Beyonce Held a Press Conference

So, today, Beyoncé silenced her critics the way only she can.  For two weeks, "controversy" has been swirling about her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at the inauguration and whether or not she had lip synched or not.  This really shouldn't be a big deal, since it is not really uncommon, but people love to stir up trouble about nothing.  There were accusations that B couldn't sing the song and all sorts of other ridiculata.  So, today, when she held a press conference today to talk about her Super Bowl performance.  B decided to school her critics first off by asking everyone to stand and belting out the National Anthem, a capella.  She also confirmed that she would be singing live at the Super Bowl.  Hopefully, this puts this idiotic matter to rest.  Here is Beyoncé showing them how it's done.

Sharon Needles Has A New Video!!

Sharon Needles, "This Club Is A Haunted House"

This was a big week for participants in RuPaul's Drag Race.  The fifth season premiered, as I'm sure you know.  Willam, the DQ'ed contestant from last season, released a hilarious new video featuring Vicky Vox and season five contestant Detox.  Also, last year's winner, the polarizing and popular, Sharon Needles released the video for her new single, "This Club Is A Haunted House" on January 29th.  The same day she released her first full length album "PG-13."  Sharon is definitely taking advantage of the momentum that she has gained ever since winning.  She has done stage work, continued to tour different clubs and now the album.  I was able to see Sharon perform the first single before Thanksgiving.  It is definitely catchy and very much her.  The video as well.  It is a take on her "spooky" image and her embrace of all things weird.  So, watch the video for "This Club Is A Haunted House," then let me know what you think of it in the comments.

RuPaul's Drag Race Season Five Premiere Recap: The Real Drag Queens of Beverly Hillz... Adjacent

RuPaul's Drag Race, Episode 1:  "RuPaullywood or Bust"

The wait is finally over!!  The best reality show on television is finally back and I feel like all is right with the world.  On the fifth season premier of RuPaul's Drag Race we were introduced to the 14(!) queens who will be competing for the title of America's Next Drag Superstar.  You had all the elements of a Drag Race premiere.  Each one of the queen's making their sassy entrance, some minor shade throwing or some major shade throwing in the form of frenemies, Coco Montrese and Alyssa Edwards.     There was a ridiculous photo challenge with "celebrity" photographer, Mike Ruiz, that's main goal was to humiliate the queens right off the bat.  The queens had to dive into a tank full of water and strike a sexy pose.  It seemed like most of them sank to the bottom with two floating to the top.  Detox ended up winning the first mini challenge.  Her winning photo is featured above.  I was a little surprised.  It was a fierce photo, but I was sure that Lineysha Sparx would capture the win.  

After taking a bus ride that doubled as a music video for RuPaul's newest single and a preview of the upcoming celebrity guest judges.  It was so wonderfully ridiculous.  It sort of captured everything that was great about this show.  The dolls met Real Housewife of Beverly Hills, Camille Grammer at a club and she directed them to the VIP entrance, where they met Ru who was dressed in a hot pink space suit.  He delivered the elimination challenge.  The queens had to create red carpet ready looks from materials they found in the dumpster.

Even though the episode was "Ru-per-sized" it was hard to get to know too much about each queen.  Here is a quick rundown of the contestants who left a first impression, good or bad.

Roxxxy Andrews, 29, not only won the main challenge with her booty baring side slits, she also won a lot of personality points.  I loved when she asked about her shopping spree, her makeup dress, and her pithy one liners.  Something is telling me this juicy diva will go far.

Detox, 28, was throwing shade basically from the start, but turns out she had the talent to back it up.  She won the mini challenge and even though she didn't place in the top she definitely distinguished herself as one to watch.

Alaska, 27, has some big shoes to fill.  She is the boyfriend of last season's winner, Sharon Needles.  She has also auditioned for the show every season.  I was expecting big things from Alaska, but she gave up during the mini challenge, and I was afraid that her saran wrap couture was going to trip her up, but she ended up being in the top group.  I'm still a little nervous that she has put too much pressure on herself and she may end up sashaying away way too soon.

Coco Montrese, 37, and Alyssa Edwards, 32, are pageant queens who used to be friends, but are now fierce rivals.  Apparently, something Coco did or said ended with Alyssa being stripped of her title.  You know they are going to drag out the big reveal for a few episodes.  In the meantime, we'll be able to watch them snipe at each other.

The rest of the queens were kind of blah, which isn't unusual for the beginning of the competition.  After a couple more episodes, you will get a better idea of who is in it for the long haul.  The first queen eliminated was poor Penny Tration.  Awesome name, awful drag queen.  If she was the queen that one the fan vote, I can only imagine how tragic the other choices was.  All right kids, in the immortal words of Ru herself, 1 down and 13 to go before RuPaul's Drag Race has a winnah!!  What did you guys think of the premiere?  Also, here is Roxxxy's winning look.  Did Roxxxy deserve the win?

How I Met Your Mother Officially Renewed for Ninth and Final Season

It's official!!  How I Met Your Mother has been renewed for a ninth and final season.  If you are a fan of HIMYM then you are probably aware of the negotiations that were going on in December and you know that deals were ironed out that would ensure that all the principal cast members would be returning, including Jason Segel, who was rumored to be the one holding out.  It seems that there will be no shortened final season.  Various media outlets are reporting that it will be a full season of 22-24 episodes.  Who's excited by this announcement and when do you think we will finally meet the titular mother?

The Following Recap: Mommy Issues

The Following, Episode 2:  "Chapter Two"

Man, Edgar Allen Poe was a creepy looking mofo.  He looked the part of horror writer that is for sure.  The second episode of The Following kept up the intense tone of the pilot and there was no noticeable drop in quality, which is not always the case when a brand new show premieres with a great pilot.  Ahem, Smash, ahem.  

Ryan was met with news that the FBI profile, Debra Clark, who specializes in cults, was taking over the investigation.  Ryan overhears a conversation about him.  Awkward.  He talks to Clark about the people that Carroll has indoctrinated.  Clark is hesitant to call them a cult or any synonym of the word cult.  It is a dirty, inflammatory word and she will not have it.  Ryan requests a gun, but that is another thing that Clark is not having.  She mentions Ryan's heart problems and then asks him how long it's been since he had a drink.  Ryan's silence speaks volumes.  She says she'll take his gun request under advisement.  

Clark tells Ryan that Carroll is requesting a meeting with Claire.  Ryan is hesitant about letting the meeting happen, but Claire will do anything in order to get Joey back.  The meeting goes about as well as expected.  Carroll taunts Claire about her relationship with Ryan.  She refuses to rise to the bait though and turns the tables on him, telling him that she enjoyed her time with Ryan.  You can tell that this is not the reaction that Carroll was expecting and he is visibly upset.  There is some choking before the agents burst in.  Claire leaves the meeting knowing less about where Joey was then she did when she went in.  

This episode also shines a little more light on the members of Carroll's following.  It turns out that Joey's  nanny is really Emma Hill.  Emma is shown in flashbacks meeting Carroll at a book signing.  It turns out that she is also the only one who enjoyed his book.  We are also introduced to Emma's mom, who appears to be your stereotypical, bad mother, aggressively flirting with Carroll and putting her daughter down.  You can tell right away that Carroll recognizes something in Emma.  After he is put away, Carroll introduces Emma to Jacob Wells, one of the "gay" guys who was living next door to Sarah Fuller.  They become a couple and Emma invites him to dinner where she stabs her mother while Mommie Dearest badmouths her daughter to her new beau.  

