I don’t watch any tv shows on Lifetime. I’ve outgrown the need to watch made-for-tv movies about abused women, women in peril, women who commit crimes, women who get divorced, and Tori Spelling. It’s just not my ‘go to’ channel for tv viewing.

However, a little over a week ago I saw a review online for a new tv series debuting on the Lifetime channel called DROP DEAD DIVA. They proclaimed the main actress to be delightful and a great find, the story fun & watchable, etc. Out of curiosity, I set up my TiVO to record the first episode, which aired last Sunday.

Every time I needed something to watch, I’d see it in my queue and skip over it. I mean, it is Lifetime, after all. Is that really my kind of show?

Friday night I was desperate for something to watch. I clicked on DROP DEAD DIVA, and was instantly hooked.

OMG, Lifetime! You did something magical! I absolutely love this show.

Let me give you a quick recap: Beautiful, but slightly shallow, woman with a hot boyfriend dies in a car wreck. In a fluke, she gets sent back to earth to inhabit the body of a brilliant (yet just dead on the operating table) overweight lawyer. And the fun begins.

My favorite parts about this show? The actress who plays the overweight lawyer is a delight. She inhabits her character and makes me instantly want to watch her. Also, although the woman is on the slightly larger side, they don’t whack you over the head with fat jokes. She’s competent, if a bit plain, and the hot chick inside her only goes through a short period of freaking out about her new bigger body. Instead of constantly downing herself for the overweight woman she has become, she just takes it on and moves ahead with it. No talks about diet or exercise. The most we get is a desire to have a better wardrobe.

Also, the writers created a bunch of characters that I find interesting: her assistant (played wonderfully by Margaret Cho), the rival beautiful lawyer chick, her boyfriend (who thinks she is dead), her angel who keeps an eye out for her (hot dude!), and a few others sprinkled into the mix.

The best part is that shallow pretty girl, although she doesn’t inherit the memories of the woman whose body she inhabits, has access to her intelligence. So she will spit out points of law perfectly, shocking herself with her knowledge.

I just loved it. I set up the Season Pass, and I’m ready for more!

Check out this cute show. It’s worth your time. Yay to Lifetime for figuring out how to create a show that women want to watch!!!!!

I watched the very last episode of “Pushing Daisies” over the weekend. And I want to cry. It was such a great little show and so undeserving of being cancelled.

Ned with his secret power to bring the dead back life….but only for 1 minute….and his difficult romance with the only girl he ever loved…who he brought back to life. Well, if you haven’t seen it, it’s a bit complicated to explain. But if you watch an episode, it’s not that hard to catch on.

Kristin Chenoweth was delightful as the little spitfire pie waitress, Olive Snook, and Chi McBride was hilarious as the fast-talking P.I., Emerson Cod.

Why aren’t there more tv shows like this? Why don’t more people WATCH tv shows like this? It had some of the best dialogue I’ve heard in a long while. The lines on “Pushing Daisies” reminded me a lot of the movies from the 30s and 40s. The quick wit and snappy comebacks without a lick of swearing (mostly).

If you get a chance, rent the first season DVD this summer. The first few episodes, especially, were fabulous b/c ABC was putting a lot of money into the show. The costumes, sets and special effects are glorious.

If you follow me on Twitter, I just put a link to an article about Bryan Fuller’s plans (the show’s creator) to publish a series of “Pushing Daisies” comic books that will come out in the fall. Maybe I can get my fill of Chuck, Ned, Olive & Emerson in print.

I have mentioned before on my blog that I am a tv junkie. The good news for readers is that, during the summer, when nothing much new is on, I get a LOT of writing done! (maybe I should learn from that and try to cut back on my tv watching…nah.)

Last night was the season finale (and the final episode) of a silly little show called “Reaper.” It’s on that weird network, The CW, which also keeps my beloved “Supernatural” alive and kicking every season, so I can’t hate them too much.

“Reaper” is about a sort of loser guy named Sam who had his soul sold to the devil by his father when he was a baby. Nice dad, huh? As payback he must work for the devil collecting escaped souls and returning them back to hell. He has a couple of friends (one of which is named Sock and has probably some of the best lines and the funniest delivery ever) who help him out with this soul collecting, and he also has this on-and-off girlfriend. Anyway, it’s a fun show with a great comic flair to it.

