The Fantastic Mr. Fox Moviegoing Experience‏

How to Train Your Dragon

Alice in Wonderland

Despicable Me

The Tooth Fairy

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel.

Book 64 of 52 -- Nicholas Sparks' The Last Song

This story seemed to take a bit longer to get into, but, when I did, I was hooked and I enjoyed the unfolding.

The beauty of reading a Nicolas Sparks book is that I can read it any time of day.

Dammit.

:)

Survivor on Thanksgiving

The DVR program description is promising me a new episode tonight.

I bet it is just a clip show.....

Yeah... it was.

Tucker's Nuts
Brett Clouser (10)
Mick Trimming (14)
David Ball (15)
Shannon Waters (18)
Laura Morett (19) -- Booted Week Ten
Kelly Sharbaugh (11) -- Booted Week Nine
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
John Fincher (1)
Monica Padilla (8)
Russell Hantz (12)
Natalie White (13)
Jaison Robinson (20)
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

Book 63 of 52 -- Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol

Not entirely bad, but it was too long formulaic.

I saw this from someone on the web and it describes a typical Dan Brown/Robert Langdon book.

Character A: Have you heard of X?
Character B (usually Langdon): Yes, but I thought that was just a myth.
Character A shows or tells B something.
Character B reacts with shock.
Then, insert scenes of people walking from one place to another, being chased.
Then, insert the sentence "Suddenly everything made sense." At least for the next ten pages.
Repeat.


Funny.

Dancing With the Stars Season 9 FINAL RESULTS!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone from the season is introduced and the final three enter... cute and fun... but then they go to the recap from teh night before and the video fails... showing us the back of Miss Piggy's head. What a great way to start the night...

They go to commercial and immediately start it over... We learn that tonight... they will all dance at least one more dance to hopefully save themselves!

Whitney Houston starts the night with some singing and she doesn't seem able to move at all. She sounds good though.

It's time to meet the "Loser's Club." Something Jeffrey Ross created... so this is some pretty funny/entertaining video of people who were to be voted off first. We come back to live television and Jeffrey Ross officially inducts Ashley Hamilton into the Loser's Club. This is a funny way to get to Ross' strength of roasting and leads into Ashley dancing with Edyta... and Ross for a funny ending.

Video Montage! -- The first three weeks of the season. Aaron cried... I think every week.

Kathy Ireland and Tony Dovolani dance a final dance...
Macy Gray and Jonathan Roberts dance a final dance...
Debi Mazar and Maksim Chmerkovskiyaweafadsfasdsky dance a final dance...
All three remind us why they were booted early.... *yawn*

Video Montage! -- The effects the flu had on everyone. As Seth and Amy would say... Really?

Tom Delay and Cheryl Burke dance a final dance...

Video Montage! Let's review the fourth and fifth weeks of the competition.
Chuck Liddell and Anna Truyinska dance a final dance...
Mark Dascascos and Lacey Schwimmer dance a final dance...

Video Montage! Adam Carolla gives out advice to each contestant... I think he is funny and it was funny.

Natalie Coughlin and Alec Mazo dance a final dance...

Video Montage! How the Team dances affected the way the competition played out.

Melissa Joan Hart and Mark Ballas dance a final dance...

Video Montage! The judges give us a closer look at the three finalists. We then get some dramatic entries by the finalists ... oh boy... THey will be dancing another dance and ranked... and given points accordingly.

Before they start dancing... here are the scores so far:
Mya & Dmitry Chaplin -- 30 + 30 + 27 = 87
Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson -- 27 + 28 + 30 = 85
Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel -- 26 + 26 + 24 = 76

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel are up first. We see a recap video of her time on Earth... and I think she is a woman now... *puke*. She dances the Viennese Waltz again and it was good. Everyone is crying.... Especially Louie... Wait a second... Aaron didn't dance!

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin dance second after a fun and sweetly boring video. They dance their Jive again, which was very good. It always is. THe judges fawn over her...

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are last... great and sweet video and great Argentine Tango. The judges agree.. Let's rank em already!

First for 30 Points -- Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson
Second for 28 Points --Mya & Dmitry Chaplin
Thrid for 26 Points -- Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel

Final Scores
Mya & Dmitry Chaplin -- 30 + 30 + 27 + 28 = 115
Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson -- 27 + 28 + 30 + 30 = 115
Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel -- 26 + 26 + 24 + 26 = 102

Louie Vito and Chelsie Hightower dance a final dance... They dance to Puppy Love sung by Donny Osmond... LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVEEEE!