Emma seems to be in charge of Carroll's other followers.  She doesn't take shit and is miles away from the mousy girl that we meet in flashbacks.  She is calling the shots.  Miguel Torres, Jacob's partner in faux gay shenanigans, is not convinced that Emma has what it takes.  He questions what Jacob sees in her, but Jacob is confident.  Emma hears their conversation and is not pleased.  It is interesting to be able to watch the follower's dynamic.  I get the feeling that maybe Miguel wasn't pretending to be gay, but maybe I'm wrong.  I think Emma has the same feeling since she leaves the door open while she and Jacob have sex.  These are definitely the people who should be caring for a child.  

Meanwhile, Ryan and the other FBI agents are able to identify and track down Emma's former house.  Ryan and Weston head there and find it locked up tight.  Ryan uses the fact that he is no longer a law enforcement officer to break into the house.  He finds walls covered in Poe's writings and articles about Carroll's trial and conviction and about Ryan himself.  There is also a shelf covered with Poe masks and of course, one of the Poe masks is actually being worn by a person, who attacks Ryan and escapes.  Once Clark sees the house, she finally admits to them dealing with a cult.  They also find the body of Emma's mother.  

Meanwhile, dog killing follower, Jordy, who we last saw entering a sorority house, ends up slaughtering every one who was there and positioning their bodies as homages to Carroll's work.  Jordy ends up sneaking into Claire's house.  Seriously?!  That place was crawling with cops.  If this continues to happen it is going to go way past the suspension of disbelief element that you always have to have when watching TV, and go into incredulity.  When Ryan confronts Jordy, he finds out that this has all been planned by Carroll for his new book.  Ryan puts a pin, or bullet, in that plan when he shoots and wounds Jordy rather than kill him.  

Ryan meets up with Carroll and they have another intense confrontation, this time with 100% less finger breaking.  Carroll is gloating.  He still thinks he is in charge and is manipulating everyone involved.  It was great seeing the look of relish that Ryan gives when he tells Carroll that Jordy is alive. You can see Carroll deflating a little.  He knows that Jordy is the weak link in his followers and could easily be turned and give away information that Carroll doesn't want the FBI to know.  It will be interesting to see how Carroll is able to turn this situation to his advantage.  

Finally, in the episodes closing minutes, Poe Mask douses a stranger in gasoline and sets them on fire.

Man.  This show is great and I'm hoping that it keeps it up.  The only thing I'm not feeling are the romantic flashbacks between Claire and Ryan.  If they are planning on making them a couple then they need to work on the relationship in the present rather than showing it in the past.  Also, it's a little jarring to have two sets of unconnected flashbacks in the same episode.  Also, did anyone else think that it was a little strange that Clark gave Carroll a copy of Poe's stories?  Is she trying to earn his trust or is she part of the following?  So, what did everyone else think?  If you have any theories, feel free to let me know what they are in the comments.

Carrie Diaries Recap: Penny for Your Vagina

The Carrie Diaries, Episode 3:  "Read Before Use"

Last night's episode of The Carrie Diaries felt the most like Sex and the City so far.  The crux of the episode was Carrie and Mouse going into the city so Mouse could meet her on again college boyfriend and Carrie could meet Larissa at The Furnace.  I'm glad that the show is following in the footsteps of it's predecessor.  One of my favorite things about SATC were the oddly named clubs that the ladies would find themselves in.  Carrie thought that they were going to an art exhibit, but instead they were going to see an ex-porn star turned performance artist named Monica Penny.  If you placed a penny in the jar, then Monica would show you her vagina.  It sort of reminded me of the episode of Sex when Carrie and Charlotte went to that art exhibit where the artist was just staying awake.  I was a little surprised that they went all vagina in the third episode, especially at 7 pm.  That's a little racy.  There was also something a little gross about a porn star showing a sixteen-year-old her vagina and then trying to convince said 16-year-old to show a roomful of adults her vagina.  I just typed the word vagina a lot.  Even with the creepy undertones, the scenes were packed full of vintage (literally) Carrie puns.  My personal favorite:  "In for a Monica Penny, in for a pound."

Things were going well in Carrie-land.  She was making out with Sebastian Kidd on park benches every chance she got.  She was blatantly ignoring her dad's warning about him.  Turns out, Sebastian is one of Papa Bradshaw's clients.  Carrie was desperate to know what he did, so she breaks into her dad's client files, which he keeps in a file cabinet, in a closet, in his house?  Is that normal?  Lawyers, does that happen?  It seems a little ridiculous.  Anyhoo, Carrie finds out that Sebastian was having sex with one of his teachers.  Carrie lets her dad know that she knows this and that she's cool with it.  Unsurprisingly, Papa Bradshaw is not cool with it and coupled with last weeks lying extravaganza, he thinks that Sebastian is the reason for the change in Carrie.  Um... could just be that she's a teenager.  Yes?  No?  Carrie tells Sebastian that she knows about his Mary Kay Letourneau and she's cool with it.  He is not.  He breaks up with our future sex columnist.  Not a huge surprise.

Some other stuff happened.  Papa Bradshaw went to a singles bar and played the widow card.  Classy. Mouse got back together with her boyfriend.  Maggie embraced her inner drama queen and hack slashed a panda that Walt had won for her.  Dorrit decided to shoplift a hamster.  Teenage rebellion looked a lot different in the Eighties.

So, I think this episode was the best yet.  Next week, Walt goes full gay.  What did you guys think?  

Willam Has a New Video!!!!

I'm pretty psyched because one of my favorite queens from RuPaul's Drag Race has released a new video!!  The disqualified queen, Willam Belli, released the video for "Boy is a Bottom" today.  It is a parody of the song, "Girl On Fire" by Alicia Keys.  It features Vicky Vox and Detox Icunt, her cohorts from the "Chow Down" video.  Check out the hilarious video below:

Girls Recap: She Looks Sassy

Girls, Episode 3:  "Bad Friend"

There were two major takeaways from last night's episode of Girls.  Don't use coke to go outside of your comfort zone.  Also, don't have sex with a skeevy artist whose first name is Booth.  Marnie learned the second lesson the hard way in one of the funniest, most awkward sex scenes in the show's history, which for Girls is definitely saying something.

The episode started out with Hannah job interviewing.  It wasn't really an interview though, since she basically had the job as long as she wrote about something that took her out of her comfort zone.  I loved the sign on the wall.  The editor told Hannah that she should write an essay about having a threesome.  Hannah wasn't so sure about the three way, but she was all about the cocaine.  She left the office on a mission to find some coke.

She finds Shoshanna, Marnie, and Jessa, having some sort of strange yard sale?  I think Jessa was just handing clothes to people and of course, Marnie was making them pay.  She questions them about where she could score some cocaine.  Marnie suggests the junkie that lives on the bottom floor of their apartment.  Hannah protests that they didn't know whether he was a junkie or not, but Shoshanna confirms that only junkies hang out by the mailboxes.  Shoshanna is surprisingly street smart.

Hannah is able to score some coke from the junkie neighbor, who is now an ex junkie.  Ex Junkie is firmly against Hannah taking coke, but he gets her some.  Luckily, Hannah has Elijah to take coke with.  He apparently is an experienced cokehead.  He even picks her out a get high on coke outfit.  How considerate!!  It is a pair of red daisy dukes and a halter top with fruit on it.  It looked like something Katy Perry would wear to perform on the Grammys.  

Shortly after they snort, Hannah and Elijah are talking about their hopes and dreams.  Elijah is dreaming big, hoping to one day own show dogs, while Hannah just wants to be able to write a check without looking at the carbon copy of the last check she wrote.  Dream big, Ms. Horvath!  They decide to write their dreams in permanent marker on the walls of their apartment, but Hannah writes Elijah's dream instead of her own.

