Jennifer Lopez (Universal Music Greece by Bratopoulosm photo)

Video Beat - NO COWELL AMERICAN IDOL IS BETTER - J Lo ROCKS

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

As a member of the American Idol panel Jennifer Lopez makes it all work. She supports her follow judges and embodies the warmth and concern that Paula Abdul had for contestants in not wanting to hurt their feelings - Recommended TV Listings

Monday January 24, 2011

HOORAY IT'S A NEW DAY

When the news broke that Simon Cowell was leaving American Idol it was as if a big weight was lifted off our (NR) shoulders. As the years wore on Cowell became more verbally abusive and callused that the program was unbearable to watch. There was too much of a negative vibe and the inference was that Idol revolved around Cowell. Last season he toned down and let others on the panel take the lead. The season was a dud as there was too much gloom in the room.

But there's a new day and Jennifer Lopez and Areosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler are a new breath of fresh air for the show. During the audition sessions Lopez has been seated in the center of the panel and is taking the lead as the strongest most authoritative voice in a nice way with warmth and charm.

Quite frankly I never thought that I would ever be rooting for Lopez. When I was hosting the Cal Tex Drive Time radio show in Cambodia I was given some spicy news bits to read from Pop Dirt. What I recall are bits about her wanting to eat only WHITE CHOCLATES. How racist I thought particularly since she was the ex girlfriend of P Diddy who will never be confused with white chocolate.

The other bit was she was having a beef with her former chauffeur. Having been in the limousine business with such clients as Michael Jackson, Liza Minneli, Madonna, Eddie Murphy and Aeorsmith's ex manager Tim Collins among other well known entertainment figures I took exception to her remarks. That has changed with the new J Lo who is born again since she married Marc Anthony.

As a member of the Idol panel she makes it all work. She supports her follow judges and embodies the warmth and concern that Paula Abdul had for contestants in not wanting to hurt their feelings. Lopez is the perfect judge and has her own entertainment credentials to support her opinions... Cowell didn't.

Randy Jackson appears to be a more confident and happy person who is genuinely ebullient for the first time in the seven seasons that we have been watching the show.

Tyler brings a street edge to the program with his in the hood and musician speak. That works as any contestant who makes it to the professional side of the music business will hear many people talk like Tyler. Tyler is not overbearing with his negative comments but says it like it is without Cowell's type of massive ego and snide remarks.

What is interesting is Tyler's interplay with the young female contestants in making suggestive side remarks with sexual undertones. He takes it to the limit but doesn't take his dirty old man role too far. Think about it.... his daughter is actress Liv Tyler... Ya know what I'm say-yin?

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY

As they say there are two sides to every story. Other than the US propaganda of their invasion of Iraq for the sake of democracy there's another side if the story that comes from the Arab News Network Al Jazeera. A riveting documentary "Control Room" was screened at the Meta House in Phnom Penh, Cambodia January 9th.

The focus was America's 2003 invasion of Iraq for those mysterious but never found weapons of mass destruction. The point of view and back story was the profiling Al Jazeera television network whose journalists were featured on camera asking questions to US military media rep clones why they were invading Iraq and killing innocent civilians including women and children. FULL STORY

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Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia/Thailand time zone. Check our chart or your local listings for time in your area.

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