DWTS: Semi-Finals! It's on!

The battle is on as the 4 remaining contestants compete for the mirror ball trophy after the elimination of Nancy Grace last week. Who's going to be crowned winner? It's anyone's game right now. Rob Kardashian, J.R Martinez, Ricki Lake, and Hope Solo have brought it every week and laid it out on the dance floor.

Monday night, the couples took on 3 dances after having rehearsed for a few days. Amazing! Tangos, Cha chas, and Paso Dobles were the preferred dances. Hope Solo and Maks Camden out with their fiery Paso but Hope is still struggling when it comes to keeping her posture straight. Her moves look sloppy, and she received low from the judges. J.R and Karina, Derek ANC Ricki, and Rob and Cheryl were on top of the leaderboard for their precision, musicality, and keeping their frames. Though JR recieved perfect scores for both dances last week, it was Rob and Cheryl that owned the night. Let's see how America voted.

Hope Solo and Maks were in jeopardy along with Ricki and Derek, and were sent home. This decision does not surprise me since Hope was considered manly on the dance floor. Somehow she manages to spread out her legs when she should be gliding on the floor, making her moves look awkward and therefore ruining the style and look of the dance. I'm assuming America felt the same way and decided she didn't deserve to be in the finals. I do however give her credit for putting the time and effort week after week and applying herself. Perhaps with time she will achieve that elegance factor? And there you have it. Tune in next week as the remaining 3 couples battle it out for their shot at the championship!

Who STOLE the SHOW?

Let's get to it. Kym and David Arquette were eliminated! After seeing Nancy Grace's slow Jive, and Hope Solo's attempts to polish her moves, America just figured it was time for David Arquette to go home? Weird, but I can't say I'm surprised since stranger things have happened on the set of Dancing With The Stars.

Monday night, the groups brought their A game and left it on the floor. Each group had to dance 2 dances, one which they rehearsed all week and the other, an instant Jive that they only had 45 mins to throw together! Of these dances, the couples that stood out were Hope Solo, Rob Kardashian, and of course JR! Their moves were so smooth, precise, executed in an orderly fashion, and all were able to keep up with their partners. The energy was fantastic! JR and Karina after having received a perfect score of 30 from the judges, scored perfectly in their instant Jive, giving them a perfect night! I've said it from the start and I'll say it again, in my opinion they are the ones to beat! Tune in next week when we see who lays it out, and who doesn't make the cut! It's heating up!

Applause and jabs?

On Monday night, Dancing With The Stars consisted of more than just dancing and rehearsal clips. With the tango and quickstep came apparent rage and insults from.....Maks defending his athletic partner, Hope Sol who has often been criticized by the judges as lacking elegance or being too manly on the dance floor. On Broadway night, mask and Hope decided to portray Rent in their tango. I'd have to say Hope executed a steamy, lustful performance, acting more feminine than I have ever seen her this season. Sadly the judges ripped her apart commenting that it just doesn't look pretty, and calling it her worst dance by far. Maks chimed in saying everyone puts the effort to execute a flawless performance week after week, and that he doesn't feel the judges judge based on effort. Who could forget his argument seasons ago with Judge Carrie Ann Inaba when he was dancing with Brandy and she criticized her elegance. Totally unnecessary since we know how Brandy was consistently FIRE on the floor.

Lacey and Chaz Bono also had a rough night from the judges when they criticized their Phantom Of The Opera tango, saying it looked like, "a penguin trying to be a tiger." Lacey, like Maks defended her partner by saying the judges critique based on Chaz' looks, rather than effort. She clearly put it as it was, "rude, and shows bad taste." I completely agree with her and Maks. Yes these are celebrities on this show learning how to dance, but they deserve respect as they are people too. Yet Chaz was eliminated last night.

Regardless of the jabs, there are no hard feelings between Maks and Len or Lacey and the judges. Tune in next week for more recaps and results. Those still in the competition? JR, David Arquette, Ricki Lake, Rob Kardashian, Nancy Grace, and Hope Sol. Let's see what next week brings!

America gets it right!

Yes, the results were not shocking at all Tuesday night! Unfortunately Anna and Carson Kressly were eliminated. Though he may be outspoken and makes his routines entertaining for the audience, viewers at home felt that it was not enough to save him for one more week. We are going to miss him but it is a dancing competition after all, guys. He may have the spunk but he just didn't have the fluidity or precision. Anna, as a result, has lost her chance this season to win the Mirror Ball trophy :(

Tonight who knows what the dance style is but tune in at 8pm and find out if your favorites are still your favorites at the end of the night. I can't wait!

DWTS SHOCKING ELIMINATION plus DANCING'S hottest couples!

The competition is heating up on the dance floor! Its the end of the road for Kristin Cavallari and her partner, Mark Ballas. Although they've Bern consistent with their musicality, perhaps she lacked precision in her moves since Ballas is known for his difficult choreography. I was sad to see them go, but I thought their performance was beautifully executed. Hmmm...

