The O.C. Series Finale: Saying goodbye to The O.C.

by Jennifer Squires Biller

Four days of wallowing in self-pity should be ample time to process the fact that The O.C. is done.

But, this is me, and it’s The O.C., a show I loved and pimped to readers so often in the last four years in my newspaper column that I was accused of being on Josh Schwartz’s payroll.

But, I can’t put off saying goodbye any longer. So here goes…

The O.C. finale, much like season four, did not disappoint. It was an hour that gave us a glimpse of what the future holds for the Cohens. We watched Ryan head to Berkeley and become an architect. We saw Julie Cooper pull a Kelly Taylor and choose herself, instead of marrying Bullit or Frank, and then receive a college degree. We saw Sandy and Kirsten raise their daughter, Sophie, and Sandy leave law to become a professor. And the quintessential couple of The O.C., Seth and Summer, made it down the aisle to embark on happily ever after. All in all, a happy ending for the folks of The O.C.

Let’s take time to give thanks for this heartfelt drama that gave us the new holiday Chrismakkuh and made wife-beater tank tops cool again. I’ll miss Seth, his pop-cultural references, and his hatred of water polo players. I’ll miss Sandy and his bagel slicer. I’ll miss monosyllabic Ryan and his favorite word, “Hey.” I’ll miss Julie Cooper and her schemes and Taylor Townsend and her interminable enthusiasm. And I’ll miss that gorgeous infinity pool at the Cohen mansion. I’ll miss trips to TJ, the Nana, Captain Oats, Pancakes, and Summer’s obsession with The Valley. And I’ll miss singing ''Cal-if-orn-yaaaaaaaaahhhhhh,” during the show’s opening credits on Thursday nights. But most of all, I’ll miss the well-written family drama that The O.C. gave us again in season four.

The show did hit some bumps during its tenure. At one point, it became The-Marissa-Cooper-hour, putting the character in peril on a weekly basis, despite the fact that most of the audience didn’t care. (Oh, and then there was that lesbian fling and the ridiculous plots with Oliver/Volchek, which I hate to mention, but I don’t want to be accused of seeing the show through rose-colored glasses.)

Yes, it was a bumpy ride at times, and that’s even more reason the show should be heaped with praise at its conclusion. The O.C. rebounded to its original glory in its final season. They killed Marissa and all the horrific angst that went along with her. The show was suddenly fun again, and thankfully, we were in on the joke. The addition of Bullit and Taylor Townsend gave us a reason to smile again. (Bullit could read the phone book, and, I swear, his delivery would make me cackle.) And Taylor made Ryan smile, something seldom seen in Orange County.

The flashbacks in the finale made me realize just how far the show had come, most notably, how far Ryan had come. (And how buff Benjamin McKenzie had gotten in the past two seasons.) From a troubled, abused teen in a hoodie, to a well-rounded young man, who finally felt love, Ryan’s journey was the story that tugged our hearts. I do think it would’ve been funny if someone had uttered, “Welcome to Berkeley” (minus the “bitch” part) just to show Ryan’s complete evolution. But, I won’t quibble. The O.C. didn’t limp across the finish line. It sprinted at record pace. Thank you Mr. Schwartz and the cast and crew. You will be missed.

I leave you with three of my favorite quotes from the show. Also, if you’d like to leave some comments for the cast or creator, I’ll be sure to pass them on.

“They don’t even have a P.F. Changs.”
---Summer, on why Ryan’s hometown of Chino is just “Eww”

“A few grunts. The occasional shrug.”
--- Sandy, predicting how much chitchat Ryan will participate in at dinner

“Men to me are what chardonnay is to you: One sip, and I’m upside down on a chandelier.”
---Julie, telling alcoholic Kirsten why she won’t be dating anymore.

The Week in Review: The Office, Veronica Mars, Boston Legal, Las Vegas, One Tree Hill, Friday Night Lights, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

The Office
Hell hath no fury like Roy scorned. When Pam told Roy that she had kissed Jim, I got a little scared when Roy screamed, “I’m gonna kill Jim Halpert!” Jim, you can hide at my house, if you like. J (Relax, Tubers, I’m just being polite, you know.) Meanwhile, don’t send hate mail, but I’m enjoying Karen and Jim. There. I said it. Her prank on him at the party was hilarious. They have fun together. Sure, she isn’t Pam, but Jim deserves a little happiness, while new, confident Pam is finding herself. As for Dwight, he’s obviously in the wrong profession. If I ever need a home inspection, I’m calling that dude.

Veronica Mars
They slaughtered Lamb. The sheriff was bashed in the head by a baseball bat. I rarely question the TV god that is Rob Thomas, but this move left me with my very own pain in the head. Why kill Lamb and not have it be a murder mystery Veronica and Keith could solve? I will say this. If Lamb had to go, his death was poetic for the character. He shot his own reflection in the mirror (and we all know how narcistic Lamb was) before getting clubbed with the bat. It was beautiful foreshadowing. But poor Sachs. The guy looked positively traumatized, sort of like me and the rest of the audience, when we realized the sheriff was dead. Meanwhile, now that Lamb is gone, maybe Wallace can get more than one line of dialogue a show. And perhaps the Dean O’Dell murder will finally be solved. Yes, I liked the dean, and I’m hoping that his Mrs. was the culprit. As for Logan, we found out that the guy knows the Kama Sutra by heart. Talk about a shocker.

Boston Legal
Denny Crane at Temple. Enough said. Watching Denny trying to fit in with his Jewish girlfriend and her religious customs had me laughing so hard I was crying. Is there any other character on TV who could get away with the shenanigans that Crane pulls, with blatant disregard for all that is politically correct? The answer is no, and that’s why we love him. How he’ll get out of the impending lawsuit from the rabbi who got hit in the eye with his spitball is another story. I don’t think Alan Shore can save Denny this time. And speaking of Alan, his cruel tirade against “Hands” made me want Alan to be the next target on Denny’s spitball list.

Las Vegas
Sam has better watch her back. Fate has not been kind to the previous two owners of the Montecito. Freak accidents tend to occur to the unfortunate owners. Monica was blown off the roof, and Casey was killed by a giant squid. If this crazy trend continues, I could see Sam going out choking on a hot dog, during one of her famous hot-dog-eating contests. I’m sad that they killed Casey. He deserved better than to buy it in some ridiculous accident. Meanwhile, Mary’s got a gun. I think we all know where this is headed. Danny, talk some sense in to the girl, because there is no way she’ll make it in the hoosegow. Last time I checked, they don’t have prison-orange uniforms with plunging necklines and spaghetti straps.

