Twilight Coming to TV Watch Online: On Saturday, November 22, I went to the movie theater to see the newly released Twilight, based on the first book in the hugely popular Twilight Saga book series by Stephenie Meyer. I have been a fan of the books ever since I first read Twilight almost a year ago.  When it got closer to the movie release, I had contemplated adding a Twilight page to the site.  But I decided to wait to see how good the movie was, just like I did to The Chronicles of Narnia after seeing The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.  Now that I have seen it, I can say that I loved the movie and can't wait to see New Moon and the rest of the series be turned into movies.  Today, I made my decision: I will be adding a Twilight page to TV Watch Online. I am not sure yet when it will make its debut, but I will include related news posts that I have previously posted to the TV/Entertainment News section. Keep checking back here for any and all updates regarding the upcoming Twilight page.

UPDATE [11/26]: For the time being, I am posting regular Twilight news to the TV/Entertainment News section until the official Twilight page is up, at which point those news items will be transferred to that page. I plan to have the Twilight page online sometime during this Thanksgiving weekend.

UPDATE [11/27]: The recent regular Twilight news that I have been posting these past couple of days on the TV/Entertainment News section has now been transferred to the new Twilight page.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 1:05 PM PST

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Election: It is now Election Day 2008, the day to decide who will be our next President. If you haven't voted already, I stress that this is one of the (if not the) most important elections you will vote in. The outcome of this presidential election will impact not just the next 4 or 8 years, but the future of our country. I'm not here to tell you who to vote for; but I feel that I must tell you go VOTE and let your voice be heard. Your vote; your voice; your future.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 3:45 PM PST

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America’s Got Talent: Winner Revealed!

Airdate: Wednesday, October 1, 2008 [9-11pm]

This is it! After spending the summer watching the good, the bad and the weird, it is time to crown a new winner.

The show began with the Top 10 performing Kelly Clarkson’s “A Moment Like This.”  I wonder if Simon Cowell had anything to do with the selection of that song (if you know what I mean).

X Factor winner (and Simon’s pride and joy) Leona Lewis performed her current single, “Better In Time.”  She is easily becoming one of my favorite singers.  I first heard her on the radio with “Bleeding Love” and saw her perform on American Idol.  She has an amazing voice and I hope to buy her CD sometime soon.

Next, each of the five finalists received a special video message from their Idols. For Neal E. Boyd, it was Il Divo (another of Simon’s discoveries), Brian McNight for Queen Emily, Marc Cohn for Eli Mattson, Andrew Lloyd Webber for Donald Braswell, and Wyclef Jean for Nuttin But Stringz.  These were great messages and hopefully gave inspiration to these contestants that they can continue to pursue their dreams and goals regardless of the final results.

After the videos, we were treated to (or maybe not depending on who you are) the Audition All-Stars performing “Don’t Stop Me Now.”  I thought this was hilarious!  Even though we all criticized them when they were first on the show (and you know you did, so don’t deny it), it was just fun to watch them have fun (and make a fool of themselves).  After this performance, we watched clips from the season.

And finally on to the results.  Queen Emily was informed that she would be the first eliminated, putting her in fifth place.  I knew that she probably wouldn’t be in the final 2, but I was surprised that she was the first to go out of the five.  Then fourth place went to Donald.  It was obvious he wouldn’t go farther than that.  Then what many thought was the surprise of the night: Nuttin But Stringz didn’t even make the Top 2!  As you are aware, I have never been a fan of them, but with how much the judges favored them, I was surprised that they were in third.  Oh well…that meant that Neal and Eli made up the final 2.  They both have been favorites of mine.  It was no surprise to me that Neal got there, but again, with the love that Stringz had received, it was surprising to see Eli there as well.

Before the final results, we watched Neal and Eli’s journeys on the show.

And the winner, with less than ½ of 1% separating the two, of America’s Got Talent Season 3, winning the million dollars, the act in Vegas, and title of “Best New Act in America” is…NEAL E. BOYD!

If you go back through my commentary this season, it has been apparent that Neal has been my favorite to win from the moment of his first audition with “Nessun Dorma.”  Here are just some of the comments I gave him after his breathtaking performances:

He blew the competition away tonight.-Top 40

His voice is unbelievable…He has the voice to go along with his personal story-Top 20

Tonight, with an encore, this was, again, probably his best performance of the season…He is the Paul Potts of America.-Top 5

After winning, Neal received another video message, this time from opera singer Placido Domingo.

I am just so proud of Neal, and so excited that he won.  He totally deserved it, and I look forward to seeing his career take off.  I hope he records and releases a CD because I will definitely buy it.  Opera has never been a genre I listened to, but Neal (and Paul Potts before him) opened me up to the beautiful music.

I have enjoyed giving my comments on the season 3 performances for America’s Got Talent, and I hope to continue next year, as well as re-launching my Idol-Talk segment on the blog.

So to close out my commentary for the season, here is my closing message:

Congratulations to opera singer Neal E. Boyd for winning season 3 of America's Got Talent, taking home the title of "Best New Act in America," $1 million grand prize and a headlining show in Las Vegas! Neal has overcome struggles in his life to get to where he is now, and I applaud him for pushing through it all, and having the determination and the "I want this" attitude with regards to winning the show.

See ya next season...

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 12:14 PM PDT

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America’s Got Talent: Top 5 Revealed / Top 5 Perform

Airdate: Thursday, September 18, 2008 [8-8:30pm] /

  Wednesday, September 24, 2008 [9-10pm]

I am combining two episodes into one for this blog post: the top 5 revealed and the top 5 perform.

Last week, we found out that Donald Braswell, Neal E. Boyd, Queen Emily, Nuttin But Stringz, and Eli Mattson filled up the Top 5. Before I move on, I do have to say that in terms of talent level (which is what this show should be based on), I believe this is the best finals group that America’s Got Talent has seen in the show’s history. And I know that this is only the third season, but it shows that this show can get better and better.

Besides finding out who made the Top 5, singer Natasha Bedingfield performed her current single, “Angel.” I’m not sure how familiar you are with her, but she is one of my favorite singers. She has such a unique voice, with an exceptional array of songs on her two CD’s. Check out her music; you will love it!

Now on to the performances of the Top 5:

1. Nuttin But Stringz [Violin Players]-I won’t deny the fact that they have an amazing talent and deserve to be in the finals this week. My only problem with them is that each time it sounds like they are playing the same song. The only thing different tonight was the umbrella people in the air, which detracted from the performance.
2. Donald Braswell [Opera Singer]-In a way, it was a risk to sing something that he had already sang on the show before, but I think that tonight he sang better than when he first sang “You Raise Me Up.” I think there’s a slim chance he will win, but he still has an exceptional voice and I hope he pursues a path where he will be able to use that talent.
3. Neal E. Boyd [Opera Singer]-I’m not surprised he sang “Nessun Dorma” again; it was probably his best performance when he sang it at the start of the season. Tonight, with an encore, this was, again, probably his best performance of the season. He is still my favorite this year, and I would love to see him win and live out his dream. He is the Paul Potts of America.
4. Eli Mattson [Singer]-I’m kind of surprised he sang a song that seems to be performed a lot on talent shows: “Against All Odds.” But he still knows how to make people listen to his unique and amazing voice. I agree with David that he is the dark horse in the competition. Who knows what his odds are of winning, but I would buy his CD if he came out with one.
5. Queen Emily [Singer]-This has been a truly amazing night to watch five great acts perform, and Queen Emily closed out the show with star quality, control, and a powerhouse voice on “One Moment In Time.” She does have a chance of winning, but it will be hard to beat Nuttin But Stringz and Neal E. Boyd.

