Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Beverly Hills Real Housewife Adrienne Maloof Divorcing Paul Nassif

I was a little surprised to learn today that one of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' marriages has gone kaput.

Supposedly Adrienne Maloof and Paul Nassif had tried going the open marriage route to keep their household happy.

But, the open marriage route did not work out, so now it's splittsville.

The first season of RHOBH I found the Maloof/Nassif bickering to be amusing. The second season of RHOBH there seemed to be a big change in the bickering. There was less of it and when the bickering did happen it was not so amusing.

And Adrienne had gone from being a fan favorite to being a bit of a bitch. As witnessed on the second season's reunion show where Adrienne irrationally went after the uber-fan favorite, Lisa Vanderpump.

Then there were all the reports about their being trouble in the Maloof business empire, which seemed to have Adrienne scrambling to make money, most absurdly by "designing" a line of what looked like hooker shoes.

Apparently the third season of  Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is currently being filmed, with the Maloof/Nassif breakup included for our viewing pleasure.

This should make for good ratings on a par with all those who turned in with morbid curiosity to see how the Russell Armstrong suicide was going to be dealt with at the start of season two.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

The London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony Was An Excellent Show Despite NBC's Attempts To Ruin The Viewing Experience

When I started watching Friday's London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony I figured I would not last long due to Bob Costas fatigue, particularly when, soon upon the start, we were subjected to Bob Costas talking to Tom Brokaw.

But, soon we learned that Merideth Vieira and Matt Lauer would be the talking heads during the actual ceremony.

So, last night I made it through my first Olympic Opening Ceremony, as broadcast by an American network, this century.

I was blessed in 2008 to be able to watch the Beijing Olympics, Bob Costas/NBC-free, due to being in Tacoma and thus able to watch it on Canadian TV.

Merideth and Matt provided some actual useful commentary, at times, explaining what was happening. At other times their inane babbling grated on my nerves and triggered the would you just shut up impulse.

Reading other viewer's viewing experience, particular those who watched both the NBC version and online, interruption free version, made me more annoyed at NBC. Apparently some interesting stuff happened during some of the commercial breaks.

And why, oh why, did NBC stick in that long, boring taped interview with Ryan Seacrest talking to a couple gymnasts, while the live Opening Ceremony was happening?

Well, actually, taped delay live Opening Ceremony. But, still, Ryan Seacrest was not part of the Opening Ceremony, which is what I was hoping to watch.

The creative genius behind London's Opening Ceremony, Danny Boyle, had said he knew there was no way they could out do Beijing's spectacle.

I beg to differ. I think London did out do Beijing. And I really liked the Beijing spectacle. Beijing was so over the top, the likes of which I'd never seen before. An online commenter summed up the difference...

If I were to describe the difference between Beijing and London, I think it is best described as a celebration of  individuality versus a display of forced uniformity.

The London show had a sense of humor. With the funniest part being Queen Elizabeth's contribution with James Bond. I don't know if NBC was to blame, or what, but it would have been far more amusing had the transition between Queen Elizabeth parachuting into the stadium, and the actual Queen Elizabeth appearing, been made seamless. Instead it seemed like something went awry, or was badly edited.

I thought the transition from pastoral England to the Industrial Revolution was an amazing spectacle. How did those smokestacks rise from the stadium floor?

And then the raucousness amped up when we got to the 60s, with England's contribution to the world's music, on to the modern era, with Twitter and the Internet, the stadium floor turned into an out of control party. I wanted to be at that party.

The part, earlier in the show, that celebrated Britain's nationalized health care, seemed a bit odd, from the American perspective, but, apparently the Brits are really proud of their free health care, something they've had since 1948. Something America has never had. Not in the Brit way.

Maybe in the 2060 Los Angeles Opening Ceremonies there will be a segment celebrating 50 years of Obamacare. Somehow, I suspect that won't happen.

Below are a couple comments I saw online, on both sides of the good or bad show spectrum, first the good....

Congratulations, London!  You did a fantastic job on the opening ceremonies.  England certainly lived up to its reputation for being a master of pomp and ceremony.  It was delightful to see your rich culture and history showcased with such class, pride and that wonderfully dry British wit. As the Brits would say...brilliant, just brilliant!