One Tree Hill
The prom episode ended with a heart-stopping surprise. When Peyton’s handsome blonde date turned around, it wasn’t Lucas. It was that creepy, stalker guy. Up until then, I wanted to punch Peyton myself. The girl had no right to be ticked at Brooke, because to quote Ross Gellar, Nathan and Peyton “were on a break.” (Yeah, I’m Team Brooke, if you can’t tell.) Peyton had no right to be upset considering that she went after Lucas, while he was still dating Brooke. One Tree Hill had the best line of any show on TV this week. The Clean Teen club slogan that was mentioned had me rolling: “We break hearts, not hymens.” Priceless.

Friday Night Lights
Parents who dread talking to their teens about sex, I hope you caught this week’s episode of Friday Night Lights. Tami stumbled upon her daughter’s boyfriend buying condoms and immediately went into action to set her daughter straight. Watching the Taylors deal with realistic family problems is as gripping as any island mystery or plot to save the world. The Taylors walking the floor, waiting for Julie to get home from her date, seemed as stressful as Sawyer and Kate trying to escape The Others. Friday Night Lights knows how to do drama about life issues. Between Tim’s fight with his dad, Lyla’s cheating father and the Taylors dealing with Julie’s adolescence, Dylan, Texas, isn’t just a fictional town. It’s a weekly life lesson in how to tackle difficult problems.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
I enjoy this show, but recently it’s turning me off, as it’s turned into the Matt/Harriet romantic canon. To me, that’s the most boring part of the show. The problem is, Matt and Harriet have no chemistry. I want to see the writing room and Jack, Simon, Tom and the rest of the cast members. I enjoyed guest star Kari Matchett, Dr. Frosty from Invasion. She clicked with Matt. And I loved that Aaron Sorkin gave a shout-out to fans of The West Wing, by making Matchett’s character work for the law firm Gage Whitney. (That was Sam Seaborne’s firm on The West Wing.) Another Sorkin-West Wing reference left me chuckling and recalling the Ainsley Hayes episodes. On Studio 60 this week, a poster for The Pirates of Penzance was visible for several scenes. (Sam’s character on The West Wing was the recording secretary for the Princeton Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Yes, I am a complete geek, if you haven't figured it out already.) Apparently, Sorkin has serious love for Gilbert and Sullivan.

American Idol Recap: Elimination Night

by guest bloggers Becky and Bethany

At the risk of inciting your ire, we’d just like to say, “What is wrong with you people?”

The only plausible explanation for the elimination result is that at least half of the American Idol audience is under 16. It’s no wonder that Sanjaya is said to be in the top four guys. But, that doesn’t make it right. In fact, it just stinks!

We all knew that Amy and Nicole were on borrowed time. But Rudy leaving? Come on. He wasn’t the number one, number two, or even number three, but he was at least top 16. He just didn’t deserve to go the first night. He deserved another chance. OK, moving on.

Wait. Becky needs a minute to dry her tears….OK, back to regular scheduled blogging.

Paul Kim, well, we knew he wouldn’t be in the top four, but we were so sure that Sundance was going home first. Were guessing that Sundance must have a bigger fan base than Paul. Maybe he can get a job at the Shoe Carnival or for Dr. Shoals now since the, “I don’t wear shoes” thing didn’t work.

Tough luck for those four. It will be interesting to see who goes home next week. Lets hope Gina and Antonella really blow it big time. We don’t think they deserve to be there.

By the way, our “what the @$%!” moment of the week was Ryan Seacrest saying that Sanjaya Malakar was in the top four boys, topped off with the Tears for Fears group sing. What was that? Until next time…

Michael Muhney speaks about Sheriff Lamb’s death on Veronica Mars

Just moments after Sheriff Lamb got a ball bat to the head, I talked with his portrayer, actor Michael Muhney, to find out if he was truly in line for a toe tag. Here are Muhney’s comments about getting the ax, er, ball bat.

Is the sheriff really dead? (I'm not sure I want to know, if the answer is yes.)
Lamb is dead. Or at least that's what Keith said, so I'm assuming as much!

If the death is for real, how did everyone (OK, you) keep such a HUGE, SHOCKING secret?
Personally, it meant a lot to me for this to be a surprise. I'm glad nobody leaked it. There are so many leaks on so many shows and I just hate that. I was really worried that my final moments would come out weeks earlier. I'm so glad they didn't.

How long have you known that the Sheriff was headed for the dirt nap?
Six weeks now. Gah! I'm glad it's out there now. It's a relief.

Did Rob give you an explanation as to why they wanted to kill Lamb?
No. To his credit, though, I never asked, either.

If this is really the final curtain call for Lamb, can you please say something to the thousands of fans who are freaking out right now? You have a HUGE fan base, and they want to know if you have any projects lined up or where they can see you next?
This is a goodbye to Lamb, but NOT TO ME. I am still the same guy, and I'm not going anywhere. I don't consider the people who enjoy what I do as "fans" (that's the common vernacular) but rather as "friends". We're just a big group of friends who have some common interests. Actually I prefer to call anyone who's a fan a "hobbit". But not just A hobbit, rather, MY hobbit. It just has some sort of special feel for me. I know it is all semantics, but I think of them first and foremost as my hobbits.

OK, “hobbits”, I know you’re ticked and saddened. I’ve received your e-mails and your hordes of comments at my initial post. Believe me, I feel your pain. While Lamb's death was one of the biggest shockers the show ever pulled, I just don’t get why it was necessary. Keith, as a detective, is much more fun to watch, in my opinion. And if they had to kill Lamb, why not make it a huge murder mystery for Veronica to solve, a la Lily Kane? At least then, Veronica and Keith would have been invested in the character’s death.

I know you guys have had plenty to say on this matter, as my e-mail is overflowing. So, please, take time to leave a comment below for Michael to read. He’s one of the most accessible actors and nicest guys I’ve had the chance to meet in this business, and we here at Tube Talk wish him all the best in any future endeavors.

For a more in-depth interview with Muhney, check out Kristin’s blog at E!Online.

Grey’s Anatomy spin-off to star Taye Diggs

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Taye Diggs is on board to co-star in a Grey’s Anatomy spinoff with Kate Walsh (Addison Montgomery.)

Yesterday, I scolded ABC for even considering spinning off my beloved Addison into her own show. I want to see her jockeying for the chief-of-surgery position, grappling with her feelings for Derek and Mark, and bonding with Miranda at Joe’s Bar. I’m not usually a fan of a spin-off, (Hello, Joey.) Why mess with a good thing?

