Talent Reality Shows Face Off: Part TWO

Quick Update: So I'm actually blogging as scheduled. Yay me, I guess.

Song Stuck In My Head: Smells Like Teen Spirit, the Nirvana cover by 2CELLOS. Has anyone seen these two guys? No? GO TO YOUTUBE. NOW.

Okay, so if anyone had seen my last post, you know that SSF has a Talent Reality Show theme going on this week. We're judging the shows like their contestants get judged.

So let's get right to it. Monday was the Premises, Prizes, and Network. Don't believe me? READ IT FOR YOURSELF. Today is the HOSTS, JUDGES, WINNERS, and LOOOOSERS.

HOSTS

American Idol: Ryan Seacrest, who makes sure you see a lot of him. Or hear a lot of him. Top 40 radio. New's Years Specials. Hosting everything he possibly can. But he has a nice smile, so we like him, okay?

X Factor: Steve Jones. Ahhh...hopefully you didn't get too attached.

The Voice: Carlson Daly, a man trying ever so hard to be the next Seacrest through his own late night show (airs after Jimmy Fallon and Jay Leno, when most of the world is asleep) and even hosting his own New Year's special! Good for him.

America's Got Talent: Fiesty Nick Cannon, also Mr. Mariah Carey. Easygoing dude who jokes around with the talent a lot. After all, it get's pretty ridiculous. First you have a dance crew or innocent little kid, then you have a drag queen or...well, this. Does anyone remember this?

Winner of this round: No one can deny the power of the Seacrest. AMERICAN IDOL takes this guys.

THE JUDGES

American Idol: Second year of having stable judges, which hasn't happened in a while. Formula: Nice, Latina divorcee plus Flirtacious 70's rock singer plus Experienced but Hip Music Mogul. Somehow it works, though poor Randy Jackson has had to make the harsh critiques a lot more often with no one to properly advise the contestants.

X Factor: Everyone's favorite British badmouth who's softened up like a marshmallow so far, and a record label superstar who discovered everyone from Pink to Justin Bieber to - the most important in my petty, teenage book - Avril Lavigne. As for the Ex-Pop Star and inexperienced female group leader, the axe came down on hard on them. Who know Simon could do such a thing, cutting two people off his show just like that! Oh, wait...

The Voice: Country star, pop/soul singer rocking the Top 40, pop/rock band leader taking over the Top 40, and one ex-pop star who, despite her haters, is still well-known for her voice. IT's a formula that covers all genres and would well, if only they actually showed the judges being anything but nice to the contestants. At least they compete with each other.

America's Got Talent: How this formula works, I don't know, but it does. Lovely British wife of a heavy metal superhero mixed with a former comedian whose other TV credits include Deal or No Deal and Mobbed, and now trashtalking radio host Howard Stern. While we've yet to see Stern in action, he will surely be a worthy replacement for the intelligent but cruel past judge, Piers Morgan.

Winner this round: Any show except for the X Factor. So, AMERICAN IDOL, THE VOICE, and AMERICA'S GOT TALENT...congrads! Prizes for all!

Now onto the actual winners...

WINNERS

American Idol: Everyone from superstars Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood to erm....Jordin Sparks, the cool Lee Dewyze (Duwyze?) dude, and that-guy-with-the-gray-hair-everyone-forgot-about-I-think.

Let's play a game...name that Idol!

X Factor: So far, Melanie Armaro, with a huge comeback and hero's story. She was also recently featured in a Pepsi commercial with Elton John. Yep. Sponsorship and Corporate America is still going strong.

The Voice: Javier Colon! Hmm. Wonder how that dude's doing....

America's Got Talent: A surprising number of singers and artists for a show focused on variety acts...coincidence? Though there is no denying Landaeu Eugene Murphy deserved the win last year.

Winner this round: the X Factor...so far...

And onto the people who sometimes are just as famous if not more famous than their winners...

LOSERS

American Idol: Everyone from Clay Aiken and Adam Lambert to Smash's Katharine McPhee, Weight Watchers/Dream Girl Jennifer Hudson, and Daughtry frontman Chris Daughtry.

X Factor: A lot of people, but we mostly remember the kids. Like smart-mouth rapper Astro, who got a gig on...a detective show! (Seriously!)

