Here's my updated list from worst (6) to first (1). Not my picks, but how I see America voting.
6. Jacob Lusk (buh-bye)
5. Haley Reinhardt
4. James Durbin
3. Casey Abrams
2. Lauren Alaina
1. Scotty McCreery
Stefano had to go last week. And Jacob is next. Haley will be in the bottom 3 with him this week again. And joining them will be (surprise, surprise!) James Durbin. People are getting tired of him now. And Casey is showing his diversity by singing old songs one week and current rock the next. He's a bit too corny to go farther than 3 or 4, with the likes of the country folk gittin' all them thar votes (Scotty and Lauren), but Casey will pull in more votes than James.
So the only drama this next show will be James in the bottom 3. Listen to all the boos in the audience (which is not representative of the rest of America.)
If there are any comments to this post, then I will write a new one much sooner after this week's show. If not, then I'll go on to bigger and better things.
Mr. Mallow
of Mr. Mallow and the Roasters
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
American Idol, 4/13 & 4/14 2011
There can only be two possible reasons for the reaction of the judges to Paul's leaving us last week. Either the judges were told by the producers to tone down the weeping and gnashing of teeth that they displayed the week before when Pia left us. Or, they simply agreed with the decision of the voters. J. Lo practically begged America to please, PLEASE, don't get rid of another girl. That was a sorry sight from her Wednesday night.
I tend to agree with the voters that Paul was one of the bottom three. His leaving was not unexpected, though I know many of us feel there may be weaker contestants. I'm thinking Jacob Lusk and Stefano Langone in particular. They are due to be relieved of duty in the next two weeks.
And so, with seven contestants remaining, it's time I made my predictions for the winners and losers - in order. Here goes, from worst (7) to first (1) ... based on performance and my impression of the fickleness of the voters.
7. Jacob Lusk (buh-bye)
6. Stefano Langone
5. Haley Reinhardt
4. Casey Abrams
3. James Durbin
2. Lauren Alaina
1. Scotty McCreery
Not the order I would put them in (I'd have Haley winning the whole thing). But, I think I've called how America is going to vote. It's a country year for sure, for sure, good buddy. A woman will not be able to win it this year. And James & Casey are a couple of deviations outside the bell curve to survive to the final night. The good ol' boys & girls sorely enjoy a right good duet. And Lauren & Scotty don't disappoint. Scotty will, of course, win over Lauren because more girls are voting for boys than there are boys voting for girls.
What do you think of my order above? Am I a marshmallow short of a s'more? Am I full of doo doo? Go ahead and tell me I'm wrong and show us your list. I can take it, but will the rest of the blog readers agree with me or you?
Just leave your comment below anonymously and Roast in Peace!
Jerry
I tend to agree with the voters that Paul was one of the bottom three. His leaving was not unexpected, though I know many of us feel there may be weaker contestants. I'm thinking Jacob Lusk and Stefano Langone in particular. They are due to be relieved of duty in the next two weeks.
And so, with seven contestants remaining, it's time I made my predictions for the winners and losers - in order. Here goes, from worst (7) to first (1) ... based on performance and my impression of the fickleness of the voters.
7. Jacob Lusk (buh-bye)
6. Stefano Langone
5. Haley Reinhardt
4. Casey Abrams
3. James Durbin
2. Lauren Alaina
1. Scotty McCreery
Not the order I would put them in (I'd have Haley winning the whole thing). But, I think I've called how America is going to vote. It's a country year for sure, for sure, good buddy. A woman will not be able to win it this year. And James & Casey are a couple of deviations outside the bell curve to survive to the final night. The good ol' boys & girls sorely enjoy a right good duet. And Lauren & Scotty don't disappoint. Scotty will, of course, win over Lauren because more girls are voting for boys than there are boys voting for girls.
What do you think of my order above? Am I a marshmallow short of a s'more? Am I full of doo doo? Go ahead and tell me I'm wrong and show us your list. I can take it, but will the rest of the blog readers agree with me or you?
Just leave your comment below anonymously and Roast in Peace!
Jerry
Thursday, April 7, 2011
American Idol, 4/6 & 4/7 2011
Pia leaves us tonight. Did America get it right? Are the eight that are left so much more talented than she? What do you think happened?
I thought for sure someone else would be leaving tonight. I'm afraid that Pia just waited too long to loosen up and break out of the ballad mode. Great voice, but the people voting have no patience for that kind of singing (and neither do I, for that matter).
Some contestants have an unfair advantage by virtue of their voting base. For example, I don't care for Scotty or Lauren. But all the down-home country folk south of the Mason-Dixon line are casting their votes for them. And we've seen country win this thing a time or two in the past.
Iggy Pop? That was a 64 year old dude up there with his shirt off singing. What is the Rock world coming to? Next, they'll be foisting Steven Tyler on us, for crying out loud.
Go ahead. Leave us a comment.
I thought for sure someone else would be leaving tonight. I'm afraid that Pia just waited too long to loosen up and break out of the ballad mode. Great voice, but the people voting have no patience for that kind of singing (and neither do I, for that matter).