That said, now that Diggs is reportedly attached to the project, I’m in. My devotion for Diggs has no limits, as evidenced by the fact that I watched every single episode of Kevin Hill.

I’m still miffed that Addison will have to leave Seattle Grace, if the spin-off is actually picked up. It won’t seem right without her, and her designer stilettos, roaming the halls. But if she’ll be sharing a stethoscope with Diggs on the new show, and the writing is as good as Grey’s, I suppose I’ll have to tune in.

American Idol Recap: Ladies Night

by guest bloggers Becky and Bethany

To quote famous crooner Franki Valli, “Oh what a night!” Let’s talk Lakisha Jones. She deserves first mention. That girl took American Idol to a place that it’s never been. The woman can sing! As far as we’re concerned, she’s the leader of the pack.

Although she’s one awesome singer, Lakisha does have “some” competition. Melinda Doolittle is a sure front-runner, as well as Sabrina Sloan, Jordin Sparks, and Stephanie Edwards. These girls are in a different league than the rest. We’d bet our job as blog critics that these ladies will have record contracts soon after the show.

Unfortunately, we have a couple bad apples in the mix. Antonella Barba and Gina Glockson, both in our opinion, have egos the size of Texas, but lack the poise needed for a competition like this. (Not to mention the fact that Gina’s ego is about the size of Paula’s hair.) By the way, did we mention that her hair needs a serious extreme makeover?

Our definite pick of the ladies to leave tonight is Amy Krebs. We are torn between Alaina Alexander and Haley Scarnato, as second choice to hit the road. But really, any of the girls, other than the top five mentioned above, are fair game.

And on a side note, it’s nice that Paula can tell everyone how pretty they are. Maybe she should look into judging Miss USA or some other type of beauty pageant. Some extra money could maybe help buy her a mirror…(What’s with the hair Paula?)

We’ll be back tomorrow to let you know who didn’t sit quite well with America this week. Until then…

Tube News

Ashley DelGrosso expecting and out of Dancing With the Stars
Those of you curious as to why hottie hoofer Ashley DelGrosso isn’t signed up for this season’s Dancing With the Stars, keep reading. DelGrosso announced on Feb. 20 that she and her husband are expecting their first child, according to Wikipedia. Therefore, DelGrosso won’t be competing for the dancing trophy. DelGrosso married Mike Costa, field producer for Dancing With the Stars on Oct. 21, 2006.

Marcia Cross gives birth
Desperate Housewife Marcia Cross gave birth to twin daughters Tuesday, according to People magazine. The tiny tots were named Eden and Savannah. The twins are the first children for Cross and her stockbroker husband Tom Mahoney.

Jason Dohring interview
Jason Dohring fans, you don’t want to miss this interview at Buddy TV with the Veronica Mars star. Dohring talks about whether he and Veronica will get back together and a return to “Action Logan.”

Heard on TV
If you’re a music lover and often run to the computer to find out what song was playing during a TV show, then check out Heard on TV. The site is devoted to archiving music from some of your favorite shows. The site provides download links so you can get the latest song that played on Scrubs, or Veronica Mars, or Grey’s Anatomy. I wish this site existed during the days of Dawson’s Creek and Felicity. It would have saved me hours of Web searching.

Skating With Celebrities champs Kristy Swanson and Lloyd Eisler welcome baby
Actress Kristy Swanson gave birth to a son with Olympic figure skater Lloyd Eisler on Feb. 16, according to People. The baby is named Magnus Hart Swanson Eisler. Swanson and Eisler met during the reality comptition Skating With Celebrities, when they were paired together and won the compeition. Their relationship caused a scandal, as Eisler was married and expecting his second child with his wife at the time. Eisler and his wife split later that year and are currently divorced. Swanson and Eisler have not set a wedding date.

American Idol recap: Let’s Hear it for the Boys

by guest bloggers Becky and Bethany

Hey Idol lovers! It was all about the boys on last night’s show. And who are we to complain about a testosterone-filled hour of entertainment?

We’re finally at the stage where each contestant sings almost an entire song, and even though the judges get to throw in their two cents, we, the American public get to vote on who we want to move on to the next week.

We’re going to make this short and sweet because the show is actually on three days a week for the next couple weeks. So, we’re torturing you with daily updates.

Last night, 12 guys took the stage and tried to wow us with their singing talent. Their efforts left us asking, “Why do they choose the songs that they do?” Everyone knows that Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and George Michael are all great singers, who gave us incredible music, but holy cannoli, it would be great if more than one or two contestants sang something from the last decade!

Sundance, with his “Knights in White Satin” rendition just didn’t make the cut. As for Sanjaya Malakar, and his “Knocks me off my Feet,”… well, not so much. That song did just what he didn’t he didn’t want to do: It bored us. In fact, it bored Bethany into a deep REM sleep!

Now, let’s talk Phil Stacy. Come on, people! Put your helmets on. We predict he’ll be one of those contestants. You know the ones. The ones where we absolutely shudder at the performances, but he'll hang around just like Kevin, AKA Chicken Little, from last season.

We did get a good vibe from Blake Lewis. What a surprise! Coming into the competition, we knew he was talented because he did all that beat-boppin’ stuff. But, WOW. He has a GREAT voice. He really did an excellent version of Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know,” and we are rooting for him to go at least to the top four.

Brandon Rogers, of course, sailed through. We think he’ll “go the distance.” (That was a Michael Bolton reference for all you music freaks out there.)

Our bets for elimination are on Sundance and Sanjaya, unless their fans can save them.

Up tomorrow are the ladies. Let’s hope they can sing something a little more modern, or at least something that when it was on the charts, it wasn’t played on eight-track tapes. Until tomorrow…

Grey’s Anatomy Spinoff?

ABC is toying with the idea of a Grey’s Anatomy spin-off, featuring Kate Walsh, (Addison Montgomery (formerly Shepherd.)) The two-hour pilot would debut in May, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Longtime Tube Talk readers know that I loved Addison from the moment she stepped foot into Seattle Grace. But, I don’t want her to leave McDreamy, McSteamy and the rest of the gang. Yes, she’s seemed adrift lately. But isolating her into another show is simply unfair.

I’m sure this is ABC’s way of capitalizing on the popularity of the lovely Ms. Walsh. But, frankly, if they want to spin-off a character, how about Dr. Burke? He could leave the hospital, and I wouldn’t be reaching for the Xanax.

