AMERICAN IDOL

AMERICAN IDOL used to be one of my favorite shows. I say used to be not because I don't still watch it every week and look forward to seeing how my favorite singers are doing, but rather, because it has almost become a characeture of its former self. On top of that the show seems to be taking itself much to seriously. Take for example, the new format they have on elimination night where they invite fans to email questions, which they than allow them to ask the contestants themselves via the phone. This type of thing is nothing more than filler for an episode that should really only last about 15 minutes. I don't mind the packages they do each week where they try and get the audience to believe the contestants are responding naturally to pre-planned questions, but this question and answer session is honestly pandering to the lowest common denominator of the fan based.

Apparently I'm not the only person who feels this way because I just heard that the ratings are slipping for the first time since the show aired, and the producers are considering a change to the format. That being said, the changes I'm hearing about will only serve to push even more fans away. One of the ideas on the table is to get rid of the audition episodes, which is the only part a lot of my friends even watch. However, they are also giving their audience questionnaires asking them if they think there is too much bantering among the judges and if they want to see more of host, Ryan Seacrest, or less. If anybody watched last night's episode I'd say this is a no-brainer.


In what can be considered just the latest in a long line of bazar outbursts by judge, Paula Abdul, the audience was left to wonder, yet again, what the heck she brings to the table, other than awkward moments that are discussed ad nauseum by late night TV and morning talk shows. Last night was the first episode that the contestants sang two songs each, and the judges were supposed to give their critiques after the second round, however, once the first round was over, the contestants were lined up so that the judges could give a quick synopsis of how they felt they did and what they needed to do to improve their second song. Paula either got to see something the rest of us didn't, or she exposed the fact that her comments are written for her because she proceeded to critique one contestants on both songs. Now remember, none of the contestants had even sung their second song yet.

While this type of gaffaw is a form of perverse entertainment to some people, I found it very uncomfortable to watch. Even still, I am already emotionally invested so I most definitly will continue to watch, but if David Cook doesn't win the whole thing, I may just get as crazy as Paula seems to be.

MEDIUM

If you are anything like me, you love watching any show that deals with the supernatural. While MEDIUM isn't the best acted show, nor does it appear to be very realistic, even though it is based on a real-life person, it still contains some of the main ingredients necessary for any good ghost story. Each week suburban housewife and mother, Allison Dubois, embarks on a journey to find a killer, based on whatever nagging nightmares are plaquing her at the time. But, Allison isn't the only member of the family pocessed with the gift to foretell the future. During the end of last season, we saw her two oldest daughters dabbling in the afterlife as well.

Here's the premise; Allison, who was interning at the DA's office while attending law school, gave her boss a little extra help by giving him the inside information she got from her dreams. But Allison doesn't just get messages sent to her by the dearly departed while asleep, sometimes they actually appear to her during her waking hours as well. So what we get is a partnership between the dead, the medium and law enforcement to catch the killer of the week. With all the cards stacked in their favor, you have to wonder how some of the bad guys get away. Actually, on this show they rarely do, but it's how it all works out that makes the show.

The one thing that bothers me about this show is the fact that even though Allison is proven right time after time, the people she works with still have to question her about every peice of information she gives them. I suppose there wouldn't be much of a show without that conflict though, so I'm willing to deal with it. While MEDIUM is no SIXTH SENSE, it does feed my need to know even just a little bit about the afterlife, so if you are anything like me, this show is a must see

HELL'S KITCHEN

If you love Reality TV, do any cooking or enjoy watching people being called out for ridiculous behavior, HELL'S KITCHEN is for you. World-renowned chef, Gordon Ramsey, is known for his high-class, innovative and sophisticated cooking, but the only people who were aware of that before his highly rated Reality show premiered were those in the know when it comes to all things food. HELL'S KITCHEN is what the title implies, sheer hell in the kitchen for any chef, or aspiring chef, who thinks they can take on the curmudgeonly perfectionist. Personally, I don't know why any of these people put themselves through this type of torture, but I have to say I certainly appreciate it because it provides me with so much entertainment.

The premise of this show is much the same as TOP CHEF. Each week these cheftestants are given a cooking challenge that sees the winners winning prizes like yacht rides and helicopter flights with the esteemed Chef Ramsey. After all the happiness and light of the win wears off, they must go back to Hell's Kitchen to prepare that evening's menu for the guests who come to the restaurant. The contestants are split into two teams, and each week Gordon chooses the team that did the worst job with the night's service and somebody from that team is kicked out of the competition. There is, however, two main differences between HELL'S KITCHEN and TOP CHEF.


First of all, the contestants on TOP CHEF are much more seasoned and trained in the art of cooking, as most of them are already working professional chefs, whereas, on HELL'S KITCHEN they run the gamut from chefs who are just starting out, to the housewife who fancies herself the next Rachel Ray. But, the biggest difference between the two shows is the main attraction, Chef Ramsey, himself. This man thinks nothing of calling his contestants piles of sh-- while crying fu-- me, when they haven't performed to the level he requires. While I would never subject myself to this kind of treatment, I love watching it all unfold with strangers involved. You may find me a horrible person for this, but I must not be in the minority because HELL'S KITCHEN is back for it's fifth season. So, before you judge me, see for yourself and I bet you will become one of HELL'S KITCHEN'S secret admireres!

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER

I was just looking back on some of my earlier posts, and realized all but one are good reviews. Well, this one is no exception! HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER was a surprise to me. In fact, I was so sure it would suck that I didn't even watch it until the middle of the first season when all my other shows were repeats. To my surprise, I fell in love with a show that appeared to be a cheap knockoff of one of my all time favorites, FRIENDS. Ok, so it is a bit of a knockoff, but what sets this show apart is the character Barney, played by Neil Patrick Harris. Barney is the type of friend you're embarrassed to be seen in public with, but couldn't do without. Narcissistic, greedy and obtuse are just a few of his personality traits, but he displays them all with some of the funniest lines I've ever heard.


Barney is my favorite character but his group of friends aren't too shabby either. The show centers around the character, Ted, who starts each episode by telling his children another story about when he was younger. So, what we end up seeing is in essence a flashback of his experiences before he met their mother. Ted lives with his best friends, Marshall and Lilly, who have just gotten married. Than there is their newest friend, Robin, who the audience was led to believe was the mother in HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER. Of course it couldn't have been her becuase they met on the first episode and that would have ended the whole show. That leads me to how I believe the series will ultimately end.

In my version of the series finally, Ted and the woman he ultimately marries see each other across a crowded room, lock eyes and the picture fades to black. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER is only in its second season, so hopefully that episode won't air for another few years because I am thorougly enjoying the ride. An extra added bonus would be if Barney falls madly in love with the same woman and forsakes his own happiness for his best friend's. Until than, we will all get to watch Ted go through all the painful experiences that are inevitable before you find "the one."