And then the bad....

Cringe-inducing. Really this makes some of you proud to be British? This nonsensical, mishmash of a high-school level show? Look I can understand loving your country. It's a great country and London is a great city. This is an absolutely HORRIBLE opening ceremony than. Seriously. If you guys think this is good you seriously need to think again. No wonder Romney complained. This is unwatchably bad.

Now, before the next Olympics Opening Ceremony, I think it would be a good thing for NBC to watch how  the BBC and CTV cover an Olympics.

And even though NBC still managed to mangle an Olympic Opening Ceremony and even though NBC still had talking heads babbling inane babble, this most recent attempt was a big improvement, to the point that, with the help of my DVR FF button, I actually made it through the entire show without hitting the off button.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Nielsen Rating's Top 20 TV Shows for July 16 - July 22

The Nielsen Rating's Top 20 TV Shows for Nielsen Rating's Top 20 for for July 16 - July 22. The first number is the ranking, the second number is the season average, then the show name and network. The last number represents the number of viewers in millions. An asterisk * indicates a tie.

Ranking #3 for The Bachelorette finale, is that the highest rating ever for this franchise?

RankShow name
Network
Viewers in millions
Season-to-date average(in millions)
1.America's Got Talent (Tue.)
NBC
10.2
11.7
2.Big Bang Theory
CBS
9.0
14.3
3.The Bachelorette (Sun.)
ABC
8.9
--
4.Bachelorette: After Rose
ABC
8.8
--
5.America's Got Talent (Wed.)
NBC
7.6
10.4
6.60 Minutes
CBS
7.5
12.0
7.Two and a Half Men (Thu.)
CBS
7.4
7.4
8.NCIS
CBS
7.2
17.6
*The Bacheorette (Mon.)
ABC
7.2
8.3
10.Big Brother (Thu.)
CBS
6.3
6.7
*Hell's Kitchen (Mon.)
Fox
6.3
6.7
*Masterchef (Mon.)
Fox
6.3
6.5
13.Masterchef (Thu.)
Fox
6.2
6.3
14.Hell's Kitchen (Tue.)
Fox
6.0
6.4
15.Big Brother (Wed.)
CBS
5.8
5.8
*NCIS: Los Angeles
CBS
5.8
14.4
17.Hawaii Five-0
CBS
5.7
11.0
18.Person of Interest
CBS
5.6
5.6
19.CSI
CBS
5.5
11.4
20.Big Brother (Sun.)
CBS
5.4
5.8

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Nielsen Rating's Top 20 TV Shows for July 9 - July 15

The Nielsen Rating's Top 20 TV Shows for Nielsen Rating's Top 20 for for July 9 - July 15. The first number is the ranking, the second number is the season average, then the show name and network. The last number represents the number of viewers in millions. An asterisk * indicates a tie.

RankShow name
Network
Viewers in millions
Season-to-date average(in millions)
1.Baseball: All-Star Game
Fox
10.9
--
2.America's Got Talent (Tue.)
NBC
10.7
11.8
3.Big Bang Theory (8:30)
CBS
9.0
--
4.NCIS
CBS
8.4
17.8
5.America's Got Talent (Wed.)
NBC
8.1
11.3
*The Bachelorette
ABC
8.1
8.2
7.Big Bang Theory
CBS
8.0
14.5
8.60 Minutes
CBS
7.4
12.1
9.Big Brother (Thu.)
CBS
7.2
7.2
10.NCIS: Los Angeles
CBS
6.3
14.6
11.Big Brother (Sun.)
CBS
6.2
6.2
12.Hell's Kitchen (Mon.)
Fox
6.0
6.6
13.Masterchef (Mon.)
Fox
5.9
6.3
*So You Think You Can Dance
Fox
5.9
7.8
15.Hawaii Five-0
CBS
5.7
11.2
*Secret Millionaire
ABC
5.7
5.4
*Wipeout (Thu.)
ABC
5.7
6.1
18.Person of Interest
CBS
5.6
13.0
19.NY Med
ABC
5.5
5.5
20.CSI
CBS
5.4
11.6

Sunday, July 15, 2012

American Idol's Todrick Hall's Beauty and the BEAT!