The last episode aired last night…and in some ways they did give an ‘end’ to the show. Not really solid, but something that can work in my mind. They resolved a few things and left me feeling okay with it.

I did read somewhere that they are trying to turn it into a syndicated show…in other words, the local networks would sign on to air the show and pay for the privilege. Much like they do now with repeats of “Seinfeld” or “Friends.” But this would allow them to continue making new episodes of the show. I guess the idea is that there is no original Sunday night CW programming right now. So “Reaper” could fill that void for the local networks who choose to participate.

I thought that was an intriguing idea. Not sure if it will fly. I’m also not sure if that would compromise the quality of the show…not like it was high end in the first place, but it did have occasional special effects and some great actors. I’d hate for that to change.

If you haven’t watched “Reaper,” this summer might be the ideal time to rent the first season. I’m guessing it’s on DVD somewhere. The first season was more formulaic, but it still was fun. The second season they worked a lot harder at the story arcs, rather than just coming up with fun escaped souls to track down every week.

Ah, the final three on American Idol. All men. Interesting to see that.

If anyone’s been reading my sparse posts about AI, you know I’m no Adam fan. After last night, I have not changed my mind. In fact, I’m seriously hoping the guy gets the boot tomorrow night. Yes, he was that awful. (I’m still trying to figure what the judges were listening to, and have come to the conclusion instead that they want him to win, so they will say anything and everything to get him votes.)

“One” - OMG, what WAS that? Where was the melody? Lost in Adam’s messy, screechy world of singing rock as if it were for a theater audience. I imagined this to be in some musical on off off Broadway a la “Mamma Mia.” And the KISS tongue wag has to go.

“Cryin’” - First, the backup singer was TOO loud. Second, the arrangement was a mess. Third, more screech. Not good, dude. Not good. Do not let the judges fool you.

Danny was all right last night. I’ve liked him better in the past. I blame part of his problems on song choices.

some Trent D’arby song - Why is Paula allowed to choose songs? She always does a horrid job. This song had hardly any range at all. Was unfamiliar to most of the audience. Danny kinda yell-sang through it. Enh.

“You Are So Beautiful” - Not the most original choice. Sung well, but not the ‘master class’ that the one judge claimed it to be. I like Danny better when he’s gravelly.

Kris Allen, you are the man! I didn’t like you very much at the beginning. Thought you were sort of a blah contestant…and then as time went on, you showed how talented you really are.

“Apologize” - Sitting at the piano was a mistake. Not your best effort ever, but you did it justice. I will give a pass b/c you didn’t choose this song.

“Heartless” - BEST SONG OF THE NIGHT. I despise Kanye West, but you made me love this song. I loved it so much that I am waiting for it to appear on iTunes so I can buy it. That is the mark of a true artist. I hope you make it to the final two.

So, I’m pretty certain Adam will be in the final two. I’m hoping I’m wrong, because that would be the coolest upset ever. The judges are pimping for him hard. As are the producers as they seem to give him all kinds of stage help with rockstar type entrances, lighting, outfits. That does nothing for me, but clearly they think it will help push him over the top.

After that I’m hoping Kris is in the final two. He deserves to be there. He is a true musician.

What did you think?

Biggest Loser

I tape the repeat of this on Saturday night. So my intention was to NOT see who won. Sadly, I accidentally found out this morning. Just have to say, I’ve never liked Helen. She always seemed more into herself than anything else, and she proved it when she convinced her daughter, who has never been thin in her life, to go home instead of her!?! Classic self-centered person.

All of her revelations seemed fake to me. When she went home and was surprised by the size of her clothes…fake, fake, fake. “Oh, I can’t believe these are mine? Are you sure, honey?” COME ON. What a faker. UGH.

Whatever. I am still looking forward to watching it on repeat mode Saturday night to see the transformations. Tara won a buttload of prizes, so I can’t feel too badly for her. The rest of them will get endorsements and whatnot from their local areas.

Helen will most likely spend all of her winnings on herself.

Let me just start this post by saying the last time I ever watched an actual show on MTV I was probably 18 years old. So clearly I am not the demographic MTV (the most UNmusical musical channel there is) is looking for.

But somehow I lucked across this new ‘game show’ called “The Phone” produced by Justin Timberlake of all things!