The coked out roomies decide to go to a party where DJ's Andrew and Andrew are spinning.  Hannah ends up switching shirts with a guy she is dancing with.  Hannah ends up wearing a mesh shirt that is basically see through.  The roomies go to the bathroom to do more coke, which ends up being a truth serum.  Elijah ends up confessing about his two pump no cum hook up with Marnie which causes Hannah to spiral out of control.  While all this is happening, they hook back up with Not Junkie and go on a late night trip to a pharmacy.  Where Hannah is still wearing the see through shirt.  Seriously.  Am I that corn pone?  I mean, it can't be cool to go to a pharmacy tits out, even in the big city.

Marnie, Marnie, Marnie.  Seriously.  It is time to make better choices.  You are a pretty girl.  You are a smart girl.  Why are you ending up in these situations?  You are just chilling at your new hostess job.  You are making small talk with the creepy older dudes.  Then, you spy Booth Jonathan, who last season said you would bone and is now saying it again.  You decide to take him up on it, because why wouldn't you want to have sex with a 30-year-old douchebag?  Then you get to his creepy apartment and he locks you in his "art."  A box covered in TV screens that flashes images of babies and pupa while Duncan Sheik's "Barely Breathing" blasts.  Then, while he is having sex with you, he tells you to look at a stuffed dog and tell you what he is thinking?!  Why are you allowing this to happen?!

Eventually, Hannah meets back up with Marnie at Booth's apartment and ticks off the reasons that Marnie is a bad friend.  This is a continuation of the fight they had in season 1 where Marnie accused Hannah of being the bad friend.  Hannah doesn't want an apology, just an acknowledgement that Marnie is the bad friend.  

Hannah ends the night back at her apartment making out, sort of, with Not Junkie whose name is Laird.

What did you think?  Did you miss Adam?  Should Marnie stop with this Booth guy?  Who is the bad friend?  Sound off in the comments.

American Idol Recap: Big Fun on the Bayou

American Idol, Episode 4: "Baton Rouge"

There were no knock down drag out, weave pulling fights on Thursday's episode of American Idol, but as evidenced by the above photo, there were plenty of stank faces and side eyes.  The Idol bus stopped in Baton Rouge, LA, Randy's home town, state, who knows?  Who cares?  I was just surprised that the auditioners who came in still had all their teeth and a full set of chromosomes, based on the opening montage that the Idol producers put together.  Come to the South!!  There are gators!!  Toothless people  on porches!!  Other stereotypes that we could think of!!

Now, I have not been the biggest fan of Mariah Carey's so far as an Idol judge.  I'm hoping that will change as the season progresses and this stupid "feud" dies down.  I do have to say I did get a chuckle at the shot of Mimi applying the Dawg's makeup, since she was a beauty school dropout.  It was hilarious to hear her championing second career options.  Hopefully, the teens who plan on one day auditioning for shows like this listen and plan accordingly.

The first contestant of the day to receive a golden ticket was former beauty queen, 22-year-old, Megan Miller.  Megan was recently in a car accident and postponed leg surgery so she could make her Idol audition.  She came in and sang a blisteringly good "Something's Got A Hold On Me."  I was prepared to hate Megan based simply on the fact that she was from the pageant world, but I was pleasantly surprised.  Megan had a great voice and had personality to spare.  I completely agreed with Nicki that she didn't let her injuries stop her and that bit where she used her crutch as a microphone was gold.

Charlie Askew is a socially awkward 17-year-old.  I really liked Charlie right off the bat.  He was really endearing and very charming.  He sang "Breakthru"/"Nature Boy."  It was cute.  You could tell he was nervous.  I'm not sure if he'll be able to hack it in Hollywood.  Also, what the hell was up with Randy and his weird comments.  "Seemingly dark, strange, but cool?"  Randy?  Just.  No.

Randy snuck up on 17-year-old, Maddie Assel, in the French Quarter.  She sang a nice, jazzy version of the Beatles' "Oh Darling."  Her voice was nice enough, but I'm not sure I'm feeling all the vocal embellishments and the affectations.

Paul Jolly, 22, had just lost his grandpa.  He sang Rascal Flatts' "I Won't Let Go."  It was really emotional, but again it sounded a little too much like an imitation of the original.

Calvin Peters, 27, is a doctor.  He sang a passable cover of "Whenever Wherever Whatever."  It was an ambitious choice of song.  I mean, come on!!  It was Maxwell.  He floundered a bit,  but I think with a better song, he could do OK.  But, hey, at least he has a second career option.

The auditions of Michelle Montezerri, Brandy Hotard, and Breanna Steer were shown pretty quickly and interspersed.  None of them were entirely memorable, which is not uncommon when they are shown this way.

Dustin Watts was next.  He was a relatively handsome firefighter who sang a karaoke version of "She's Every Woman."  Hopefully, they keep his bunk for him at the firehouse.

The final audition came from 19-year-old, Burnell Taylor.  He sang the song "I'm Here" from "The Color Purple."  The boy definitely has skillz, but he needs to tone it down a little bit.

In all, 34 contestants made it to Hollywood.  Whew.  That was quick.  Are we agreed that all Idol episodes should be an hour long?  Let me know.

American Idol Recap: Welterweight Bout

American Idol, Episode 3:  "Charlotte, NC

If you only looked at the above picture and didn't read anything else, you may think that the newest judges on Idol love each other and it's all sunshine, rainbows, lollipops and puppies.  Of course, we know better and we know that, according to Seacrest, this is where "it all goes off the rails."  Since, you know, it was going so well before.  Before we get to the "fight" there are some other things that had me scratching my head during Wednesday's episode.

First, the auditions are being held in Charlotte, NC, the same place where season 9 winner, Scotty McCreery auditioned.  Scott was there to cheer on the hopefuls and talk with a girl he went to school with.  Was it just me or did she look like she would rather be anywhere else than talking with Scotty.  Her serious stank face during that convo was one of the highlights of the episode.  Speaking of Scotty, was he in the back seat of the race car that Ryan was driving before the first break?  And if so, was he there against his will?  Scotty, knock on the window three times if you need help.  It'll be OK, Scotty!!!  Baby, lock them doors and turn the lights down low!!!

Secondly, I know that Nicki catches a lot of flak, but let's be real.  She is the most entertaining person on that panel.  From her outfits, to her wigs, to her nicknames, to the ladybugs and saying popping over and over again, Nicki is in it to win it, America!!!  I'm also digging her burgeoning friendship with Keith.  I love how they always chit chat, share trail mix, and I think Keith has decided to be on her side, and I'm OK with it.  So, on to the auditions!!

The first golden ticket recipient was 27-year-old, Brian Rittenberry, whose wife recently survived stage 4 cancer and has a hall pass with Keith Urban.  After some uncomfortable bantering, Keith brought it back to the matter at hand.  Brian sang a serviceable rendition of "Let It Be."  It was a little shout-y to me.  Every note was turned up to 11.  I did agree with Keith's comment about his vibrato being on point, I'm just hoping that in Hollywood he shows that he can sing in variable volumes.

Jimmy Smith, 25, looks like he is maybe going to single, white, female Keith.  Seriously, same shirt, open to the middle of his chest, same jeans, same hair, except for Jimmy's horrendous perm.  Seriously. If boyfriend makes it to the finals, let's hope that mess is the first to get taken care of.  Jimmy sang "God Bless the Broken Road" and pretended to not be scared when Nicki called him "mad fly" and "popping."  It made me wonder if Jimmy had ever seen a black person before, and if not, how unfortunate that the first one he meets is a cartoon character with cotton candy hair.  Keith was on target when he said that Jimmy sounded just like Gary LeVox, lead singer of Rascal Flatts.  I hate that guy, so that could be why Jimmy didn't do much for me, but he did have a voice that would sound right at home on country radio.  Also, why did Randy shout, "Let them eat cake" at the end of his audition?  Was he having stroke?  And seriously, if he was, who would know?

