Video Beat Part 1 - AMERICAN IDOL SHOCKS THE WORLD WITH DECISIONS

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

As every race develops personalities jump out that become the centerpiece of the show. That is becoming the emerging role of siblings Tammy and Victor who are nine years apart in age with Victor playing the role of the older know it all brother who doesn't respect his younger sisters opinion. - The American Idol Wild Card left some mixed emotions. This season AI returned to the format that was used in season 3 when the wild card produced Clay Aiken and Jennifer Hudson. Simon The Merciless Cowell boldly stated he was in favor of the format and that without it they wouldn't have had Hudson and Aiken. - Recommended TV Listings

Sunday March 8, 2009

THE HEAT IS ON Amazing Race!!!

Three teams have fallen by the wayside in Amazing race 14 with the two older married couples being the last two teams to be eliminated. The last leg of the race was won by the last elderly person in the race Mel, 68 a gay father with his gay son Mike, 38.

Mike and Mel had a pretty typical family life until Mike was 11 years old, which is when Mel told the family that he was gay. Mel and Mike’s mother remained married until Mike and his sister, Erinn, went to college.

Mike works as a writer, director and actor in Los Angeles. His writing credits include the feature films "Nacho Libre" and "School of Rock," in which he also starred opposite Jack Black and Sarah Silverman, as well as the television series "Pasadena." He describes himself as entertaining, thoughtful and “ridiculously pale.” The father son duo might not be the most physical team on the Race, but they are expected to compensate with their wit and communication skills.

Mel, a gay-rights activist, has worked as a writer, professor, filmmaker and a pastor and prior to the race said that he was eager to have a once in a lifetime experience with his youngest child. He’s confident that his people skills will give him an advantage over some of the other Racers. He describes himself as energetic, caring and passionate and enjoys scuba diving and racquetball. When asked who he would model his style of game play after, he pointed to Season 7 winners Uchenna and Joyce, while Mike will model his game play after the "never say die" attitude of Charla and Mirna.

As every race develops personalities jump out that become the centerpiece of the show. That is becoming the emerging role of siblings Tammy and Victor who are nine years apart in age with Victor playing the role of the older know it all brother who doesn't respect his younger sisters opinion.

Victor's poor decision making and dictating what they should do almost cost them to be eliminated as they went from first to second from worst this past week. That stubbornness led to Victor to take the wrong path up a mountain on a task. They walked up the mountain until they reached the top where a sign with arrows pointing in two directions finally was the turning point that Victor decided to listen to his sister's pleas and go back down the mountain and find the right path and markers.

In his haste and on camera embarrassment he hastily pulled a coffin down a hill refusing to let his sister assist him. In the process he lost a key that opens the coffin that contained the next clue. He had to sift through leaves on the ground to search for it and luckily he did. Though he was proved wrong in the shows closing scenes he made the comment that of their mistakes were caused by his sister. "What I think is unintentionally it's her fault."

This attitude is reminiscent of the father and daughter team of Ron and Christina. Ron refused to listen to his daughter and continually berated her on camera. The two teams have more in common….. they're both of Asian decent. It raises the question is there something in the Asian culture where the man is ALWAYS RIGHT?

Amazing Race is televised Monday nights on the AXN Network in Southeast Asia.

AMERICAN IDOL BEGINS

The change in format with the Wild Card left some mixed emotions. This season AI returned to the format that was used in season 3 when the wild card produced Clay Aiken and Jennifer Hudson. Simon The Merciless Cowell boldly stated he was in favor of the format and that without it they wouldn't have had Hudson and Aiken.

So much for the rhetoric as Hudson was eliminated that season in the 7th position and Aiken finished runner-up. So who will be the Hudson this season?

What we are implying is with all of the back slapping and credit the judges give themselves they do get it wrong as Hudson's Academy Award and Grammy Award winning success has proved. No other AI contestant has achieved her award winning success and SHE LOST on AI.

Carrie Underwood who has won a Grammy Award and Kelly Clarkson who has recorded hit records are the shows previous winners who have had the greatest success. There was a song with the lyric Season of the Witch well the best that we can do is call this AI season the season of Simon Cowell who has been given the power of the last word in decision making in the event of a 2-2 tie among the four judges. He also sounds off on camera as the quarterback in what order the four judges give their decisions…. well… someone has to do it.

This season's format change has also put a damper on the even mix of six male and six female contestants they've had in the past. Previously of the top 24 the two lowest vote receiving male and female contestants would be eliminated from a selection of 12 males and 12 girls thus the final analysis would result in the final 12 being 6 & 6 of each gender.

This season they grouped 12 contestants in three groups from the final 36 selected. Group one was the most talented and several well deserved talents didn't receive enough votes to go through. Group two was the weakest and the third group slightly better. In each group two males and one female was selected thus the balance was off. Then the selection was made by the judges of the remaining contestants that didn't make it in the three rounds of group competitions who would be the eight to compete on a special show for the final three slots in the top 12.

Continued - THE WILD CARD SELECTIONS AND RESULTS

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TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia - Thailand time zone. Check your local listings for time in your area.

NOTE TIMES AT OF THE SAME TELECAST IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

7:45 PM - AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL - Channel V

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

10:45 PM - AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL - Channel V

11:45 AM to NOON - AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL - Channel V

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

8:00 PM - AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL - Channel V

8:00 PM - AMAZING RACE - AXN Channel

10:00 PM - SOPRANOS - HBO

10:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

12:00 MIDNIGHT - AMAZING RACE - AXN Channel

4:00 PM - AMAZING RACE - AXN Channel

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

12 NOON - FRONTLINE - Australia Network

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

7:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

11:30 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 AM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

12:00 NOON - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

7:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

11:30 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 AM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

??? - STAR SPORTS - NBA GAME - CHECK ALL of NBA TV SCHEDULE for Southeast Asia

12:00 NOON - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

4:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

8:45 PM - AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL - Channel V

Midnight - SOPRANOS - HBO

??? - ESPN SPORTS - NBA GAME - CHECK NBA TV SCHEDULE for Southeast Asia

7:30 AM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

7:00 PM - AMAZING RACE - AXN Channel

7:00 PM - THE BEST OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - (1 1/2 hr) Star World channel

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

11:00 PM - THE BEST OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - Star World channel

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