winning the competitions because I’d rather he was the one on the block this week.  Do you want Daniele Donato to be sent home?

Tera Simons