Some contestants have an unfair advantage by virtue of their voting base. For example, I don't care for Scotty or Lauren. But all the down-home country folk south of the Mason-Dixon line are casting their votes for them. And we've seen country win this thing a time or two in the past.
Iggy Pop? That was a 64 year old dude up there with his shirt off singing. What is the Rock world coming to? Next, they'll be foisting Steven Tyler on us, for crying out loud.
Go ahead. Leave us a comment.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
American Idol 3/28 & 3/29
We were down to the top eleven going into this week's competition. Should Casey Abrams have been saved last week? He looked shocked that the judges used their save for him. I do think the judges got it right and he deserves to go on tour this summer. And Casey was not in the bottom three this week.
Did America get it right this time? Sending home Naima Adedapo and Thia Megia? I think America got it right, though both of them can sing much better than many in the top ten from years past. And, they do get to go on tour with the other idols this summer.
As for the remaining nine contestants, one did out-sing all the other, in my opinion. Haley Reinhart sang "Benny and the Jets". She looks happy to be there, has a great sounding voice, and is easy on the eyes. The judges also thought she sang well and Randy said it was the best performance of the night. I agree. It may be too early to predict this year's winner, but I'm going out on a limb and say Haley.
Speaking of the judges, they are so much better than in recent years. I've noticed that they spend all of their time focused on the contestants, giving good feedback, listening to the performances, and very little time arguing, or cajoling, or otherwise carrrying-on with drivelish banter, as was seen in Paula, Simon, or Kara. The real winners this year are we, the fans, who are not distracted by the judges' antics. Yea!!!
What did I like? I liked the duet of Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery. Country music is not my bag, so-to-speak, playing in a rock band and all(Rusty Volume), but they pulled it off and they should continue with that in the future. Very marketable in many parts of the country (the country part of the country, that is). I liked the singing of Haley Reinhart.
Who do I predict will leave us next week? I don't know if one or two will be going away, so I'll give who I think will be in the bottom two and who I think will be going. I think Pia Toscano and Stefano Langone should be in the bottom two this coming Thursday, based on past performances. Stefano needs to smile more (pretend he's not bored and that he cares what happens) and try to keep those eyes open! Maybe a bit of eyeliner would help bring his eyes out more. If he's not gone this week, then next. I think we'll say goodbye to Pia on Thursday. Pia reminds me of a Stepford wife. (Ask your mom what I mean by that, Megan). Pia only slips out of her comfort zone when forced to, like when singing the Katy Perry song, "Teenage Dream" with Thia and Haley on Thursday's results show. Thia is too young to be there in the first place (and she's gone), Haley performed that song very well, and very believably (I loved her voice), and Pia is too old at 22 (and looks way too old) to sing that song. Pia is not memorable. Unless she can break out of the Ballad-shell she is in, she will be gone Thursday. And do something with that hair!
So what did you like or not like? Who will be leaving us next week? Leave a comment below!
Did America get it right this time? Sending home Naima Adedapo and Thia Megia? I think America got it right, though both of them can sing much better than many in the top ten from years past. And, they do get to go on tour with the other idols this summer.
As for the remaining nine contestants, one did out-sing all the other, in my opinion. Haley Reinhart sang "Benny and the Jets". She looks happy to be there, has a great sounding voice, and is easy on the eyes. The judges also thought she sang well and Randy said it was the best performance of the night. I agree. It may be too early to predict this year's winner, but I'm going out on a limb and say Haley.
Speaking of the judges, they are so much better than in recent years. I've noticed that they spend all of their time focused on the contestants, giving good feedback, listening to the performances, and very little time arguing, or cajoling, or otherwise carrrying-on with drivelish banter, as was seen in Paula, Simon, or Kara. The real winners this year are we, the fans, who are not distracted by the judges' antics. Yea!!!
What did I like? I liked the duet of Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery. Country music is not my bag, so-to-speak, playing in a rock band and all(Rusty Volume), but they pulled it off and they should continue with that in the future. Very marketable in many parts of the country (the country part of the country, that is). I liked the singing of Haley Reinhart.
Who do I predict will leave us next week? I don't know if one or two will be going away, so I'll give who I think will be in the bottom two and who I think will be going. I think Pia Toscano and Stefano Langone should be in the bottom two this coming Thursday, based on past performances. Stefano needs to smile more (pretend he's not bored and that he cares what happens) and try to keep those eyes open! Maybe a bit of eyeliner would help bring his eyes out more. If he's not gone this week, then next. I think we'll say goodbye to Pia on Thursday. Pia reminds me of a Stepford wife. (Ask your mom what I mean by that, Megan). Pia only slips out of her comfort zone when forced to, like when singing the Katy Perry song, "Teenage Dream" with Thia and Haley on Thursday's results show. Thia is too young to be there in the first place (and she's gone), Haley performed that song very well, and very believably (I loved her voice), and Pia is too old at 22 (and looks way too old) to sing that song. Pia is not memorable. Unless she can break out of the Ballad-shell she is in, she will be gone Thursday. And do something with that hair!