Grudge Match! It is time for Jerry Rice vs Michael Irvin. They will each dance and the judges will pick a winner. I get a strange feeling that they will... tie. Michael Irvin and Anna Demidova vs Jerry Rice and Anny Treyunska. They dance the Paso Doble side by side and it is to the Monday Night Football theme song. They give it to Michael Irvin. I cringe... and they make up something else to give Jerry... so no one really wins or losers.

Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnov dance a final dance... and they do the Muppets dance again.

Steve Wozniak, Cloris Leachman, Jerry Springer are all interviewed by Miss Piggy. Apparently, they are all going to dance the Mambo against Joanna Krupa... right after a Video Montage of the 8th and 9th weeks. They are all reunited with their original partners and participating in the Mambo Dance Off... each will be eliminated at some point. Cloris Leachman and Corky Ballas are booted first. Jerry Springer and Edyta Sliwinski are booted second. Steve Wozniak and Karina Smirnoff are booted third. Derek Hough and Joanna Krupa are the winners.

Whitney Houston sings... again... and... sings badly.

It's time to boot a couple... the third place couple is Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel -- Good... Joanna should have been there.



The bottom two are Mya & Dmitry Chaplin and Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson

Second Place are Mya & Dmitry Chaplin



Your winners for Season 9 are... Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson

Great!

Dancing With the Stars Season 9 Finals

The last night and I have to see the whole season through... even though it has been the most boring season yet.

Three rounds tonight... Individual... a Mega Mix where all three will dance together... and the Free Style!

ROUND ONE -- INDIVIDUAL DANCE

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel kick off the show and they are watching the video of past dances and talking why they are inthe finals and how much she has matured. They are doing the Argentine Tango and Carrie Ann is here to help them practice. Sarcasm: Uh oh... Kelly has to be a woman... can she do it? Argh... the whining has worked for her all season. Now... the dance starts and dammit.. it is actually pretty damn good. Ozzy busts a move... or shakes violently. One of the two. Len loved it. Bruno liked it but offered criticism. Carrie Ann babbled a bunch. Their scores are 9, 9, 8 for a total of 26.

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin are up to their season narration. I fell asleep until Len came in to help them with their Paso Doble. Harold Wheeler and his cronies... are screwing up Queen's We Will Rock you. UGH!!!!!!!!! It was good. Very good. Bruno loved it. Their scores are 10, 10, 10 for a total of 30.

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson bring up the rear in the first round. Their video starts right after Tom reminds them that they are lucky to be here. He is funny and Kym barely wears clothes... which almost seems on purpose this season. Bruno gives them tips this time around. They are dancing the Cha Cha Cha. Not the greatest dance, but it was fun. The judges liked it and noticed one mistake. Their scores are 9, 9, 9 for a total of 27.

ROUND TWO -- MEGA MIX CHALLENGE

The dancers will doing three dances all in a row (Vienesse Waltz, Samba, and the Jive) and against each other. They will be ranked in first, second, and third and given points accordingly. The video is cute. They dance it and we are all amazed.... because... they were literally all dancing the same dance next to each other. It is cool and kind of a train wreck... at the same time.

Let's get the rankings.

First for 30 points -- Mya & Dmitry Chaplin
Second for 28 points -- Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson
Third for 26 points -- Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel

FREESTYLE ROUND

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel will be dancing to I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor... because it represents something... and BAM... here is this week's cry baby reason for people to vote for her... torn cartiledge in her feet. It seems messy and then Louie drops Kelly... and I cheer... seriously... I cheer. The judges speak nicely about her... and this is more proof that she is just not judged the same way. Their scores are 8, 8, 8 for a total of 24.

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin debate what kind of dance they will dance and they choose the Hairspray dance theme. It was very safe. It seemed VERY safe. Carrie Ann thought it wasn't outstanding, but fun. Len agrees as does Bruno. 9, 9, 9, for a total of 27.

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are up last and they will try really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really hard. It was a Broadway medley and it was a lot of fun. Their scores are 10, 10, 10 for a total of 30.

Scores... Just a reminder!

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin -- 30 + 30 + 27 = 87
Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson -- 27 + 28 + 30 = 85
Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel -- 26 + 26 + 24 = 76

C'mon America... and the Mormons... Vote for Donny!

