Didi Benami Reveals Who she sang ‘What Becomes of the Brokenhearted’ for

If you watched ‘American Idol’ on Tuesday, you would have seen an uncomfortable moment where Ryan Seacrest asked Didi Benami why she was so emotional when singing her song in rehearsal.  She avoided the answer, and she has since revealed it.  The song was for her friend that died in a car accident in 2005.  She did not want to discuss it on national television, fearing that bringing it up would make her cry hysterically on stage.  I’m sad to see her go, especially since there were so many other performances that stunk that night.  She was one of my favorites.  See her sing the song below. 

The CW Changes Online Advertisements to Full Length Commercials

The CW is experimenting with my biggest nightmare: full-length online advertising.  I primarily watch my television shows online, mostly to avoid the endless commercials.  I have long suspected that networks would start eliminating that luxury, as they are unable to really profit off of online advertising under the current model.  This is not the first time The CW has experimented with online advertising.  In 2008, they removed their online shows altogether in an attempt to increase ratings, which did not work.  Unfortunately, shows like ‘Gossip Girl,’ though buzz worthy, just don’t generate the kind of ratings necessary to make The CW competitive with other networks.  We’ll see how this current change works out. 

Rihanna Stays at #1 With ‘Rude Boy’

This is Rihanna’s third week at #1 with her hit ‘Rude Boy.’  Coming in at #2 is B.o.B ft. Bruno Mars: ‘Nothin’ On You,’ and Train is surprisingly at #3 with their song ‘Hey, Soul Sister.’  Listen to the top three songs below.

Fox Removes Sarah Palin Promo Featuring LL Cool J

In an effort to promote Sarah Palin’s new show, Fox ran a promo which made it appear like LL Cool J was doing an interview with her.  The actual interview is from 2008, and Fox edited it to make it appear current.  Needless to say, LL Cool J wasn’t pleased, stating on his twitter page that “Fox lifted an old interview I gave in 2008 to someone else & are misrepresenting to the public in order to promote Sarah Palin’s Show.”  Fox has since removed it.  See the promo below.  This controversy might be the best thing to happen to LL’s career in a long time.  At least he’s in the news!

John Stamos performs with "The Beach Boys" on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ – Where’s Brian Wilson?

In the clip below, you will see John Stamos performing with a group referred to as “The Beach Boys.”  I have said this before and I will say it again: a band should not be referred to by its original name if only one of the original members is in the group.  Otherwise, it’s just a sad tribute band.  ‘The Beach Boys’ were originally comprised of Brian Wilson, his brothers Carl and Dennis, their cousin Mike Love, and a friend named Al Jardine.  Carl and Dennis both died in the 80s and Al Jardine left the band shortly after that.  Because Brian Wilson was absent at the ‘DWTS’ performance below, that makes Mike Love the only original member.  I’m not sure why Brian Wilson wasn’t there, especially since he was the primary writer of all those timeless songs they continue to sing.  I know Wilson is alive and well, considering we go to the same Los Angeles Starbucks.  I’ve heard through the coffee talk rumor mill that he is peeved about “The Beach Boys” touring without him, but who knows if it’s true.  All I know is, I’d be peeved.  Watch below.

Update: One of my readers brought it to my attention that Mike Love has sued Brian Wilson multiple times, which explains why Wilson would be peeved and wouldn’t tour with them.

Howard Stern Calls Lost the "Biggest Hunk of Shit on the Planet"

I laughed so hard when I heard this!  Like Stern, I stopped watching ‘Lost’ after Season 2, because I thought it was going nowhere.  I have a lot of friends who will chastise me for admitting that though.  Certainly I might get a backlash from some other insane ‘Lost’ fans as well.  His quote came about when his sidekick, Robin Quivers, announced that the ‘Lost’ finale may garner the same ad revenue as the Super Bowl.   

Lea Michele Shows her Underwear on the New ‘Rolling Stone’ Cover

Am I the only person on the planet that finds this irritating?  Perhaps I am uptight, considering no one else is running with this.  The new cover of ‘Rolling Stone’ features the ‘Glee’ cast, with Lea Michele’s underwear showing.  Is it really necessary to go the naughty school girl route for this?  This is not akin to Britney Spears, who was selling sex as part of her image.  Lea Michele is a legitimate artist, and her character would not warrant being so overtly sexual.  Why must every cover of a magazine feature an actress with her clothes off!?  Again, maybe I’m just a buttoned-up complainer, but I find it irritating.  Click below to see the cover.

Rolling Stone Photo

David Mills Dies Days Before Series Premiere of ‘Treme’

David Mills, a writer for both ‘ER’ and ‘The Wire,’ sadly died at 48 years old in New Orleans.  He was living in New Orleans while writing episodes for ‘Treme,’ the new HBO series set to air on April 11, 2010.  ‘Treme’ follows the lives of New Orleans residents three months after Hurricane Katrina.  According to the Huffington Post, Mills began his career as a Washington Post journalist, until later changing fields to become a screenwriter. 