I find it kind of interesting that the talent with all five acts have to do with music, and that four of them are singers. After season 1 winner, Bianca Ryan, did not do well with her debut CD, you could tell the judges did not want a singer to win season 2 (somewhat evident by eventual winner Terry Fator, even though he uses singing in his act). And so I find it really ironic that this year, the majority of the contestants from all or most of the rounds were singers. But it goes to show that even though many of them are too old for American Idol, they still have another show to go to that they can showcase their talent on.

Below, you can see who I voted for, plus who I am predicting to win season 3 of America’s Got Talent.

My Votes: Neal E. Boyd [10 by phone / 10 online]

Winner Prediction: Neal E. Boyd

As evident by what I just typed above, I predict that Neal E. Boyd will win season 3. I have been saying ever since his audition at the start of the season that he is the frontrunner to win, and I never faltered from that, no matter how much the judges were not-so-subtly hinting that they wanted Nuttin But Stringz to win.

I am eclectic when it comes to music; I will listen to just about every type of music. But opera has never been a genre I was interested in listening to. But Neal E. Boyd (and Paul Potts, winner of Britain’s Got Talent) opened my ears and mind up to it. He has such a beautiful voice, and that is what matters. If he were to release a CD, I would buy it. This goes to show that as a 20-year-old college student, I can listen to and appreciate music other than pop/rock (breaking the stereotype of my demographic).

Next Wednesday (9-10pm) is the finale, when we will find out who does triumph as the actual winner. See ya then...

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 5:00 PM PDT

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My View - News of the (past 2) Week(s): Emmys, Show Premieres, Tina Fey on SNL, Simon Cowell new power on American Idol, CMA Nominations, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Daughtry’s guest role, Politics and Debates, David Blaine, Daughtry’s deluxe CD, new product releases, My Book List.

[As you may have realized, there was no My View posted last weekend. My nephew was up for the weekend, and so I didn’t get around to typing it up. But I have said before that if I have to skip a weekend, I will most likely double up the following weekend, and that is what I have done today.]

Emmys: The 2008 Emmy Awards are on tonight on ABC, and I have now posted my picks and predictions for this year’s show. Check out TV Watch Online’s Emmy Awards page to check out the nominations and who I predict will win.

Show Premieres: This week will see the return of many, many, many television shows for the start of the fall season. Heroes season 3 returns Monday night from 9-11, following a recap special from 8-9, on NBC. Ugly Betty season 3 premieres Thursday night from 8-9pm on ABC. Survivor: Gabon begins on Thursday as well with a two-hour opener from 8-10pm on CBS. And Grey’s Anatomy returns with a two-hour premiere as well from 9-11 on ABC. Keep checking with TV Watch Online for all the latest news regarding those shows and more.

Tina Fey for VP: If you didn’t catch SNL last week, then you missed one of the best sketches I have ever seen on that show. In the lead up to that premiere episode, everyone was speculating if Tina Fey would play GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin, due to similarities in looks and style. And sure enough, the show opened with Fey as Palin and Amy Poehler reprising Senator Hillary Clinton in a “nonpartisan” speech about sexism. Even though I am a Hillary supporter, I still laugh at Amy’s portrayal of her. And Tina was spot-on, and I hope to see her back on the show in that role before election day. She had the Palin accent, which made it all the better. My favorite line of hers was, when the two were talking about foreign policy, “And I can see Russia from my house.” Hilarious!

Simon’s Got Power: When it was announced that American Idol was adding a fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi, to the panel this season, one of the questions people were asking was what will happen during the auditions in the case of a tie. When the show had guest judges on in previous seasons, it would always be in the contestant’s favor if a tie came up. But that’s not the case now that there is a permanent fourth judge. Paula Abdul has revealed that in the case of a tie, Simon Cowell will made the final decision. I actually am excited for this. Even though there have been times when he isn’t always right with his vote, he knows talent when he sees it, and I look forward to seeing any ties in the auditions and how he votes.

CMA Nominations: The 2008 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards were announced recently and the Idols were representing. Carrie Underwood was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year and her Carnival Ride CD was nominated for Album of the Year. Kellie Pickler was nominated for New Artist of the Year (formerly the Horizon Award). She was also in this category last year as well, but didn’t win; the award that year went to Taylor Swift. I know that not everybody is into country music, but their award shows are some of the best to see, because they always have great music performances all throughout the show; this goes for the ACM (Academy of Country Music) Awards as well. The Album of the Year category is a tough one, but I believe that Carrie has a great shot at winning Female Vocalist once again. And now that Taylor Swift is out of the New Artist category, Kellie has a better shot at winning this time. We’ll all have to wait until November 12 to find out if they won.

Ellen’s Back: The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s 6th season has been on for only two weeks and Ellen is as hilarious as she’s always been. Tony is back as DJ, which I’m excited about. Ted Stryker was last year’s DJ and he left because I believe he received an offer from somewhere else. And even though he was great on the show, I am so glad Tony’s back. And so I hope that Ellen and him interact more this season; I say that because they haven’t been so much so far this season. Anyway…the show is now at the Warner Brothers lot and I love the on-set locations they’re doing with Ellen going around to different show sets, hijacking a tour tram, and attempting to capture George Clooney, among other things. One of the things I’m surprised at is that their set is the same as last year. For the past few years, they have been changing around the look of the set and so I am surprised that with being on a new lot they would have the same set. But it doesn’t matter, because it’s not a horrible set. I wasn’t sure when it was first introduced, but as time had gone on, I got used to it. Visit ellentv.com to find out when the show is on in your area.

Daughtry’s back on TV: Chris Daughtry will be guest starring on CSI: NY this season (it will most likely air in November). I don’t know if he has acted before, so this will be interesting to watch. And I don’t watch the show, but I will watch that episode. Also, I’m not sure the specifics on his character, but I hope he performs a song. But no matter, I will keep you up to date on the specifics on when his episode will air.

Politics: Presidential Candidates Barack Obama and John McCain will be interviewed separately tonight on 60 Minutes. I’ll definitely be watching that before the Emmys come on. And President Bill Clinton will be on The View Monday morning, which I can’t wait for. He’ll be talking about his global initiative, and you can count on the ladies to ask him about the race for the white house.

Presidential Debate: The first general election presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain will be this Friday starting at 6pm, on many stations. Check your listings to see which channels will air it and on which one you want to watch. I am looking forward to this debate, and it will be interesting to see how much of an impact it will have in the polls.

David Blaine’s Back: Magician David Blaine is back with another special. This time, he will hang upside down high up in the air and at the end of it all, made a grand exit. This special will air from 9-11pm on ABC. By the way, the world record that he recently broke was broken by somebody else last week on Live with Regis and Kelly. I hope that he tries to regain the record again sometime soon.

Daughtry Deluxe: Daughtry released a deluxe version of their debut CD recently, and I bought my copy. The only additional portions that I have listened to are the bonus tracks. And let me tell you, it is worth it just for that alone. Their version of “Feels Like the First Time” is amazing, and I love the acoustic and live versions of songs from the CD. I haven’t watched the DVD yet, which has music videos and interviews and such, but I can’t wait to watch those, and I will give an update on my thoughts on those when I do watch it.

Kristy Lee Cook CD: Kristy Lee Cook, who competed on season 7 of American Idol, released her debut album last week, entitled Why Wait. She is the first contestant from this season to release a CD. We won’t see CD’s by the Davids until November. I haven’t bought a copy yet, but I will be eventually. To buy your copy, visit the TV Watch Online STORE.

Sorcerer’s Stone Anniversary Book: The 10 year anniversary of the U.S. release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is this month, and to commemorate the milestone, Scholastic is releasing an anniversary edition of the first book in the Potter series. This re-release sports a new cover by illustrator Mary Grandpre, and additional material by author J.K. Rowling (I have heard that the material is a drawing that Jo did of Snape). I haven’t decided yet if I will buy this new edition. To pre-order your copy, visit the TV Watch Online STORE.