The Voice: Um....those people. You know. With the faces?

America's Got Talent: Another everybody. Jackie Evancho, the opera-singing little girl, didn't win even. Can you believe that!? Of course, America's Got Talent actually has a reason why some acts aren't always the winners or voted through...do you really want young, innocent Jackie hosting her own Vegas show?

The winners this round: American Idol all the way. No show's runners-up and even bad auditioners have gone on to achieve as much as fame as the winners, not like Idol. So at least they got that going for them.

That is all for today, my friends. But be sure to comment on who you think deserve the best of the best when it comes to the people on talent reality shows. Really. I like comments.

Until then...um....

DANG IT I FORGOT I DON'T HAVE A SIGN-OFF!

Later.

TALENT REALITY SHOWS FACE-OFF: Part One

Quick Update: So...Superbowl...yeah.

Song Stuck in My Head: Supermassive Black Hole by Muse


American Idol returned last month. The Voice’s second season debuted last night. The first American X Factor was crowned not even two months ago, and recently dropped two judges and a host. Annnd America’s Got Talent is in its beginning stages of its summer season, with new judge Howard Stern.

Whether they’re dancing, having mental breakdowns, singing, yelling at judges, or performing fire tricks there’s no denying TV is full of those talent reality shows. Maybe you’re an avid fan yourself. You love them for their showcasing of starving artists, giving them the chance they never had. Or maybe you just watch for Simon Cowell’s jibes, we don’t judge (pun intended.)



Welcome to SSF’s TALENT REALITY SHOW WEEK. A week to kick back and relax and discuss various shows’ merits and well…more laughable parts. A sort of compare and contrast, if you will.

First, let’s meet our contestants….

THE PREMISES
American Idol - Search the country for an unsigned artist. Give them a microphone, give America a phone line. Occasional celebrity advice, but mostly the artist is on their own.

Number of seasons: Currently in eleventh. Must be pretty successful.
Stolen from a British show? Check. Pop Idol.
Sponsored by: Coca Cola.



The X Factor - Search the country for an unsigned artist, or group, of any age and give them a microphone and randomly chosen mentor. Categorize them by Girls, Boys, Groups, and Over 30’s. Occasional celebrity advice, including the mentors’.

Number of seasons: Just finished up first.
Stolen from a British show? You know it. And same name too!
Sponsored by: Pepsi.



The Voice - Search the country for an unsigned artist. Four mentors who choose team based off voice alone, and compete more against each other than the contestants do.

Number of seasons: Currently in second.
Stolen from a British show? No! Congrats, guys! Originality. Except wait just a second...THIS IS BASED OFF A DUTCH SHOW!?
Sponsored by:…hmm. Might have to get back to you on this.

America’s Got Talent - Search the country for…well, anything. Singers, magicians, glass-eaters, dirt bike riders, dance teams, comedians, etc. Three judges are expected to keep cool during the chaos, America is expected to narrow down the contestants to top four to get their own Vegas show.

Number of seasons: Six.
Stolen from a British show? Checkcheckcheck. Britain’s Got Talent, of course!
Sponsored by: Orville Redenbacher Gourmet Popcorn (though I do love the Criss Angel commercial).



Winner of this round: The Voice. Unique, fair, and free of some sort of food/drink sponsor and Simon Cowell (we can’t have him on every show.)

Now, tell us, Mr. Host…what do these contestants have to look forward to?

THE PRIZES
American Idol - Record contract! And either instant fame or getting upstaged by your runner-up, depends. And tour with the top 10 contestants.

The X Factor - Even better record contract! Five million dollars! No tour with the other contestants, who cares about them? You won a FIVE MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT!



The Voice - Record contract! Annnd you get to be on late night shows and stuff, even if you’re a runner-up! And tour with the top 10 contestants.

America’s Got Talent - Your own Vegas show, and a tour with the runner-ups. Neat.

Winner of this round: Tie between X Factor and America’s Got Talent. Sure, we all enjoy money, but record contracts come and go. How often will you be a headliner in Vegas?




Where will our contestants perform this time, Mr. Host? Do tell!

THE NETWORKS

American Idol - Fox. Just in case you didn’t get your Glee fix. Usually plays in the very beginning of the year.