Precious Movie Going Experience

Thank you SC and TW for a great morning out. :)

Crazy Heart

Up in the Air

Invictus

The Princess and The Frog

Brothers

Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too

Bood 62 of 52 -- Audrey Niffenegger's Her Fearful Symmetry

This is an intriguing story and not at all what I expected. I loved Niffenegger's previous novel, The Time Traveler's Wife. When I saw this was set in and around an English cemetery, I wasn't sure it would be my cup of tea. It took a couple chapters to warm to the eccentric characters, but by then, I could hardly put the book down. Niffenegger has a true gift for prose, and though I felt the ending was too ambiguous to be satisfying, it was all artfully presented. Much of the story revolves around twins, as there are two sets in the tale, the younger twins being particularly interesting as they are mirror images of one another, with handedness, moles, and even internal organs reversed. I'm grasping for another novel to compare it to, but can't quite come up with anything. It is set in the present day, yet has a Victorian cemetery figuring very prominently, and thus has the feel of a historical novel. Sensual, surprising, and oddly tender, this is a story that will haunt you.

Survivor Samoa Week 10

Tucker's Nuts
Brett Clouser (10)
Mick Trimming (14)
David Ball (15)
Shannon Waters (18)
Laura Morett (19) -- Booted Week Ten (I am alright with this for some reason.)
Kelly Sharbaugh (11) -- Booted Week Nine
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
John Fincher (1)
Monica Padilla (8)
Russell Hantz (12)
Natalie White (13)
Jaison Robinson (20)
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

Happy Birthday to Me!

Book 61 of 52 -- David Baldacci's True Blue

Mace wants vindication affirmed only by regaining her badge. Beth at the risk of her career will do what she can to support her younger sister because she is perhaps the only person in blue who believes Mace's story. Attorney Roy Kingman is in the middle of a gigantic case involving the murder of a US Attorney and the rape-killing of another lawyer. He is attracted to feisty Mace who sees solving the spectacular case as redemption. With her sister's support and a need to work in the shadows as another US Attorney wants to return her to jail, Mace investigates only to find roadblocks from the affluent who prefer the case go cold.

This is an action-packed fast-paced over the top of the Washington Monument investigative thriller that grips fans throughout as long as the reader ignores credibility. The sisters make the tale with their support of one another as they seek a killer and redemption for Mace. David Baldacci provides his fans with a very entertaining whodunit with hopefully more appearances from the TRUE BLUE blood siblings.

Dancing With the Stars Seminfinals Elimination Episode

I don't get it, but there is no way that Kelly Osbourne is not winning DWTS.

There... I said it.

Mya is the best dancer... Joanna is a close second... Donny is a great showman... and Kelly has manipulated the audience over and over and over again.

With that... let's get to a live episode with three live performers by three washed up or three peopel that the ABC/Disney machine wants to shove down my throat....

LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE

The encore dance is Mya & Dmitry Chaplin's Salsa. Len liked saying... "Tooty Fruity Booty" again.

They did another video recap... and ... what? Who woke me?

Wow... just a few minutes into the show (8 to be exact... ) we are ready to save someone!

The first couple saved is... UGH... not cool... to be revealed... "Shortly."

VIDEO MONTAGE! The contestants all talk about each other... and how great everyone is.

Our first random performance is a dance number from the cast of the upcoming movie musical version of the Broadway Show "Nine." It has a Fiddler on the Roof feel to it.

Alicia Keyes sings. Samantha tells me she is "phenomenal" and if Ellen was hosting, she would say she is "amazing".

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough and Mya & Dmitry Chaplin are brought down to the stage to hear their fate as the top two scoring couples.

The first couple saved is Mya & Dmitry Chaplin
They won't tell Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough their fate until later. Ugh.

Leona Lewis is singing...

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel and Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are brought down to the stage to hear their fate as the bottom two scoring couples.

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are saved

That means the bottom two are Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough and Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel

The Bee Gees sing.... and the boring Melissa Rycroft dances to their music. I can't figure out who gets the biggest cheers.

Video Montage! The professionals discuss how hard it is to choreograph the other dances done on the Results Show.

Finally... after all the delay... we finally get the results. Tom and Samantha ask the rhetorical questions and update us on how the public felt.... and then they do the commercial thing again. Blech.

When we come back from the commercial, Samantha tells us that these two might not necessarily be in the bottom two. Ooooooh! Drama!!!!

The final couple saved Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel

This pisses me off. She is the second best dancer of the season and this is just not right.

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough are eliminated and asked to dance a routine again.

So sad.

Dancing With the Stars Semifinals!

Before we begin... we can be a bit creepy for a second and we can all take a moment to oooh and aaaah Joanna Krupa being naked in the new issue of Playboy.

Creepiness... over.

Second level of creepiness... Joanna Krupa is on Ellen today...

Borderline creepiness... over.

Tonight is the semi-finals and it is scheduled to run a full two hours so that means there is going to be a ton of filler in the show. They all have to perform three full individual routines... two dances and then their "knock Out" dances that none of these had to perform the week's before.