Next we saw brief snippets of auditions by Sarina Joi-Crowe, Haley Davis, and Na'Chelle Fullins-Lovell, out of the three, Na-Chelle was the most memorable, only because she tried to ape Mariah's famous octave range, in front of Mariah.  All three received golden tickets and the impression that you probably won't see them again.

Isabel Gonzalez continued season 12's parade of ridiculously mature teenagers.  She was invited to the audition by Randy, who was taken to her school by bus.  Knowing the Dawg, I was afraid that he was going to make some inappropriate comment about Rosa Parks, but the Dawg surprised me.  In a good way, for once.  Isabel sang "Nothing Could Ever Change This Love," and I was spellbound.  Isabel was poised, I loved her smooth, jazzy, crooner style voice.  You could definitely picture her in a dark, smoky, jazz club with only a piano.  I totally agreed with Nicki about her effortless riffs.  Very cool.

Taisha Bethea is the lead singer of a band called "Carson."  Her bandmates accompanied her to her audition was pretty cool since they seemed supportive.  Taisha first sang "Folsom Prison Blues" after telling the judges that she wanted to be a rock star.  Randy is incredulous, or he would be if he knew what that word meant.  How can Johnny Cash be rock and roll??  I don't know Dawg, ask Rick Rubin.  Next, Taisha sang a note for note imitation of "You Oughta Know."  I liked Taisha.  She was not cookie cutter.  I enjoyed her voice.  Mariah and Randy got on my nerves.  Why can't a rock singer sing a country singer or vice versa.  I completely agreed with Nicki about how she kind of went against type with her song choices and style.  I liked her.  Thank goodness Keith arbitrarily made himself the tie breaker.

Right after a montage of Randy and Mariah disagreeing with almost everything Nicki said, it was time. It almost seemed like Mariah talked to Randy, and they decided together to just be douchey.  There were ridiculous amounts of shade throwing and side eyes before Summer Cunningham entered and sang "Lean on Me."  Then, she made the mistake of saying she did the "country thing" for a while.  This seemingly innocuous comment was what set the whole thing off.  Randy latched on to her having a country sounding voice and Mariah followed suit.  They then started to pretty much interrogate the poor girl.  I half expected Uncle Nigel to bring a metal folding chair and a spotlight to the stage.  With each comment, Nicki was becoming more and more enraged.  Finally, Roman had had enough.  On this particular issue, I'm firmly on Team Minaj.  The way that all went down was pretty ridonk.  I'm not for sure why they harp on these poor contestants so much, and Nicki was right on.  Then, Mariah and Randy continued to make snarky comments until Nicki walked off.  Seriously, how old are you people?  You are 42 and like 60-100, who knows how old the Dawg is?  Grow up.   I'm surprised Nicki didn't knock their heads together.  The whole thing was not nearly as dramatic as the "leaked" cell phone video was.  There was mad editing done, so who knows what really happened?  Hopefully, these three can finally start acting like adults.

The first contestant of day 2 was Brandy Hamilton.  Brandy is a Navy reservist who was chastised for singing.  She was great.  Sassy.  Fun.  She sang "All I Could Do Was Cry" and was sensational.  I totally agreed with Nicki that you felt every word that she sang.  It was an interesting song choice and all the judges raved.  She also left the judges with a message that sounded like it should have come from a five year old.  "Please don't fight.  It makes me sad."  Welcome to Hollywood, Brandy!!!!

From the moment Ashley Smith took a large bite of her sandwich and loudly proclaimed it was good, I was pretty much in love with her.  The whole montage of her rambling to fellow contestants and high fiving the producer who was interviewing her made me want to be her BFF.  I was also pretty sure her audition was going to be a hot mess.  I'm so happy that I was wrong.  She sang a fantastic cover of "Cowboy Casanova."  Her personality showed through, she was mad entertaining.  Unfortunately, she re-affirmed Randy's adage that if you can sing you can sing anything, so no end to that in sight.  Mariah was right the newly-christened "Blondie" was effervescent.  Here's hoping that she continues to shine in Hollywood.

Next up was Janelle Arthur, who started out playing Dolly Parton at a theme park?  Who thinks it was Dollywood?  I mean, what other theme park would have a Dolly Parton themed show?  For reals.  Janelle sang a fast paced version of Keith's "Where the Blacktop Ends" along with table percussion provided by Mr. Urban.  She had a really great, pure country voice.  Nicki nailed it when she said Janelle seemed like a star already.  Liked how she changed songs mid audition.  Awesome.

Next up was the "Voice of Charlotte," Rodney Barber.  He sings on the street and apparently a million people have called him the "Voice of Charlotte."  That could be hyperbole though.  Rodney sang a passable version of "I'll Be."  It was nice enough, but I didn't hear anything unique.  I have a feeling that he made it to Hollywood on the strength of his sob story.  There was more talk about his inspiring story than his awesome voice.  He seems poised to be early Hollywood week canon fodder.

Candice Glover was up next.  She was cut last year during Vegas.  Candice sang an off the chain version of Duffy's "Syrup and Honey."  She did a great job.  She belted, but she also showed a lot of restraint.  Her standing O from Randy and Mimi was well deserved.  Right now, Candice is basically a shoo in for the top 12.  I mean, unless Nicki skins her and wears her, which, let's be real, could happen.

Next we had spunky frog legs loving, Ja'Bria Barber.  She sang Bonnie Raitt's version of "Pride & Joy."  Again, a really mature interpretation of a song you would not expect a 16-year-old to sing.  She had a really clear, bright tone.  Her personality shone through.  You know you are doing something right when Mariah is singing along.  When Randy said she wasn't scared, I think she should be after that body shimmy Randy did.

The final contestant of the day was Seretha Guinn.  Seretha is the mother of an adorable 3-year-old who is obsessed with Nicki and calls her Dun Dun.  First, hopefully Seretha's daughter is listening to the edited version of Nicki's song, because not appropriate for children.  Seretha's husband/boyfriend was recently in a car accident and he had no idea that she was there auditioning.  Seretha sang a cute cover of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air with some adjustments.  I liked her.  Her voice wasn't ah mah zing or anything, but there was just something about her that I enjoyed.  

In total, 37 people made it to Hollywood from Charlotte.  Some awesome auditions.  So, what do you think?  Will Mimi and Roman finally behave?  Should Keith just stop wearing shirts altogether?  Sing me a tune in the comments.

Pretty Little Liars Recap: Happy Anniversary

Pretty Little Liars, Episode 16:  "Misery Loves Company"

Man.  That was tough to watch.  Spencer found out that Toby was working with MonA and it was heartbreaking.  Definitely Troian Bellisario's finest moment on the show so far.  It'll be interesting to watch Spencer unravel and see how that affects the rest of the season.  Spencer is kind of the guiding force for the girls.  She keeps them focused and comes up with a lot of their plans.  This, I'm sure is going to significantly alter the girls' dynamic and it'll be interesting to watch.

A lot of stuff happened in this episode besides the big Toby reveal.  There was a lot of movement in the Byron story and Caleb and Paige started conspiring to take down "A" on their own and protect their respective girlfriends.  Let's take a look at what happened going from least interesting to most interesting.