Last week, it was all about Paso Doble dancing. In this violent, romantic, dramatic dance, intensity, speed, and emotion are important. I thought everyone nailed it, but I guess you need to be a pro dancer to pick out any mistakes. Apparently Chynna Philips and her partner, Tony Davolani, got the ax, because she may have forgotten her routine in parts, but still connected with her audience.

Last night, salsa dancing and tangos took center stage during 80s Week! Among my favorites were: JR, Chaz, and Rob Kardashian. This type of dancing requires serious hip, butt action, and fluidity in moves. What can I say, they all brought it! I loved JR's performance while they danced to Gloria Estefan's Conga. He was so smooth and sensuous that it earned him and Karina the first 10 of the season from the judges! Chaz Bono showed that big guys can shake it too, lol and delivered a fun, intense performance as well, and Rob got sexual with Cheryl on the dance floor for their Salsa. It was believable and therefore none of these couples made it to the bottom of the leader board. Tune in tonight for musical guest Kelly Clarkson, and see who makes the cut and who's going home. Will it be another shocking elimination or fair decision? Find out!

Buona Sera, DWTS!

This is it. America's favorite dancers are back with a whole new cast! Among them are: Kristin Cavallari, Chaz Bono, Elisabetta Canalis, Rob Kardashian, and Nancy Grace! I must say I've had a great time watching this season. The moves are hot, and the judges are more hilarious than ever!

On the first night, it was all about the Cha Cha. All did well, but some lacked in speed which resulted in low scores. George Clooney's supermodel ex was among those who scored low. Although she looks fabulous, she could neither keep up with her dance partner, Val (Maks' brother), nor keep her musicality, and as Bruno put it, "looked like a lost bird" when dancing alone. Meta and Peta were also lacking in certain areas, and were the first to be eliminated. Hmm, after watching the show in previous seasons, I've come to realize it's a popularity contest of who makes it through and who gets booted. Maybe this time, America is focusing on talent, as it should be?

On to the 2nd night! The jive and quickstep took the dance floor. I was impressed by how many kept up with the difficult choreography, including Kristin Cavallari as she dances with her partner, the trickster himself, Mark Ballas. Her speed was spot on, but still needs to work on musicality and precision in her moves. Nancy Grace sassed it up! Moving her hips, and engaging the audience, she delivered a hot performance! Who knew she had it in her to dance so gracefully and with such feeling? All I'm used to seeing her do is argue her heart out on her show on CNN, where she tells it like it is regarding crimes that have been committed! Well, she's just as enjoyable to watch on the dance floor! Elisabetta Canalis, on the other hand, may have slipped in some of her moves, still attempting to maintain her speed, but apparently that wasn't enough to save her for another week. Ciao Elisabetta! :(

Night 3 is on tonight, keep it here for any surprises, haha.

AGT: THE FINALS, baby!

What a season its been for America's Got Talent! We've seen acts of all kinds and now it's down to the FINAL 4! This is it -- It's never been tougher to vote!

First up was Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. singing Frank Sinatra's "My Way" which recieved a standing O from the judges. Piers said it was, "a moment, and a million dollar performance". Sharon agreed saying it gave her "goosebumps", and Howie said he may have just "sealed the deal." Honestly, I think he could have started the song better, but apparently he saved the last note for the end. Bottom line is he sang from the heart relating to the song in the sense of how he went from being homeless at 19, to meeting his wife and starting a family. God is so GOOD, amen? 

Next up, Team iLuminate. What's there to say about these acrobatic dancers that put on Black-Eyed Peas-like performances with their illuminating costumes and great moves. The judges agreed they were great and original. I wasn't following AGT much towards the end of this season, but I felt they've given better performances in the past. Let's see what America thinks.

Poplyfe took the stage with a Queen medley of "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions." The lead singer is a 15 year old girl with a big voice. She did alright, not exactly a Freddie Mercury performance, but ok. Piers said her voice was "shaky, but talented." Sharon agreed that the singing was a little off, but that she has "star quality." In my opinion it takes a lot of guts to perform onstage in front of millions of people, so at such a young age, I definitely give them credit. They're so cute, but I don't think they outsang Landau.

Last up were the diverse group, Silhouettes. Dancing to "What A Wonderful World", transforming themselves into images relating to the song was A-MAZING to watch! The audience was on their feet! Piers commented that they "saved the best for last, terrific!" Sharon felt like it was "inspirational and beautiful" and Howie considered them "the toughest choice ever." A-greed! 

So who's going to be crowned the winner of AGT 2011?..............Landau!!! I felt like anyone but Poplyfe and Team iLuminate could have won. America made the right choice! Thankful for the win, Landau said that now he can build a house for his family and live life like it should be lived. Alleluiaaaa!

That's all guys. DWTS premieres tonight! Stay tuned for my recaps! Ciao 4 now.

AGT: We're in HOLLYWOOD!