Round One

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are up first, but they were in last place after last week. For the practice of the Tango, Kym brings in the uber sexy Gilles Marini and he is teaching him to be sexy and passionate. GIlles tells him tha the has to make everyone uncomfortable. Donny wants to do that during his Tango. The music is a bit too light for me to feel uncomfortable, but it is a dcent enough dance... with a good ending. He wasn't happy with his own dance. THe judges agree that he lost itduring the middle of the dance somewhere.... He won't shut up about messing up and her dress got in the way. Their scores were 7, 7, 7 for a total of 21.

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough dance second and were second last week by the judges. She is feeling pressure and Derek is being really hard on her during rehearsals. Where the happy go lucky Derek that we all love. Brooke Burke comes in and gets them to role play each other. Cute enough. The first dance is the Viennese Waltz. I am biassed, but I think it was lovely and worth all 9s. THe band killed the song Halleluah from Jeff Buckley and I couldn't get over it. The judges seem to be near what I think. Their scores are 9, 9, 9 for 27.

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel is the only person that hasn't been at the top of the leaderboard left. Kelly's dog ... not her dog... one that she is helping ... died. So... let's dance... she's mature now! They are dancing the Rumba. She is "going to own it." I am going to puke because no matter how bad the dance is, the judges will continue to treat her differently. The dance was sweet enough. As my friend Lori thinks... Carrie Ann and Kelly need to get a room. Len thinks she is competent and Bruno is critical. Suck it Carrie Ann. Theirs scores are 8, 8, 8 for a total of 24.

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin dance last in the first round. Mya annoys me. That's it. I said it. Annnooooooooooooooyyyyying. The vdeo is an attempt to be funny and it is soooooo boring and forced. Blech. Boot camp! They are dancing the Waltz. Of course it is a nice dance. But I am bored. Len loved it and so did Bruno... and Carrie Ann gushed, but was critical. She treats them differently... and expects more. Their scores are 9, 9, 10 for a total of 28.

SECOND ROUND!

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson have a great deal of pressure. The video shows us where he came from and his background. DRAMA!!! They are dancing the Samba. He has a smile on his face. This dance is far better and it is because he is smiling and seems to actually be enjoying the dance. Bruno thinks he nailed it. Carrie Ann thought it was better but she called it sloppy. Len disagrees completely with Carrie Ann and he loved it. Their scores are 8, 9, 9 for a total of 26.

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough The video shows us where she came from and her background. DRAMA!!! They are dancing the Cha Cha Cha. Whoa. She is confident and looks good doing it. How is this going to be a bad score? Carrie Ann thinks it was great. Len thought it was clean and crisp. Bruno thinks she is "just natural sex." Awkward. Their scores are 9, 9, 9 for a total of 27.

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van AmstelThe video shows us where she came from and her background. DRAMA!!! As her video ends... I am not sure what to say or do... except maybe gouge out my eyes and chop off my tongue. They are dancing the Quick Step to 99 Red Balloons. Dance was fine with a nunch of mis-steps and I thought the dance was going to end with a drop. They just don't treat her the same. I am not sure that she is going to lose this show... the crowd really does adore her. Her scores were 9, 9, 9 for a total of 27.

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin The video shows us where she came from and her background. DRAMA!!! Ugh... boring. Except the part about her mom almost dying. Their Samba is frenetic and good. Ok? I admit it. Give her her high scores so we can move on to seeing more Joanna please? Bruno stands and yells "Sensational." Carrie Ann loved it. Len says "Tutti Fuiti, What a Booty." That was a great dance. Her scores are 10, 10, 10 for a total of 30.

THIRD ROUND -- KNOCK OUT DANCES -- These dances were songs and dances chosen by the contestants and are only 30 seconds long.

VIDEO MONTAGE! We can see everyone's dance preparation.

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson have chosen the Jitterbug. That was frigging awesome. Really really really great. The judges loved it. Their scores were 9, 9, 9 for a total of 27.

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough have chosen the Salsa. Great dance. What can you say about 30 second dances except good or bad? Great! Len loved it. Bruno thought it was delicious and flirtacious. Their scores were 9, 9, 9 for a total of 27.

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel have chosen the Cha Cha Cha. They waste a bunch of time in the beginning, but I am sure the judges will love her. I was right.... I just don't get it. Their scores are 9, 9, 9 for a total of 27.

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin have chosen the Cha Cha Cha... and it was frigging amazing but not perfect. Carrie Ann didn't like it. Len was disappointed it wasn't longer. Bruno loved it. Wacky. Their scores were 9, 10, 10 for 29.

