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AMERICAN IDOL RETURNS - American Idol photo

Winner Jordan Sparks had Simon problems - Hmmmmm... Simon... WUSS-UP? - American Idol photo

"To be honest with you (Jordin) last week I didn't think you would make it to the final," said American Idol judge Simon Cowell. Hmmmm.... American Idol photo

American Idol Blake Lewis. - American Idol photo

American Idol Melinda Doolittle. - American Idol photo

American Idol Lakisha Jones - American Idol photo

AMERICAN IDOL David Cook 25 WON THE TITLE - American Idol photo

AMERICAN IDOL David Archuleta 17 FINISHED 2nd - American Idol photo

Video Beat - HOLIDAY MARATHONS

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Can we believe the Star World network when they say that American Idol will return to the air for its new season January 14th? Mark it down on your calendar as Simon Cowell returns to annoy many a TV viewer with his snide comments and lengthy opinions. But there's more� for two consecutive Sunday's two American Idol 10 hour marathons are scheduled. - DRUNKEN TOP MODEL ELIMINATED - SOUTH AFRICAN IDOL LOST THE PLOT - CNBC's 'World Business Program'

Sunday January 4, 2009

AMERICAN IDOL MARATHON

Given the Happy New Year celebrations and vacations the TV networks have shaken up their schedules. The realization is that during this period nothing is carved in stone and fly by the seat of ones pants programming is in effect. The point being can we believe the Star World network when they say that American Idol will return to the air for its new season January 14th?

Mark it down on your calendar as Simon Cowell returns to annoy many a TV viewer with his snide comments and lengthy opinions. But there's more� for two consecutive Sunday's two American Idol 10 hour marathons are scheduled.

January 4th Season 6 is scheduled. That is the series in which Jordan Sparks took the title but Sanjaya Malakar took the spotlight. It is also the series that caused some controversy as some of Cowell's caustic remarks cost one of the best in the competition Lakisha Jones to be eliminated and she failed to make the final three. Melinda Doolittle and Blake Lewis did with Lewis making it to the final two.

We questioned these decisions opining that there was a bias against having an all black final three. Eliminated or not Jones repeatedly was one of the top performers that season. Bias or not this series had some of the best overall talent of all the American Idol series and is a must watch.

The following Sunday season 7 is scheduled to be televised January 11th. That is the series in which David Cook came from behind and narrowly edged David Archuleta

The overall talent on this series was inferior to previous AI series. Archuleta and Cook proved to be very accomplished and talented singers the remaining talent were somewhat bland although prior to airing the first episode the series was touted as having their best talent ever. Nothing could be further from the truth.

DRUNKEN TOP MODEL ELIMINATED

Many of the American Top Model contestants who had bad attitudes were eliminated at the beginning of the series. After the shows first Asian decent contestant Sheen Sakai was eliminated those that remained had boring personalities. Of the final four the most shy of the group Marjorie Conrad was eliminated with the reason given that she was admonished for having lost her appeal in her attempt to act more aloof, and was sent home.

What happened but wasn't stated in the shows reviews was she wanted to get together with the canal boat drivers that took the then five girls on a go see to designers. When the lads arrived at their flat they brought plenty of wine. The problem was Marjorie was the only girl who drank alcoholic beverages.

She got drunk and was in a bathing tub fully clothed with one of the boat drivers. She lost the plot and the other girls noticed her lack of self-control. They came to her aid in asking the fellows to leave. They did so and the girls put Marjorie to bed� ALONE.

In the world of modeling one can get caught up in what they think is where it's at and eventually succumb to drugs and alcohol in their attempt to keep up with the perceived in crowd. That was portrayed in the HBO film Gia starring Angelina Jolie.

Gia died from AIDS and a drug addiction though she was only in her mid 20's. This film is a MUST SEE for anyone interested in modeling, a good film or Angelina Jolie.

SOUTH AFRICAN IDOL LOST THE PLOT

One disturbing story came about via a BBC documentary 'Love In The Time of HIV' about Tenda a South African girl singer who was in the final four of the South African Idol. When she revealed that she had the AIDS virus she was eliminated from the program.

After that she had a hard time dealing with the rejection but had a level headed viewpoint about her situation. "In South Africa HIV is like having the flu," she stated in the documentary which was televised December 2nd.

Tenda is a girl who comes from an impoverished background and singing was her way out of the ghetto and a way to help her family. After a year of despair she finally got her spirits and thoughts together to where she returned to pounding the streets of South Africa seeking to reestablish her singing career. At the end of the show she had hope from the interest from a record company but no record deal. This is a show to look out for and is a MUST WATCH.

CNBC DOC

Over the holidays CNBC televised a news magazine show 'World Business Program' which cleared up a mystery in my mind that being why is the Philippines is such a poor country and selling their people throughout the world as service workers when they have a country so rich in potential with their resources and beaches that could be resorts of International appeal.

The CNBC show pointed out that in the 60's the Philippines was the second largest economy in Asia trailing only Japan. Since that time they lost the plot due to corruption while Indonesia and Thailand moved ahead of them to become more prosperous. The show noted that taxation, customs and corruption it adds 1/5th to the cost of doing business there. Also noted was that 40% of the Philippine people live in poverty. Given the amount of repeats these past few weeks this is program worth looking out for and is a must watch.

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