Have you ever seen the movie “The Game” with Michael Douglas where he thinks all of these horrible things have happened to him only to find out it was some sick birthday gift from his brother? Well, this game show is sort of like that. And terribly addictive. And family friendly. Kudos to MTV for keeping it clean.

The premise of the show is this…4 strangers are given a directive to appear in a certain place at a certain time. A phone rings. And rings. And rings. Each contestant must find his ringing phone and answer it. On the other end is the ‘host’ who tells you that the game is beginning and do you want to play?

Once each contestant says ‘yes,’ the insanity begins. It’s all done with hidden cameras and appears to be happening in the real world…they’ve had a car blow up, a gun battle, and a man get hit by a car all right in front of the contestants’ eyes as if it’s happening for real.

I’m still trying to figure out how they do it exactly.

They break up into teams of two and are given a series of tasks that are related to the overall mystery they are supposed to solve. Halfway through one team is eliminated and then the final two contestants must work together to figure it all out.

Yeah, it can be a little corny at times. But the special effects and the ‘real’ feel of it, plus the reactions of the contestants while all this is going on is really quite fun.

Episode 4 is on tomorrow night at 10. You might want to try it out.

Yes, another post on “Biggest Loser.” My family can tell you I have a thing for weight-loss type shows. Something about watching people transform and improve their lives…

Anyway, I tape the repeat showing on Fine Living Network every Saturday night b/c American Idol and other necessary shows for my well being are on Tuesday nights.

I always find it interesting when you get toward the end of the competition because that is when you really get to know these people. Early on, there are so many competitors, the editors try to create a ‘character’ for each person. You only get a snippet of who they are.

But as time goes on, those snippets get longer, and you get to see a little bit more of the real person.

That’s what happened this week. I’ve always liked Ron and his son. They seemed like ‘nice’ people. The type that wouldn’t hurt a fly. BUT, when they eliminated Kristin and tried to play ‘innocent’ like it wasn’t all planned secretly….wow, that makes me sad.

Ron, why not just be honest with Kristin? She’s going to get booted no matter what you do. But instead of lying to her and telling her you’d talk with your son and do your best, you actually whisper and encourage him to kick Kristin off.

I know, it’s just a game. But I agree with Kristin’s last words…the kid just decided he couldn’t hack it against his hardest competition. He’d rather sail to victory than work his ass off. Yeah, he’s lost a PILE of weight, but now he can sort of coast to the finale. And he knows it.

Oh well, Kristin looked great when she went home. I can’t wait to see her at the finale, because she does have quite a bit more she could lose.

I’m still annoyed at Helen for basically sending her own daughter home. Any mom who really loved her child would have left and given her kid the spot.

Curious to see what happens next week and how long some of these contestants can stay in the game.

Yes, more unwanted American Idol commentary. But, hey, this is what I obsess over, so I’m thinking I should be writing about stuff like this. Right?

Why is it every year they do a country week and most singers fail? For some reason the majority believe they must sing that country tune LIKE a country singer. Um, no. You are allowed to take a country song and give it your own spin. In fact, I’m usually disappointed if they don’t try.

My top three of the night:

1) Kris Allen. I know! I was surprised by this, too. I think he’s adorable, but rather ho-hum and forgettable. But this week he did very very well staying away from the guitar and just singing the song simply. You couldn’t even really tell it was country…he made it into just a regular ballad, which was nice.

2) Danny Gokey. Yes, the verses were not that great…but the chorus!? OMG, fab. This dude can bring it. And Randy was right, he just needs to learn to support those lower notes. I think he will. Right now he’s going on natural gifts alone, but he needs to start working on the weak areas and improving them. I believe he can do it.

3) Anoop Desai. ANOOP! Thank you so much for just plain singing a song well, without any added entertainment value needed. He’s got a great voice which he doesn’t need to surround with wild dancing and Bobby Brown moves. I’m sure he can do that…but right now America just needs to be assured you can sing well.

Oh, man, the ladies SO disappointed me this week. I’m not sure what was going on. I think Alexis probably did the best with “Jolene,” but she seems to be struggling with her identity. (and they were right, she totally looks like a flat chested Dolly Parton!?)

Lil, please do not reject your R&B self to ‘honor’ a theme week ever again.

Megan, I will give you a pass because of your illness, but figure out what kind of singer you are. Something is not working there.

