Voting for your favorite American Idol

This is the big week for Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee. Who will be the next American Idol?

Does it really matter? Both of these contestants will end up with recording contracts. In fact, probably a handful of the final 12 will.

I did discover this week a new tool to help swing the vote. It’s DialIdol.com. Most people are probably already familiar with it. What can I say, I’m just a little slow.

At any rate, DialIdol.com has apparently predicted who the winner would be each week thanks to its computerized mathematic formula for computing the number of calls and busy signals for each contestant. Don’t ask me how it works, I only know that it does.

So, good luck to Taylor and Katharine. And check out DialIdol.com if you’re interested.

My vote’s for Katharine. I think Vickey’s voting for Taylor.

American Idol: results website

Want to know how the voting went after last night’s American Idol?

ZabaSearch claims to have the voting results.

I’m not sure how they get the numbers, but they say Taylor, Chris and Paris are this week’s bottom three.

We’ll see who goes home tonight and if they’re right.

American Idol: Vote for the Worst

In a competition that’s “controlled” by the people’s voice, it’s only natural that some people aim to take advantage of the voting system.

Consider family and friends of contestants who vote time and again each week for their loved one.

What about votes from high school or college kids who are friends with the contestants?

A site called Vote for the Worst was launched last season with the sole aim of keeping the worst contestant in the competition as long as possible.

They claim Fox says their site and mission is “hateful” and “mean spirited.” And of course they point to Simon’s comments, which are also similarly classified.

And who, you ask, is this season’s VFTW poster child? Two words: Chicken Little!

American Idol – the final 24

Well, now that the producers have narrowed the field it’s time for the viewing public to start seeing some real talent.

Too bad the talk-a-lot twins weren’t exactly above board. You’ve gotta wonder about people who like to hear themselves talk.

There are a few surprises in the final group, particularly among the guys. But they’ll start dropping each week.

It’s a little early to make too many predictions but I will say I’m looking forward to seeing how the competition shapes up.

Taylor Hicks is cool. Will Makar is from my old stomping grounds. Kevin Covais, bless his heart, won’t be around too long. Gedeon McKinney can really sing! Kellie Pickler is adorable and don’t you just want the absolute best for her? Mandisa can sang! Katharine McPhee is really impressive.

Brenna Gethers needs to go soon – way too full of herself. Becky O’Donohue and Heather Cox have the looks, but what about the vocals? Ayla Brown is an overachiever. Judging from Paula’s reactions, I’m thinking Ace Young will have every girl, young woman and even older woman eating out of the palm of his hand.

And who do I think is the most talented vocally, Paris Bennett. It’s in her blood.

I will say this, as it relates to American Idol and the Olympics, watching the broadcasts in high-definition is quite brilliant. We’re all enjoying HDTV now.

Winter 2006 Olympics begin

For those of you who follow the Olympics — another one of those cultural must-dos, like the Super Bowl — NBC has launched a terrific website to provide news and information.

Check out NBCOlympics.com. There are so many partnerships and Olympics web pages you could spend the majority of the next 15 days (they end on Feb. 26) as an Olympics junkie.

Another cool site, About.com, is blogging about the Olympics.

American Idol – Week Four, Welcome to Hollywood

Now that the fourth weekly installment of American Idol is in, I can see there’s hope for a good singing competition. Vickey and I have already picked out a handful of talented performers we’re sure will be seen in the final group.

Still, you can tell the show’s crafted by producers who choose to include a new-to-singing cowboy and several wacky and weird 20-somethings.

I’m especially looking forward to hearing from a few of the young contestants.

And way to go Kelly Clarkson for receiving two Grammy’s: best female pop vocal performance and best pop vocal album. I’ll bet five years ago she never would have dreamed of that.

Super Bowl Ads

Okay, I admit it. I’m a Super Bowl junkie.

Not because I follow pro football teams all year, or because my happiness is dependent upon who wins the game (although I am happy the Steelers were victorious last night).

But more so because it’s part of our culture and I’d feel too left-out if I didn’t participate in the annual tradition.

And, I do enjoy a good football game. And the occasional half-time show is quite entertaining as well. Although yesterday’s didn’t do it for me.

Another good reason to watch the big game — to see the ads. And if you missed them, you can view them online on AOL Sports.

I liked the FedEx and the Budweiser streaker ads.

American Idol – Week Three

I have to say I’ve been unimpressed with the past few AI episodes.

It’s obvious the producers are sending through mediocre to non-existing talent. When they send through 11 contestants from the Vegas audition and only show 2 of them, it’s apparent they feel it’s more important to show the outrageous and untalented as opposed to real singers.

I suppose that’s what ratings are all about. And speaking of ratings, they’ve been doing amazing this season.

And for those of you who can’t get enough of those AI judges, several months ago it was announced that Paula Abdul would be playing a role in entertainment direction in Las Vegas. See what ContactMusic.com has to say about it.

For now, I look forward to the Hollywood show where I can actually be entertained by good singers doing their best to make the cut instead of turned-off by producers’ antics to show the worst singers in the country.

American Idol – Week One

For those of you who don’t know, I quite enjoy watching American Idol. Only this season, I don’t have to watch every painful second of it. With our DVR we simply record the program then scan through it at the next available opportunity.

I’ve now watched week one of Fox’s season five, which, by the way, was reported today as being shortest window ever before a first-run network TV hit goes into syndication. Read about it at MediaDailyNews.

So, here are a few of my thoughts after watching most of week one...

Denver’s Female Male

Boy, I’ll tell you what … watching that guy/girl from Denver was just plain painful for us men-folk. Did you notice there were no men in his life, or at least at the audition with him? Poor guy is all confused. I’m sure his mother enjoys playing dress-up with him.

They’re almost as bad as the daughter/mother duo from the Chicago auditions.

Wonder why people think you’re a girl, dude? Maybe it’s the girl’s clothing, or the waxed eyebrows or the long hair. Think about it.

It’s amazing just how messed up some people are.

I’m a Wyoming Cowboy

I must say it was endearing to me that the judges were genuinely intrigued by the young Wyoming cowboy. Of course their decision to pass him on to Hollywood was purely for entertainment purposes and not for outstanding vocal quality. But how cool is it that we’ll get to see this country boy in the big city? I guarantee it’ll be interesting.

And no disrespect to my cousins and their families who are Wyoming cowboys/cowgirls.

My favorite line: “Go in therr and git ‘errr done!”

Cowboy up!

HBO creates polygamy entertainment based on non-LDS family living in Sandy, Utah

Now isn’t this interesting? HBO is producing a plural-marriage answer to “The Sopranos.”

Of course, they say it’s clear the families portrayed are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

But you know that to many people, that distinction will be lost.

At least the series will serve more than the purpose of entertainment — it will help bring the Church out of obscurity and out of darkness. Honest seekers of truth will find it.

Signs that Make You Go Huh?

During a trip we took a couple years ago to visit Vickey’s family, on the drive south along I-15, somewhere in central Utah, we found this sign in front of a Wendy’s restaurant.

It has caused frequent chuckles since. Chances are, that’s just the type of person you’d find working at a fast food joint.