Fearless Forecast: American Idol Season 8

It's just four weeks to go and the new American Idol will be identified! Who would it be? Who would America choose? Who would Simon, Paula, Randy, and Kara be rooting for?

I've been loyally following this season's show. There were only two runs when I missed it, all because of work! Then I missed the replays as well, but saw the elimination shows anyway.

As of this writing, there are only five of them left - Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey, Alison Iraheta, Matt Giraud, and Kris Allen. I would have to agree with Randy Jackson's comment that this season has one of the best contestants in the Top 13. And they're getting better and better as well as they inch themselves to the finale.

Obviously the crowd-faves are Adam and Danny who from the onset were already evident stars in their own right. Matt and Alison has been in the show's bottom three a couple of times while Kris has never been in it and is emerging to be the "dark horse" of the group.

Adam Lambert's theatrical background and love for singing has honed his vocal skills. His falsetto is amazing. Paula even compared him to the likes of the Rolling Stones. He does not fear to be different from the rest and continues to claim his performances as his own show. Apart from this, he is also good looking, confident, and his seeming dark aura makes him very appealing to both the female and male fans. In spite his allegedly gay photos circulating on the web, he remains to be much loved by his fans. He would definitely be in the final three.

Danny Gokey is one of the contestants featured during the auditions. He auditioned with his best friend who was equally good but was eliminated during the Hollywood week. Part of what was revealed about him was his wife died and so his singing is a tribute to her. At first I found that endearing but at some point I felt he used it a bit to increase his popularity. The judges often praise him for his perfect vocals. He reaches notes that are very difficult to do so. This guy is good. So good he can be a bore, but absolutely one of the top three.

Alison Iraheta, the last woman standing from the Final 13. This 16-year old can definitely sing and how powerful and bold she could be when she does so. What I like about her is she carries herself so well she shows who she really is. She's not a typical teenager with goody-good looks. She likes to be different, she dresses and acts according to her whim. This is manifested in her rocker-like look, red hair, and overall persona. Alison will definitely be someone to watch out for. At her age, she may still improve and perhaps someday become a recording artist. But for now, I'd say she's not going to win.

Matt Giraud. The judges, in spite Simon Cowell's equally fearless forecast that he's not going to win anyway, decided to use their "one-save" when he was pitted against Lil Rounds s a few weeks ago. He started strong with his Hollywood week audition with a Ray Charles song but week after week, with lousy song choices and his often been included in the bottom three has perchance dampened his spirits. He is struggling to stand out from among the best in his group. No doubt about it, he could sing well but like Alison, he will not make it.

Kris Allen. Ah, the singer with the boy-next-door looks. He just becomes a darling when he starts singing! I'd say that Kris began with lackluster appeal and seemingly subtle confidence but with the constant judges' prodding and advises for him to look and feel certain, he indeed is coming out from his shell and is rocking! His song renditions are varied and original. His rendition of "Ain't no Sunshine" while playing the piano and acoustic version of "She works hard for the money" were two of his best performances. Let me add that these were also two of the most memorable and original ones in the show! He's a genius! Sure ball top three.

So, is it going to be Adam, Danny, or Kris?

ADAM will be the shoo-in winner. But DANNY and KRIS will be great contenders and will undeniably have recording contracts after AI 8.

P.S. I like Adam Lambert but I heart Kris Allen!!!

Photo Credits: American Idol

Review: Project Runway Season 5

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This is one of my two fave fashion-related shows. The other being America's Next Top Model. Project Runway has never ceased to entertain me because of the over-the-top personalities that always take advantage of the camera and most of all, like any other reality show, I love the candidness!

This season's highlights were its episodes on creating something environment-friendly (Episode 2: Grass is Always Greener), designing sports wear (Episode 4: Rings of Glory), making clothes for Brooke Shields of Lipstick Jungle (Episode 5: Welcome to the Jungle), and realizing a look based on astrological signs (Episode 9: What's your sign?). Some of the episode runs were a constant from previous seasons such as the designers creating clothes for each other, making something out of scratch, and transforming ordinary people's fashion for whatever purpose (like in this season, making over college graduates to help them enter the workforce). At one point, I felt bored and wanted to get through the judging part to know who won and who was out.