Dancing With the Stars cast announced

A supermodel, two familiar TV actors, several athletes, a country music star and a woman with one leg (I kid you not!) are among the cast of this spring’s Dancing With the Stars. Here’s the list of stars who will be shaking and shimmying on March 19, when the show kicks off with a 2-hour premiere on ABC.


Laila Ali
Daughter of the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, Laila Ali began her boxing career in 1999. She had several wins before retiring earlier this year. Will she be able to KO the competition on the dance floor? She’ll be dancing with Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who returns for his third season.

Billy Ray Cyrus
Although he no longer sports his trademark mullet, country music star Billy Ray Cyrus is still recognizable. He currently stars in the Disney Channel's Hannah Montana with his daughter, Miley. Cyrus is best known for his 1992 hit, Achy Breaky Heart. Cyrus may be one of the crowd favorites, as he is personable and fun. He’s also an endless source of jokes for the hosts, due to the most famous mullet in history. Cyrus’ partner is Karina Smirnoff, who returns for her second season.

Heather Mills
Most famous for her marriage/separation from former Beatle Paul McCartney, Mills is throwing her leg into the dancing competition. Despite the bad press she’s received lately due to the divorce, Mills may become an audience sentimental favorite because of her physical disadvantage. She enters the competition with a prosthetic leg, below the knee on her left leg. Mills lost part of the leg in an accident. She is currently a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations. Her partner is Jonathan Roberts, who returns for his third season

Clyde Drexler
Former NBA player Clyde Drexler had game as a shooting guard for the Houston Rockets. Drexler won an Olympic gold medal in 1992 and an NBA championship in 1995 and is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. At 6 feet 7 inches, he may be the tallest contestant to ever foxtrot across the Dancing With the Stars floor. Drexler’s partner is Elena Grinenko, who returns for her second season.


Joey Fatone
You’ll remember him from the boy band ‘N Sync and his appearance in the box office hit, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Fatone is no stranger to dance moves, and his boy band skills will come in handy in the competition. It worked for Drew Lachey. Fatone will be dancing with Kym Johnson, who returns for her second season.

Shandi Finnessey
After her reign as Miss USA 2004, Finnessey became a TV host for the Game Show Network. If she gets booted early, Tom Bergeron had better watch his back. Newcomer Brian Fortuna will be her professional dance partner.


Leeza Gibbons
She once had her own talk show, aptly titled, Leeza. The show ran from 1994-1999. Gibbons has remained active in entertaining reporter, doing appearances for Entertainment Tonight and Extra. She teams up with Tony Dovolani who returns for his third season.

Paulina Porizkova
One of the most famous supermodels in the 1980s, Porizkova is most well known for doing the cover of the Sport’s Illustrated swimsuit issue in 1984 and 1985. Oh, and there was that spread in Playboy magazine. The Czech native is paired with Alec Mazo, who returns for his second appearance.

Ian Ziering
Beverly Hills 90210 fans will never forget Ziering’s portrayal of Steve Sanders, the friendly cutie on the popular teen drama. According to Ziering’s bio, he has acted in “a variety of television and film roles” since the end of the zip-code show. He’s my sentimental favorite. Let’s hope Dylan, Brandon and Kelly come to cheer him on. Ziering is dancing with my favorite DWTS professional, two-time defending champion, Cheryl Burke, who returns for her third season.

Vincent Pastore
Vincent Pastore is best known for his role as Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on The Sopranos. He apparently also hosts a show on Sirius satellite radio. (Someone please tell me what topics Pastore covers in that show!) Pastore is a Bronx native and also starred in the mafia genre films Goodfellas and Gotti. (Um, Len, you may want to go easy on this fella, if you want to keep your kneecaps.) Pastore is dancing with Edyta Sliwinska, the only professional dancer to participate in all four seasons.

Apolo Anton Ohno
Ohno is a two-time Olympic gold medal winner in speed skating. He has earned five Olympic medals in short-track speed skating. He’s obviously a master at footwork, but will it be enough to bring home the gold in dancing? Julianne Hough teams with Ohno in her first appearance.

Veronica Mars: Sheriff Lamb Dead?

Breathe.

Just breathe.

Deep, long, penetrating breaths.

Is it working for you?

It’s not doing a damn thing for me. I’m still in complete and utter shock at tonight’s jaw-dropping shocker on Veronica Mars. They killed Sheriff Lamb. My beloved Sheriff Lamb. Veronica’s nemesis. Keith’s verbal sparring partner. Neptune’s most arrogant lawman. It’s…well…I….um….yeah…. I’m stunned. In fact, I don’t think there’s even a word for what I’m feeling.

I thought Kyle Chandler showing up on last week’s Grey’s Anatomy was the biggest shocker we’d see in TV this season. If the Lamb death is for real — and I have a sick feeling that it is — then send Prozac Tubers. And lots of it.

I’ve received your hordes of e-mails inquiring as to what’s going on. Believe me, I’m on it. I’ve gone to the source himself, Mr. Michael Muhney, to find out if the Sheriff is indeed taking the dirt nap. I’ll let you know as soon as I know something.

Invasion’s Kari Matchett to guest on tonight’s Studio 60

Invasion fans, don’t miss tonight’s episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Actress Kari Matchett, who played Mariel on the now-defunct ABC thriller Invasion, is guest starring as an attorney, who butts heads with Matt.

I know there are plenty of Invasion fans still out there, as I receive hundreds of hits on this site from you Googling the show. So, if you’ve missed Dr. Frosty, check her out on NBC at 10 p.m. EST.

Here’s the official description of tonight’s episode: “4 a.m. Miracle”:

Matt struggles with writer’s block. Plus, he must contend with a young lawyer (guest star Kari Matchett of Invasion) who’s investigating a sexual harassment claim, while Harriet continues shooting her movie. And Jordan and Danny enter a contest to see who’d make the better parent.

Grey’s Anatomy: Dylan’s back (and Denny too)

Welcome back, Kyle Chandler!

She did it. She really did it. Shonda Rhimes resurrected “hot-bomb-guy” Dylan, (Chandler) to greet Meredith in the Great Beyond. Rhimes also resurrected another familiar face: Denny Duquette (Jeffrey Dean Morgan.) Thank you, Ms. Rhimes!

I’d like to think Shonda is an avid Tube Talk reader and listened to my pathetic plea to give us one more go-around with Dylan. But, I’m not that naïve. My guess is that she loves Chandler as much as we do.

The ending scene of Sunday’s Grey’s Anatomy made me gasp out loud, when Meredith awoke in the bright light to see a smiling Dylan say, “Hey.” Oh, how I love spoiler-free TV! Brilliant. If that weren’t enough, the camera then panned to Denny, who seemed equally happy to see Meredith. Talk about a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to see how the after life has been treating the boys. I’m especially pleased that Dylan is back in one piece, after he was eviscerated all over the walls of Seattle Grace.