Hanna was getting ready for a job interview with a fashion designer.  When she went to change to model for Caleb, she heard him talking to someone.  His end of the convo sounded very suspicious and "A" centric.  She asked him who he was talking to and he lied and said his mom.   Hanna convinces Emily to follow Caleb to find out who he is really meeting.  When she goes to her interview she finds a room filled with faceless white mannequins hanging from chains hooked in the ceiling.  "A" shows up and attacks Hanna with the creepy mannequins, which doesn't seem like it would be that scary, but it would be.  The whole scene kind of reminded me of when Jenny McCarthy got killed in Scream 3.  Maybe it was an unintentional homage?  "A" drops a key on the ground which Hanna recovers and ends up giving to Spencer.  Meanwhile, Emily follows Caleb, but can't get a good look at who he is meeting.  It turns out to be Paige.  They talk about how the girls are taking so many risks and aren't even thinking about the consequences.  They decide to team up and take down "A" on their own, for the sake of their significant others.

Aria doesn't feel good and looks even worse.  Meredith is nursing her back to health using some home remedy.  Who saw Meredith drugging Aria a mile away?  Hands.  Did anyone not, I think would be a better question.  While she was drugged, Aria has a dream/vision with Allison.  They have a conversation about Byron and the blackmail.  She also warns Aria about Meredith.  She is holding onto the doll that Aria stuck the diary pages in.  She leaves it next to the door when she leaves and Aria awakes.  She looks over and the doll is where Allie left it.  Creeeeepppyy.  Did that really happen? I'm thinking no, but I could be wrong.  Aria wakes up and dumps Mer's home remedy in a plant.  I'm hoping they show the plant later on and it's dead.  That'd be awesome.  Aria gets up and her door is locked and no one is home.  She can't pick the lock so she breaks a mirror and climbs back into bed, holding a glass shard.

Meanwhile, Nurse Ratched is being as shady as she possibly can be.  Her eye is twitching and I'm surprised she hasn't gotten the shakes.  She has Aria's phone and is declining calls from everyone.  Hanna and Em spy her inside a pharmacy trying to get her anxiety meds refilled.  The pharmacist is not having it, and the crazy eyes she is flashing him while she is trying to convince him, I don't think are helping her case any.  She finally decides on like 9 boxes of cold medicine and takes off.  Hanna and Emily smell an adulterous bitch and follow her back to Aria's.  

Aria wakes up to find Crazy Pants towering over her.  She has Aria's glass shard and is telling Aria that she hid the diary pages well.  There is a brief struggle and Aria overpowers Meredith and heads downstairs.  She tries to call the po po, but a storm has knocked the phone out.  Meredith then knocks Aria out.  Hanna and Emily arrive shortly after and even thought the power is out, they think it's a good idea to go down in the dark basement.  There, they find Aria knocked out.  They wake her up just as Byron is getting home.  They hear an argument and then Byron appears offering to set the record regarding Allison straight.

Byron explains that he did go to see Allison the night she disappeared, but wasn't going to pay her blackmail.  He was prepared to face the consequences for his actions, but when Allison went missing he pussied out.  Aria believes him, but you can see that she is still a little doubtful of the whole thing.  He also tells her that Meredith ran away.  So, we definitely haven't seen the last of her.

Finally, Spencer.  Spencer started the episode with a secret plan to surprise Toby with an anniversary dinner.  She got Em to get Toby's loft keys so she could make dinner for him.  While she was there, she opens a drawer and there is Toby's Radley Sanitarium ID badge.  After I watched the episode back a second time, I realized that Spencer knew about Toby for almost the entire episode which makes it all the more heartbreaking.  She leaves the "A" key on the counter for Toby to see when he gets there so she can gauge his reaction.  She lies about what it is and tosses the key in a drawer.  She is waiting for Toby when he shows up in his hoodie digging through the drawer.  "Looking for this?" she asks.  The look on Toby's face says it all.  Spencer confronts him and he takes off.  The episode ends with Spencer banging on Toby's loft door and sobbing.  Inside, MonA is drinking wine and eating Spoby's anniversary dinner.  

Whew.  Emotional episode peeps.  Are you excited for next week?  Do you think Spencer will fess up or keep it a secret?  Are you excited to learn why Toby is working for "A"?  When do you think Meredith will pop back up and do you think Ella should invest in a security system?  Hit up the comments and let me know.

Should You Watch... The Following

The Following, Episode 1:  "Pilot"

On Monday night, Fox premiered it's serial killer thriller starring Kevin Bacon, The Following.  The Following revolves around serial killer, Joseph Carroll, played by James Purefoy.  Carroll is a former English Lit professor who has an unhealthy obsession with Poe.  He begins killing his students in ways that are an obvious homage to Poe.  He is finally brought down by FBI agent/profiler, Ryan Hardy, played with grizzled determination by Kevin Bacon.  Hardy saves Carroll's latest victims, and also writes a tell all book about his experience.  Weeks prior to being executed, Carroll escapes prison and goes on the run.  This brings Hardy, now a hard living alcoholic, out of retirement.  Through the course of the episode, we learn that Carroll has been mentoring a new batch of serial killers from prison, hence the following of the title.

The Following comes to us from writer/executive producer Kevin Williams, who has brought us Scream and The Vampire Diaries.  This show is kind of like a slasher flick every week.  The show is very violent.  Eyes are gouged out, walls are written on with blood, it is very dark.  The show has faced some unfair criticism due to the recent shootings in Newtown and the renewed focus on violence in the media.  The show in no way glorifies violence.  In a lot of violent shows, they try to balance the violence with humor, which I think is a mistake.  It's almost like they are seeing, no big deal, we're being funny now.  It's  hilarious.  I get gallows humor, but I think the humor on a lot of other procedurals maybe goes a little too far.  This show does the opposite.  By leaving out humor, it's trying to drive home the point that this is terrible and isn't something that should be taken lightly.

The performances on the show are great.  Kevin Bacon kills, pun intended, in his first mainstream television starring role.  Hardy is a man barely keeping it together.  He has a pacemaker, a gift from his encounter with Carroll who stabbed him in the chest puncturing his heart.  This forced him into an early retirement.  He is an alcoholic, his trash filled with empty liquor bottles.  When he gets the call that Carroll has escaped, he fills an empty water bottle with vodka.  Hardy feels duty bound to protect the only one of Carroll's victims who escaped and Carroll subsequently targets.  Purefoy brings the right amount of smarm and charm to his performance.  Carroll definitely oozes charisma and it isn't surprising that people would choose to follow him with this cult like devotion.  The scenes between Purefoy and Bacon crackle and there is a great Silence of the Lambs quality to them.  Natalie Zea jumps  over from the equally brilliant FX show, Justified.  She plays Carroll's ex-wife and mother of his child, Claire Matthews.  She also had an affair with Hardy, something that Carroll is none too pleased about.

The story is tense and suspenseful.  I actually jumped a couple of times. I can't tell you the last time that happened on a regular, network television series.  I don't want to get into too many specifics of the episode, because it's something that you should experience for yourselves.  I am going to start recapping it next week, but I encourage you to track down this episode and watch it.  You will not be disappointed.

Carrie Diaries Recap: Liar, Liar...

The Carrie Diaries, Episode 2:  "Lie with Me"

I love the '80's.  That is one thing that is abundantly clear when I watch The Carrie Diaries.  A few times during last nights episode I had to rewind my DVR because I wasn't paying attention.  I was too busy bopping along to the Go-Gos or Duran Duran.  It is a testament to the set and costume designers of the show.  They have done a great job of introducing todays teens to that magical decade.  It is a little sanitized, but fantasy should be.  Also, can we talk about the sweater Carrie is wearing in the picture.  I am in love with it.  A gray sweater with black As and B+'s along with a few bright red F's scattered around it.  Very Eighties school girl chic.  They are doing a great job, already, of shaping Carrie into the fashionista that we all know she'll one day become.