The X Factor - Fox again. (What? We need something to play when we don’t have So You Think You Can Dance or American Idol to rely on. You can only watch so much House.) First season played during fall.

The Voice - NBC’s fun, new winter show that they’re now pairing up with their Glee-esque show about the Broadway life, SMASH. (Which premieres tonight by the way). However, it's also paired up AGAINST American Idol. Fight to the death, anybody?




America’s Got Talent - NBC’s summer show, usually paired up with re-runs of every other NBC show.

Winner of this round: America’s Got Talent. No competition to worry about.

That’s it for today. Do you guys have a favorite premise for any Talent Reality show (not just including these four). Do you agree with the winners for prize and network? Share your thoughts.

So far, we have AGT with two, The Voice with two. X Factor, American Idol….catch up! Tomorrow we’ll cover the people of Talent Reality shows: the Judges, the Hosts, the Winners, and the Losers. Should be fun.






Later!

What I Learned in My High School Library Club Today…

Quick Update: Awesome news, friends. I entered YATopia’s contest and just won my first query critique, by author/blogger/former literary agency employee Jodi Meadows. Woot! To keep up with the spirit, I included a link to her website with her name. Check her out. She’s badass.

Song Stuck In My Head: “Rich Girl” by Gwen Stefani. Orchestra class is learning songs from movie Fiddler in the Roof, including the original “If I Was a Rich Man”, so not too random. Maybe. :/

So, I went to my high school’s fourth Library Club meeting this week. There’s only four regular members and monthly, if even that, meetings. Our purpose: to provide input on which books get ordered. Rather neat power. For instance, I got one of my favorite bloggers Tahereh Mafi and her first novel, Shatter Me, on the top of the list. However, since today was our biggest turn-out, I made some keen observations for my fellow YA writers out there. Some common sense, some interesting. Check it:

1. Power of a Name

Series AND author brand names are still big. Most of our orders were sequels to books we already had, or popular authors like Cassandra Clare and Rick Riordan. While stand-alone novels are always good, most modern teen readers seem to enjoy riding a story beyond one book. As long as the concept is fresh, that is. (Translation: PUT THE VAMPIRE IDEA DOWN! STEP AWAY FROM THE WEREWOLF LOVE STORY!)

2. Get Out the Popcorn

Movie adaptations don’t have to be Harry-Potter size to have an effect. While The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’s success led to us ordering its sequels, I Am Number Four and Beastly didn’t exactly blow up at the box office. Yet, not only is Beastly one of the most checked out books, but I Am Number Four’s sequels made our list. They also make books easier to recommend - I’m proud to say I successfully convinced a girl to at LAST check out the Hunger Games. Muhahaha. Only took how long before the movie? Pssht.

3. Not Too Feminine After All

The boy-girl ratio of YA readers isn’t too dramatic at my school. Out of our eight members this meeting, three were boys and five were girls. They were also mostly seniors, but I’m guessing that’s more because freshman and sophomores are afraid to join clubs than anything else. However, there is somewhat of a time period (around fourteen to seventeen) where a teen reader might slow their reading intake. That age is also usually when they start transitioning from young books to more adult material.

4. Find Your Niche Audience

Tastes vary here. A bunch. For instance, one girl admitted to being a fan of old, archaic and even foreign versions of stories. Then another girl is big on the author Tamora Pierce. And then there’s me, the weirdo who drifts back and forth between the random vampire series and music-themed indie novels. While bestsellers might attract both avid and fair-weather readers, don’t hold back from writing in an odd genre if that’s where you thrive. Your audience is out there somewhere.

5. Standing Out

Word of mouth is valuable. A lot of authors and book/series names were shared, and I know they’ll get checked out, even bought. So don’t be afraid to get yourself out there and make your name known. Today’s writers need more than just a kick-ass story to survive in this publishing world. You never know when or how your future fans will hear about you, so make everything count.

Okay, peeps, that’s all for now. But stick around later this week for a blog on CW’s version of the “Secret Circle”, as part of my series on TV shows. I had one last week on Napoleon Dynamite. Hopefully journalism class will die down enough that I can continue next week too.