My Book List: Lately, I have been reading The World Without Us, by Alan Weisman. If you want to know what the book is about, look no further than the title. This book answers the question, ‘what would the world be like if humans were to suddenly disappear from the Earth?’ It really is fascinating material, and the author supplies us with excellent research into various aspects of the world that would stay the same or change over time without us. I’m not done with it yet, but I recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Visit TV Watch Online every day for the latest entertainment news, then read My View every weekend right here on the BLOG.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 6:04 PM PDT

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America’s Got Talent: Top 10

Airdate: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 [8-10pm]

[Before I comment on last night’s show, I want to add in a blurb that I forgot to mention last week. I had previously said that for the Top 40 round, my predictions were 80% correct. And the part I forgot to mention last week was that for the Top 20 round, my predictions were also 80% correct.]

I’ll talk about this later on, but since we are getting down to the wire it will be hard to see some of the acts leave the competition. But it goes to show that the talent level this year has been raised and we are looking at a tough finals next week. As I said, I will talk about it more later on below, but first, here are my comments from the Top 10:

1. Paul Salos [Frank Sinatra Impersonator]-“New York, New York” is such a great song and Paul put it all forward to show everyone that he should be in the Top 5. Once again, a perfect impersonation. [Added comment after watching the entire show: Since there are so many acts that deserve to move on, Paul might have gotten lost in the shuffle in terms of America remembering the performances, so I am not sure if he has done enough to secure a spot next week.]
2. Kaitlyn Maher [Singer]-Unfortunately, she just keeps getting worse each week. Her voice was shaky and she seemed distracted all throughout tonight’s performance of “I’ll Be There.” If she gets voted back, then people are voting not based on talent, but on her age.
3. Donald Braswell [Opera Singer]-I’ve always wondered if he can match Neal E. Boyd, but tonight was probably his best performance. Another great song and he’s definitely a contender for the Top 5.
4. Jessica Price [Singer]-I’ve said before that she has the potential, and tonight she has finally shown star quality. The emotion, which fit the song, was there, and she has a better chance of making the Top 5 than I thought coming into tonight.
5. Joseph Hall [Elvis Impersonator]-His confidence is 100% there this week with “A Little Less Conversation.” Though there were a few moments where his voice was okay, the entire performance was top-notch and entertaining.
6. Neal E. Boyd [Opera Singer]-With “All By Myself,” this was, unfortunately, the wrong song because it didn’t show off his powerful operatic voice. The low notes were horrible, so he needs to choose a more operatic song next week (because he will be here next week unless a shocker is in store).
7. The Wright Kids [Singers/Musicians]-That was truly awful, right from the first note. During the first couple lines of the Jackson 5’s “ABC,” they were not singing cohesively together. The lead singer was off-key and all the voices were weak and all over the place. Their stay was over-welcomed weeks ago.
8. Queen Emily [Singer]-I agree with Piers: she is giving Neal a run for his money. “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” is one of my favorite songs and she blew it out of the park. Her voice and talent is sensational and gave the best performance of the night so far.
9. Nuttin But Stringz [Violin Players]-I don’t know what the judges were watching, but it wasn’t what I saw. Their playing wasn’t as strong tonight, and I didn’t get the women swinging around in the air. It was distracting. Even though they will be here next week, each performance is sounding the same every single week.
10. Eli Mattson [Singer/Musician]-He may not have been as strong as last week, but he still performed Elton John’s “Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Words” really well. I love his voice, and the piano playing was exceptional.

This week, we had some exceptional performance (including Donald Braswell, Jessica Price and Queen Emily), some horrible performances (Kaitlyn Maher and The Wright Kids), and one that may have gotten lost in the shuffle (Paul Salos).

As I mentioned earlier, this really is a tough call with how many amazing acts there are this year. It will be hard to see many of them go. There are some that I would like to see next week, but there is just not enough room for them all.

Below, you can see who I voted for, plus the five who I am predicting will move onto the next round [as I have said before, this does not necessarily mean that I think all of them were great; it is just who I believe America will vote through]:

My Votes: Neal E. Boyd [10 by phone]

                  Queen Emily [10 online]

Top 5 Predictions: Jessica Price; Neal E. Boyd; Queen Emily; Nuttin But Stringz; Eli Mattson

It was tough this week to make my predictions. I automatically put Neal, Queen Emily, and Nuttin But Stringz in there because it is obvious they are moving on, unless we are in for a shocker. Then I picked Eli for a variety of reasons. The judges love him; he performed last (which can help with people’s memory of performances); and the mix of singing and playing the piano is superb. And then for the last spot, I really wasn’t sure who to pick. I got rid of Kaitlyn and the Wright Kids because they shouldn’t be there. Then I got rid of Paul because I have a feeling that with all the amazing performances this week, he may have gotten lost in the shuffle and the majority of America may have forgotten how he did (or what he did). So I was between Donald, Jessica, and Joseph. They all deserve to move on, but as I said, there are only so many spots. They all gave electrifying performances, but I ultimately went with Jessica because I believe she has finally shown star quality and that may resonate with viewers. But Joseph could take that spot because he is back on his game this week.

Tonight, Natasha Bedingfield will perform her latest single, "Angel." If you don't know who she is or haven't heard her music before, watch the show tonight. She is one of my favorite singers. I have said before that I love singers with unique voices and she has that. Her current CD is so perfect and stands out as a great array of songs. Also tonight (8-8:30), we will find out who makes the Top 5. I can't wait for that...

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 7:50 PM PDT

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America’s Got Talent: Top 10 Revealed

Airdate: Thursday, September 11, 2008 [8-8:30pm]

On the first show of the season entirely devoted to voting results, they didn’t meander around; they just got right to the results. First up were the ten acts that performed on Tuesday.

The first two acts called forward were The Wright Kids and ZOOperstars. Personally, neither act was all that great this week, but The Wright Kids were better and of the two, they advanced to the next round.

Queen Emily and Neal E. Boyd were called next and my heart stopped. I thought to myself, how could America have voted only one of them through? Even the judges, especially Sharon, were shocked. But then Jerry announced that both of them were moving into the Top 10. Phew!

Extreme Dance FX and The James Gang were next and the results were the opposite of what the last two acts went through. Dance and James were both eliminated.

The Cadence and Paul Salos were up next, and even though I predicted that both would move on, I knew that it would be Paul. And I was right; he’s in the Top 10.

Daniel Jens and Jessica Price were the last on stage, meaning they placed 5th and 6th in the voting, though we don’t know who was in what place. This spot would be decided by the judges. David voted for Jessica and Sharon voted for Daniel, so it came down to Piers, who sided with David and voted Jessica into the Top 10.

Now we move onto the acts that performed on Wednesday.

The first two up were SickStep and Kaitlyn Maher. Before the results were announced, I truly believed that of the two, SickStep would be moving on. But the majority of America voted four-year old Kaitlyn through. Here’s what I think of this result. We all know that she doesn’t have the best voice to have a show in Vegas. But I believe that after the judges criticized her and said that her time is up, America probably thought that it was mean to gang up on a four-year old and so they sided with her with sympathy votes.

Donald Braswell and the Tapping Dads were called forward next, and it was obvious that Donald would be staying, and he did.

The Taubl Family and Nuttin But Stringz were next and again, it was obvious that NTS would be moving forward, unless this became a huge surprise shocker, especially with all the praise they received by the judges. And in the end, Stringz did advance.

Jerry then called Sarah Lenore and Eli Mattson forward, with Eli taking a spot in the Top 10. I think that Sarah killed her chances of staying in the competition when she chose a pop song instead of a country song.