Todrick Hall was on Season 9 of American Idol. Todrick did not quite make it into the Top 12. Katie Stevens did make it into the Top 12 on Season 9, making it to the #8 spot.

Todrick Hall made a video parody of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, with Todrick's version being called Beauty and the BEAT! Todrick's is a ghettoized version of the Disney classic.

Katie Steven's is the beauty in Beauty and the BEAT!

The video has only been YouTube viewable for a few days and has gone viral with millions of viewings.

The Huffington Post wrote a glowing review....

Do you ever watch the opening of the Disney animated classic "Beauty and the Beast" and wish that instead of yelling "bonjour!" in the streets of Paris, the townspeople shouted "what's good?" to Belle as she strolled through the ghetto?

In this astoundingly well-executed parody from onetime "American Idol" contestant Todrick Hall and an assemblage of YouTube celebrities -- and even a glimpse of Antoine Dodson (or at least a lookalike) -- "Belle" goes through her morning walk through the 'hood, gets her hair did, and gets holla'd at by Jerome (not Gaston).

Best of all, everyone looks like they're having fun. Try not to watch this one over and over.

Todrick Hall appears to be quite a talented guy. He is a neighbor of mine, from Arlington, Texas, whom I have never met.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Steven Tyler Leaves American Idol Before His Rabbit Gets Boiled

I have no idea what Steven Tyler meant when he said, "After some long, hard, thoughts, I've decided it's time to let go of my mistress 'American Idol' before she boils my rabbit.

Boils his rabbit?

Tyler also said, "I strayed from my first love, Aerosmith, and I'm back, but instead of begging on my hands and knees, I've got two fists in the air and I'm kicking the door open with my band. The next few years are going to be dedicated to kicking some serious ass, the ultimate in auditory takeover. Idol was over the top fun, and I loved every minute of it. Now it's time to bring Rock back."

I've never understood why some viewers thought the former American Idol judge was drug addled.

Jennifer Lopez is also making noises about leaving American Idol.

If she goes, that leaves Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest as the only remaining originals.

Apparently the ratings for American Idol took a dive this year. What with way too many singing competitions on TV, a ratings dive is not too surprising. That and maybe viewers have tired of year after year of WGWG (White Guy With Guitar) winners. With none of them rising to the Kelly Clarkson/Carrie Underwood superstar zone.

I have some hope for Phillip Phillips and his guitar, though.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Nielsen Rating's Top 20 TV Shows for July 2 - July 8

The Nielsen Rating's Top 20 TV Shows for Nielsen Rating's Top 20 for for July 2 - July 8. The first number is the ranking, the second number is the season average, then the show name and network. The last number represents the number of viewers in millions. An asterisk * indicates a tie.

RankShow name
Network
Viewers in millions
Season-to-date average (in millions)
1.America's Got Talent (Mon.)
NBC
10.4
11.5
2.America's Got Talent (Tue.)
NBC
9.3
11.8
3.Big Bang Theory (8:30 p.m.)
CBS
9.1
--
4.Big Bang Theory
CBS
8.3
14.6
5.NCIS
CBS
8.2
18.0
6.4th July Fireworks
NBC
8.1
--
*Person of Interest
CBS
8.1
13.2
8.60 Minutes
CBS
7.5
12.2
*The Bachelorette
ABC
7.5
7.9
10.Olympic Trials: Swimming
NBC
7.4
7.1
11.The Mentalist
CBS
6.9
13.4
12.20/20
ABC
6.0
5.6
*48 Hours Mystery
CBS
6.0
5.9
14.Dateline
NBC
5.9
5.3
15.Hell's Kitchen (Mon.)
Fox
5.8
6.2
*NCIS: Los Angeles
CBS
5.8
14.8
17.Secret Millionaire
ABC
5.7
5.2
18.60 Minutes (8 p.m.)
CBS
5.6
--
*Wipeout (Thu.)
ABC
5.6
6.0
20.20/20
ABC
5.5
5.0
*Boston Pops Fireworks
CBS
5.5
--
*Masterchef (Mon.)
Fox
5.5
5.9