And since my blog has been a tad bland as of late…time for LOLcatz apology! (Man, it seems every one of my posts has these now...)

Later!

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE...the TV Show (That's Right. I Watched It.)

Quick Update: Hectic two weeks back from winter break. My biggest highlights: getting to ride in a hot air balloon (for FREE!), learning how to blow bubbles with gum (only took me seventeen years), and finding out next week's spirit week is medieval-themed. Woot.

Song Stuck In My Head: "Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger. It's a 90's song. I fell in love.

Okay, so today and hopefully next week will be sort of a TV-themedd series of blogs, starting with an animated series that just premiered last Sunday night as one of Fox's mid-season replacement. :) Read on.

Whether you were a budding preteen or a young adult yourself in 2004, It’s likely you remember the ridiculous, fantastical, and quirky NAPOLEON DYNAMITE movie. You remember the tots. The ligers and llamas. The Vote For Pedro badges. And, of course, Jon Heder’s crazy dance scene.

While a lot of critics questioned the movie’s comedy, ND managed to gain a cult of fans who quoted it, bought every merch possible for it, and found their inner geek through it. Now, only eight years and apparently one videogame later, the Idaho-native dweeb is back. You can now watch Napoleon, Pedro, Deb, Kip, and Uncle Rico every week during Fox’s “Animation Domination”. If you’re willing, that is.

Let’s get to the review, shall we?

There isn’t an exact premise. The Napoleon Dynamite TV show doesn’t even to seem to be a continuation of the movie. For instance, his older brother Kip isn’t married like he was at the end of the film, since it‘s more comical if he‘s a geek pursuing online relationship interests. If the show had a premise, it would be throwing the characters into a cartoon version of the already cartoon-ish world they exist in.







The main difference is the perspective. While Napoleon Dynamite the movie was the world’s perspective of an extremely odd character, the show is more the character’s way of seeing the world. Since the show is animated, there are no longer limits. However, someone of the movie version’s humor came from live action. Would you rather see a cartoon geek break-dance onstage or a live action one who has no idea what he’s doing? Exactly. Movie-Napoleon would only claim to have mad ninja skills stolen from the government. The TV Napoleon might have an episode where he actually becomes a warrior master.



Yet, we can’t forget the pros. For one, all the original actors are back to voice their characters. I gives the show a more natural feel - besides, if someone other than Jon Heder had voiced Napoleon, the show wouldn’t stand a chance. Since it’s a part of “Animation Domination”, there’s also a chance for more outrageous antics and jokes that couldn’t fit in on any other channel. Of course, this might ruin the movie’s famously kid-friendly rating. So far the show’s puns have strayed away from cursing, gore, or “toilet” humor. Will the innocence stick?

One of the show’s biggest pluses is how it does remain loyal to the film’s main entertainment: awkward geeks with superb vocabularies and big dreams. If you think about it, if it wasn’t for the nerds of Napoleon Dynamite, actors like Michael Cera and Jesse Eisenburg wouldn’t be the household names they are today.



An interesting subplot in the TV show is Deb and Napoleon’s relationship, something only hinted at before. The show is not subtle at all about Deb’s crush on her friend. However, it’s also clear that Napoleon isn’t exactly capable of romance. Whether this plotline is a pro or con is yet to be seen.

In its own way, the ND show is more or less a tribute to the original. While the storyline and jokes are original, there’s no shortage of references to tots and Uncle Rico’s golden football days. This is neat right now…but it could get very old, and very fast.

My best advice for the show would be to stick to the original jokes. The original jokes so far have been the most outstanding. They got such great characters - use them!

All in all, if you’re a fan then you should definitely give the show a chance. Even if you don’t laugh, you’ll at least relieve the year 2004 and find yourself renting Napoleon Dynamite for memory’s sake. Think of how far we’ve come since then! Juno. Superbad. Easy A. Now if only we could have such a cult classic in the YA world…you know, without vampires.

Take care, peeps. Oh, yeah, and vote for Pedro. All your wildest dreams will come true. ;)





Favorite Quote From Show:

Principal (I think it was the principal): Young man, let's go talk in my office.
Napoleon: No, we'll go to my office.
Principal: You don't have an office!
Napoleon: Okay fine then we'll use yours.