Jonathan Burkin and Joseph Hall were the final two left, and the judges would decide this last and final spot of the Top 10. In a way, this would have been a hard decision for me if I were one of the judges, because I think both should have stayed in. But when it came down to it, Joseph probably has a better chance at sustaining an act in Vegas, which is why Piers and David voted for him, with Sharon voting for “baton boy” (in her words).

So, we now have our Top 10: The Wright Kids, Queen Emily, Neil E. Boyd, Paul Salos, Jessica Price, Kaitlyn Maher, Donald Braswell, Nuttin But Stringz, Eli Mattson, and Joseph Hall.

Overall, we have a great Top 10. The past two year’s on the show, it hasn’t always been even near top-notch. But this year is different. Of course, as with all of these types of shows, there may be one or two who shouldn’t be there, but other than that, I am excited for the rest of the season. They all will need to be even better next week, when 10 become 5. That will be hard, because since there are some great contestants this year, it will be hard to see some of them go.

Ever since we first saw him in his initial audition, I have been rooting for Neal E. Boyd. And I still think he has a superb chance of winning. He reminds me of Paul Potts, who won the first season of Britain’s Got Talent. They both have a similar personal story and both have great opera voices.

I can't wait for next Wednesday, when the Top 10 perform; then on Thursday, we will find out who advances to the Top 5.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 6:44 PM PDT

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America’s Got Talent: Top 20, Acts 11-20

Airdate: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 [8-10pm]

I think that overall, the night was a success in terms of talent level. These acts were the last ten acts from the Top 20, and we’re getting to a point now where you have to be on your game or you could be going home. For me, I think of the Top 40 round as the round in which we wean out the ones who shouldn’t have been there in the first place. And the Top 20 round, which is what we’ve been watching this week, is where we separate the good acts from the great acts. That is how I see these two stages in the competition. Tonight, Thursday, we will see if that holds true, but first, here are my comments from the rest of the Top 20:

1. SickStep [Dance Group]-I agree with Piers that not all of them were in sync with each other. It may be because there is a lot of them; I don’t know. And out of all the acts we see, I believe it is the dance groups that need to step up in order to stand out. I say this because after a while all the dance groups seem to look and dance the same, so each one needs to make the performances unique to separate themselves from the rest and make people notice them.
2. Donald Braswell [Opera Singer]-When I realized he was singing a broadway song, “The Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera, I wasn’t sure if it would sound cheesy or dated. But it didn’t. And I wanted to find something wrong with the performance, but I didn’t. Once again, a beautiful voice.
3. Joseph Hall [Elvis Impersonator]-Elvis is back! When he started to sing “Suspicious Minds,” I wasn’t sure how well he would do since it was a slower song, but he’s back to how we saw him in his initial audition. He’s definitely in the Top 10.
4. Taubl Family [Singers/Musicians]-They stepped it up last week, but became boring again this week. The women sang during most of the performance, and they weren’t always singing cohesively together. I don’t know what the song was, but it was the worst choice.
5. Sarah Lenore [Country Singer]-Last week, I believed she had the potential to do well in the country music industry. And I still believe that, but then this week she goes and sings a pop song: Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love.” Even though this is currently one of my favorite songs, it was definitely the wrong song, and she needs to stick to country if she wants to keep going on the show.
6. Nuttin But Stringz [Violin Players]-Once again, another powerful performance. My only concern is that each performance is going to sound alike, and not as if each one is different.
7. Kaitlyn Maher [Singer]-Again, her voice wasn’t as strong, except for the ending. She is so cute, but for the Top 10, we need to have the best of the best, in terms of talent. So I am glad that Piers was more critical with her performance of “Beauty & the Beast.” It’s hard because she is only four-years old. But I do think her time is up on the show.
8. Tapping Dads [Tap Dancers]-Again, they’re good at what they do, but they need to stand out more. Tonight, with the tuxedos and the tapping, they looked like the cartoon penguins in Mary Poppins.
9. Eli Mattson [Singer]-He was my favorite last Wednesday, and tonight he proved once again that he can be a successful singer. I love his unique voice and would buy his CD.
10. Jonathan Burkin [Baton Twirler]-I don’t know how he doesn’t drop a baton. Once again, he showed how he is needed in this competition. Every time he is onstage, I worry that he will drop one, but he never does, which shows how talented, focused, and determined he is.

Before the contestants performed, last year’s winner, Terry Fator, performed as previously announced. And as always, he is truly talented and really funny. I am glad he brought out the turtle dummy, because when he was a contestant last year, that was my favorite of his. I would love to see his show someday.

Below, you can see who I voted for, plus the five who I am predicting will move onto the next round [as I have said before, this does not necessarily mean that I think all of them were great; it is just who I believe America will vote through]:

My Vote: Eli Mattson [10 by phone; 10 online]

Top 10 Predictions: Donald Braswell; Joseph Hall; Nuttin But Stringz, Eli Mattson; Jonathan Burkin

Tonight is a special half-hour Thursday results show at 8pm, where we will find out who is moving on into the Top 10.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 3:34 PM PDT

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America’s Got Talent: Top 20, Acts 1-10

Tuesday, September 9, 2008 [8-10pm]

For the second consecutive time, I can once again gloat over my predictions. At the beginning of Tuesday’s show, Jerry revealed that Nuttin But Stringz, Kaitlyn Maher, Eli Mattson, Donald Braswell and Tapping Dads (Judge’s Choice) filled out the last five spots of the Top 20. I correctly predicted that all five would be going on to the next round. To look over the entire Top 40 round, I predicted 16 of the acts that made it into the Top 20. That’s 80%! Wow, I am doing better with this show than my predictions for American Idol.

Okay, I’m done gloating…This week is when we will pare down the Top 20 to the Top 10. And this Tuesday, half of them performed, plus a surprise appearance which I will mention after my performance comments:

1. The Cadence [Drum Act]-I said that they weren’t cohesive enough last time. Tonight, that wasn’t the case. I wasn’t sure at first, because the song seemed to overpower their drums, but overall they brought it together and, as the judges said, they are improving.
2. Queen Emily [Singer]-I’m surprised she chose this song, because I wasn’t sure at first if it would fit her voice. But she showed that, besides the powerhouse voice, she can control her tone, which is great because we need to see that with her singing, she can do softer tunes as well.
3. The Wright Kids [Music Group]-I have to truly disagree with the judges on this one. Yes, the singing was a little better, but the boy in the center has horrible low notes, and the smile on that girl looked really fake during the song. I believe David is wrong: they could not sustain a Vegas show. Maybe when they are older and are more professional sounding, but not right now. I’m sorry if anyone believes I am being too harsh on these kids, but we’re getting down to the wire now, and if they aren’t stepping up, then they need to go home.
4. The James Gang [Singers/Dancers]-They were horrible last time, and tonight was no different. It was a little cheesy and the vocals were superbly weak and off-tune.
5. Daniel Jens [Country Singer]-I 100% agree with Piers. His voice is still not as strong or unique as many of the other singers on this show. Because he picked Lonestar’s “I’m Already There,” it’s obvious he’s trying to get by on his story and not his voice.
6. ZOOperstars [Costumed Variety Act]-Unfortunately, they weren’t entertaining or funny tonight. It was a bit of a mess, and the transitions were awkward. And on a related note, during the intro video, the duck mentioned that his falling off the stage last week was an accident and was not part of the act. So I was wrong in my assumption that it was part of their performance.
7. Neal E. Boyd [Opera Singer]-This is a little different than what he normally sings, but once again, his voice is unbelievable. His mom was in the audience, which suited what he was singing. And the message in that song is very personal to him, and unlike Daniel Jens, he has the voice to go along with his personal story.
8. Jessica Price [Singer]-“Bubbly” by Colbie Caillat is one of my favorite songs on the radio right now, and Jessica has the potential to become that type of singer. She injected some personality and confidence into the performance, but her voice still needs to be just a little stronger. I know she has it in her; she just needs to bring it out.
9. Extreme Dance FX [Cloggers/Dancers]-They were average last time, but tonight they kept my attention. They are really improving now.
10. Paul Salos [Frank Sinatra Impersonator]-“Come Fly With Me” is such a great song, but I agree with the judges; this is one of his weaker performances. But there is something about him that makes you root for him.