Last night's episode was all about lying.  The goody-two shoes Carrie introduced in the pilot, pretty much disappeared.  Carrie is enjoying her alone time with Sebastian, but it can only be at school since she is still grounded.  There is a plus side to the grounding, Carrie is able to spend some time with her sister, Dorrit.  Bond a little bit.  The huge downside is that while Carrie is confined to her house, Ho bag, Donna LaDonna is free to hit on Sebastian.  She does so pretty heavily at the country club, sharing a joint with him on the bench she lost her virginity on.  Sexy.  Luckily, Carrie has eyes everywhere.  Mouse spies Donna and Sebastian ducking out and calls Carrie from the host's phone.  The next day at school, Carrie waits for Sebastian to fess up.  He does!!  When, Donna shows up wearing his jacket.  Sad trombone noise.  Sebastian tells Carrie that nothing happened (which is confirmed via flashback) and he didn't tell her because he thought she'd judge him for getting high.  Let's face it.  She probably would.  I mean, she says she isn't, but you know she is.

Back in the city, Carrie is receiving messages from Larissa about her purse, even though Carrie's Bitch Boss, her words, has stressed NO PERSONAL CALLS!!  Personal calls are like her wire hangers.  She commands Carrie to bind things.  So, she blatantly disregards the personal call rule and calls Larissa.  Larissa pulls out her giant cell phone (outdated technology alert!!) and tells Carrie that the shoot is today.  Carrie tells her she can't get away from work and you can hear Larissa forgetting about Carrie.  Carrie is not ready to let that go, so she says she'll be there.  Carrie lies her way out of work and makes it to the shoot where she watches rapturously while her DIY purse is photographed.  After some zebra wrangling, Carrie books it back to her job.  In order to get out of trouble with BB, she spins some creative truths and gives her the one of a kind, Dior scarf that Larissa gave her.

Feeling empowered by all the lies she's been spinning, Carrie blows off Dorrit, so she can be with Sebastian.  Dorrit be not pleased, so she tattles to Daddy Bradshaw.  He finds Sebastian and Carrie macking in the pool, which seemed a little odd.  I mean, shouldn't someone be saying something.  It doesn't matter because Carrie's dad shows up.  After some awkward dad/possible boyfriend banter, it would seem that Sebastian had won Mr. Bradshaw over.  Turns out, not so much.  Unsurprisingly, he tells Carrie to stay away from Sebastian.  I totally see that happening.

Walt and Maggie are still not having sex.  Even though Maggie was totes going to give Walt a beej while her parents were watching The Love Boat.  Walt put a stop to that by pulling out the tried and true excuse that young gays have been using to escape hetero sex for as long as there have been young gays.  He had too much self respect for her.  Well, Maggie was willing to go find someone who didn't.  She hooked up with the cop in the backseat of his squad car.  You felt for Mags a little bit when she asked douche cop to hold her for a little while.  She gets home and finds Walt waiting for her.  He was planning on taking Carrie's secondhand "fake it 'til you make it" advice and have sex with her.  He, rightly, decides not to and they break up, after he tells her that he loves, her just not in that way.

So, how long do we think until Sebastian caves to the LaDonna?  Walt officially comes out?  Larissa opens her eyes and sees that Carrie is a teen?  Hit me up in the comments.

Girls Recap: Three Pumps and Constructive Criticism

Girls, Episode 2:  "I Get Ideas"

In Sunday nights episode, the girls continued to try to get their respective grooves back.  Some were more successful (Hello, Shosh canoodling with Ray and Jessa with you picnic basket full of puppies) than others (Hannah's split with Sandy and 9-1-1 call, Marnie hostessing).

Elijah confesses to George that he kind of had sex with Marnie.  Elijah attempts to smooth things over and explain it was no big deal, but George is not having it.  Elijah knows that he is desperately close to losing his sugar daddy, so he starts throwing everything out there.  How he told George from the start he might be bi, and that George embarrassed him at the part so they are even.  I'm not for sure if Elijah even realizes that these are terrible excuses.  He probably doesn't.  George stands fast on the break up.  Elijah tells him that it wasn't even real sex, just "three pumps, two and a half tops, before I lost my boner."  George asks Elijah how Hannah feels about this.  Elijah says he has no intention of telling Hannah, which I sort of agree with.  Yes, it is wrong lying to a friend, but what is telling truth going to accomplish?  It will just make Hannah more neurotic than she already is.  George will not be swayed.  He leaves his boy behind.

Elijah finds solace with Hannah who is watching a video of sad, depressing, serial killer-y, break up songs that Adam sent her, while wearing a combo vest/sleeping bag.  It also has a hood and is bright orange and is hideous and I kind of totally want one.  Hannah and Elijah are talking about the prospect of Adam murdering her while she sleeps.  Hannah doesn't think that is going to happen, but she doesn't seem totally convinced.  She is excited that she can have a healthy relationship like she's always deserved.  She is obviously talking about Sandy, who is a Republican.  Elijah is not a fan.  Loved when Elijah called Hannah a glow worm.

Meanwhile, Marnie is at an interview at a new gallery, being interviewed by the snobby, pretentious manager?  Director?  Curator?  I'm not sure what her title is.  I am sure that she is a condescending bee-yotch.  If someone ever tried to demonstrate to me how to make tea like I was mentally impaired, I'd choke them with the tea bag.  Whew.  Glad that's off my chest.  Now, where was I?  Oh yeah, Prissy McBitchpants tells Marnie that she could offer her the receptionist position, but she isn't going to.  She also tells Marnie that she doesn't see her in the art world.  Marnie and her Ann Taylor suit are dejected.

Back at Casa de Hahlijah, Hannah and Sandy are brushing their teeth together, while Hannah waxes poetic about Sandy's lovemaking prowess.  Their moment of bliss is interrupted by Elijah, who asks Sandy if he is cool "being this close to a queer."  Sandy does his best, but Elijah is not having it.  Hannah tells him not to take his break up with George out on her relationship.  That reminds her that she asked Sandy to read one of her essays.  After some more sparring with Elijah, Sandy makes some excuses and takes off.  Hmmm...

Marnie walks in on Ray and Shoshanna in bed.  They are deep in discussion about pig petting.  That is not a euphemism.  They are seriously talking about petting pigs.  Marnie spends some time complaining about her life.  The lovebirds attempt to tell her that she has a Bachelor's Degree and is pretty.  She is not model pretty, but she is pretty enough to have a pretty person job, like being a hostess at a club.  One of Shoshanna's friends does it and she gives Marnie the hook up.


Jessa's storyline with Thomas-John is going nowhere fast or everywhere really slowly.  Hannah shows up and the happy couple? show off their matching tiger tattoos.  Thomas-John heads to a meeting, but not without leaving a picnic basket full of puppies.  The whole time I couldn't help thinking about those poor puppies.  How long were they in there?  Could they breathe ok?  These don't seem like the kind of people who should own pets.  The ladies take the dogs to the park and Jessa gives Hannah relationship advice.  Seriously?  Yeah.  That makes sense.  Hannah mentions that Sandy still hadn't read her essay, and Jessa tells her that if he won't accept her art, he can't accept her... or something like that.  Whatever.