Yes! This is the moment of truth, time to set all nonsense aside and find out whose act is worth a $1,000,000 and who gets to go all the way to Vegas! First to perform are the Miami ALL-STARS! We have loved this group of young girls and guys since Day 1, for their saucy, sexy, salsa dancing techniques. Although they were nervous due to not having enough time to rehearse their routine, they brought their A-game to the stage dancing to Pitbull's "Calle Ocho" and yes, we LOVED them! Needless to say, they impressed the judges and I'm confident this group will make it through. :)

Secondly, The Funny Little People. What is it about this act that freaks Piers out? Hmm, well it could be that they are short, giant puppets on stage, singing and dancing. Stubborn Piers "X'ed" them right away after they performed "Singing in the Rain", saying they have no talent, but judges Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne thought they were cute, and especially loved them for annoying Piers, lol. Who knows what America will decide, but in my opinion, I doubt they'll go through.

Thirdly, put on your helmets to watch the Fearless Flores Family! Fearless is right! This is parents and their 2 young children on motorcycles, riding all over in a sphere-like cage! How they don't get hurt doing that is beyond me, but these guys will definitely have you on the edge of your seats, grinding your teeth or biting your nails. Dangerous stuff, so kids, don't try this at home. The judges were blown away, therefore America would be insane to not vote this audacious family through!

Next act up, Squonk Opera. I don't know the meaning of "squonk" but basically it's a family act of a teenage daughter singing opera while sitting on a moon...something you'd see maybe in a Broadway act of "Hey Diddle, diddle" if one even exists, that is. Ha! Anyway, (Mr. Cranky Pants) Piers X'ed them saying it's the most ridiculous thing he's ever seen and he's spot on. Howie and Sharon just allowed them to finish the act, but were not impressed. I'm guessing this family is going to be sent packing...for home. The following act did not impress the judges either. A child choir following a guitar player/singer chiming in with the same line of, "it's a bad idea?" Not exactly, an impressive million dollar act, but cute at a kid's birthday party.

Dying to be blown away again, the judges were impatient until Snap Boogie hit the stage! Standing O from all the judges. This young dude who bears a striking resemblance to Bruno Mars, break dances like he has no bones and started performing in the streets of.......Boston! So does Massachusetts have talent, yes it most definitely does! I loved watching this guy and the judges obviously agreed. Can't wait to see him again!

Now put your hands together for Echo of Animal Gardens. This woman comes out onstage with a parrot that we've heard singing, "Old McDonald", speak Spanish, and blow kisses to the audience, lol! This time the woman brought out the parrot's girlfriend since the bird needed moral support. Yes, that's right! Even parrots have social lives, haha! The judges were impressed and charmed, and cracked up when the parrot defecated on stage! "Clean up on Aisle 1" Who's the janitor? The multi-purpose host, Nick Cannon. In my opinion, this act may have a chance making it through, but how much can a parrot learn is the question. What new things, can this act bring to a Vegas stage? Hmmm.

Grab your partner, doe see doe, and join The Fiddleheads. These guys are great vocally, but singing Michael Jackson's, "Billie Jean" on banjos and putting out that Bluegrass kind of vibe, doesn't mesh well together. The judges agreed, but surprisingly the judges didn't "X" them. Not even Piers! Interesting. I don't feel these guys will be moving on.

Hang around (literally) for the next act, Duo Aero. This involves a man and woman doing difficult stunts on a trapeze and basically flipping off of each other. Amazing to watch, but they didn't win over the judges at all. Piers X'ed them right immediately. I wonder why though? Hmm, I'd pay much money to see Piers swing off a trapeze, flipping over his partner, and holding on for dear life, lol. Their fate lies with America. Not exactly comforting, huh ;)

Next up, Anna Graceman! This little girl never ceases to amaze me, at 11 years old, to have such a pure, dynamic, vocal range is shocking! She laid it out on the stage again with her piano and killer voice singing, "What A Wonderful World". Judges were charmed and blessed to have her on the show, the audience and I loved her, so America better agree! I think they will and will probably just ignore the fact that she's too young for stardom.

Lastly, give it up for the Sandou Trio Russian Bar! This trapeze act involves a girl doing acrobatic flips on a rubber bar. The girl is amazing, but her act was really a life or death situation. She was flipping over sharp, long nails, lit on fire! She wowed the judges and the audience and perhaps even gave a few viewers minor heart attacks, lol. I hope she makes it through.

And there you have it! Who's America going to vote for? It's anyone's game. It's a wrap for now :)

The Voice Season 1: Who is taking it all?

America chose to vote through Dia and Javier. And the winner is...............JAVIER COLON! Amazing, but no surprise. America fell in love with his bluesy, buttery-smooth, pitch-perfect voice and his friendly character. His reward? A record deal. I cannot wait til he comes out with his first album, he may just be a chart-topper! He definitely has a better tone than his vocal coach, Maroon 5's Adam Levine, hands down. I'm assuming his music career will involve touring with Maroon 5, Bruno Mars, Usher, Lady Gaga, and other phenomenal artists of today's hottest music.

Tune in as I recap the best of the best acts on their way to Hollywood on America's Got Talent!

It's the FINALS!