Scores... Just a reminder!

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin -- 28 + 30 + = 87
Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough -- 27 + 27 + 27 = 81
Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel -- 24 + 27 + 27 = 78
Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson -- 21 + 26 + 27 = 74

A Serious Man Movie Going Experience

Previews

The Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Pirate Radio

Book 60 of 52 -- Michael Connelly's 9 Dragons

Connelly totally missed the mark with this book.

I don't even want to spend the time criticizing it since he didn't spend the time to write a good book.

He is sooooo much better than this and I am afraid he is getting into the trap of churning out two books per year and quality will get sacrificed.

Survivor Samoa Week Nine!!!

Russell plays his immunity idol.

Russell
Russell
Russell
Russell
Russell
Russell
Russell
Kelly
Kelly
Kelly

Bye bye Kelly.

Tucker's Nuts
Brett Clouser (10)
Mick Trimming (14)
David Ball (15)
Shannon Waters (18)
Laura Morett (19)
Kelly Sharbaugh (11) -- Booted Week Nine
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
John Fincher (1)
Monica Padilla (8)
Russell Hantz (12)
Natalie White (13)
Jaison Robinson (20)
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

Book 59 of 52 -- Jonathan Kellerman's Evidence

Johnathan Kellerman's newer books are good but do not have that edge they once did.

This book is no exception, A night watchman finds two people dead in a half built mansion.

When Milo and Alex start to investigate they find all kinds of problems.

Eco-terrorizm and bribes. Oooooohhhhh eco-terrorism.

The man that was killed was a womanizer and a former eco extremeist.

The more they delve into the case they find far reaching clues that point to asian royality and possiable mob hits.

This book was good to pass the time but not like his other books they don't have you staying up till 3:00 am to finish it.

Book 58 of 52 -- Jeff Lindsay's Dexter By Design

Jeff Lindsay is back!

Thank you for returning Dexter to where he should have been and not that distracting and horrid third book that you wrote.

Welcome back Dexter.

I missed you.

Dancing With the Stars Week 8 Elimination!

Soooo... the Facebook advertisement of the show is trying to make me watch by telling me that Michael Buble and Susan Boyle are singing tonight... Anyone else think that I am going ot fast forward during those segments?

:)

We are LIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the Repeat Dance, we get to see the futuristic Paso Doble again... even though Mya got a perfect 30 yesterday. I still think that they got robbed big time last night. This was the best dance of the night. Period.

First video montage! Here the dancers' opinions and review their scores!

Let's save a couple! The first couple saved is Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough Good... we don't have to worry about them. I am rooting for them and Donny.

We get a recap of last night and then a heartfelt song from Michael Buble and then Samantha butchers the English language by interviewing Derek and Joanna.

It's time to save another person! The second couple saved is Mya & Dmitry Chaplin A strong strong yawn comes from my mouth.

Dance Center is on and it is with Kenny Mayne, Len Goodman, Jerry Rice and Stacy Keibler. This never gets old. Len is funny and Mayne makes it awesome.

The Macy's Design a Dance is here... Sabrina Ryan is dancing with Mark Ballas and they are dancing the Paso Doble to Eye of the TIger. Buble then comes back...

Let's save the third couple... Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson

The bottom two are Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff and Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel

Susan Boyle sings.... and Dance Center part II is on... I continue to laugh.

Let's save a final couple and boot someone!

The final couple saved is Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel

The booted couple is... Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff

Dancing With the Stars Week 8

Our stars will be doing two complete dances tonight... one latin and one ballroom as "they dance through the decades".... hrm...

LIIIIIIIIIIIVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEE

Hey kiddies... Samantha is wearing red... what does that mean?

VIDEO MONTAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate these frigging things.

BALLROOM ROUND

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin is up first and they are dancing the Foxtrot. During the video set up... Mya is feeling stressed... no way! I can't believe that people are feeling stressed during the show. So they go out to the mountains and ride horses. She is re-charged and ready! Her dance was really good, but that still doesn't mean that i have to like her. With the way that the audience liked her... (not really... ) she needs to get good scores. Len was disappointed in her dance because he couldn't find anything to criticize. Nice trick judge! Bruno called it "quality." Carrie Ann called it graceful and awesome. Her scores were 9, 10, 10 for a total of 29.

Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff are up second and Aaron is turning on the Waterworks feature during his video. He has "never won anything" before and now America is feeling bad for her. She is sick and they keep dancing with SARS masks on. Oh boy... cue dramatic music. They are dancing the Foxtrot. I can't take him seriously. He annoys the living piss out of me. Bruno thought it was tense and a good attempt. Carrie Ann agrees. His scores were 7, 8, and 8 for a total of 23.