There were 16 designers who in my opinion were very talented but some of them lacked personality and pizzas. My darlings were: Kenley Collins (she's the one at the left on the photo below) for her fierce attitude, beautiful hair, and 50's-inspired creations; Stella Zotis (one in middle) for her rock style which she stubbornly integrated in all her creations; and Blayne Walsh (one at the right), who being the youngest (and gay) in the group added humor and drama on the show.


I'd say that this season's contestants were much much tame compared to previous seasons where there was Jay McCaroll (who would ever forget his no-holds-barred behavior?) of Season 1, Santino Rice (his mimickry of Tim Gunn was outrageous and he was often very outspoken during judging time) of Season 2, Jeffrey Sebelia (a friend of Santino who was equally eccentric but inspirational because of his determination to get past his previous lifestyle) of Season 3, and Christian Siriano (gay and fabulous, need I say more?) of Season 4. Oh how I loved their funny antics, tantrums, fights, and what-have-you's. They were totally amusing! I bet Project Runway gained more views in the past compared to Season 5.

On one hand, the fashion designs were contemporary, chic, and refreshing. I especially liked Leanne Marshall's (season winner) play of pastels, structure, and flow which she mentioned was inspired by water waves. She was also the only designer who showed variety by having dresses, pants, shorts, and skirts.

Kenley Collins' wedding gown was gorgeous, it was her best in her collection of 50's outfits (which by the way is her signature look). Her creations were so nice but all the judges agreed that they look like a famous designer's work, in other words, copy cat, whoah!

Korto Momolu's outfits were beautifully structured as well, but perhaps lacked some oomph. She had challenges finishing her work before the finale as she had to redo most of her gowns.

It is also notable that this was the first season to have an all-female team to have made it on the finals. That's right, the fashion week finale was dominated by women! Girl power to the max!

The show also had more guest judges like Brooke Shields, LL Cool J, RuPaul (hilarious episode!), etal. It was also mentioned during the finale that Jennifer Lopez was supposed to be a judge but was not able to make it. Tim Gunn replaced her on the last minute.

Generally, Season 5 was amusing especially during judging time with Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, and Heidi Klum. Of course, I won't forget the ever-poised and critical (yet sensible) Tim Gunn's visits in the designers' work room where he would often be right on when he provides his comments and suggestions to the contestants' work.

I'm definitely looking forward to Season 6, which by the way going to air on Lifetime instead of Bravo.

Photo Credits: BravoTV and Whatshaute

Review: CSI Vegas Season 9

Over the past months, I haven't written so much. Been busy with my online shop, my daughter's final exams review, quest for a new job, and a bunch of other things.

I'm now so back and inspired to chronicle my pending reviews. I've recently seen the following (some finished, the others initial runs): CSI Vegas Season 9, Project Runway Season 5, X-Men: Origins of Wolverine. Thanks to the long, hot, and lazy holy week break, My Love and I were able to sate our TV and DVD addiction.

Let me start with my all-time fave TV show, CSI Vegas. For CSI fans who haven't finished the series, this is a spoiler… don't read.

Watching CSI Vegas Season 9 was particularly especial for me as it brought about good memories of a show I used to regularly and consistently follow since it started up until it's 6th season. For whatever reason, I stopped watching it until I recently read reviews and saw on a talk show that Grissom was leaving. That made me interested to check the latest season and I wasn't disappointed.

Of course, adult content is still a given, Nick Stokes (George Eads) is still a hunk, Greg Sanders (Eric Szmanda) is becoming a cute-guy-next-door character, and new characters are added. But the story line had evolved and became, I should say nostalgic, as Warrick Brown (Gary Dourdan) dies in the first episode and Grissom left on Episode 10 to be with Sara. I felt sad when Grissom (Wiliam Petersen) left but felt happy just the same as he followed his heart to be with Sara (Jorja Fox), his lover. That was just sweet.

Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger) took over the CSI team as their supervisor and new characters - Riley Adams (Lauren Lee Smith) and Ray Langston (Laurence Fishburne) entered the picture as new addition to the team.

They provide a different twist to the team's existing culture. Although Langston's point of entry, in my point of view was a bit lame. For lack of way to have him join the group, CSI Vegas scriptwriters decided to make him a professor who wrote a book on his close encounter with a savage criminal and in one episode decided to have the criminal virtually get interviewed by a group of university teachers. Grissom joins the group as he was gathering lead to an existing investigation. Twist of twists, in the end, the killer Grissom was looking for was actually in the group of university teachers who was a copy-cat a.k.a. protege of Langston's criminal interviewee.