On The Voice last night the 4 finalists battled it out for the title! They were amazing as were their duets with their coaches. Let's take a look at their individual performances first. Dia sang, "Inventing Shadows" while playing piano. Unfortunately this was a performance I didn't quite like from her, although she appeared confident, I felt that her performance lacked energy. The judges and audience still applauded her and I feel that with her Nelly Furtado-Michelle Branch vocal style, she'll go far in her singing career. Vicci sang, "Afraid to Sleep." Ms. I'm BRINGING IT, lol! With this song she made me proud, she owned it and of course the judges had no criticisms. This girl has tons of energy and she brings it! Voice, moves, and likeability. Although she says she wants to improve, I don't see how that is possible since she is amazing just the way she is! Beverly sang, "Love Sick" and well that performance was sick! She had a crowd on their feet, and is just an overall great performer. Lastly, Javier!!!!!!! I love him! He sang, "Stitch by Stitch" and where do I start? He had perfect breath control, never pitchy, works the stage, true star quality, likeable, and every time he performs, he looks like it doesn't even phase him since as he is naturally comfortable on stage. The guy definitely has it all!

On to the duets! Dia and Blake sang, "I Won't Back Down" on guitar. Cute. Their act looked almost like a Men in Black with their black suits and sunglasses lol. They did a great job, although both have different vocal styles. My only criticism would be they had to have more energy but other than that, well done. Ms. I'm BRINGING IT and Cee Lo sang, "Love Is A Battlefield" with cute young kids as their backup dancers! Wow those children can really move! They're rendition of the song, sounded much like the original...simply FAB! Vicci brought it again, showing the emotion. What I like about her other than her performing style is how genuine she is! This girl could never come off as fake, she connects to any song she sings and the overall result is a phenomenal performance! Beverly and Christina sang, "Beautiful" Unfortunately I didn't think it was all that "beautiful" seeing as Beverly didn't get to showcase her vocals. Even though everyone knows what she's capable of, I felt an uptempo song would've been better for her, like Christina's "Lady Marmalade" or "Come On Over." Lastly, JAVIER!!!! He and Adam sang Michael Jackson's, "Man in the Mirror" JUSTICE, lol! Javier totally gobbled Adam up in this song. We know that no one can copy the iconic Michael Jackson, but this was a great take, it was smooth, energetic, a great vocal! Ta-da!

Tune in tonight to see who's taking it home! Results @ 8pm! Ciao 4 now :)

The Voice: SEMI-FINALS!

Let's break down our finalists in their groups. From Team Christina: Frenchie and Beverly. From Team Adam: Casey and Javier. From Team Blake: Dia and Xenia, and lastly from Team Cee Lo: Vicci and Nakia. The groups battled it out last night for America's and the judges' votes. We shall see who came out on top, but first a glimpse at last night's performances.

Frenchie rocked the arena with her rendition of Madonna's, "Like A Prayer", as did Beverly with her rendition of, "The Thrill Is Gone." Casey pleasantly surprised the judges with her vocal range and stage presence during her rendition of Whitney Houston's, "I Will Always Love You," as did Javier with his version of Coldplay's, "Fix You." Dia, always unique, showed poise and true professionalism while playing the guitar for her take on, "Losing My Religion" and Xenia continues to attempt to show America that she's got what it takes to stay in the competition with her performance of, "The Man Who Can't Be Moved." Vicci brought the crowd to their feet with her take on, "Dog Days Are Over" and Nakia showed originality and worked the stage with his interpretation of Adam Lambert's, "Whataya Want From Me."

I give these young people credit for nailing each song week after week, however I would love to see Xenia come out of her shell and move on stage! Other than that, I've got no criticisms. They were fantastic! Thanks for following my posts, guys. I'll keep you updated on the results!

America's Got Talent - Anna Graceman Audition - Video - NBC.com

America's Got Talent - Anna Graceman Audition - Video - NBC.com


CLICK THE TITLE TO VIEW VIDEO! ENJOY!

AGT: Helloooo ATLANTA!

Let's take a look at the acts that wowed both the audience and the judges in Atlanta! Get ready to be disgusted with Capt. Stab! Performing with his lovely wife, Stab did more than just charm the judges, he shoved coat hangers and swords down his throat and even lifted cinder blocks chained to his mouth! As painful as it was watching his performance, the judges voted him through. Another couple took the stage, Armand and his fiancée Angelina. Their act? To perform "My Heart Will Go On" half in English and half in Italian. Sounds nice, right? Except that their act was like the Titanic's maiden voyage, horrible! He sang like a drunken sailor and his wife who's formally trained in opera, was fantastic! But both styles just didn't flow nicely together. The judges felt it was a guilty pleasure and so this pop-opera group is on to Vegas!

At this point, although the previous acts made it through to Vegas, the judges were praying that the next act left them pleasantly surprised. Their prayers were answered when 11 year old Songbird, Anna Graceman took the stage performing Alicia Keys' hit, "If I Ain't Got You". This girl brought the house down!! she sang with such maturity and poise, a true professional at a young age, phenomenal! Put this link in your URL bar to relive this performance!

BRUINS VICTORIOUS JUNE 2011 STANLEY CUP!