Admittedly, I was a little hard on the Grey’s folks, when they killed Dylan last year. (See the post titled “They killed Kyle. Those Bastards.”) At the time, I had no idea Chandler was headed for a great destiny: the incredible Friday Night Lights on NBC. There, he plays Coach Taylor, a tough, but fair, family man and high-school football coach. He’s doing some of the best work on television in that role.

So, whether you fell for Chandler as bomb guy on Grey’s, or as the guy who changed fate with the help of a newspaper on Early Edition, don’t miss his appearance on this week’s Grey’s Anatomy.

Click here for previous Tube Talk posts about Chandler and his work on Friday Night Lights and Grey’s Anatomy.

Peanut Butter PSA: salmonella found in some Peter Pan and Great Value brands

In the famous words of The Office’s Jim Halpert, “Congratulations, Universe. You win.”

In trying to be health-conscious, by limiting my carbs and loading my diet with protein, I’ve been using a tablespoon of Peter Pan Reduced Fat Peanut Butter on my Light Whole-Grain toasted English Muffin every morning. For my reward, I may now have salmonella poisoning.

I interrupt your regular blog reading and television viewing to bring you this urgent public service announcement: The FDA warns consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter. These products may contain salmonella. If you have a jar of Peter Pan or Great Value peanut butter with a product code beginning with “2111,” located on the lid, toss it out immediately or return it to the store for a refund.

Poisoned by a jar of peanut butter. I swear, this seems like a devious trick that Jim would play on Dwight. But, sadly, when I look around my office, there’s not a goofy, grinning Halpert anywhere in my vicinity.

I thought, perhaps, that I had contracted a stomach flu the past few days. That would have explained my symptoms and overall feeling of crap-i-ness. (Pun intended.) But, now it seems that salmonella poisoning can cause severe abdominal cramps, fever, diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. So, I’m off to the local doc-in-the-box to see if in fact, the peanut butter is the culprit. Wish me luck, or at least the possibility that this all turns out to be some cruel prank.

Tube News: House and Bones renewed, Felicity weds, Wonder Woman stops in Smallville, Scrubs’ Todd Time and CW stars interviews

FOX renews Bones and House for next season
Booth, “Bones” and Dr. House will all be back next season. FOX picked up Bones for a third season and House for a fourth season. Bones hit a ratings-high recently, and House has consistently performed as one of FOX’s highest rated shows. This goes a long way in helping assuage my disappointment about The O.C. ending so soon.

Keri Russell weds
Felicity star Keri Russell tied the knot on Valentine’s Day in New York City, according to TV Guide. Russell wed beau Shane Deary at a restaurant in the city. The two are expecting a child. Congratulations to the couple!

Wonder Woman headed to Smallville
If you’re a spoiler freak, stop reading now. You’ve been warned! In Al Gough’s most recent Q&A at TV Guide, Gough talks about the character of Wonder Woman visiting Smallville. Then, he goes on to confirm that the real Wonder Woman herself, Lynda Carter, will guest star as Chloe’s mother. Brilliant! I can’t think of anyone better to play our favorite reporter’s mother. Do you think she’ll bring the magic lasso?

The Todd Time on Scrubs
Those of you who watched Scrubs last night, couldn’t help but notice Todd’s t-shirt with the web address http://www.thetoddtime.com/. Turns out it’s actually a real Web site that had garnered more than 35,500 hits by 2 p.m. EST Friday. The site features, well, Todd, of course. If you’re idea of fun is a grown man in a leopard-print Speedo, posing like a body builder and grunting, then you should check it out. It’s Todd, people. What did you expect, Shakespeare recitations? The site also has links to the Scrubs podcasts and other fun Scrubs info. Warning: Todd’s grunting is really loud, so turn down your volume a little before visiting the site.

CW boys give interviews
The boys of The CW have been busy with press lately. If you’re a Smallville, One Tree Hill or Veronica Mars fan, check out these interviews:

E!Online talks to Smallville’s Sexy Lexy
One Tree Hill’s James Lafferty
Veronica Mars’ Ryan Hansen

American Idol: The top 24

by guest bloggers Becky and Bethany

Hello, Hollywood!

It was Hollywood week on American Idol. The potential idols were put through a rigorous lightning round of single and group auditions to give the judges one last look, before they chose the top 24. Now that they’ve narrowed the field to 24 potential idols, it will be up to us America!

Finally! Move over Randy, Paula and Simon.

There weren’t too many surprises in this week’s show. Here are the top 24 candidates:

Background singers Melinda Doolittle and Brandon Rogers are definitely in for the long haul. It’s top 12 for those two.

Sanjaya Malakar moved on, without his sister, and Gina Glockson got another opportunity to wow the judges, though there were definitely others who deserved top-24-status over her.

Philip Stacy made it through, though he didn’t have our support, and Haley Scarndo, Paul Kim, and Jordin Sparks all passed through with leaps and bounds.

Chris Sligh and Blake Lewis made it to the top 24, but they both had better bring the sing, cause the jokes and beat boppin’ won’t take them too much further.

We are fearlessly predicting that AJ Tabaldo and Leslie Hunt will be the first male and female contestants to go home.

There were a few people who made it that we weren’t even aware existed: Stephanie Edwards, Nicole Tranquillo, Jared Cotter, and Amy Krebs. Let’s hope they can make a better impression on the voting public.

Sundance Head and Antonella Barba made it through, though they both had a less than stellar week. Maybe Sundance’s father’s legacy and Antonella’s looks helped push each of them along.

Rounding out the top 24 top competitors are Nick Pedro, Rudy Cardenas, Lakisha Jones, and Alaina Alexander.

Our what-the-$#@!-moment of the evening was the judges passing on Marissa Rhodes for Antonella Barba. Come on judges; turn your hearing aids on. Just because the girl is all legs, doesn’t make her American Idol material.

Until next week folks, we’ll be “idoling!”

Joss Whedon promo for The Office

Those of you waiting patiently for the Joss Whedon directed-episode of The Office, check out this hilarious promo. Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) is bringing his own special magic to Scranton. Jim Halpert as a vampire? Dwight as a slayer? Don’t miss The Office this week on NBC at 8:30 p.m. EST.

