Gleeful!

My relationship with Glee was not love at first sight. I really enjoyed the pilot and the subsequent episodes, but overall I enjoyed the music much more than the uneven story-telling. This lead to erratic viewing and I was mostly meh while the rest of the country was ascending into full gleekdom. However, somewhere between the Throwdown and Mash-up episodes, I reconnected, recommitted and finally gleeked out!

Last night, Glee was featured as the penultimate panel at The Paley Fest! Creator Ryan Murphy with his producing team along with the entire cast except for Lea Michele participated. Prior to the panel we were given the immense thrill of screening the director's cut of episode 14, which is scheduled to air on April 13. It was amazing! Idina Menzel and Jonathan Groff each brilliantly debuted as interesting and exciting new characters. I won't spoil anything here, but see the spoiler list at the end of this entry!

I cannot adequately express my utter and sheer joy at witnessing this panel. E! Online correspondent Marc Malkin was the host and he led the panel superbly. When new guest-star Jonathan Groff was asked what it was like to join this ensemble, he praised them for being so down-to-earth, professional and fun. To which, Jane Lynch looked at Matthew Morrison and said he hasn't worked with us yet! I loved that moment! The panel was great fun and there are links all over the web that cover it in great depth. I left the panel with an even greater love for the show, knowledge that the 15th episode back will be a tribute to Madonna featuring 10 of her songs and an anxiousness to get back into the Glee groove!

Glee SPOILERS!

1. The song list for the April 13 return are The Beatles Hello Goodbye, Lionel Richie's Hello, AC DC's Highway to Hell and The All American Rejects Gives You Hell.
2. Idina Menzel is Vocal Adrenaline's choir director and Jonathan Groff is their star singer.
3. Jane Lynch, Curt and Amber perform Madonna's Vogue, recreating her infamous video in the Madonna tribute episode.
4. Kristin Chenowich will return as April this season.
5. Rachel and Puck, or Puckleberry as Ryan Murphy called them, will get together again.
6. We won't meet Rachel's 2 dads until possibly sometime during the second season.
7. Neil Patrick Harris will appear as Mr. Shue's old rival. They will duet to Aerosmith's Dream On and a Billy Joel song.
8. Jane Lynch and Matthew Morrison will appear in a few select cities on the Glee Tour. They exchanged an interesting look at that announcement.
9. The Futon Critic's full transcript

4 Fun

I've been kicking around the idea of writing a weekly pop-culture list featuring stuff that has garnered my attention. I know, I know...not the most original idea, but I am going to try it...so, here we go:

Spoilerish

White Collar Season Finale!

White Collar's first season was superb. I love Peter and Neal's bromance and camaraderie. The finale featured a crafty-caper and an explosive-ending that abruptly concluded the season's main story-arc. Season two begins sometime this summer and I cannot wait to revel in new cases, cons and Neal's vengeance.

Lady Gaga & Beyonce's Telephone Music Video

At first this song completely annoyed me, except for Beyonce's entrance. Eventually, I became infatuated with this hook-laden tune. The video premiered today and I was expecting the standard song and dance music video fare along with some avant garde couture costuming. Instead, I was surprised with a very campy and highly-stylized "film" directed by Jonas Akerlund. I loved Akerlund's work on Madonna's Ray of Light video and he does not disappoint here.

Watch it here. Thoughts?

America's Next Top Model

I am not even going to try and hide my utter delight that America's Next Top Model has returned. I was leery when I saw the whole premise of the premiere was built on Tyra picking models as if they had sent her a friend request on a popular social-networking site. However, that was the only stumble on the runway for last night's episode. For the most part, I liked the girls she put through and was kind of happy to see that Angelea made it through. She nearly made it through on the season before last, but was eliminated. She is already causing all kinds of trouble and I think her bitch skills are far superior to any modeling talent she may possess. I am also super-glad that Cybill Sheppard's spoiled-rotten god-daughter didn't make it through. I don't think I could have endured her for even a small portion of the season. This is my guilty-pleasure reality show and I cannot wait for a full season of crazy.

American Idol Eliminations

American Idol has really been lack-luster this season. However, the eliminations leading to the top 12 were kind of surprising. I predicted that Lacey and Paige would be eliminated and I sort of suspected that Todrick and possibly Alex were in trouble this week. I was completely stunned to discover Katelyn and Lilly were given the boot. Todrick's elimination wasn't shocking, but Alex's was a bit of a bummer. I really think he has a great voice, but just not enough experience and confidence. The interesting eliminations mean that there is a great chance that some subpar talent will land in the top 10. Lacey, Paige...I'm talking to you.

An Atrocity and A Felicity

Lindsay Lohan is suing E*Trade over their latest talking baby campaign because she claims that "everyone" thinks the baby is based on her. As if we need another illustration of how utterly and completely crazy Lindsay is. She is suing for 100 million dollars. One hundred million dollars! Fifty million for her pain and suffering and another fifty million for compensation. Miss Lohan claims that her first name is as identifiable as other single name monikers such as Madonna and Cher. Really? Really, Lindsay? So people are supposed to get that the 'milkaholic' baby from the commercial is actually a thinly disguised mockery of Lindsay? Wow. The folks at E*Trade claim that they picked a baby name that was fairly popular and that one of their staffers is also named Lindsay and that she was partly the inspiration. It might really be time for Lindsay to call Dr. Drew and check into Celebrity Rehab.

Watch the hilarious commercial here! I am so excited for a reason to post this because it cracks me up every time AND I never thought of Lindsay Lohan once!

On a less-crazy note, Keri Russell may be returning to television in a single camera sitcom created by Arrested Development's Mitch Hurwitz. Will Arnett is also slated to star. Wilde Kingdom is a romantic comedy about a wealthy self-centered playboy who falls in love with a very selfless humanitarian. This is felicitous news!

The Vampire Diaries @ The Paley Festival

The Paley Festival might be my most favorite time of year. The 14 glorious days celebrating television shows both past and present is the most excellent harbinger of Spring! I've attended almost every year of the 17 years I've resided in Los Angeles full-time.

Roseanne, Ellen, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The Gilmore Girls, Felicity, Alias, Lost, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Star Trek The Next Generation, Will & Grace, and Beverly Hills, 90210 are but a sampling of the Paley shows I've attended. Fond memories abound for each.

This year I had the very unexpected pleasure to attend The Vampire Diaries at the festival. The panel was hosted by TV Guide's Craig Hitchcock and included: Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec, Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley and Nina Dobrev along with some dude from Alloy Entertainment. The discussion was rambunctious and fun in spite of the rather lame host. Ian, Nina and Paul's banter was great and the insight from Kevin and Julie was very cool; more than making up for the lacking-host and poor sound quality.

The best part of the event was that they screened the next episode which isn't slated to air until March 25. I was elated! I'd been going through withdrawals since the show went on hiatus during the Winter Olympics. So many great things happen in the episode and it brilliantly sets up the arc for the rest of the season. Also, Melinda Clarke aka Julie Cooper Nichol Cooper from The OC and Lady Heather of CSI fame begins her stint with this episode. She does not disappoint.

I won't spoil anything specific, but (GENERIC SPOILERS) there are 4 deaths, someone thought dead might not be and there is one heck of a bachelor auction. I am attending the Glee panel next weekend and I cannot wait!

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!