Ok! Where do I start? Game 7 in Rogers Arena Canada was amazing! Vancouver Canucks vs. Bruins, what a game! What a play! I'm excited to report Vancouver didn't score once. But of course Canucks fans didn't take defeat lightly. I can understand their frustration of being so close to the cup before and being defeated, and coming close now and being defeated. Vancouver has never won the cup before, they only have made it to the finals twice. Boston, on the other hand, won the cup in 1972 and hasn't won since then, until now. While we watched massive crowds dancing in the streets in Boston, all hell broke loose in Vancouver. People were flipping cars, burning jerseys, and looting. Many were arrested and beaten by police.

On to Boston to welcome our champions! Saturday June 18th was an unbelievably joyful day for Bruins fans everywhere! Even the MBTA chose to have more trains running then it normally does on weekends, to transport passengers to and from Boston for the huge event, with 45 minute delays. I witnessed massive crowds at the train station in Gloucester who couldn't wait to get to get to Boston to get their party started! Young guys were chaotic on the train, hitting windows and the ceiling at each stop, demanding that the train be moved to catch what was left of the parade. But it was too late. It took 2 hrs to get to Boston and so these guys decided to open beers, acting like it was Mardi Gras! Once we reached Boston it was like, "Who let the dogs out?" They ran out of the train like they were just released from prison, lol! Stepping out of North Station was ridiculous! Police everywhere, crowds of people everywhere, the streets cluttered with confetti!

Walking on the sidewalks was pointless because of how many people there were. It took my friends and I an hr to find each other because with the screaming, calling each other was pointless. The malls and restaurants were unbelievably packed! No wonder, hundreds of thousands of people were in Boston that day! I was approached by screaming guys, who just ran up to me screaming, "YAYA BRUINS, who you for?!?!" Yup, truly memorable. Bravissimi Bruins, time to shave and do it all over again! If they do win again, I'm definitely staying home, lol!

What's the CATCH behind THE VOICE?

After a night of powerful performances comes the results show. Who stays and who's going home? Well from Team Christina there was no surprise that Beverly and Frenchie are powerhouses, each of different genres. From Team Blake we assumed Xenia was the weakest of his contestants and Jared Blake one of the strongest. Let's see what happened. You will be surprised!

From Team Christina Raquel Castro and Lily Elise although strong vocally, they are also the youngest of her group and therefore weren't voted through. America voted to keep Beverly, which left Christina Aguilera with the toughest decision, getting rid of 2 of her girls and allowing 1 to move forward. But who would it be? Frenchie Davis. Why? Well seeing as Lily and Raquel are the youngest they still have opportunities to make it in the industry, and now with their connections to Christina Aguilera, they could most definitely have a shot at stardom. Beverly and Frenchie are older and have tried through other singing competitions to make it big, with no success. This is their time to shine.

Now comes Team Blake. Results. America voted Dia Frampton through which left Blake Shelton to decide who else would stay in the competition. He chose......Xenia, meaning that power rocker, Jared Blake, and country crooner, Patrick Thomas are sent packing! Is there a catch here? Why would he choose Xenia over the other 2? Maybe because he saw that if he had voted one of the guys through, with the powerful voices they have, they may take business away from him once they became stars? Hmm...

Let's take a look at reasons why Christina Aguilera made the choice she made in voting Frenchie through to join Beverly. Could it be that she felt Raquel and Lily were too pretty and uber talented, so she felt that as they get older they'd take the beauty image away from her if they became stars? And because Frenchie and Beverly were the least attractive from the group, could it be that Christina felt that she'd be safe if they went through because they don't have the look the industry looks for?

I couldn't help but notice the pattern between Blake and Christina's choices in which of their contestants they chose to vote through. Seems to me like there's more of a beauty contest going on than a talent competition.  Sadly there's not much to report on Team Cee Lo and Adam. I guess we'll just have to tune in next week.

AGT: On to Seattle!

Hey guys! Let's recap last night's episode of America's Got Talent. Just when you thought the acts couldn't get crazier, they do. First up is a realtor who writes songs for the deceased. Her act was a tribute to Piers Morgan, not kidding. Nick jokingly holds a candle backstage pretending to cry uncontrollably that Piers was, "such a good man, and why oh why the Good Lord had to take him so soon," lol! To mock her, Piers gave her a "resounding yes" but she was not voted through. Second act, a guy who felt he could totally pop a hot water bottle by blowing enough air into it in 20 seconds! Sadly, he failed but you couldn't help but feel bad for him as he was gasping for air. Third, some guy who resembled a woman named Alaska who came out on stage flapping his arms, Nick mimicked him, lol. Yes, that was his act, odd but true. Needless to say he didn't make it through to Vegas. Fourth, an operatic group singing Britney Spear's, "Baby One More Time." Surprisingly, they made it through! Lastly, a group of kids ranging from 8-10 years old, Art of Teknique" rocked the stage with their break dancing. They made it through as well as other aspiring singers.

What exactly can we take from this episode? If you're crazy, pinning yourself with needles, using drills, or flapping around the stage, practically giving yourself a heart attack on stage by attempting to pop a huge bottle, chances are you won't make it on this show, lol!