The Week in Review:Brothers & Sisters, The O.C., The Office, One Tree Hill, Bones, Friday Night Lights and Grey's Anatomy

Brothers and Sisters
I can’t stop gushing about this dysfunctional-family ABC drama. The Valentine’s Day episode was laugh-out-loud funny and, perhaps, the best episode of the series so far. I love Justin, Kevin, Kitty and the entire Walker clan. The addition of Rob Lowe, as a senator en route to the White House, has given new electricity to an already brilliant show. His line to Kitty about Demi Moore was one of the funniest inside jokes ever. “I always had a thing for her,” Lowe deadpanned. (For those of you who missed the ‘80s, check out St. Elmo’s Fire or Google “Brat Pack” to get the joke.) Lowe wasn’t the only highlight. Where else could you see Sally Field and Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) smoking a joint and getting busted by the cops? Only on ABC, folks. If you haven’t already, add this show to your DVR. You won’t be sorry. For more insight, check out the Brothers and Sisters writers blog at ABC, aptly titled Bloggers and Sisters.

The O.C.
This is not a good omen: Ryan finally told Taylor he loved her, and the Earth began shaking violently in a devastating earthquake. This is Marissa’s doing. I just know it. With only two episodes left with our “Cal-if-or-nia” friends, each week that passes makes me sadder. And if the Cohen mansion is devastated in this mess, I will be, too. That house is quite possibly the coolest of all TV pads.

The Office
Phyllis and Bob Vance tied the knot, while Pam watched in horror as all of her own wedding ideas, flowers, music and decorations were on display, even down to the “P&R” floral arrangement. (R is for Robert Vance, apparently, but to Pam it stood for Roy.) Michael was, as usual, so over-the-top it was difficult not to fast-forward his scenes. The best scene of the night was Karen joining the band to sing, “Every Little Thing You Do is Magic” as Jim whipped out his cell phone to wave in the air. Pam, after shooting some meaningful looks at Jim, left with Roy, who looks as if he’d hit the Mystic Tan and the gym. Does Pam even deserve our Jim, if she’s too stubborn to tell him how she feels? I just don’t get her. It’s like she went to the Michael Scott School of Love.

One Tree Hill
This week’s episode was so good and emotionally creative that it forced me into a place I don’t like to go: reminiscing about high school. It was a little bit Breakfast Club meets Beverly Hills 90210, as our favorite Tree Hillers were paired up with a classmate to get to know them before graduation. The exercise said a lot about high-school/society hierarchy and impressions. In a nutshell, the teacher said that high schoolers label all their classmates by one of five words: geek, jock, loner, prom queen, and “friendly” i.e. slut. It’s sad, but true, as I thought back to my days as a teen. This episode also made a statement about changing that image, as teens leave school and head into adulthood. This show was beautifully written and the end photos were a nice touch. I especially loved Nathan posing, arms spread, in front of the Eagle wings, painted on the wall, and Brooke’s pose in front of the over-head machine with the slurs written across her face, arms and torso. “Serious” critics can mock this show all they want. They were probably all “jocks” and “prom queens” in high school, who don’t take time to appreciate the great little moments on TV that this show consistently delivers.

Bones
Hello Sully! Bones got a new partner this week, in the form of actor Eddie McClintock. Apparently, you liked him as much as I did. Ratings for Bones hit an all-time high this week. Sully was introduced as an F.B.I. agent working with Bones, while Booth was dealing with his anger issues. (Shooting an ice-cream truck is generally frowned upon.) I’m sure this is a love triangle in the making. I wouldn’t count out Sully. The last time a hot TV “Sully” was on my radar was during Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and we all know how that turned out.

Friday Night Lights
I love Landry. “Who is Landry,” you ask. Well, he’s Matt’s goofy friend with the crazy band and the charming southern drawl. He’s a scene-stealer, and this week during the Powder Puff game, he did it again. As Coach Taylor made his way onto the field to cheer on his quarterbacking daughter, Landry kept daring Taylor to cross the line. Priceless. The show ended in a shocking cliffhanger, as racial tensions mounted and half of the football team walked off the field. Whether this show is dealing with family dysfunction, small-town life or bigger issues, it scores every week.

Grey’s Anatomy
Is Meredith Grey swimming with the fishing permanently? I wouldn’t worry, Tubers. The show is named after her, despite that show creator Shonda Rhimes wrote this in her blog:

“But you all know Meredith’s been doing a dance with death for some time. Y’all know that if you’ve been watching. She’s dark, our girl. She’s dark and twisty. And I worry about her. Now, I’m really worried about her because she’s in the water and I want to be clear with you: I don’t put people in the water for no reason. Meredith’s got issues, she’s got serious Mommy issues and she’s broken and she’s in the water. I’m not entirely playing by the rules of TV here. I killed Denny. I blew up Dylan."

(Gulp.) OK, maybe we should be worried.

On a lighter note, I loved the B storyline of Richard dying his hair, and Addison’s defense of him to McDreamy, Burke and the “man whore.” Hilarious.

As for that lost little girl permanently attached to Meredith, Mr. Tube Talk thinks she’s a ghost or a death angel. That observation gave me chills. I’m not convinced, however, but wouldn’t that be a cool twist? But if we have to have a ghost helping out at the ferryboat disaster, may I suggest Dylan the bomb guy? I'm just saying.

Tube News: Keri Russell, Jennifer Esposito, Rashida Jones and Rick Schroder

Keri Russell is Scrubs bound
Keri Russell is headed to Scrubs toward the end of the season, according to scoop diva Kristin Veitch at E!Online. Russell will play Elliot’s college roommate in two episodes. Hmmm…I wonder what Meghan and Elena would say about that?

Jennifer Esposito joins Rescue Me
We’ve always known Jennifer Esposito is hot, but she’s about to get hotter. Esposito is joining Rescue Me as a female firefighter who has a history with Tommy (Denis Leary.) TV fans will recognize Esposito as Stacey from Spin City, where she heated up the mayor’s office.

Karen to leave The Office
For the three of you out there hoping that The Office romance between Jim and Karen is a keeper, I have bad news. Rashida Jones has been cast in the new FOX comedy The Rules of Starting Over, according to E!Online. That means Jim, and The Office, will be Karen-less after the season finale. While I’m a devoted JAM fan, I do enjoy Karen, except for that weird work-place hug she gave Jim recently to mark her territory. But, frankly, if I were dating Jim Halpert, I’d be marking my territory, too.

Rick Schroder makes a name change
TV fans who love Rick Schroder, take note. Schroder has decided to return to his childhood name of “Ricky.” Apparently, Schroder is set to guest star on 24 and will be credited as “Ricky Schroder.” For those of us who remember him from Silver Spoons, he’s always been Ricky anyway, despite his spectacular adult performances on NYPD Blue and Strong Medicine. Zap2it has all the details on this fun and fascinating story.