Tomorrow night is DANCE CENTER! Stacy Keibler will be on it as well!

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough is up third and they are dancing the Quick Step this week. During the video, they make the case why Mya is a more awesome dancer... and then they worked really hard. This is finally something different and good. She's a doll. The dance starts and ends and I thought it was simply lovely. Carrie Ann thought it was full of content and good. Len thought that it was "not the standard for the quarter finals" and Bruno was equally tough. Her scores were 8, 7, 8 for a total of 23.

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel is up next. Let's see if she can find an 8th reason to cry during the video montage.... It is tiresome... incredibly tiresome... Instead of crying, they resort to humor and show off all the distractions in her life and during their rehearsals. They are dancing the Foxtrot and Kelly is smiling a whole bunch during her dance. I guess the dance is fine, but I have such trouble liking her. The judges play to the crowd and say nice things about her. Their scores are 8, 8, 9 for a total of 25.

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are up last in the Ballroom Round and they are dancing in fancy clothes. They are dancing the Viennese Waltz. We learned during the video that he is burned out and wants to do well while balancing his family life. Again... I thought it was really nice and I will be wrong. Bruno admits that the showmanship is top notch and fails to comment on the dancing. Carrie Ann was mesmerized. Len made positive comments and also called arty farty. 0Their scores were 9, 8, 9 for a total of 26.

It is the middle of the show and I really think that I want the winner to be Donny or Joanna Krupa.

LATIN ROUND!!!!!!!!

For the Latin Round, each of the couples will be dancing one of their dances and it will be based upon a decade. 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and the future! Before we start the round, we are going to watch it from the pros.

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin are dancing their 70's Samba. We learn that they are going to incorporate some Disco moves into their dance. I just announced to TW that I wouldn't want to watch her dance the Samba with a professional dancer because it is too "Grindypants." She laughed out loud... a little too long at my expense. The dance was certainly a 70s dance and it seems obvious after the dance that they will remain in first place since she is actually smiling! All the judges love her and their scores of 10, 10, 10 for a total of 30 (First one of the season) reflects the comments.

Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff are dancing a 1990s Samba. Aaron likes it because it is the "era" that he grew up in. HE plans on doing the Rodeo move in it. I hoep it is a frigging train wreck... It is too the Spin Doctors' Two Princes and he seems out of breath before the dance even starts. The dance is chaotic and they don't seem to be on the same page. The judges want him to do well so I am sure that he will get good scores. The judges liked him. Shit. Their scores are 9, 9, 9 for a total of 27.

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough are going to dance a futuristic Paso Doble and the make up is crazy insane. Derek is putting a lot of pressure on her to get her dance steps right. Somehow... it seems nice coming from him and if it was Maksim... it would have been a dick comment. I don't want to like this, but it is crazy good. CRAZY GOOD. Their scores were 9, 10, 10 for a 29. Robbed.

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel is dancing a 1960's Jive and during her video, she was really excited by it. Well.... the dance starts and it will be this week's reason for crying. It wasn't good at all. LEN?!?!? WHAT THE FUCK? YOU THOUGHT THIS WAS GOOD? BRUNO THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD TOO? F&CK ME. Carrie ANn is officially insane too. The judges are out of their frigging minds. Their scores are 8, 9, 9 for a total of 26.

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are dancing a 1980s Paso Doble. The make up is not anywhere near good. I am not sure how to write about what I aw, but it is good to me... The 80s theme seemed to get in the way of the dance though. Len thought it was the craziest Paso he has ever seen, but he liked it. Bruno said it had more camp in it than a Drag Queen Convention. Their scores are 8, 8, 8 for a total of 24.

Scores... Just a reminder!

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin -- 29 + 30 = 59
Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough -- 23 + 29 = 52
Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel -- 25 + 26 = 51
Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff -- 23 + 27 = 50
Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson -- 26 + 24 = 50

An Education Moviegoing Experience‏

Me and Orson Wells

Brothers

The Young Victoria

Up in The Air

The Imaginarium of Doctor

Parnassus

Broken Embraces

Book 57 of 52 -- Steve Martini's Guardian of Lies

The Paul Madriani series of books are the typical legal/courtroom thrillers, but this book, however, is not.

While Paul is a character in the book, it wouldn't matter if he was an attorney or private citizen for the plot line. Guardian of Lies is more of a spy thriller book.

Many characters are followed as their part in the plot unwinds.