So what did you like or not like? Who will be leaving us next week? Leave a comment below!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
American Idol, 3/16 & 3/17 2011
Did America get it right? Should Karen Rodgriguez have been the Idol contestant to leave this week? I say yes. With the level of talent we've seen this season, anybody who leaves will have supporters who think America got it wrong. But this year, any one of the top 12 or 13 at this stage of the season could have made the top 5 in recent seasons.
The reason for the better talent pool is obvious. Better judging. Have you noticed how the show is focused on the contestants and not on the judges' antics? Paula is not slobbering drunkenly on Simon's arm. Simon is not insulting the contestants and the audience. Ellen is not fawning over every contestant telling them they are wonderful. Kara is not ... doing whatever it was she did ... and more importantly, we will not have to suffer through one of the songs she writes for a contestant to sing ... Gag Me!
Steven, Jennifer, and Randy are a fine mix of talented (been there - done that) music industry professionals. When they talk, every contestant listens ... and learns.
Ryan is much more comfortable this season. His banter with the judges is friendly, allowing him to ask pointed followup questions to each judge about a contestant's performance, without fear of babble from a Kara or Paula, and without fear of rebuke from a pompous @$$&*!&.
No longer do the judges rush through the end of a show because they won't shut up. Too often in the past, the show was focused on them and not the contestants, leaving the last contestant to be almost forgotten or preempted by the next Fox show. All has changed now for the better. I don't yet know if the talent warrants a trip to see the top ten at the Idol Tour this summer, but the final five should be exciting as we wind down to the season finale in May.
I don't think a clear winner has yet emerged. Do you see one yet? Comments?
The reason for the better talent pool is obvious. Better judging. Have you noticed how the show is focused on the contestants and not on the judges' antics? Paula is not slobbering drunkenly on Simon's arm. Simon is not insulting the contestants and the audience. Ellen is not fawning over every contestant telling them they are wonderful. Kara is not ... doing whatever it was she did ... and more importantly, we will not have to suffer through one of the songs she writes for a contestant to sing ... Gag Me!
Steven, Jennifer, and Randy are a fine mix of talented (been there - done that) music industry professionals. When they talk, every contestant listens ... and learns.
Ryan is much more comfortable this season. His banter with the judges is friendly, allowing him to ask pointed followup questions to each judge about a contestant's performance, without fear of babble from a Kara or Paula, and without fear of rebuke from a pompous @$$&*!&.
No longer do the judges rush through the end of a show because they won't shut up. Too often in the past, the show was focused on them and not the contestants, leaving the last contestant to be almost forgotten or preempted by the next Fox show. All has changed now for the better. I don't yet know if the talent warrants a trip to see the top ten at the Idol Tour this summer, but the final five should be exciting as we wind down to the season finale in May.
I don't think a clear winner has yet emerged. Do you see one yet? Comments?
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Punxsutawney Phil - NMRI Newest Member
It was bitter cold. Still, hundreds, perhaps thousands of people from around the country, joined Punxsutawney Phil on Gobbler’s Knob to await Phil’s forecast for an early spring, or six more weeks of winter. Mr. Mallow from the National Marshmallow Roasters Institute was in attendance, having been invited by the Groundhog Club's Inner Circle to oversee the many marshmallow roasts and S’mores creations that traditionally occur on this cold February morning.
What a time was had by all. We found out the most important news of the day when Punxsutawney Phil was pulled from his stump and set atop it to make his prediction. Phil was offered his usual treat, but ignored that. We could all see his little nose twitching at some odor in the air. We all smelled it, too. The unmistakable scent of hot roasted marshmallows wafted to the top of the knob.
That’s when Phil stood up on his hind legs, surveyed the crowd and leapt like a flying squirrel onto the shoulder of one of the news media cameramen in the front row. From shoulder to shoulder, Phil followed his nose to the edge of the crowd, where Mr. Mallow stood holding his SmorStix roasting skewer with a freshly roasted, golden brown, succulent sweet marshmallow waiting to be devoured. “What could I do but offer the beautiful gooey orb to that plump guinea pig?” asked Mr. Mallow. “I’d certainly had my fill that morning for breakfast, and now was the time to share.”
It took us more than an hour to get Phil away from the roasters and back to his stump on the knob. We could see the satisfaction in his eyes as he stared out at the crowd, having informed the Inner Circle of the coming spring weather. No, he had not seen his shadow. And yes, it will be an early spring. But more importantly, Phil informed the crowd that he would become the first rodent member of the National Marshmallow Roasters Institute. We certainly welcome him into our fine organization and we will be back next year to Gobbler’s Knob again to make Phil’s day a sweet one indeed.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
The Walking Continuum
One of the goals at the National Marshmallow Roasters Institute is to put words of similar meaning on continuums. (Someone must tackle this!) Below is our first cut at The Walking Continuum. Click on the image to see it full size. Study it. Then, click the Back Arrow in your browser and tell us what you think?
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