The Only Holiday Playlist You’ll Ever Need (Okay. You can have ONE other. BUT THAT'S IT!)

Quick Update: About to go on winter break. Can't wait to be reunited with sleep. In other news, I JUST GOT 40 FOLLOWERS. Woot. If I get a job before I get to 50, then I'm definitely doing a contest or something. Any ideas?

Song Stuck In My Head: Basically any Top 40 song on the charts right now. We were listening to radio in my math final exam, so basically Colbie Caillet and Adam Levine and Adele are dancing in my head.

If you’ve been watching commercials on TV, putting on some of your favorite Christmas movies, or even turning on the radio, you probably got some sort of holiday tune dancing in your head like sugar plums. The coolest part about holiday songs is that a lot of modern artists are fans - hence, you get some pretty neat covers and the occasional original.

Here are some Christmas songs to check out by MODERN artists! All of them are rock and pop. There’s also a few random, non-genres thrown in here or there. It may or may not include singing cats. I can’t make any guarantees. ; )

Enjoy.

(Do you know any? Feel free to comment, and I'll make one twice as good next year! Muahahaha!)

WHITE CHRISTMAS, covered by

Lady Gaga
Michael Buble ft. Shania Twain
Panic! At the Disco
Katy Perry

And fun fact for the day... actor Robert Downey Jr. sings!



WINTER WONDERLAND, covered by

Jason Mraz
Hellogoodbye
Phantom Planet
Selena Gomez

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS, covered by

Weezer
Relient K

Disney's Santa Buddies! (They're cute, even if registered by Disney...(



LAST CHRISTMAS, covered by

Wham!
Taylor Swift
Hilary Duff
Jimmy Eat World
Hawk Nelson

JINGLE BELL ROCK, covered by

Aly and AJ
Rascal Flatts

And then the classic cover and dance from the movie "Mean Girls"



JOY TO THE WORLD, covered by

No Doubt
Simple Plan
Mariah Carey (again)

And Jingle Cats!



ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU, covered by

My Chemical Romance
Mariah Carey
John Mayer

HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS, covered by

Coldplay
Christina Aguilera


And if you're not celebrating Christmas or just like to hear a good Jewish tune here and then, here's a couple things to check out:

Get Your Dreidel On by Incubus

And Adam Sandler has some funny ones too..




Now some random, newer and not so traditional songs (most of them I am getting from my best friend's I-Pod...just to be honest)

That Time Of Year Again - Sick Puppies (as in, my favorite band peeps).
Killing Myself For Christmas - Sick Puppies (not as sweet as the first one, if you could guess).
Things I Want by Sum 41 ft. Tenacious D (yep. That means Jack Black).
Baby Please Come Home - Josh Ramsay (from Marianas Trench)
Christmas By the Phone - Good Charlotte
Happy Holidays, You Bastard - Blink-182
I Wish It Was Christmas Today - Julian Casablancas (From the Strokes)
I Won't Be Home For Christmas - Blink-182
It's Christmas Day - Family Force 5
Merry Christmas I Don't Wanna Fight - Bowling for Soup
Merry Christmas, I Missed You So Much- Taking Back Sunday
Merry Christmas Kiss My A** - All Time Low
30 Days - NeverShoutNever
Christmas In Hollywood - Hollywood Undead

And probably the best modern Christmas song, my favorite singer Avril Lavigne's ex-guitarist and his solo song... "MERRY SWIFTMAS!"



My list not good enough? Fine. Then I'll provide some more lists for you... Try these links, okay?

http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=185582

http://www.free-christmas-songs-lyrics.info/list-of-christmas-songs/list-of-modern-christmas-songs.html

http://www.popculturemadness.com/Music/Christmas.html (this ones a list of lists).

And lastly...not enough Jingle Cats? DID YOU NEED MORE?

Here you go. :)








Have an awesome holiday, peeps. If you can’t guess my New Year’s aspiration, then here it is: to blog more! Ah!

And anyone doing anything interesting for the holidays? New traditions, traveling, etc.? If you go or live somewhere with snow, please oh please ice it and send it my way. We’ve been getting the cold but not the snow. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, living in a desert town in the middle of nowhere….

Just found that online. The closest I can get to what it's like where I live, haha.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!