That's all! Catch AGT Tuesdays @ 8pm and Wednesdays @ 9pm on NBC! The Voice is up next!

Give It Up for NBC's new hit show, The VOICE

With Idol done, you thought you probably weren't going to watch any other singing competition, huh. Wrong. The Voice is in its first season and it's getting hot! It's the show where a panel of 4 judges pick the contestants to be in each of their groups. Once the groups are formed, it's up to America to vote for their favorites. The judges are superstar Cee Lo Green, country star Blake Shelton, Maroon 5's Adam Levine, and one of the powerhouses in pop music, Christina Aguilera. Hosted by........Carson Daly, crazy right?! Who remembers his TRL days? Well his hosting personality hasn't changed. He's still with his hand in his pocket except now he wears suits. Ok! Back to the show!

To catch all of you up, I'll present the groups. Team Blake consists of: Patrick Thomas, Elenowen, Xenia, Jared Blake, Tyler Robinson, Dia Frampton, Serabee, Sara Oromchi. Team Christina consists of: Tarralyn Ramsey, former Idol Frenchie Davis, Beverly McClellan, Lily Elise, Cherie Oakley, Raquel Castro, Julia Eason, and Justin Grennan. There are 2 other judges but their contestants haven't performed yet therefore I'll leave them out til next week. I am only going to focus on Team Blake and Team Christina.

Last Tuesday night was amazing! From what I saw both groups so far have incredible voices, but for me the strongest would be Team Christina. In part because Frenchie Davis is among her contestants and she alone is a powerhouse. She tried out for American Idol many years ago so she knows what it's like to perform in front of an audience. As a result she has great stage presence and is not afraid to belt out those notes! Beverly McClellan is the rocker chick. She knows how to get the crowd on their feet, and has phenomenal vocals. Lily Elise is in a league of her own. This 19 year old beat out a contestant who already was in the music industry, just not recognized. Therefore I think she's going to sail through the competition. Lastly, Raquel Castro is the youngest contestant, but this girl you may recognize from her role in Jersey Girl as Jennifer Lopez/Ben Affleck's daughter. Raquel not only acts but sings so maturely for someone her age. At 16, she's one of the ones to beat. Watch out, world! 

Now for Team Blake. The ones who stand out are Patrick Thomas with his rendition of "I Hope You Dance" that melted Christina Aguilera, the rocker Kings of Leon sound-alike, Jared Blake, Dia Frampton with her soulful rendition of Kanye West's "Heartless", and the shy but melodic Xenia. 

That wraps it up. Unfortunately the photos didn't upload, but I'll try to fix that. Team Cee Lo and Team Adam are up next week! Can't wait! Until next time...

Howie Mandel, Nick Cannon as amazing as the TALENT on AGT

Hey guys! We're up for yet another spectacular season of America's Got Talent. The judges, Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, and Howie Mandel are the same, but the talent is greater than ever. Of course we've seen magicians, people drilling themselves with power tools, fire swallowers, jugglers, and dancers, but I feel like this season the spectacular acts outweigh the insane acts. Live from Houston and Minneapolis, the contestants blew us viewers and the judges away!

I loved watching The Silhouettes with their shadow show, Lys Agnes with her amazing rendition of, "Ave Maria", the shocking performance of the Sandou Trio, with the blonde girl doing high, acrobatic flips on a trampoline-like bar, a variety of breakdancers, including the most adorable 6 year old boy I've ever seen on the show, Tanner, who gave a shout out to his girlfriend Abby. In addition, who doesn't love a talking parrot? I know it sounds kind of cliche, but yes, two women communicated with parrots this season so far. Weird, that a parrot knows the sounds of different animals and also sings, "Old McDonald." Needless to say all these performers made it to Vegas for Round 2!

Hmm, now comes the insane acts. Who could forget the guy juggling 3 electric guns while standing in a basin of water? Well believe it or not, he may have come very close to dying onstage, but made it to Vegas. Another unforgettable act...settle down, class is in session with...Professor Splash! Yes, this 47 year old guy was amazing, yet crazy for jumping from 26 feet into a pool filled with a foot of water. I nearly had a heart attack watching this, I can't imagine what the audience was feeling. Nick Cannon joked saying he didn't want to get wet so chose to wear latex, then advised kids to not try Prof. Splash's stunt at home.  Miraculously, Splash came out of the water feeling, "fantastic" and promises to break the record on the show if he makes it to Round 2. What do you know? He's moving on to VEGAS!

Although each act was more exciting than the last, before the great performers came out onstage, Piers randomly grew a little impatient when Howie and Sharon were allowing what he called, "pathetic acts" to move forward. To the actors dressed as gnomes, "Those Funny Little People", Piers immediately left the judge's panel when they were voted through. As a joke, Howie says, "Because you can piss off Piers, I say yes." Then convinces Sharon to do the same. Backstage, Howie invites this group to Piers' dressing room to chill with him, haha! Later on, as the group is accompanied out, Howie closes Piers' door, pushes a vending machine in front of it, then knocks and tells him, "A few minutes til the next act, Piers" while laughing on camera, lol. Who doesn't love Howie Mandel?