Near the end of the show, last season’s winner, Terry Fator, came out onto the stage. And he said that this year’s winner will be performing at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas on October 17. Visit the America’s Got Talent website for details. He also announced that he will be performing on the show tonight (Wednesday). I can’t wait for that! He was my favorite last year and I was so excited when he won. And look at him now: he has one of the, if not the, biggest show in Vegas right now.

Below, you can see who I voted for, plus the five who I am predicting will move onto the next round [as I have said before, this does not necessarily mean that I think all of them were great; it is just who I believe America will vote through]:

My Vote: Neal E. Boyd [10 by phone; 10 online]

Top 10 Predictions: The Cadence; Queen Emily; Neal E. Boyd, Jessica Price; Paul Salos

Tonight (Wednesday), ten more Top 20 Acts, plus Terry Fator, will perform.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 4:03 PM PDT

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My View - News of the Week: Potter Test Screening, Stephenie Meyer, Ellen Premiere Week, CD/DVD releases, and America’s Got Talent

HP Test Screening: Apparently, there was a test screening this past week in Chicago for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Go to TV Watch Online’s Harry Potter: The Movies page to find links to various audience reviews. Even though Warner Bros. hasn’t given us a lot of sneak peeks into the movie yet, from what I have seen and heard so far, I believe that this will be the best HP movie so far. And I know that we all say that before each one comes out, but I am probably the most excited to see this 6th movie. Half-Blood Prince is my favorite book of the series, so I hope I am not let down. And from reading these test screening review, I don’t think I will be disappointed. Eric from MuggleNet probably gave the best and most positive review. As someone who is part of an HP website and analyzes HP topics, I trust him the most out of all the reviewers. I know that there are some people who don’t like that they are adding in a scene not from the book (the Attack on the Burrow), but Jo Rowling herself approved of it, so I am looking forward to seeing that part. I also can’t wait to see, among many other scenes, the cave scene at the end. That is an intense part of the book and from what I read in the reviews, it will be like that as well in the movie. David Yates did a great job with Order of the Phoenix, so I trust him for this movie and for Deathly Hallows to do a great job to finish out the series.

Midnight Sun-Stephenie Meyer: Even though I don’t have a page for it on TV Watch Online, I am a huge fan of the Twilight Saga, by Stephenie Meyer. The final book, Breaking Dawn, was released last month, and I devoured it like a Harry Potter novel. For those who are not familiar, Stephenie was planning on releasing a companion novel of sorts, called Midnight Sun, which is Twilight (Book 1) from Edward’s point of view, who is the main vampire of the stories. Now, for those who haven’t read the books, you are probably wondering why she would be writing the same book over again. But she wouldn’t be. The series is told from the point of view of Bella, a human. And Edward is such a mysterious character, and it would be great to see his point of view with all the many events that occur in Twilight. But Stephenie announced this past week that part of her rough draft was leaked and she is now very upset about this. And she at first wasn’t sure how to deal with this situation, but to make it fair, she has uploaded the leaked draft (which covers the first 12 chapters) to her website for her fans to read. And along with this, she has also announced that she will suspend the book indefinitely. Now, I’m not sure if she plans to finish the book at a later time or just stop altogether, but I will support her whatever the decision may be. I have not read the draft yet, and I’m not sure if I will. I am going to wait a little while and see if she has any more updates on the book. If she decides that she will continue it, then I will not read the draft. And if she decides to not continue writing it, then I will read the draft since that will be the most we will see. But either way, I will probably be tempted to read it soon if I don’t hear anything.

Ellen Premiere Week: Tomorrow, Monday, kicks off Premiere Week of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. On Monday’s show, Michelle Obama, wife of Barack Obama, will be on the show for the first time. I can’t wait for that. On Tuesday, Ellen will give us a look at her wedding to Portia de Rossi. I am so excited for the both of them, so it will be exciting to hear more about the wedding. Starting this season, Ellen is airing in HD. As I mentioned in the last My View post, we recently bought an HDTV, so I will have a couple of weeks to watch it in high definition until I have to go back to school (at that time, I will have to start taping it). Besides the change to HD, Ellen is from now on taping from the Warner Bros. lot instead of the NBC lot. I saw a little preview of the premiere, and it looks like it has the same set from last season, though. I am surprised at that, because over the past few years, they have been changing the look many times, and I thought they would be doing that at a new lot.

Daughtry Deluxe CD: Chris Daughtry was my favorite contestant from season 5, and Daughtry’s debut CD is one of my favorites. So I was equally excited when I found that they would be releasing a deluxe edition of that CD, which is being released this Tuesday. This deluxe version will include all the songs from the debut, plus acoustic versions of “Home” and What About Now,” a live version of “It’s Not Over,” and a cover of “Feels Like the First Time.” There will be a bonus DVD, which will include the music videos to “It’s Not Over,” “Home,” “Over You,” “Feels Like Tonight” and “What About Now,” live video performances of “Breakdown” and “There and Back Again,” and bonus material. Even though I already have the original CD, all this bonus content is worth it to buy the deluxe edition. You can buy this product in the TV Watch Online STORE on the Featured Products page and the American Idol Season 5 page.

Grey’s Anatomy DVD: The Season 4 DVD and Blu-ray Disc of Grey’s Anatomy will be released this Tuesday. This past season had some great moments, and I can’t wait for it to return on September 25, from 9-11pm on ABC. You can buy both the DVD and the Blu-ray Disc in the TV Watch Online STORE on the Featured Products page and the Grey’s Anatomy page.

America’s Got Talent: As I mentioned on the website, I had a technical problem with posting my comments of last Wednesday’s show. It was up on the BLOG for a few minutes, but I found an error I made and went in to correct it, and the post disappeared. That post is now up (right below this post), and I can’t wait for this week’s episodes to find out who filled the final Top 20 spots.

Visit TV Watch Online every day for the latest entertainment news, then read My View every weekend right here on the BLOG.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 7:52 PM PDT

Updated: Sunday, September 7, 2008 7:59 PM PDT

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America’s Got Talent: Top 40, Acts 31-40

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 [8-10pm]

I believe I have earned some bragging rights, because I correctly predicted which five acts from Tuesday made it into the Top 20. Yep, that’s right, I predicted that Jonathan Burkin (best of the night), Sarah Lenore, Joseph Hall, Taubl Family and SickStep (Judge’s Choice) would move to the next round. So far for the Top 40 round, I have only gotten four incorrect predictions out of a possible 15.