Hannah takes it to hear though, and asks Sandy again about her essay.  He admits he read it, but wasn't a big fan of it.  He cops to it being well written, but that he didn't feel it went anywhere.  It was like the things you think while standing in line at the grocery store.  On paper.  Hannah pretends that she is fine with this and is happy to have this dialogue, but she is not.  I completely understand and felt for Hannah here.  When you write something and are proud of it, you want to show it to people that you care about or respect and have them validate you.  You may give it to them to read, under the guise of wanting their feedback, but what you really want is praise.  You don't want to be criticized.  Hannah uses this to lash out at Sandy over his political beliefs.  They have a fight, which Hannah ends by quoting Missy Elliott. She does offer to have sex with Sandy, though, because she doesn't believe in blue balls.

Back at the crib, Marnie shows up in her new hostessing uniform, looking like a "slutty Von Trapp child" according to Elijah.  He is afraid Marnie is there to tell Hannah what happened.  Marnie is not, but she feels bad keeping it a secret.  Elijah then goes on to give the best description of Hannah I have ever heard, so here it is, in it's entirety:  "She is thin skinned, like a little baby and she will take this so so personally and it will become a huge thing like, "Why aren't you attracted to me?  Why didn't you invite me?"

Hannah shows up after this exchange and announces that she and Sandy broke up.  Marnie tells Hannah about her new job hostessing at the Wedgewood Club.  Hannah is not impressed.  She tries to elevate herself above Marnie's new job, but Marnie can see right through her.

While watching a YouTube video on how to cut your own bangs, Hannah receives a text from Adam, saying that he is downstairs.  She quickly shuts off the light, but jokes on her.  Stalker boy saw her turn her lights off.  Adam appears at her bedroom doorway shouting, "Cinco de Mayo!!" because, why wouldn't you?  He apologizes for sending her the album!  An album!  Are you kidding me?  Hannah tries to get him to leave but he wants milk.  Hannah acquiesces, but tells him he has to leave.  While at the fridge, Hannah dials 9-1-1, but quickly ends the call.  Adam makes it clear to Hannah that he is not going to stop pursuing her, which is sweet and creepy and a little mentally unstable all at once.

Hannah tells Adam that she wants him to go away, but he mocks her.  Hannah is fed up so she screams "Go away" a few times and shoves him.  This seems to get through to Adam.  He leaves, but is met by the police, who are responding to Hannah's aborted 9-1-1 call.  She tries to lie about it, but Hannah is a terrible liar, so she finally fesses up.  There is talk of restraining orders until the police run Adam's name and find out that he has some unpaid parking tickets and an ignored summons for public urination.  The cops haul Adam away while he screams, "I'm crazy!" and Hannah shouts platitudes as they leave.

So what did you guys think?  Will Marnie find her calling in hostessing?  Will Jessa get a better storyline?  Am I the only one who is kind of on Adam's side in all this?  Let me know in the comments.

Inaugural Performances

So, I'm pretty sure everyone knows that today, Barack Obama was sworn in for his second term as President.  This blog isn't about politics, so I'm going to refrain from waxing poetic about his inclusive, progressive, hopeful speech.  This is a blog mainly about entertainment, so I thought I'd highlight the musical performances of the afternoon.  James Taylor folked out to "America the Beautiful" and then, Kelly Clarkson and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter made me even prouder to be an American with performances of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and "The Star Spangled Banner" respectively.  Check out the patriotic performances below:

Movie Review: Zero Dark Thirty

Movie Review:  Zero Dark Thirty

**** stars out of ****

To this day we all still live with the specter of 9/11.  You may not think about it all the time, but there are times when you are suddenly, shockingly reminded of the most horrific terrorist attack to happen on US soil.  Director Kathryn Bigelow reminds you of that desperate, helpless feeling in the first few minutes of the follow up to her last movie, Best Picture Oscar winner, The Hurt Locker.  Over a dark screen, frantic 9-1-1 calls from the Twin Towers are played.  It is highly disconcerting and quickly gets you back in the mindset that you were in on that fateful day 11 years ago.  It was a day that changed our country forever.  It ignited the War on Terror that unofficially concluded on May 2, 2011.  In Zero Dark Thirty, Bigelow attempts to tell the labyrinthine tale about how one woman's obsession ended with the death of our country's most dangerous enemy.

Zero Dark Thirty is not a movie that you breeze through.  It demands a lot of you, but you get a lot back in return.  It challenges what you believe and what you think is right.  The movie has been catching a lot of flak for its portrayal of torture.  Some people in the government are complaining that liberties were taken and that these scenes never happened.  I don't know about that.  There could be exaggeration, but we all know that "advanced interrogation techniques" were used during the Bush administration, and I find it hard to believe that during the entire hunt no one was tortured, or advance interrogated.  Also, I have heard people say that the film glorifies torture.  I would tell those people that they obviously have not seen the film.  The film never makes the statement that torture is good.  It doesn't definitively say that it is evil, either.  It presents it without any sort of moralistic comment and lets the audience judge for itself, which is what good films do.

The lead in the film belongs to Jessica Chastain.  Chastain plays Maya, a CIA analyst who joins the hunt and is instrumental in the capture of bin Laden.  Chastain gives the performance of the year.  It is honest, unapologetic, and unflinching.  It isn't surprising that a female director gives us the best female character to appear on screen in 2012.  Maya lives for her job.  She is consumed with doing the best that she can.  There is no love interest, perhaps no happily ever after.  She is fully committed to this operation and she makes no apologies for it.  It's refreshing to see a character like Maya after all the Bella's and flighty, romantic comedy heroines.

I'm not going into too many plot details because it is better just to experience the film on your own.  It's worth it.  The last 45 minutes of the film, where the SEAL team goes after bin Laden is probably the tensest 45 minutes of any film I have ever seen.  It reminded me a lot of Argo.  You know how the movie is going to end, but you are still nervous, like there is a chance he's not there, or that it's going to go belly up.  Kudos to Bigelow.

Bottom Line:  Kathryn Bigelow crafts a worthy follow up to The Hurt Locker.  The movie asks hard questions and delivers no easy answers.  Chastain and the other actors endow each part, even the smallest, with depth.

My Favorite CD's: Beyoncé - "4"

Beyoncé, "4"

2013 is shaping up to be the year of Queen Bey.  She has already announced a pseudo Destiny's Child reunion and dropped their single, "Nuclear."  On February 3, she is performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and I would be surprised if a few days before she didn't drop the first single off of her upcoming fifth studio album.  She will also be releasing a documentary on HBO in February, and in May she voices, what else, a queen in the animated movie, Epic.  With this renewed focus on Mrs. Jigga and the mother of Blue Ivy, it made me go back and revisit her best album, "4."

For about a year, I was pretty obsessed with the album.  Whenever I was at a loss for something to listen to, "4" was what I always landed on.  I listened to it so much that even Ian, my boyfriend, had almost all of the lyrics memorized.  I picked it back up recently and it is still just as fantastic as I remember it to be.

Beyoncé let the world know that she was back with the hype single, a pro women anthem called "Run the World (Girls)."  It was a single before the actual single dropped.  This is something that artists have been doing more and more recently, as kind of a dry run of their upcoming material.  It was a great single that was accompanied by a video that was a visual achievement.  For some reason, the single never caught on at radio.  The subsequent singles "1+1" and "Best Thing I Never Had" didn't really make much impact on radio either.  This really shocked me, since "Best Thing I Never Had" is quintessential Beyoncé.  It is like a more mature follow up to "Irreplaceable."

That is the best thing about "4."  The material is mature and showed her growth.  In interviews given before the release of the album, B would say that she wanted to record songs that she could see herself singing twenty years from now, and I think she totally succeeded.  It wouldn't be unthinkable that a 50-year-old B would be singing these songs.  Even a song called, "Party" isn't a loud, bass thumping, Ke$ha style jam, it is a low key, mid-tempo rocker about drinking and having a good time.  