Paul and Harry are there, but are not followed in any more depth than the other characters. With all the characters, Paul (and Harry) are not developed any further in this book.

I enjoyed the book and since I read thrillers in general, it didn't bother me that this wasn't really a legal drama.

Survivor Samoa Week Eight

Message to CBS -- Stop putting too much information into your advertisements. It's less fun to watch when you pretty much know who is getting booted out.

By the time we get to Tribal Council, it is going to be either Monica, Erik, or Russell.

At Tribal Council, Erik shows his true colors. He is a humungous DICK.

The way he talks to the former Foa Foa tribe and then about Jaison at Tribal Council is ridiculous.

And to surprise the tribe... Russell plays his hidden immunity idol.

Jaison
Jaison
Erik
Erik
Erik
Erik
Erik
Erik
Erik

Erik is voted out and the first member of the jury.

Tucker's Nuts
Brett Clouser (10)
Kelly Sharbaugh (11)
Mick Trimming (14)
David Ball (15)
Shannon Waters (18)
Laura Morett (19)
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
John Fincher (1)
Monica Padilla (8)
Russell Hantz (12)
Natalie White (13)
Jaison Robinson (20)
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

Book 56 of 52 -- James Patterson's Alex Cross' Trial

Ugh...

I don't think he even writes anymore.

Also... how can you have ALEX CROSS in the title and not even have Alex Cross in it?

It is a book written by James Patterson's Alex Cross character.

Frigging annoying... and predictable... just set many years earlier.

Dancing With the Stars Week Seven -- The Results

To start the night, we get treated to the Team Tango, which was the far better team dance last night.

Oh look! Samantha smiled at me. :) Then they ruined it and did the recap.

The first couple saved this week is Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel

The first couple in the bottom three is Mark Dacascos & Lacey Schwimmer

Colbie Calliet is up and I fast forward!!!!!!!!!! Samantha interviews the saved couple and the possible loser couple and mumbles through only 4 words.

The second couple saved is Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson

The second couple in the bottom three is Michael Irvin & Anna Demidova

We are "treated" to the singing debut of Derek Hough and Mark Ballas. It is pretty obvious that they are lip synching. oof. AND THEN A VIDEO MONTAGE! Sheeet.

The third couple saved is Mya & Dmitry Chaplin
The fourth couple saved is Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough

The third couple in the bottom two is Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff

The bottom three are Mark Dacascos & Lacey Schwimmer, Michael Irvin & Anna Demidova, and Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff.

Rod Stewart is here to sing a classic for us and a video montage is about fighting for your life in DWTS in a dance off.

The first couple eliminated by having the lowest score is Michael Irvin & Anna Demidova



DANCE OFF!!!

These two couples will now each dance a special dance that they have prepared and the judges will have the sole decision on who they eliminate. Let's watch their dances right after some dramatic moments.

Mark Dacascos & Lacey Schwimmer are up first and they prepared this as a pair last week so now that Lacey is back, they should be good. They are dancing the Cha Cha Cha. And... I liked it a lot. It was a pretty tight 30 seconds. The judges thought Mark was back to being a good dancer again now that Lacey is back. Len thought it was brilliant. Bruno thought it was good and Carrie Ann liked it.

Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff are up second and they have their hands full. They are dancing the Jive. The dance starts off slow and is filled with a bunch of goofy fimmicks. His footwork seems tight though. All three judges thought it was great.

The final couple saved in a unanimous decision is Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff

Therefore, the second couple going home tonight is Mark Dacascos & Lacey Schwimmer (Hasta Pasta).

Dang.

Dancing With the Stars -- Week Seven... (Already?)

Before teh show starts, I am feeling a bit "eh" to the season so far as a whole. It's sad when I can't dislike people as much as I have in teh past and I am actually rooting for a snotty model (Krupa) and the brother of a woman I despised when she was on the show (Osmond).

The Yankees are on tonight so I will be watching both... and flipping between them. So exciting.

This week they will be doing two dances: an individual and a team dance of Paso Doble vs Tango. So to start the show, the pros show us how to do it right.

The stars come out and we get two quick updates.
1. The stars designed all the costumes this week.
2. Lacey Schwimmer is really sick so Anna Treyumski is filling in for her.

Michael Irvin & Anna Demidova are up first. FOr the individual dance, they are doing the Foxtrot. Anna is trying to get Michael to be full of more energy and the video seems to bore me to death. Anna... let me advise you on something. It is your choreography that is killing this pair. I don't like Michael, but he is better than what you are giving him. The purple pair dances an upbeat Fox Trot that is fine and better than most of his dances, but I highly doubt that it will be as good as the other pairs. Len really liked it. "Brilliant" Bruno thought his musicality has improved, but stop sticking out the "bum." Carrie Ann thought it was gracious and great. Their scores are 8, 8, 7 for a score of 23.