Smallville news: Dean Cain is on the guest-star wish list

Smallville series cocreator Al Gough is answering fans’ burning questions at TV Guide, as part of an ongoing Q&A. Check out this week’s installment, where he talks about the possibility of Dean Cain guest starring.

For those of you who missed the first installment of the TV Guide Q&A with Gough, click here.

Gough also did an interesting interview at Kryptonsite. Check it out here.

Another Gough interview with iF magazine can be found here.

And since it’s Thursday — otherwise known as the best and busiest night of television — here’s a little something to remind folks not to forget to watch Smallville on The CW. It’s not an official promo for the network, but it should be. Take note, CW. The creator is a talented young lady named Ashley.

American Idol: Week Four

by guest bloggers Becky and Bethany

Well, folks, we’re getting down to the end of the auditions. Thank goodness! Thousands and thousands of people have tried their very best to become the next American Idol, and less than 200 will move on to Hollywood.

The last audition city was San Antonio, Texas. While we still had the normal array of disillusioned people, we also had some big Texas talent. Haley Scarnato performed a fine rendition of “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt. However, we aren’t sure if it was her vocal talent or her choice of wardrobe that struck Simon’s fancy. Next, was Bailey Brown, from Krum, Texas, “where there are more cows than people.” She is another Kelli Pickler. On the male side of talent, there was Jimmy McNeil, who was compared to Reuben Studdard. McNeil could possibly make the top 24.

Night two of Idol, this week, focused on what we didn’t see the first time around, and more of those auditions that we didn’t need to see again. Frankly, it was just an excuse for the American Idol producers to make us wait to see the contestants that actually have talent and to drag out the season a little bit more.

Finally, next week begins the actual competition. It’s about to get interesting “Idol maniacs”. Who will be able to handle the pressures of Hollywood Week? Who will fall on their face? And who will be crushed by Simon and his relentless criticism? Until then…..

Lost returns tonight

In case you’ve missed the media buzz, and frankly, I don’t know how that’s possible, unless you’ve been lost on a deserted island yourself, Lost returns tonight on ABC.

The fun kicks off at 9 p.m. EST with a recap of past shows. Then, a new episode airs at 10 p.m. EST. And by new, I hope it means that Jack, Sawyer and Kate are finally going to escape from those crazy Others, instead of being caged and terrorized for six more weeks.

I admit I lost interest in Lost earlier this year. (See exhibit A: the two last episodes of the show are still on my DVR waiting to be viewed.) I can hardly believe it either, as this was once my favorite show. But, this whole Others storyline sucked the fun out of the Losties for me. I miss Hurley and his golf course, Locke and his missions of faith, and I miss the flashbacks of getting to know more about Rose, Bernard, Sun, Jin and Sayid.

So, enough already with Ben and his crazy gang of gun-toting Hitlers harassing Sawyer, Kate and Jack. Get the good guys back to their pals, forget the Others ever existed, and let’s start solving some of the endless mysteries that seem to have been forgotten i.e. Jack’s ghostly dad, the four-toed statue, Frenchie and her daughter, Michael and Walt’s escape, Desmond’s mission, etc.

Here’s a clip from tonight’s show available at TV Guide. It’s so good it has sucked me in again.

Take a peek:
http://tvguide.com/Home.aspx

The Week in Review: Smallville, Boston Legal, Veronica Mars, The O.C. Friday Night Lights and Bones

DVR, I blame you for this.

Regular Tube Talk readers know I usually do The Week in Review at the end of the week. But, since DVR entered my life, I’ve lost the ability to actually watch a show at its appropriate time and (sometimes) night. Therefore, I hope you’ll forgive me for the lateness of this wrap-up. My remote, and I, submit ourselves to your mercy.

Smallville
Clark Kent, you’ve been a bad, bad boy. “Red-rock Clark” (that’s Clark on Red Kryptonite, for those of you who aren’t regular viewers) is always a treat for viewers, as the innocent farm boy loses his inhibitions and goes on his own “Girls Gone Wild” tour. I loved this episode, and it wasn’t because of Lois’ hooker-boot-mini-skirt combo that so many male viewers wrote to me about to praise. Clark finally admitted that he’d thought about a relationship with Chloe. (Yay!) And we found out that baby Luthor isn’t normal. (Whatever that means. Like you expected “normal” from Lex’s swimmers?) Two things continue to perplex me with this show. First, why is the Kent’s refrigerator the size of an Easy Bake Oven? Martha Kent is a senator, for Pete's sake. Surely, she could afford a side-by-side number with an icemaker. And finally, why can’t Clark get over Lana? I thought we were done with this already. I can only hope that Clark will listen to his mother’s wise advice about Lana and, “Leave her alone!” Preach it, Mama Kent! Amen.

Boston Legal
How can you not love a show where conservative-gun-toting-Republican Denny Crane battles Homeland Security and then dresses in costume as Dick Cheney? Simply put, you can’t. The highlight of this week’s episode was a costume party to help improve employee morale. The folks from Crane, Poole and Schmidt were supposed to dress up as someone they admired and who inspired values. Alan came as Shirley Schmidt. Shirley came as Diane Sawyer. Brad and Jeff both came as Buzz Lightyear. But, it was Crane, in his Cheney costume, who stole the show. The final signature scene of Boston Legal, usually features Denny and Alan drinking scotch and smoking cigars on the balcony. This week, they slow danced. Yes, together. They wisecracked (beautifully breaking the third wall,) that their neighbors, i.e. “regular viewers” shouldn’t be shocked at anything that goes on at Crane, Poole and Schmidt. Hilarious! Boston Legal may be considered a drama, but trust me, it’s one of the funniest comedies on the tube.

Veronica Mars…pregnant?
I’m still picking my jaw off the floor after the previews at the end of Veronica Mars where she said the “p” word. Are we to believe that the savviest teen to grace the small screen is not smart enough to use birth control? I’m not buying it. We all know the CW promo machine is misleading sometimes, and I’m betting this is one of those times. So, in response to your e-mails, “No. I don’t think she’s got a bun in the oven.” Meanwhile, I’m going to hire Veronica to find Wallace. Don’t mock. Someone needs to do something. He’s been missing since fall. And finally, don’t send hate mail because I really do love Jason Dohring, but lately I can’t tell what the hell he’s saying. Jason, can you please enunciate? (Not that I mind rewinding your shirtless scenes 15 times to try and decipher your dialogue, but, my rewind button is getting a little ticked.)