Now that I’ve got that out of my system, it’s time to move on to Wednesday night, where the final 10 acts from the Top 40 performed:

1. The Dallas Desperados Dancers [Dancers]-Cheerleading is not a headlining act. The dancers this year are not standing out.
2. Brian Cheatham [Singer]-I never liked him during the earlier rounds, and tonight was no different. He has a good voice, but good is not good enough.
3. Flambeaux [Fire Eater]-That was horrible. I did not get the point of it all with the others onstage and the weird and creepy setting and theme.
4. Kaitlyn Maher [Singer]-Her voice may not have been as strong tonight, but she is so cute and that is what will get her through. How can you say no to a face like that?
5. Dorae Saunders [Tina Turner Impersonator]-I’ve said before that if you’re going to impersonate a singer, then you better be actually singing (like Paul Salos and Joseph Hall), and not lip-syncing (like Derrick Barry as Britney Spears). This is not an impersonation, and that wig doesn’t look like Tina Turner’s hair.
6. Donald Braswell [Opera Singer]-The judges eliminated him, then America brought him back, and he showed this week why he should be in this competition. He has an amazing voice, and he is the best so far tonight.
7. Indiggo [Singers]-I don’t think they should’ve gone past the first round. They think they’re all that, and this whole act was laughable, and not in a good way.
8. Tapping Dads [Tap Dancers]-As much as I like the song, if you mix “Puttin’ on the Ritz” with tap-dancing, the result is bound to be cheesiness. That’s what this act was tonight. They are good at what they do, I’ll give them that, but the clothes and song made it not so good.
9. Eli Mattson [Singer]-I echo what Piers said: sensational. I love hearing singers with unique voices, and he has that. I don’t remember him from earlier rounds, but he got my attention tonight.
10. Nuttin But Stringz [Violin Players]-They made playing the violin cool. They are energetic and powerful, mixing classical with rock and hip/hop.

Except for a few acts (of course), overall this was a great night of performances. During the first Top 40 week, there seemed to be only one person from each of the two nights who saved the night, but tonight, there were a few who made this a great episode.

Below is who I voted for, plus the 5 who I think could be the 5 going through to the next round [this does not necessarily mean I think they were great; it is just who I think America may vote through]:

My Vote: Eli Mattson [10 by phone; 10 online]

Who Could Go To Next Round: Kaitlyn Maher; Donald Braswell, Tapping Dads; Eli Mattson; Nuttin But Stringz

Next week, we will find out who our complete Top 20 are, then those 20 will perform on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a special half-hour Thursday episode, revealing the Top 10.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 6:14 PM PDT

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America's Got Talent: Top 40, Acts 21-30
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 [8-10pm]

At the top of the show, it was announced that the five acts from last Wednesday moving on to the Final 20 are: Paul Salos, The Wright Kids, Daniel Jens, Queen Emily (rightly so), and ZOOperstars! (Judge’s Choice). Again, I correctly predicted three out of five: Paul Salos, Queen Emily and ZOOperstars! This means that Beyond Belief Dance Co, Kazual, Jonathan Arons, Slippery Kittens, and George the Giant were sent home.

Tonight, Tuesday night, 10 more acts performed, and here are my brief comments:

1.       The Texas State Strutters [Dance group]-There are a lot of dancers on this show, so you have to stand out; they didn’t. It was just ordinary.

2.       Michael Strelo-Smith [Opera singer]-He’s a great opera singer, like Neal E. Boyd, but it was the wrong song. It sounded too Broadway. That’s unfortunate, because he is a good singer.

3.       Bruce Block [Magician]-As a magician myself, that was just okay. It was kind of cheesy, and we see this type of trick all the time. I didn’t seem him to anything; everyone else on stage did all the work. When are we going to get a magician on this show who has a chance of winning?

4.       Shequida [Opera Singer]-Last time, it was interesting to hear both the very high and very low notes. Tonight, the high pitch was so annoying.

5.       Taubl Family [Musicians]-It was interesting to hear Rhianna’s “Umbrella” sung in that style. At first I wasn’t sure if it was going to work, but I think overall it did. My only problem is still with that younger boy who sang first: he sounds too amateurish and his singing voice is not up to the level that his family sings at. But they have great harmony together.

6.       Jonathan Burkin [Baton Twirler]-I’ve always been impressed with him on the show, including tonight. Adding the fire was amazing and impressive, and like David said, he has a chance of winning the show.

7.       Sarah Lenore [Country Singer]-That was risky to sing such a great Dixie Chicks song, and I’m not sure if it worked out 100% only because personality is too soft for that angry/edgy song. Then again, look at Carrie Underwood: who would’ve thought someone like her could pull off a song like “Before He Cheats”? Either way, she does have a great voice, and she has potential.

8.       SickStep [Dance group]-They are better than a lot of the dancers on the show, but I’d just like to see something a little more unique. But still a great performance.

9.       Matthew Piazz [Celebrity Voice Impersonator]-The first half was great. He’s an amazing celeb impersonator, but once he got to the piano, it went downhill. Get rid of the piano and he’ll he great.

10.   Joseph Hall [Elvis Impersonator]-Tonight wasn’t his best performance, but he is still one of the best we’ve seen this year and I hope to see more from him.

Last week, I said that Neal E. Boyd saved the night for Tuesday, and Queen Emily did the same for Wednesday. Tonight, the first half of the show was not looking good, then the Taubl Family started turning it around and then Jonathan Burkin showed what this show is all about. Those three are my favorites so far.

Below is who I voted for, plus the 5 who I think could be the 5 going through to the next round [this does not necessarily mean I think they were great; it is just who I think America may vote through]:

My Vote: Jonathan Burkin [10 by phone; 10 online]
Who Could Go To Next Round: Taubl Family; Jonathan Burkin; Sarah Lenore; SickStep; Joseph Hall

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 11:56 PM PDT

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Last week, I debuted a new segment on the Blog, called My View, where I discuss the past week’s entertainment news.

Sunday, August 31: Today, I will give My View on the new ‘American Idol’ judge, Jennifer Hudson at the DNC, the new ‘Survivor’ & ‘Dancing with the Stars’ casts, Republican Convention, DVD releases, and an update on My Book List.

New American Idol Judge: The day after my previous My View, it was announced that American Idol would be adding a 4th judge to the panel. That 4th judge will be Kara DioGuardi, and she will be joining Simon, Paula and Randy starting with the auditions (actually, the judges just went to the first audition stop of the season, joined by Kara). Kara is a big-time songwriter. You name a singer, she most likely has written songs for them. I am actually really excited by this big change to the new season. Since American Idol is my favorite show of all-time, I worry that there will be too many changes to the show that will not make it recognizable anymore. But the main reason why I’m not worrying over this announcement is because I am somewhat familiar with Kara. She judged the short-lived ABC reality show, The One. And even though it didn’t last very long, she was a great judge. Since she is a songwriter, she brings that viewpoint to the judging panel. She has written for many of the past Idol finalists, and from judging this show, she will be able to get to know the contestants, and then hopefully eventually write songs for them. From what I have read about the first audition stop, she has great chemistry with the other three and looks like she can give Simon a run for his money. I can’t wait for American Idol to return in January so I, along with the millions of other viewers and fanatics, will be able to see how she will be on the show.

J-Hud @ DNC: In other Idol news, Jennifer Hudson sang the national anthem Thursday at the Democratic National Convention. She was amazing! As we all know from American Idol and Dreamgirls, she has a powerhouse voice and did the song justice. Jennifer will be releasing her self-titled debut album on September 30. Click here to pre-order your copy.

Survivor Cast: The new Survivor castaways were revealed this past week. According to this article, it sounds like this fall’s edition, in Gabon, Africa, will be must-see TV. There will be a good vs. evil aspect among the contestants, which sounds like great television. And for those who have an HD TV, listen up: the show will air in high definition for the first time. And we recently bought an HDTV, and so I can’t wait to watch Survivor. This show is great at showing nature in all aspects, and to see it in HD will be amazing.

Dancing with the Stars Cast: Along with Survivor, it was also revealed which celebrities will be dancing across the ballroom in this falls edition of Dancing with the Stars. Even though I don’t have a page for it on TV Watch Online, I do watch the show. I only started watching the show regularly last fall. Anyway, the new celebs who will be competing are: Lance Bass, Toni Braxton, Brooke Burke, Rocco Dispirito, Maurice Greene, Kim Kardashian, Cloris Leachman, Cody Linley, Susan Lucci, Misty May-Treanor, Ted McGinley, Jeffrey Ross, and Warren Sapp. The one person that I can’t wait to see is Misty May-Treanor. She played beach volleyball with Kerri Walsh at this year’s Olympics, and won gold. Out of all the Olympic events this year, the one I never missed and had to watch was those two playing beach volleyball. They are some of the best athletes I have ever seen, and they definitely deserved to win their second consecutive gold this year, and I hope they do it again in London.