’24’ Executive Producer Acknowledges Dana Walsh Backlash

’24’ producer, Howard Gordon, reveals to Entertainment Weekly, that fans should be patient with the Dana Walsh story line.  He says that there are only so many stories to tell, so it is not really fair to criticize the mole plot.  The funny thing is, he didn’t really say that the story would improve, he only asked fans to be forgiving.  I’m not sure how a ’24’ movie will turn out, considering Gordon seems to be saying that they are already out of gas.  Maybe it’s time to bring in some fresh writers.


[Katee Sackhoff, who plays ‘Dana Walsh’ on ’24’]

Peabody Award Winners Announced

The George Foster Peabody Awards are given annually by the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication to recognize outstanding work in electronic media.  The actual awards ceremony will be hosted by Diane Sawyer, on  May 17th.  I’m most surprised about the Craig Ferguson win.  I suppose he was accurate when he said he doesn’t even consider himself to be amongst the other late night television hosts.  He said that he instead “does a TV show that goes on late at night.”  Getting this award lends some credibility to that distinction.  See the list of winners below.     

Modern Family” (ABC), Twentieth Century Fox Television in association with Levitan Lloyd Productions
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: An Evening with Archbishop Desmond Tutu” (CBS), Worldwide Pants, Inc.
Noodle Road: Connecting Asia’s Kitchens” (KBS1 TV), Korean Broadcasting System
A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains” (ABC), ABC News
SesameStreet.org, Sesame Workshop
BBC World News America: Unique Broadcast, Unique Perspective” (BBC America), BBC World News America, BBC America
The Cost of Dying” (CBS), CBS News 60 Minutes
Independent Lens: Between the Folds” (PBS), Green Fuse Films, ITVS
Glee” (FOX), Twentieth Century Fox Television
The OxyContin Express” (Current TV), Vanguard on Current TV
npr.org, National Public Radio (www.npr.org)
Diane Rehm, Personal Award, talk show now available to National Public Radio listeners after decades on Washington’s WAMU-FM
The Day that Lehman Died” (BBC World Service), a Goldhawk Essential Production/BBC World Service Production
In Treatment” (HBO), Leverage, Closest to the Hole Productions and Sheleg in association with HBO Entertainment
Inventing LA: The Chandlers and Their Times” (PBS), Peter Jones Productions
No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” (HBO), Mirage Enterprises and Cinechicks in association with The Weinstein Company, BBC and HBO Entertainment
Sabotaging the System” (CBS), CBS News 60 Minutes
Brick City” (Sundance Channel), Sundance Channel, Brick City TV LLC
Thrilla in Manila” (HBO), Darlow Smithson Production, HBO Sports, HBO Documentary Films
FRONTLINE: The Madoff Affair” (PBS), FRONTLINE, RAINmedia
I-Witness: Ambulansiyang de Paa” (GMA Network), GMA Network, Inc., Philippines
“Independent Lens: The Order of Myths” (PBS), Folly River, Inc., Netpoint Productions, Lucky Hat Entertainment, ITVS
Hard Times” (OPB Radio), Oregon Public Broadcasting
Iran & the West“, Brook Lapping Productions for the BBC in association with National Geographic Channel, France 3, NHK, VPRO, SVT, RTBF, VRT, NRK, SRC/CBC, DRTV SBS, YLE, TVP and Press TV
Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson: Covering Afghanistan” (NPR), National Public Radio
The Great Textbook War” (West Virginia Public Broadcasting), Terry Kay Productions
Mind the Gap: Why Good Schools Are Failing Black Students” (KLCC Radio), Nancy Solomon
Endgame” (PBS), Daybreak/Channel 4/Target Entertainment, Presented on PBS/MASTERPIECE by WGBH Boston
Sichuan Earthquake: One Year On” (Now-Broadband TV News Channel), Now-TV News, Hong Kong
BART Shooting” (KTVU-TV), KTVU, Oakland, Calif.
American Masters: Jerome Robbins – Something to Dance About” (PBS), Thirteen/WNET
Chronicle: Paul’s Gift” (WYFF-TV), WYFF 4, Greenville, S.C.
Under Fire: Discrimination and Corruption in the Texas National Guard” (KHOU-TV), KHOU-TV, Houston, Tex., Belo, Inc.
Derrion Albert Beating” (WFLD-TV), FOX Chicago News: WFLD-TV and myfoxchicago.com
Where Giving Life Is a Death Sentence” (BBC America), BBC World News America, BBC America, BBC World News
Up in Smoke” (KCET-TV), KCET, Los Angeles