Time to move on to the next city. Tune in next week for more updates. Thanks for following this, ciao!

I called 911 because your HAT nearly killed me! LOL!

Thank Goodness for Pippa and Kate! Why? They are the fashionistas with SENSE! For those of you who saw the Royal Wedding live, you most definitely saw those ill-looking hats. I know many of you must have been thinking, "WHAT does she have going on her head?!" as you saw the many guests get out of their cars. Oh yeah, I can relate. But honestly with all that is royal and serious, there is also comedy! Who knew? William pushing the ring on Kate's finger when he realized it was kind of small for her was nothing compared to THOSE hats! Watching it from beginning to end, I was so glad my mother and sister were blasting the TV at 5am that morning. If I had continued sleeping, I would have missed out!

The queen of sass, sarcasm, Joan Rivers had her own comments about the royal attire. Sitting with Tori Spelling, and Mel B of the Spice Girls. Rivers was appalled by the style of each hat claiming they looked like a women's private parts. To be blunt, she said, "Now ladies, I know you're single but really that is no reason to have to wear your vagina on your heads!" (See photos).  Leave it to Joan Rivers to tell it like it is! Even David Beckham pictured here looks like he's holding back from laughing at wife Victoria's hat. For Princess Beatrice in beige (pictured below), Rivers said, "She's too desperate to get married but she's wearing an I.U.D. on her head. The hat is like she's trying to make funnel cakes." LOL! Kudos, Joan. Although I commented that her hat looked like a railing, I feel like Joan's comment was spot on, 100% accurate! For Kate she said, "I like that she did her makeup herself, but it blows my mind 'cause I have a makeup girl come in even when I'm just shopping online!" I have many favorite quotes from Joan on the royal wedding, but one that I just loved was her comment on Pippa's dress. Rivers said, "The dress is too sexy. You know Kate tried this on first and said, "Too sexy, take it back.' And Pippa said, "Not so fast bitch, I'm single!" Oh Joan, Joan, Joan..who doesn't love her?

I'm always looking forward to her comments just to see what she's gonna say next. Sort of like when you have a parrot. You say something but then get close to the cage to see if the parrot is going to repeat what you said.

Well that's it! Another post done. I hope you had as much fun reading this as I had writing it. Ciao for now!

Is it bye bye Pippa for the paparazzi?

Are we saying, "Arrivederci Pippa?"...HA! Not even close! The world is still in love with her as is the media. The Baronness, Countess' sister has been in the paparazzi eye since the Royal Wedding and is there to stay. We all remember the ceremony, right? April 29, 2011 sitting on the edge of our chairs, or couches curious and anxious to see Kate's dress and wanting to know the designer she chose. Well, many women did, not men, of course. Although I'm sure men got a kick out of looking at those obnoxious-looking hats! I know I did! Who knew the British love wearing their hats practically on their foreheads? But as her sister's Maid of Honor, Pippa stole the show with her size 2 figure and the white dress Kate refused to wear. Who would've thought the Maid of Honor wearing white, not traditional for many of us, but hey at least she had Kate's permission. 

The reception was another event where Pippa turned heads. Although Kate looked stunning in her white, slightly pleated gown with short cashmere cardigan, Pippa once again wowed the guests wearing a long, flowy, emerald green, low cut gown, with diamond embellishments on her belt and straps (See photos). Che bellissime donne! Gorgeous! I adore these girls' fashion sense.

While there was talk about Pippa and Prince Harry being the next royal couple, it looks like the only moment they shared was laughing and smiling as they were walking down the aisle --not the 2 of them walking down the aisle, lol. Turns out both have relationships of their own. Pippa has a boyfriend, and Prince Harry might just marry his on-off girlfriend, Chelsy Davy whom he accompanied at the royal wedding. So don't be believing everything you hear, guys, Pippa and Prince Harry are not a couple. 

That's it for now on Pippa and Kate, London's 2 superstars. With the wedding done, I still have yet to post about Joan Rivers' comments from her Fashion Preview of the Royal Wedding. Stay tuned, you don't want to miss it!

In need of a vacation but can't get away?

GET IN TO THE SPIRIT OF A SPIRIT CRUISE! They do business in a number of different cities such as: Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Norfolk, and even the nation's capital. Book the one closest to you, you won't regret it! Enjoy a full buffet while taking in the scenic views, hit the dance floor, or experience the nightlife outside. Have fun under the stars or under the sun. You can have a cruise anytime of day, lunch, dinner or moonlight. Having a special occasion? Spirit cruises have got you covered. No matter what the celebration, enjoy a holiday or themed cruise! Book yours over the phone or online. Visit spiritcruises.com for information on rates and schedules.