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are up second. They are dancing the Quick Step and Donny is nervous about remembering all the steps and choreography. Kym brings out the posture bar and the video ends... huh? Good dance and not perfect for me. He seemed so unsure of himself. Bruno gets booed for pointing out all of his mistakes. Carrie Ann liked the show, but there were mistakes. Len liked it best. Their scores were 8, 8, and 8 for a total of 24.

Mark Dacascos & Anna Trebunskaya (Lacey Schwimmer) are up third and we get a few minutes of video of Mark pushing Lacey out. Tony Dovolani steps in to train Mark on a Friday night. Tony steps in on a Saturday night... Two nights to learn and he is under a lot of pressure. For real too. They are dancing the Samba. I thought it was awesome... but Carrie Ann hated it and called it a "mess." Oof. Len didn't think it was terrible but not his best dance. Bruno spoke something... Their scores were 6, 7, 6 for a total of 19.

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin are the "Hump Dance." We are reminded that they didn't do so well last week. They are dancing the Fox Trot this week. To add some personality to the dancer since Mya is pretty damn boring, they bring in Cloris Leachman in to add some comic relief. They begin the dance and ... as expected... they step up from last week's performance. The one thing I would say is that they don't seem to be dancing together for much of the dance. Len liked the parts in hold and didn't like the gimmicks in the dance. Bruno loved it. Carrie Ann adored it. Their scores were 9, 7, 9 for a total of 25.

Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff are up fifth. He "returned" last week and was proud. They are dancing the Jive this week and he is nervous about hitting all of his steps. They are dancing to a horrible rendition of We're Not Going to Take It. TW and I think he missed a lot of steps, but the audience loved it. Bruno LOVED it. Aaron has a vein in his forehead that is bigger than the Mississippi River. Carrie Ann thought it was "sooo good." Len thought it was decent enough. Their scores were 9, 10, 10 for a score of 29. Ick...

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel had a "rough" week... *Sigh* again. This is getting ridiculous. She is such an emotional wreck and the "joke" is old. I really can't wait for her to get voted off. Louie and Kelly get into it and Kelly just keeps crying and crying and crying. I want her and Aaron Carter off the show... They are dancing the Samba and Kelly screwed up Louie's pants. Ick. We thought it wasn't good, but I am sure the judges will baby her. Carrie Ann thought it was great. Len liked the performance, but not the dancing so much. Bruno gets up on the table and does a lot of doofy things. He loves the camera and is sort of critical, which is good. Their scores were 8, 8, 8 for a total of 24.

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough is up last and we are reminded how awesome she was last week. The video is interesting since Derek gets her in a swimsuit and makes it funny. This is perfect for the ladies and now.. maybe they can dance the "sexy" Rumba together. It was a good dance until a small mess up in the end. Len thought it was a wonderful dance and Bruno loved it. Carrie Ann loved it. Their scores were 9, 9, 9 for a total of 27.

Team Dance -- Tonight it is Team Paso Doble versus Team Tango.

Team Paso Doble consists of Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff (Captain), Mya & Dmitry Chaplin, Mark Dacascos & Anna Trebunskaya (Lacey Schwimmer), and Michael Irvin & Anna Demidova and they are up first. The video shows that without a neutral choreographer so many professional dancers are all up in each other's grills. Michael brings everyone back to earth. The dance starts and I am not sure what to say since I don't think anyone really stood out, but I do have one negative thing. Aaron? Really... keep the shirt on please. THe judges were relatively positive positive, but I don't think the group score will be all that high. Their scores were 8, 8, 8 for a total of 24.

Team Tango is made up of Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough (Captains), Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson, and Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel and they are up second. There is FAR less drama in their video. Their dance was very dynamic and just seemed much better to us than the other team... by far. Carrie Ann thought it was perfect even though they had a lift. Len and Bruno thought it was superior to the other team. Their scores were 9, 9, 10 for a total of 28.

Scores... Just a reminder!

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough -- 27 + 28 = 55
Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff -- 29 + 24 = 53
Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel -- 24 + 28 = 52
Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson -- 24 + 28 = 52
Mya & Dmitry Chaplin -- 25 + 24 = 49
Michael Irvin & Anna Demidova -- 23 + 24 = 47
Mark Dacascos & Lacey Schwimmer -- 19 + 24 = 43