Republican National Convention: The 2008 Republican National Convention begins tomorrow (Monday) and continues through to Thursday, when Senator John McCain will make his party’s acceptance speech. If you want to watch in-depth coverage of everything to do with the convention, then tune in to such cable stations as CNN, MSNBC and C-Span, among others, where coverage will be shown almost the entire day each day. Or if you prefer to just catch the headlining speakers, tune into any of the main network channels. With Hurricane Gustav approaching, McCain is scaling back the convention. There will most likely be updates on the changes on a day-by-day basis, depending on the situation at the time. And if you didn’t watch it last Thursday, Barack Obama gave a rousing acceptance speech in Denver. This election has already shaped up to be historic and nail-biting, and it now looks even more so as we head into the general election.

Desperate Housewives DVD: This Tuesday, season 4 of Desperate Housewives is released on DVD. You can relive the past season before the show returns on Sunday, September 28 on ABC. I personally thought season 4 was the best season yet for the show, culminating in a shocking and show-changing cliffhanger of a finale. You can buy this product in the TV Watch Online STORE on the Featured Products page and the DH page.

Ballet Shoes DVD: Also this Tuesday, we will see the release of Ballet Shoes, which features Harry Potter’s Emma Watson. This TV-movie premiered last December, and I watched it on a Canadian station. It’s great when any of the three HP leads venture off into a non-Potter role so we can see how their acting abilities grow and mature. And Emma’s role in this movie is outstanding. You can buy this product in the TV Watch Online STORE on the Featured Products page and the Harry Potter Movies page.

America’s Got Talent: Last week, NBC’s summer hit, America’s Got Talent, returned live with the Top 40. After this first week back, we already know the first 10 acts who will be in the Top 20. And with each of these live episodes, I will be commenting on the performances on this blog (they will be separate posts and not part of My View). And I have two up already, and waiting for this week’s episodes. In related news, last year’s winner, Terry Fator will be releasing a book, titled Who’s the Dummy Now?, on November 1. We will find out about his life before beginning the biggest act to be seen in Las Vegas. As Amazon notes: Terry Fator overcame many odds: an abusive father, a peripatetic, and isolated childhood, and decades of struggles before winning America’s Got Talent. In one year, he went from being a struggling entertainer to appearing on Oprah, Letterman and Ellen to sold-out shows in Las Vegas and signed as a major headliner on the Strip in Las Vegas at The Mirage. This is the story of the man with the million dollar voice. To me, and to millions others, he was the best performer on last season, and I hope to someday see his show. You can pre-order this product in the TV Watch Online STORE on the America’s Got Talent page.

My Book List: As I mentioned last week, I am reading The Diana Chronicles, by Tina Brown. I took a break from it for a few days this week to read Mike’s Election Guide 2008, by award-winning documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. I have enjoyed watching some of his documentaries, including Fahrenheit 9/11 and Sicko. If you have been following the 2008 presidential election, this is a great book to read. Note: This book is mainly geared toward those who want Barack Obama in the White House and not John McCain. Click here to buy the book.

Visit TV Watch Online every day for the latest entertainment news, then read My View every weekend right here on the BLOG.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 10:18 PM PDT

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America's Got Talent: Top 40, Acts 11-20
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 [8-10pm]

Before the next 10 acts performed, we found out which five from Tuesday night were moving on to the finals. Those five are: Extreme Dance FX, Jessica Price, The Cadence, Neal E. Boyd, and the James Gang (who were the Judge’s Choice). I correctly predicted that Jessica, Cadence, and Neal would be moving on. That means that Derrick Barry as Britney Spears, Elite, Ronny B., Shimshi, and the DC Cowboys were eliminated.

Now on to the new acts. On Wednesday night, the next 10 acts of the Top 40 performed. Below are my short comments on those acts:

1.       Beyond Belief of Dance Co [Dance Group]-The beginning was okay, but it got better by the end. The only problem is that they didn’t completely keep my attention, which was also the problem I had regarding Extreme Dance FX.

2.       Paul Salos [Frank Sinatra Impersonator]-His initial audition may have been a little better, but he is still great at singing and impersonating Frank Sinatra.

3.       Kazual [Singing Group]-When they were going down the steps in sync, it seemed like it was going to be great. But then when they sang separately, most of them did not sing well. It was better when they sang together.

4.       ZOOperstars! [Costumed Variety Act]-They were the most entertaining act so far tonight. I’m not sure if the duck falling off stage was part of the act or not (though I believe it was), and even though they won’t win, they were hilarious.

5.       The Wright Kids [Musical Group]-They are not the best singers, but they have pretty good harmony; and they’ll have to be stronger if they want to make it.

6.       Jonathan Arons [Trombone Player]-Like the ZOOperstars!, he was wildly entertaining and fun to watch. The only criticism I have is that with all the added music, it was hard at times to hear him.

7.       Daniel Jens [Country Singer]-I didn’t think that he should be in the Top 40, and after tonight, I stand by that. I’m a big country music fan, and he does not have a strong enough voice to make it in the industry.

8.       Slippery Kittens [Burlesque]-They are the type of act you would see in Vegas (which is part of the prize), but they are not right for this show. Their act was inappropriate for this family show where kids are watching.

9.       George the Giant [Variety]-When we saw him before, he was weirdly and grossly entertaining, but tonight the annoying music and annoying kids overshadowed this supposedly “dangerous” act, which didn’t seem to be that at all.

10.   Queen Emily [Singer]-Before her, I wasn’t sure who to vote for, but she came out and belted out her powerhouse voice. Best of the night.

I mentioned in the previous AGT blog post that overall, I was disappointed with the talent level for those first ten acts. And I feel the same way for the acts who performed on Wednesday. I believe that Queen Emily saved the night from becoming a horrible audition-like round. We are halfway through the Top 40, and after seeing these first 20 acts, my two favorites are singers Neal E. Boyd and Queen Emily. Neal is my favorite of the two, and for now, I believe he is the one to beat. He reminds me so much of Paul Potts, who won Britain’s Got Talent. Potts has a similar background and also sings opera.

Below is who I voted for, plus the 5 who I think could be the 5 going through to the next round [this does not necessarily mean I think they were great; it is just who I think America may vote through]:

My Vote: Queen Emily [10 by phone; 10 online]
Who Could Go To Next Round: Beyond Belief Dance Co; Paul Salos; ZOOperstars!; Jonathan Arons; Queen Emily

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 6:19 PM PDT

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America's Got Talent: Top 40, Acts 1-10
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 [8-10pm] 

Tonight was the first Top 40 episodes, with the first 10 of those acts performing. Below are my short comments on those acts:

1. Extreme Dance FX [Cloggers/Dancers]-good, but the only criticism I have is they didn't keep my attention for long.
2. The James Gang [Musical Group]-I did not get it at all. I couldn't understand what their talent was: singers or magicians? They were all over the place.
3. Derrick Barry as Britney Spears [Britney Spears Impersonator]-The good news-he knows how to recreate the choreography and look of Britney's performances; the bad news-he lip-synches and if you're going to impersonate someone, then sing. Also, there should only be singing impersonators for singing legends.
4. Elite [martial arts/karate]-It wasn't a talent act at all. The kicking and hitting are not real; the whole thing was fake. She added a pirate theme to make it seem new, but it was just the same old thing.
5. Ronny B. [singer/dancer]-He's a William Hung wannabe, singing "She Bangs," but wearing shiny clothes. The only difference is that William Hung is horrible, but entertaining; Ronny B. was just horrible.
6. The Cadence [Drum act]-It was entertaining, with a micture of a rock band, STOMP, and the Blue Man Group; but it didn't stand out and wasn't cohesive enough.
7. Jessica Price [singer/musician]-It started off okay because of the different arrangement, but the rest was fantastic.
8. Shimshi [magician]-As a fellow magician, I thought he was great. He took a simple trick and tweaked it a little.
9. DC Cowboys [dancers]-It's entertaining, but their dancing is not a million dollar talent. And they're trying to get votes by taking their shirts off at the end.
10. Neal E. Boyd [opera singer]-He blew the competition away tonight. His voice was amazing, and he is the one to beat so far.

