Taylor Hicks + American Idol...an unlikely pair that works

I have never watched American Idol on a regular basis before. Sure, I had caught an episode here and there. I knew who the contestants were and the winners, but I didn't pay all that much attention. I never really had anything against it, but it just wasn't my style of music. I like 60's rock and R&B mostly, so I always feel a little out of touch with current music, and my friends since I'm 32 and most of my friends are still getting into new music.

This year something new, and I think exciting, happened. 28 (at the time) year old Taylor Hicks auditioned for American Idol in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas audition show was the second episode of American Idol I had tuned in for, partly because there was already a buzz forming for Taylor. The second he walked into the audition studio I knew something different was happening for American Idol.

He sang a Sam Cooke song. The judges seemed to be taken a little off guard and asked for a little more. He then launched in to Ray Charles' Swanee River Rock. It sounded unlike anything anyone else had done. Though Simon Cowell had some reservations (Taylor's gray hair makes him look a little older than 28 and his musical selections not exactly hip) about Taylor's chances of being successfull on a show like American Idol, the other 2 judges passed him through, and I knew I would keep watching American Idol.

Now Taylor Hicks is in the top 24 and has survived the first week of cuts. I read on another blog that someone thought Taylor was too good for American Idol, and I can see what he means, though I'm glad he's there. I find myself wondering what prompted Taylor to audition. He doesn't seem like the type, because I've been told serious musicians aren't supposed to like American Idol. But Taylor is a serious and talented musician, and after his stellar performance of Levon, last week he yelled out "I love American Idol" while talking to Ryan Seacrest.

Maybe American Idol is the place for Taylor Hicks, so he can get the exposure he so deserves, and maybe he can raise the bar a little for American Idol as well.

I'm pulling for Taylor to go all the way on the show (I even voted, something I thought I would never do). Though I'm looking forward to Taylor playing at a venue near me, I'm in no hurry for him to leave the show. If you'd like to hear more of Taylor click here.

Arrested Development closer to Showtime

Some blog is reporting that a "lead castmember" confirmed to them that Showtime has picked up Arrested Development for 12 episodes. The blogger won't give the actor's name, and there is nothing else to substantiate the news.

However, E! Online's Kristin has already researched the situations and has this to say:

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Posted By:
kristin
Created in:
Forum: Watch with Kristin
Posted:
Feb 22, 2006 4:22 PM

Hey all --I, too, have seen the report on betterthanfudge.com that Arrested has been picked up for 12 episodes.
My source (*Very reliable*) says:

"No deal yet. It's closer, but not done. The chances are now 50/50."

Yee!!!So good news -- it looks like Arrested could be saved!

Go Bluths!

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Good news? Maybe!

I think it all hinges on what Showtime wants to do with the show. I don't anything will happen with it if any cast member are cut or there are significant changes to the show. This is just my own opinion, about the future of the show.

What will they do with all that airtime?

As I mentioned yesterday CBS and Warner Bros. have formed a new network called The CW, which is supposed to launch this fall.

They will take shows from UPN and the WB to form the CW lineup on stations that used to be the WB. UPN will disappear completely, and since UPN has its own channel that leaves a lot of empty airspace to fill.

Fox network owns many of the UPN stations in the major market so it will be a major player in determining what fills that airtime.

Could that mean the creation of a 6th network?

Could there still be some hope for Arrested Development? - ok this part of it is complete speculation and wishful thinking on my part, but who knows what could happen.

Remember when I was talking about Firefly...

Not long ago I posted about a possible resurrection for Firefly. Of course after some research I found out that possibility was less plausible than Fox putting the series back on the air (which will never happen).

So I was feeling kind of stupid for even posting that possibilty in the first place (though I did say the whole independent television thing seemed unlikely), when today I come across some new info.

Has everyone heard that UPN and the WB networks are merging and forming a new network called The CW? If you're wondering the "C" in CW stands for CBS .

Apparently The CW maybe interested in doing something with Firefly, it could be a made for TV movie (the least desireable choice), a mini-series or possibly a new series.

So with all the WB networks becoming the CW, and UPN disappearing what will become of all that empty UPN airtime?

Tune in tomorrow for some speculation on that...

Saturday Night Live???

I know pre-taped segments have always been a part of SNL, but I think a little goes a long way in the case of the only "live" show on television. There have always been the commericial parodies, Robert Smigel's TV Funhouse, and the occaisional short film. Saturday's show with host Steve Martin, had a pre-taped cold open, a commercial and two SNL digital shorts.

It's the digital shorts that I have a problem with, mostly because the cold open was probably the funniest part of the show. Ever since "Lazy Sunday" has become everyone's favorite thing it seems Andy Samberg and the digital shorts crew are getting some automatic airtime.

I personally didn't get a lot out of Lazy Sunday, but I can see why people like and it was clever.

The Young Chuck Norris from the last episode, I didn't like, but it seems I'm in the minority on that one too.

The first one to air last Saturday was perplexing to me because it did not need to be pre-taped. Steve Martin and Will Forte play business men who meet and then hold a conversation with their lips only centimeters apart, as if they are going to kiss. Whatever.

The second one was called "The Tangent." It featured Fred Armisen playing a guy, who basically gets asked a simple question but goes off on the longest tangent of all time. While he conintues to talk to he gets cast in a movie, makes the talk show rounds, becomes a minor celebrity and then is immediately forgotton when the public moves on. This one was not too bad, but I thought it was out of place on SNL. Scarlett Johansson makes an appearance so maybe it was left over from her episode.

Other thoughts on this episode....

Very dissapointing. Even Steve Martin couldn't save this episode. I don't know what happened, but the writing on this show has gone downhill in my opinion. A pretty good cold open (though it was pre-taped), that had cameos from Kelly Ripa (an unusual choice, but I guess it worked) and Alec Baldwin.

Maya Rudolph returned to the show after her maternity leave. She joined Martin on stage for his monologue, but the bit was short and the joke wasted - they don't seem to have very good timing on SNL anymore. Good jokes are cut short before they realize their full comic potential and lame jokes are stretched beyond comprehension.

I liked Prince's first musical performance, he always demonstrates his awesome guitar abilities when he plays live. The second performance was given to his newest protoge' Tamar (?), and wasn't all that great.

Why, why why -- didn't Prince make an appearance the Fred Armisen's "The Prince Show"?????

I was really hoping he would, I thought they could have done something funny with that.