In May 2011, I went on this cruise in Boston as part of Salem State College's annual Senior Week events (basically a week of events leading to graduation to congratulate students on a job well done in their academic career), and I was not disappointed. My graduating friends had no idea what to expect, but were glad I talked them into going. We were welcomed by the friendly crew, who took our picture to be purchased later, enjoyed the sites despite fog, as well as the buffet, and danced the night away. Entertainment basically consisted of today's music from salsa, rap/R&B, hip hop, to international techno. So no worries guys it's not like you're being serenaded by a Lawrence Welk orchestra, haha. However if you're into that kind of music a DJ is always willing to take requests. Now that's AMORE! My friend, Adia felt it would be hilarious to confuse people by requesting "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, so as a side note to anyone who was on that cruise and heard that song played, yes, that was us!

Congratulations to SSU Class of 2011, and thanks to the rest of you for taking the time out of your life to read this :)

Tons of sequins, tanner, and overall TALENT!

     Ciao! (a universal greeting, haha), wow I can't believe I have yet another blog. The last one I had was on myspace years ago. Why doesn't facebook have a blog app? I just hope I'm going to continue going strong with this one and actually update it. Ok, enough about me. I'm going to recap what recent events took place in the entertainment world. I know you can always watch Access Hollywood or Extra to get the latest updates on shows and celebs, but I think you'll find my blogs are better considering I'll get right to the point, and there are no commercial breaks, lol. Let's start with the finale of Dancing With the Stars Season 12. What can I say about the set setup? Not much since it hasn't changed from previous seasons..or has it? I just started watching the show last season to see Jersey Shore's Mike "Situation" Sorrentino, get his newfound "elegance" on with the lovely Karina Smirnoff, but then fell in love with the show after finding Bristol Palin, Kyle Massey, Florence Henderson, and Jennifer Grey were among the contestants competing. 
     Now back to Dancing With the Stars Season 12 results. Honestly I loved Chelsea Kane/Mark Ballas, Kirstie Alley/Maks, Romeo/Chelsea Hightower, Ralph Macchio/Karina Smirnoff, and Hines Ward/Kym Johnson. Overall we can agree that everyone who goes on the show is working their butt off for the Mirror Ball Trophy and nailing difficult dance choreography week after week, but it all comes down to who has the rhythm, musicality, "perfect lines", and shows proper feet, hip, and leg action. The couples for me who had this whole package were Chelsea/Mark, Ralph/Karina, and Hines/Kym. Chelsea/Mark for their unbelievable dance moves! I especially liked their Harry Potter themed waltz, but sadly they came in 3rd place in the competition. I loved Ralph/Karina for their chemistry, consistent teamwork through rehearsals, and persistence to get through each dance, despite a knee injury sustained by Ralph which towards the end interfered with his performance, and caused him to be eliminated. Like Ralph, Kym sustained a neck injury during rehearsals, but she quickly recovered and she and Hines pulled through one HOT performance, earning them the Mirror Ball Trophy! Congrats! Surprisingly, Kirstie/Maks came in 2nd in the competition despite their accidents on the dance floor. What I can say was that this was one hot season for Dancing With the Stars, I can't wait for next season!
     Like Dancing with the Stars I've got to say this past season was also one of Idol's best seasons yet! Who didn't love Pia, Lauren, Scotty, James, Casey, and Stefano? We were all shocked with the elimination of Pia after her killer performance of "River Deep, Mountain High." Personally I think she did a GREAT rendition of that song, phenomenal actually. But was it really her lack of movement that caused her to be eliminated? Hmmm,  I feel controversy coming on. Seriously Pia?!? Many had their own opinions as to what caused the brunette bombshell to be voted off. For example, people assumed she was safe and they voted for those who may have been in danger of elimination instead. Or her looks played a part where young girls were intimidated by her, or young girls were obsessed with Scotty and so voted for him repeatedly. Does it matter? NO! I must admit her elimination brought tears to my and my family's eyes, but Jimmy Iovine scooped her up and signed her less than 24hrs after her elimination. So we definitely haven't heard the last of Pia Toscano. Apart from her new record deal, Pia found love in the spotlight with her new beau, Dancing With the Stars cutie, Mark Ballas. Yes, Pia couldn't be happier so don't worry, world! I can't wait to see her on tour!
     *Seacrest's voice* On to this season's results! Dim the lights and here we go! Despite Lauren's laryngitis, she was still able to outsing Scotty in the finale. Her duet with Carrie Underwood of "Before He Cheats" was a show-stopper and crowd pleaser! Scotty, on the other hand, had night of slow, soft performances but yet he was crowned winner! I love them both so when they were the final 2, I didn't choose sides even though I know the win should've gone to Lauren. While hugging Lauren he said, "I love you, babe" and announced that he and Lauren were going to be together forever. Hmmm...we as the public don't really know what that means, but on Jay Leno's show, Lauren insisted that she and Scotty are nothing more than just good friends. Bummer :( Just kidding! Apart from praising his co-contestants and the public, the true highlight for me was when he said he had to thank God first and foremost because without Him, he would not be where he was at that moment. Ohhh can I get an AMEN?!? Bravo Scotty! God Bless you, you will definitely go far in your career :)
     That wraps it up! Another season of Idol and Dancing With the Stars done. Catch all your favorite contestants on the American Idol tour this summer! For more information visit americanidol.com.