What I like about Langston's character though is the fact that he shows his vulnerability in some scenes where he learns of the in's and out's of being a CSI. And they turnout funny. Riley's character on the other hand is a fresh take from Sara, Catherine, or Sofia Curtis (Louise Lombard, who plays a detective in previous seasons). She comes in smart but low-key and clouds her personality by adding mysteriousness in her personal life. For sure, she'd eventually disclose more of who she is.

Overall, CSI Vegas Season 9 is a good watch. Funny, I never outgrow the endless killings and mystery solving… it's not like I get high watching it, I just feel like I'm one of the characters or perhaps an imaginary character. It's a dream job for me. If I would have to deal with cadavers and blood, a CSI job would be exciting!

Photo Credits: Google, CBS

Review: Miami Ink

My Love Nald and I are addicted to this show now, we're both loving it so much (I soooo like AMI JAMES!!!) that we want to have our tattoos done by them, LOL! MIAMI INK is a unique reality show on tattoos and whatnots set in South Beach, a district in Miami, Florida. What's so unique about it is it features real people getting their tattoos and sharing their stories on why they're having them. Most of those we've seen so far are people who've gotten their tattoos inspired by things, situations, or people they've encountered.

Get a sneak peak here.

My Love Nald and I have been contemplating on getting our tattoos for several years already and I guess we'll see it come to life soon. Though we won't be able to have it done by the MIAMI INK Pro's, we'll settle with a local -- GENE TESTA who've earned his mark in the Philippine league of highly revered and not to mention sought-after tattoo artists. I'll definitely keep you guys posted when I get mine done!!!

Review: America's Next Top Model: Cycle 9

Yesterday morning, I finished watching all the 14 episodes of this cycle. Oh well, I actually started Wednesday night, right after American Idol, but my powers were so weak that I was only able to finish nine episodes.

Anyway, ANTM is one of my few favorite shows. I especially like the part where Tyra and her group of eccentric judges critique the models' pictures. My fondness of this show probably stems from a childhood dream to be a model... yes, yes, I suppose being one is a popular little girls' wishful thinking. Except that, I am literally a little girl!!! LOL!!!

This cycle's promotional tagline was "The Future Of Fashion". Each of the 13 finalists had a different type of beauty and personality. My only comment is the girls weren't as fiercely stunning as the previous seasons.

My personal faves were Victoria Marsham (the Yale graduate) and Heather Kuzmich (the one who has Asperger's Syndrome). Both are beautiful and have have quirks as well. Sadly, they both got booted out from the show - Victoria on the 4th episode and Heather on the 11th.

Some of the episodes were a bit boring. I was kinda' waiting for some exciting and different situation to happen.

Except for the episode where Ebony quit, some of the things that happened were usual -- the cat fights (Bianca vs. Shaleisa, Ebony vs. Bianca, Bianca vs. Chantal); the boobs flash (Sarah); and surprise celeb guests (Enrique Iglesias, Tyson Beckford).

I'd reco this to those who love ANTM (I still do because I love Tyra Banks), those who want to veer away from their usual telenovela shows or nothing-but-bad news, or those who simply want to chill out.

Review: Entourage

My love Nald introduced me to this TV series sometime 2006. I thought it was just an ordinary show that wouldn't catch my fancy. But I was wrong. After the first episode of season one, I got hooked.

ENTOURAGE is all about the lives of four male good friends - Vince (Adrian Grenier), Drama (Vince's brother portrayed by Kevin Dillon), Eric (Vince's best friend and manager portrayed by Kevin Connolly), and Turtle (Eric's best friend and the group's comedian portrayed by Ferrara) and their exploits as individuals and Hollywood celebs. It's just like a male version of the Sex and The City, with some twist.

Their lives intertwine with various characters such as Ari (Vince's agent portrayed by Jeremy Piven), Lloyd (Ari's assistant), and other eccentric characters sometimes typified by Hollywood artists and celebs through cameo roles.

As a woman, the show is not only entertaining, it is "educational", too. It presents how and what the male species truly are, their "raw" state - what they think and talk about, what they keep themselves busy with, how they live their lives.

Aside from this, a different perspective of the Hollywood arena is exposed in the series, which gives its viewers a realistic standpoint of the US movie industry.

Already in its fourth season, ENTOURAGE continues to amuse me with its characters' antics and fascinating plots.

I'd definitely continue to watch these boys!