Adam - WTF, dude? You really should be in the bottom 3, man. But I know there are people out there who think you are great. The screech must go. If you think you must prove your voice goes that high every week, I think my ear will bleed. Not necessary. Just SING. Simon was right. The most self-indulgent performance in a long time…right up there with Constantine doing his creepy eye crap every week…ogling the camera, basically.

And one last thing, I loved Matt Giraud last week. But this week, I just didn’t get it. He was okay. His piano playing was fabulous. But the singing just didn’t work for me this week. I do want him back, though.

My choices for bottom three:

1) Oil well guy, never ever choose a song with only 2 notes in it. If you ever say to yourself, “Hey, that’s a fun song,” immediately scratch from your list.

2) Scott. I liked you a whole lot last week, but repeating the same kind of performance is not the way to get ahead.

3) Allison. I don’t want her in the bottom three, but I have a feeling the other women have their fans. Allison may be an acquired taste and her repeated rocker sound from week to week may be losing its originality.

What did you think?

I think I’m going to try to do a weekly report on American Idol. I watch the show, I obsess about it sometimes, and I’ve been watching it since the beginning…so I think I have some things to say.

My top three:

1) Danny Gokey. Amazing. I was a little worried about the song choice, but he blew me away. I will buy an album from you, Danny.

2) Scott the blind guy. (yeah, I’m bad with names) Okay, I didn’t really like this guy during the final 36. I thought he only did ‘okay’ and thought others were more deserving of his spot. However, when he is in front of the piano…wow! To me, he is sort of a Billy Joel type. Adult contemporary music with an uplifting positive feel. And he took a Michael Jackson song and didn’t make it sound like it was Michael Jackson.

3) Matt Giraud. Another GREAT piano performance. He also did quite badly during the final 36, so I was glad to see him behind the piano as well. That dude is talented! I would say he’s actually a better piano player than Scott by a mile. Definitely deserving of a final 13 spot.

Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Where’s the lady love? My back up choice was actually Allison Iraheta. The reason she did not make the top 3? At the end of the program, I listened to the clips without looking at the performers. Amazing what you hear. Most of the women, were not that great. Allison’s performance came across as very harsh and almost yell-singing. She is better than that. (you know who else sounded quite bad? Jasmine. Yeah, I thought she did better this week, too…but when I listened blindly to her…not good, honey.)

You are probably also wondering about Lil Rounds. I thought her singing was good, but the song choice was terrible, and who put her in those awful, awful white pants with PLEATS and narrow bottoms? So so unflattering, and she has a great ‘hourglass’ type of figure. Fie on those damn stylists for making her look like she had 3 kids. Bad!

Another one you are wondering about is Adam Lambert. Yeah, all the judges gushed. The crowd gave him a standing ‘o,’ but, honestly? He was screeching through the whole song. There was very little ’singing’ in that song that I could hang my hat on and say, “yeah, that dude can sing!” When he sang during the final 36, I didn’t really love him, but I could hear the talent, knew why he was there. This time, I was scratching my head and wondering if I was the only one who heard how painful it was. I mean, really painful…I thought he’d burst a vocal cord. I hope he just backs off a bit next week. Methinks not, as he only got raves from everyone, so right now he thinks he’s doing fabulously. Anyone else hear what I did?

At risk to go home: Megan Joy Corkrey (I don’t think people really ‘get’ her different voice…I  like her, but the song was awful, babe.), Anoop Desai (I love this guy, but the song choice was TERRIBLE), Jasmine (for reasons I gave above).

Would love some comments! Go for it.

Kris

Like I mentioned a few days ago, I watch a lot of TV. There are several reality shows I watch…and one of them is “The Biggest Loser.” Ask my family, I have this fascination with watching overweight people get back into shape. I’m not sure what it is…the transformation? or the process of learning they can be physical and an athlete, even after years of sitting on the couch?

The episodes are WAY too long, so I Tivo them and watch them later…fastforwarding thought the heartfelt confessions or the decision process as they agonize over who to send home. Boring.

I just like watching the challenges and the final workout and, of course, the weigh-ins.

Last night, it ticked me off (I tape the later airing on the Fine Living Network) because they made you sit through 2 hours only to leave it as ‘to be continued.’ It’s bad enough they stretch the episodes out like they do….

But yet I come back and keep watching.