The O.C.
Julie Cooper Nichol Roberts shot down the Bullit. Pun intended. Team Frank prevailed over Team Bullit, and it seems Ryan’s daddy and Marissa’s mommy are destined for a love connection. I love the Bullit, but I can’t blame Julie for choosing hunky Frank. After all, he looks an awful lot like Hercules. (Sorry. I couldn’t resist.)

Friday Night Lights
Why aren’t you watching this show, people? I’m afraid if viewership doesn’t increase, we’re going to have to do a Hail Mary to save this show. Tubers, you know I’m no fan of football, and even I’ve been sucked into this drama. This is great story telling. If you haven’t watched before, you can still jump in. The episodes work as stand alones, so you won’t be lost. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton steal the show. Yes, I said Kyle Chandler. That Kyle Chandler. Grey’s Anatomy fans who loved him as “bomb squad guy who was blown up at Seattle Grace,” check him out as a football coach on Friday Night Lights. He’s much better at his job here.

Bones
Creepy-killer Epps is finally finished. Booth and Bones put an end to his torturous ways. Of course, Cam breathed a mouthful of poison and almost headed to the science lab in the sky, before Epps was busted. This show gets better each week, and yes, that’s coming from someone who hates procedural crime dramas. But, Bones knows its niche isn’t just the crime cases, but the characters and relationships. That’s why Booth left us with his new nugget of wisdom that people who work together can’t have personal relationships. Cue another season of sexual tension between the F.B.I. agent and the scientist. I’m in.

Super Bowl commercials: Dave and Oprah and K-Fed

My secret is out. I don’t actually watch the Super Bowl for football. I watch it for the commercials.

Yes, it’s shallow and an affront to true sports fans everywhere. Sorry. But, I find croaking frogs, football-playing Clydesdales, and herds of cats much more entertaining than grown men tossing a ball.

This year, however, the ads were so disappointing that I started watching (gulp) the game. How lacking were the commercials? Well, when K-Fed working at a fast-food restaurant is my second favorite Super Bowl ad, you figure it out.

The best spot of the night was for the Bowl game, itself, and featured David Letterman (of Indianapolis) and Oprah Winfrey (of Chicago.) Apparently, they’re in love now. Enjoy!

Dave and Oprah: http://www.ifilm.com/video/2819651

K-Fed: http://www.ifilm.com/video/2819651

Emmitt Smith tonight on "How I Met Your Mother"

photo courtesty of CBS

Dancing With the Stars champion Emmitt Smith stops by How I Met Your Mother tonight.

“Twinkle toes,” himself, shares a hilarious scene with Barney, who is desperately trying to find out who won the Super Bowl.

I’ve seen the clips from tonight’s show, and I promise it will make you laugh. CBS is marketing this episode as, “Legendary ‘PLAYER’ meets legendary football player.” I love it!

Here’s the official description of tonight’s episode, aptly titled “Monday Night Football:”

When Barney, who has a lot riding on the game, misses the
Super Bowl, he begs football legend Emmitt Smith for the score.”

How I Met Your Mother airs on CBS Mondays at 8 p.m. EST.

On the web at: www.cbs.com/primetime/how_i_met_your_mother/

David Boreanaz blog

You thought he just killed vampires and solved crimes for the FBI. But, no, actor David Boreanaz — formerly known as Angel and now as Seeley Booth on the FOX show Bones — is writing a blog. It’s simply titled: The Boreanaz Blog.

Mr. B. gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at Bones along with some cool pictures from the set. He also talks about family, sports, and what it’s like to hang out with a vampire named Spike. (You know I’m kidding about the last part, right?)

Smallville: Clark and Chloe video

In anticipation of tonight’s Smallville, where Red K makes Clark a little nutty — i.e. he’s back to pursuing Lana— some Chlark fans sent me this “super” video of Clark and Chloe. It’s a must-watch for any Chlark fans out there. Whoever the talented person is who put this together, she needs to work for the CW promo department.

American Idol Auditions: Week Three

by guest bloggers Becky and Bethany

Well, folks, the grueling American Idol auditions continue. And frankly, we’re to the point where we just want to get on with the show, or buy some earplugs.

Some of these auditions drag on longer than a hot topics discussion on The View. Enough already. There’s only so much of these delusional, inspiring singers that we can take. Regardless of our opinion, they continue. So, here we go with our report for the week.

We begin in Birmingham, the home of Reuben, Taylor, and Bo Bice (our man)! Could we find the same type of talent again? Doubtful.

Idol started with Erica Skye, and it wasn’t a good note to start on. She sang “Unchained Melody,” which is a difficult song, and since she couldn’t sing, it was worse. She was “a never-ending torture.” Many of the contestants were the same way. The only bright spots were Katie Bernard, Tatiana McConnico — a big voice in a little package—Bernard Williams, and Chris Sligh, who hopes to reduce David Hasselhoff to the same tears we saw during the finale last season.

Jamie Lee Ward was another “yes.” But our opinion is, if you have a good enough sob story you can get through to Hollywood. We doubt she’ll last.

The big mystery of the evening was Paula. She wasn’t there for day two, and during day one, she couldn’t sit down. Come on Paula, what’s up?

Moving on to L.A. We knew there would be some weirdo’s here, and we were not disappointed. We can’t even begin to describe the first contestant, “Eccentric” AKA “Panther” AKA Martik Manukian. He wanted to spread the love (and something else that we can’t quite describe.) You may need some kind of ointment, if he gets too close.

Next, we had Marianna Riccio who sang “Should I Stay or Should I Go.” Our reply is, “Go.” Please. And keep going! Soul Patrol was represented — well maybe not — by Phuong Pham. And love was in the air with Sparkles, her boyfriend Darold, and Simon, a new love triangle perhaps?

Brandon Rogers sang “You Were Always on my Mind,” and he will definitely be in the top 24 if not the top 12!

The best part of the show was Sherman Pore, who was 64. Side note here; the audition age for Idol is 16 through 28. Sherman was there as a tribute to his “lady love”. He had a petition signed, just so he could audition for her, stating “the process of trying to get on Idol just to audition helped her get through her cancer treatments.” Unfortunately, she passed away before she could see his audition, but his moving rendition of “You Belong to Me” brought tears to everyone’s eyes and even impressed Simon. Maybe he does have a heart after all?

So, we end this week with a big old “thank goodness,” that we only have one audition day left in San Antonio, and a quote from Ryan: “L.A., weird? Who’d a thunk it?”