Right, Renewal and A Little Night Music

( Vampire Diaries SPOILER)

Ok, so I was right about Katherine not being in the tomb on The Vampire Diaries! However, we have to wait 5 weeks for the next new episode. Torture.

The torturous wait as to whether ABC Family would renew Greek is finally over. The series has been renewed for season 4. Although they only renewed the show for 10 episodes, I am ecstatic that it will be back. I am completely smitten with the show and am happy that it won't be added to any canceled lists...yet.

Musically, I've really been enjoying Lady Antebellum's Need You Now. The album is sort of country meets early Fleetwood Mac and I just cannot get enough of it. Also really looking forward to Daniel Merriweather's new album Love and War. Daniel was the featured vocalist on Mark Ronson's Stop Me and Ronson produced this project too. There is an amazing duet with Adele called Water and a Flame. It drops this Tuesday, February 23! My favorite music discovery this week is V.V Brown's Traveling Like The Light. This quirky British singer has a retro vibe, but her interesting song interpretation is an enjoyable music-forward nod to the past.

Vampire Diaries List of Speculations

In honor of the last new episode of The Vampire Diaries until March 25, here is a list of my speculations:

1. Katherine is not in the tomb.
2. The remaining vamps in the tomb are all dead.
3. Katherine turns Stefan and Damon during their rescue attempt. They drink her blood and are killed, maybe even by their father...only to become the undead.
4. Emily and Katherine had a deal that preceded Damon's deal with Emily.
5. Emily was always loyal to Katherine and the reason she didn't want the tomb opened was due to Katherine not being there.
6. I do believe it is possible that Emily had a change of heart and mind, but I am suspect.
7. Katherine won't live too long after the tomb resolution.
8. Pearl and Anna escape and will return to Mystic Falls one day.
9. Alaric's wife Isabelle is a vamp and possibly under Katherine's control.
10. Maybe Damon actually kills Katherine to save Stefan or Elena?

How far off am I?

Grammy's Ladies' Night

The ladies ruled the 2010 Grammy Awards. Lady Gaga opened the show with much theatrical flair and a head-to-head piano duel with Sir Elton John. Thankfully, she has the vocal chops to back up her over-the-top, yet oh-so-enjoyable avant guard theatrics. I wonder how she will age and mature as an artist? Will she still work this schtick at 50 a la Madonna?

Next up was Beyonce. At first, I thought she had gone all 1989 Rhythm Nation with her music corp dancers. However, once she launched into If I Were A Boy there was not even a glimmer or memory of Miss Jackson as her performance was pure Sasha Fierce. I haven't decided if I am on board with this whole Sasha Fierce alter-ego, but this performance was a pretty convincing argument. In mid-performance, she launched into Alanis Morisette's You Oughta Know and I couldn't help but wonder if it wouldn't have been more powerful to have actually had Alanis join her. I've concluded that Ms. Knowles days of sharing the stage are way, way over (Right Kelly? Right Michelle?)

Lady Antebellum's performance was pretty good and I think they've come into their own as the next big harmonious country trio. I did feel a little badly for Hillary Scott when the screen came down and hit her in the head. She recovered nicely and I enjoyed their performance of I Need You Know. Did you know that lead-singer Charles Kelley is singer Josh Kelley's brother? Did you know Josh Kelley is married to Katherine Heigl of Grey's Anatomy and Knocked Up? Now that you know all of this, do you care?

P!nk! Her performance of Glitter In the Air was the high-point of the show for me. It was an awesome athletic feat showcasing her amazing vocal talent with her stunning mid-air acrobatics.

Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles was a very welcome addition to Bon Jovi's Who Says You Can't Go Home. I was really glad she stuck around for Livin' on Prayer. I wish there was a Sugarland performance this year. They always, always deliver.

The Michael Jackson Earth Song was really cheesy, but Jennifer Hudson and Carrie Underwood were outstanding. The whole 3D stunt just didn't work. Watching Beyonce and Rihanna grooving to the performance with their crooked 3D glasses...priceless.

I was really looking forward to Taylor Swift's performance with Stevie Nicks, but it was kind of off-key and a bit all over the place. Taylor has never been a great live performer, but this was a total botch. I don't know if her nerves got the best of her coupled with performing with a true icon, but it was not good.

The main thing I will take away from the powerful female performances from the 2010 Grammy Awards is that the Britney-age of lip synching and dancing may have finally come to a close. Viva live vocals!