So, I guess I should make some more specific commentary on the contestants. I’m horrible with names, sad to say. But here are my thoughts:

1) The models. Jennifer and Tara, I think. Tara is an animal when it comes to weight loss, but she isn’t very supportive of her partner. I think she is the one who made Jennifer believe from the beginning she was the weak one, and Jennifer has played right into that.

2) Sione & the other guy. The cousins. Love them. Seem like nice dudes. I wouldn’t be upset if they stayed until the end.

3) Dad & son. Mike & Ron. Mike is a good kid. I want him to stay until the end. Could he have been any more caring and kind when he gave away his year of free groceries? Wow. Ron, you’ve done a good job. However, I worry about Ron. I know he’s a nice guy, but he’s not losing a whole lot of weight in comparison to the rest of his team because of his knee and other problems. I want him to succeed, but I’m sad that Dane got sent home because Ron was ‘nice.’ Mike needs to stay until the end, and then go home and get his brother into the game.

4) The sisters. Cannot remember their names at all. I love them because they don’t seem like the type to have ever been athletic. They seem like nice moms who do their thing, but never took time for themselves. I’d love to have them (or at least one) stick around for a long time.

5) Older blonde lady. She bugs me. She let her daughter go home, which I thought was very selfish of her. A mom should want the best for her kids…and I don’t care if her daughter was begging to go home, I would’ve made her stay. The trainers were right…the daughter had always been heavy. Mom hadn’t. Who needs the help more? She can get cut for all I care.

6) Mom & Daughter. Kristin & ?. I love these two. Especially since Kristin was the largest female contestant they’d ever had. As the weeks pass, I can see a beautiful girl emerge. Someone she probably has never seen in her entire life. I want her to make it to the end and find out how pretty she is under all that extra weight. She also is an animal when it comes to exercise. For someone that size, it must be tough, but she has no qualms about pushing herself. I find it interesting that some of these contestants find out they really were athletes all along.

I think that’s everyone. I know it’s a silly show to obsess over. But for some reason I do.

I think last night’s American Idol had probably the worst group of singers out of the 36. There were a few bright spots, though. I have four who I believe should advance (I’ll pick my three plus a back up).

1) Lil Rounds. I think pretty much everyone would say she deserves to be in the top 12. Amazing talent. So comfortable on stage. How did this woman NOT find success before this show?

2) Ju’Not Joyner. Loved him. Such a great understated performance. He also seemed very comfortable on stage, and I think he’ll do interesting things with the music each week. He is one who’d know how to create a ‘new’ version out of something.

3) Felicia Barton. Why oh why did they not originally pick this girl for the final 36?  It boggles my mind. She is very very good. Great look. Great vocals (maybe a bit flat or screechy in some places). She did Alicia Keyes proud with that rendition of “No one.”

4) Kristen McNamara. She is my iffy 4th person. I don’t particularly like the girl, but she’s got a voice and she can sing. I think her outfit was very babydoll strange, and she does have a tendency to do some karaoke styled moves. But she was in tune, sang pretty damn well, and isn’t bad to look at. She just needs a stylist desperately.

Jorge Nunez probably should be in there somewhere, too. I didn’t particularly like him in the earlier Hollywood rounds or even in his audition. But he did pretty well with “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” And, Simon, DON’T encourage him to sing with a heavy accent!  Eeek. I could still hear a bit of one in his singing, but not so much that it made the lyrics unintelligible. If Jorge wants to showcase why he is ‘different,’ he should sing a song that has both Spanish and English lyrics. There are quite a few of those. Look at the successful Latin artists in America and play off of that. Because you’d probably fit very well into that group of successful singers.

Curious to see what happens tonight with the voting. I didn’t participate this week. If I’m particularly moved, I will sometimes dial the phone. But this week, I think the people I like are safe…particularly Ju’Not and Lil Rounds. If I’m wrong, well, you can blame me!

One note, I felt particularly bad for Scott, the blind guy. I didn’t think he sang all that well, and I think the judges high praise was condescending and awful. Look, just because you might feel badly because he’s blind is no reason to oversell his performance and praise him for what would’ve been mediocre if performed by anyone else.  Scott would not want you to lie or make him feel better. He’s probably dealt with that his whole life…people compensating for what they believe are his shortcomings.

So, what did you think?