Overall, I was extremely disappointed with the talent level tonight. Thankfully Neal E. Boyd was there to end the show with a bang. Plus, we found out that singer Donald Braswell was voted by America as the Wild Card Act to fill out the Top 40.

Below is who I voted for, plus the 5 who I think could be the 5 going through to the next round [this does not necessarily mean I think they were great; it is just who I think America may vote through]:

My Vote: Neal E. Boyd [10 by phone; 10 online]
Who Could Go To Next Round: The Cadence; Jessica Price; Shimshi; DC Cowboys; Neil E. Boyd

On Wednesday, August 27, the next 10 acts from the Top 40 perform, along with the results from tonight's episode.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 10:37 PM PDT

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I am going to start a new segment on the BLOG, called My View, which I hope to make a regular feature every week. For this segment, I am going to be discussing recent television and entertainment related news that I have posted articles about on TV Watch Online (and other items as well). While I have done this sort of thing in the past here, I haven’t always kept up with it multiple times a week with the amount of news I want to discuss. So, with My View, I will save my “voice” for the weekend when I can lump a bunch of news into one post. This doesn’t mean that I will stop making other similar entries during the week.

So, on this Sunday, August 24, I will give My View on Ellen & Portia’s wedding, the Harry Potter movie delay, Olympics, Democratic Convention, the Heroes Season 2 DVD being released this week, the announcement on the Prince Caspian DVD, ABC’s The View, and what I have been reading lately with My Book List. So, without further ado, here is My View:

Ellen & Portia Marry: On Saturday, August 16, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi got married at their home in California. Check them out on the cover of People magazine, along with another picture, here. As some of you may know, Ellen is my favorite celebrity, and I was so excited when she announced on her talk show back in May that, with California Supreme Court overturning the ban on gay marriage in the state, she and Portia would be getting married. This is just another big step toward equality for all. I hope that in my lifetime, I will see same-sex marriage be acceptable in all states. Ellen is someone who has gone through such hard times in her life to get to where she is now, and I am so proud of what they have done. And I also can’t wait for her to talk about the wedding when her show returns on September 8, and show any footage or pictures that she has to share. Congratulations Ellen & Portia!

Harry Potter Delay: As you no doubt have heard by now (and posted about on TV Watch Online), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been delayed from November 21 of this year to July 17, 2009. To read in-depth coverage of this news item, click here. But to put the reasons into a simple response: it’s all about Warner Brothers wanting to squeeze as much money out of this as they can. Cue the O’jays ‘For the Love of Money’: Money Money Money Money Money…Money! When I first saw the headline about this, I thought it was a joke; I was so shocked. But after the shock wore off, it started to sink in that I would have to wait 11 more months to see the movie instead of 3 more months. And while I am mad that this whole thing transpired, I am not like some of those people out there who say they are going to boycott the movie because of this. They aren’t going to boycott it; you and I both know that they will be one of the first in line to see it when it is released. If you haven’t seen the teaser trailer yet, check it out here (with the new release date).

Olympics Closing Ceremony: The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony will air tonight starting at 7pm on NBC (or any of the other million channels airing the Olympics).

Democratic National Convention: The 2008 Democratic National Convention begins tomorrow (Monday) and continues through to Thursday, when Senator Barack Obama will accept his party’s nomination for President of the United States. If you want to watch in-depth coverage of everything to do with the convention, then tune in to such cable stations as CNN and MSNBC where coverage will be shown almost the whole day. Or if you prefer to just watch the highlights, tune into any of the network channels.

Heroes: This Tuesday, season 2 comes to DVD and Blu-ray Disc. You can relive the past season before the show returns on Monday, September 22 on NBC. In related news, a previously released Heroes book, Saving Charlie, is being release in paperback on Tuesday as well. You can buy all these products in the TV Watch Online STORE on the Featured Products page and the Heroes page.

Prince Caspian DVD: It was announced that The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian will be released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc in many different options on December 2. On the DVD side, there will be a one disc version and a three disc collector’s edition. And on the blu-ray side, there will be a two disc version and a three disc version. I really think that movie releases are getting out of hand with all the different versions that are being released. There’s one disc, two disc, three disc…. It’s getting out of hand. I can understand having a regular edition and a special edition, but they don’t need three discs. That third disc has the DisneyFile on it, which is a copy of the movie that you can put on your iPod and other outlets. That’s great and all, but I really wonder how many people will use that disc. No matter what I said just now, Prince Caspian really is a great movie and one that the whole family can watch and enjoy. I personally will be buying the Three-Disc Collector’s Edition (and I won’t be using the DisneyFile). And if you want to buy one, two, three, or all of those versions of the movie, you can buy them all in the TV Watch Online STORE on the Featured Products page (pg2/3) and The Chronicles of Narnia page (pg1/2).

The View: Even though I don’t have a page for it on TV Watch Online, I do watch The View, and I think it is a great show for people to express their opinions and views, kind of like what I am doing with My View (except I don’t have a panel to debate with). Anyway, the season 12 cast photo was recently revealed and all of last season’s cast will be back: Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, Sherri Shepherd, and unfortunately, Barbara Walters. I hope this year will be a fairly normal year without anyone leaving or joining or any of that. And even though they tried to do that last season, it didn’t completely work, because the full cast wasn’t there for the entire season; Sherri joined the panel a week into the season, and Elizabeth went on maternity leave. I am really glad that Whoopi is on the show. Even though Rosie was the best thing to ever happen to The View, Whoopi was the best person to replace her. And even though I don’t agree with Elizabeth’s politics, I am able to stand watching her on the show, because I got to know her on TV before her politics came out: first on Survivor, then when she initially joined The View, she was really quiet and didn’t talk a lot, so we really didn’t get to hear what she had to say. I can’t wait for the new season to start back up on September 2 on ABC, and to check out the season 12 cast photo, click here.

My Book List: This segment has nothing to do with the news you see posted on TV Watch Online, but it still has to do with entertainment, and I thought I would share what books I have been reading lately. I am an avid reader, and read all different genres, but fantasy is my favorite. I just finished reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini. I would recommend this book to anyone. It was such a moving story with much tragedy. The two main characters, Mariam and Laila, put up with a lot, and they try multiple times to do things their way and they keep getting put back down to nothing more than servant-like people. This story is set in Afghanistan, and tells a fictional story during real times of much turmoil in the country. Other books I have read recently include: The Kite Runner (also by Hosseini and also set in Afghanistan), Breaking Dawn-Stephenie Meyer (I love the Twilight Saga), The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel-Michael Scott, and The Host-Stephenie Meyer (her first non-Twilight book), among many other books. And the book I am currently reading is The Diana Chronicles, by Tina Brown, which tells of her insight into the royal family and the tragedy that befell the Princess of Whales. By the way, Brown knew Diana personally. If you want to buy any of these books to read for yourself, click on the titles I just listed.

I hope you enjoyed My View, and I hope to do this every weekend. Visit TV Watch Online every day for the latest news, then read My View right here on the BLOG.

Posted by Webmaster Dodgeroo54 at 2:26 PM PDT

Updated: Monday, August 25, 2008 12:08 PM PDT

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