"4" also contains what I think is Bey's greatest single, "Countdown."  It is a celebration of her decade long relationship with husband Jay-Z and also a celebration of long term relationships in general.  

"4" wasn't a failure.  It debuted at number 1, selling 310,000 copes and making it Beyoncé's fourth consecutive number one album.  I just feel like it never really got the recognition it deserved.  If you are a fan and haven't heard it, or haven't listened to it in a while, I encourage you to get it back out and give it another spin.  If you aren't already, I guarantee it will get you hyped for what will be not only a spectacular halftime show,  but a spectacular 2013 for your girl.  Also, if you haven't, check out these videos, all from "4."

American Idol Recap: Hello Kitty Has Claws

American Idol, Episode 2: Chicago Auditions

Thursday night, American Idol continued it's season premiere with the Chicago auditions.  The Minaj/Carey feud continued to boil and judging by the previews for next week it's going to boil over in Charlotte.  There was less emphasis on the ladies and more emphasis on the talent in this episode.  They showcased a whopping 16 Golden Ticket recipients, including one that would melt the heart of even the most jaded Idol watcher.  If you didn't get choked up watching the audition of 21 year old stutterer, Lazaro Arbos, then I may have to question whether or not you are a living, feeling, human being.  

Let's take a look at those 16 lucky contestants:

Mackenzie Wasner, 17, comes from a musical family.  Her dad has been playing piano for country music star, Vince Gill, since before she was born.  The bubbly blonde wowed with a tuneful version of Gill's "Whenever You Come Around."  The song isn't very memorable, but she did a great job of making the a capella rendition her own.  I could see what Keith was saying when he compared Mackenzie's voice to Dolly Parton's, but I thought there were a few too many runs, but agreed with Mariah, that the talent was there and just needed to be honed.

Kiara Lanier, 21, had recently sang for President Barack Obama.  After she was quizzed about the experience, including an awkward question about how Obama smells, Lanier launched into a note perfect rendition of Celine Dion's "The Prayer."  She tried a little too much vocal showboating and it sort of let her down when she reached for the higher notes at the end, but she excelled on a difficult song.

Stephanie Schmiel, 20, sang "Dream a Little Dream."  I remember that she was blonde and cute, but that is about it.  Her audition was overtaken by the Minaj/Carey Monster that featured Keith quite a bit. It's not a good sign when you are overshadowed by the judges ridiculata.

Gabe Brown, 21, comes from Marion, IA, and apparently was discovered during Idol's Audition Bus Tour.  He is a curly haired moppet, who fancies himself a real rocker.  He scream/sings a pretty good rendition of "Gimme Shelter."  Mariah asks him to sing a few bars of something softer and he can't go more than thirty seconds without going back to the shouting stuff.  Gabe has the potential to be a good rock singer, but I worry how he would fare with Idol's theme nights if he makes it to the live rounds.

Isabelle Parell, 15, was the first of two impossibly poised teenagers that we see audition.  She sang "Baby, It's Cold Outside," immediately winning brownie points from Christmas Loving Carey.  She also had Keith sing the other part of the duet.  I was a big fan of her husky, smoky vocal.  She proved that you don't have to sing a million runs in order to get the judges and the public to sit up and take notice of you.  

Griffin Peterson is a good looking 22 year old, who Nicki decided to start calling "Grrr."  He sang a great rendition of a song I had never heard before called "Washed by the Water."  He had a really great Amos Lee/Ray Lemontagne quality to his voice.  Nicki and Mariah liked his voice and his female appeal.  Randy wasn't feeling the vocals, which just goes to show how laughably out of touch he is.

Curtis Finch, Jr., 24, brought two friends and a phenomenal Gospel tinged voice.  I loved how he transitioned from banter with the judges to his audition song, "God is Able."  Idol has had singers like Curtis in the top 12 for the past couple of years, but I think there could be room for Curtis in this year's. It's best not to ignore a guy who had Mariah Carey testifying.

Mariah Pulice, 19, formed an immediate kinship with the same named judge.  Apparently, Mariah keeps track of how popular her name is.  I am not surprised.  According to the Lady Carey right now Mariah is the 62nd most popular name.  Contestant Mariah came to her audition with an anorexia backstory.  She and her family discussed how she is in recovery, before she launched into a prettily adequate version of "Let It Be."  I'm not sure if she would have gotten through without the backstory.

Brandy Neelly was the second mature teenager that auditioned.  She sang a ridiculously amazing version of "Your Cheatin' Heart."  It was a great, unexpected song choice.  She did really interesting things with it, zigging and zagging, embellishing just enough to show the judges what her voice was capable of, but not embellishing too much.  I'm expecting big things from Brandy.

Josh Holiday, 24, gave the judges a passable rendition of "Back To One."  It wasn't very memorable.  There was nothing spectacular or offensive about it.  I'm predicting that Josh will be early Hollywood week cannon fodder.

Courtney Williams and Andrew Jones were shown pretty quickly.  Neither one of them left a very lasting impression on this guy. Courtney's "Who's Loving You" showed lots of potential, but I probably would have told her to come back next  year, and Andrew's "Knock On Wood" showed that he had rhythm, but I'm not sure about the vocals.  Maybe the judges were mesmerized by his mad stepping skillz.

Clinton Duffin, 24, told Ryan that his parents, who came along to the audition, had never heard him sing.  So, of course, Ryan, probably under strict instructions from Uncle Nigel, snuck them into the audition where Clinton was singing one of his mom's favorite songs, "Superstar."  Clinton definitely possesses some raw talent, but I think the judges should have told him to take some vocal lessons, keep on practicing and come back next year, but how could they say no in front of Clinton's teary eyed mom and pop?  I did find myself loving Keith Urban about a thousand times more when he started tearing up.  Nothing hotter than a man not afraid to cry in front of 17 million people.

Johnny Keyser, 23, was an Idol reject from season 11.  He came back and wowed the judges with his version of "Try A Little Tenderness."  The song is a tough one to really showcase your vocals on, but, as Keith noted, Johnny did a good job.  Time will tell if Johnny will be a Colton Dixon level comeback story.

The final two auditions were my favorite.  I loved 27-year-old, Kez Ban, a relatively inexperienced fire performer and street entertainer.  I was pretty much enamored of her the minute she came on camera.  She was so aware of the whole process, it was great.  I also loved how she said that she shouldn't win American Idol.  A bubbly 17-year-old, who claims it is their dream should win.  I fell more in love with her when she got in front of the judges and sang a jazzy, laid back rendition of "I've Got No Strings" from Pinocchio.  She then performed an original song called "Wandering" that was maybe the best original song performed on Idol.  Words can't do her audition justice, so you can watch it here:

Finally, the audition everyone was waiting for.  Lazaro Arbos, 21, had been stuttering since he was 6 years old.  His parents said there was a time where he just didn't talk.  They tried therapy, but nothing seemed to help.  He didn't have many friends and watching Lazaro try to articulate his feelings broke your heart in two.  Then, he sang a triumphant rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water."  I mean, it's something you have to see, so here it is.  Grab some Kleenex, because, if you have a heart, you're probably going to need it.

In total, 46 contestants made it to Hollyweird.  Next week, the judges head to Charlotte and that is where the weaves, wigs, and Hello Kitty mirrors really hit the fan.  Are you excited to see the famous fight in all it's HD glory?  Or, do you think these womens should just shut up and do their "job?"  Also, should someone tell Mariah that is not appropriate to wear her nightie to work?  Let me know in the comments.