Author: The Dishmaster

Derek Hough & Amber Riley Perform the Pasodoble — WATCH NOW

It’s almost cartoonish how far superior Derek Hough is to the rest of the professional dancers, and that includes his choreography. In fact, I wonder if his skills are almost distracting to the performance, given that I can’t take my eyes off of him. Watch him and Amber Riley perform the Pasodoble below.

Tabloid Gossip — A Full Week of Media Madness

  • Christina Ricci got married. WetPaint
  • Bruce Jenner wasn’t invited to Kim Kardashian’s engagement. DListed
  • Katherine McPhee is embarrassed she got caught cheating. ICYDK
  • Jersey Shore’s Pauly D is having baby mamma drama. LATimes
  • Kelly Clarkson got married. MTV
  • Kendra Wilkinson has a family feud. RumorFix
  • Lily Collins and Zac Efron are dating. Just Jared
  • Olivia Wilde & Jason Sudeikis are pregnant. PopSugar
  • Orlando Bloom & Miranda Kerr separated. CNN
  • Chris Brown got arrested. TMZ
  • 7TH Heaven isn’t so glorious after all. TMZ

‘The Counselor’ — A Full Review

20131025-103515.jpgWhen you eliminate the back-story behind your characters, you also eliminate my investment in their journey. The lines between the good guys and the bad guys become blurred, and the performances suddenly become irrelevant. It’s a shame too, because this film was certainly saturated with powerful performances.

Directed by Ridley Scott and written by Cormac McCarthy (No Country For Old Men), The Counselor follows a lawyer (Michael Fassbender) who, in a bid for big bucks, engages in a drug deal with the very shady Reiner (Javier Barden) and Westray (Brad Pitt). Things predictably go awry, and some very dark drama ensues.

Though I’d call this a visually artistic masterpiece, that’s not enough to rescue it. In film school, there’s a cardinal rule that every scene in a movie should propel the plot forward. I thought of that while watching The Counselor, and then quickly realized that there’s no plot to propel. There’s no indication about why Fassbender’s character chose to engage in this drug deal, and because his cronies are also vapid villains, there’s also no suspense associated with their safety. Do I care about the life of a seemingly evil group of people who I know nothing about? Does it matter if their lives are destroyed? The only saving grace is Penelope Cruz’s character, but much like the others, I found myself judging a woman who would be with such a creepy guy without any suspicion.

OVERALL RATING: 2.5/5 DISHES

Billie Joe Armstrong Duets With Norah Jones — ‘Long Time Gone’

This is a pairing I never saw coming. Listen to Norah Jones and Billie Joe Armstrong sing, ‘Long Time Gone.’ They’re putting forth an entire album of Everly Brothers covers, which I’m eagerly anticipating. Though it’s a rather odd creative choice, I put full trust in Armstrong, who’s a genius at navigating his career moves. Listen below.

Edward Norton to Host Saturday Night Live — WATCH A PROMO

In a move The Dishmaster never saw coming, the notoriously humorless Edward Norton will be hosting Saturday Night Live on October 26th, with special guest Janelle Monae. I’m actually elated by the decision, and I think it’s an incredibly strategic career move for Norton, who I predict will do well. It’s always the serious ones who surprise you.

Watch a promo for his appearance below.

The Voice: George Horga Jr. v. Juhi — WATCH NOW

There’s a reason Cee Lo Green hasn’t won The Voice, and the video below is a perfect example. George Horga Jr. competed against Juhi, who stole the show singing her part of Gavin DeGraw’s ‘The Best I’ve Ever Had.’ Cee Lo voted for George, and Adam Levine swooped in to rescue the very talented Juhi, who will likely go far in the competition. To be fair to George, this was one of my favorite all-time battles. Watch below.

Cold War Kids Interview — Nathan Willett Talks ‘Tuxedos’ EP

Cold War Kids

I discovered Cold War Kids a few years ago, and when I paraded around Los Angeles asking others if they had found this hidden gem, I quickly realized they are not so hidden after all. To date, the Long Beach-based band has released four albums and over five EPs, and their extensive touring schedule indicates a very loyal following. I had the fortunate pleasure of attending the first show for their latest tour, and it became immediately clear that this band thrives on performing live. Their on-stage energy is contagious, and they not only feed off their fans, but also each other. When I played their most recent EP, Tuxedos, I was mesmerized by the haunting sound, and I immediately seized the opportunity to interview lead singer Nathan Willett.

Your new EP, Tuxedos, is a very stripped down version of your previous material. Was that sound an intentional choice?

I don’t think necessarily that it was a plan, but you know even on the record itself it’s kind of more down-tempo.

Do you look at your EP’s as an opportunity to do something different?

It’s definitely an opportunity to do something different. You’re not going to have as critical an eye or the same expectations. [It’s about] the fun of knowing you’re getting to release these songs and it’s something that the true fans are more likely to dig into. We’ve always done it from the very beginning. We had three EP’s before we put out our first record.

Continue reading “Cold War Kids Interview — Nathan Willett Talks ‘Tuxedos’ EP”

Tabloid Rundown — The Dirty Dish in a Nutshell

  • Maksim Chmerkovskiy finally fessed up to his Kate Upton romance. TVGuide
  • Kendra Wilkinson and her family had a falling out. RumorFix
  • ‘Boy Meets World’s’ Danielle Fishel tied the knot. PopSugar
  • Dax Shepard & Kristen Bell got married. TMZ
  • Owen Wilson is gonna be a father for a second time. Digital Spy
  • ‘Boy Meets World’s’ Rider Strong got married. Us Magazine
  • Miley Cyrus won’t take advice from an old Jew. NYDN
  • Jennifer Love Hewitt had a baby shower. What’s New
  • Ginnifer Goodwin got engaged. Gossip Cop
  • Clint Eastwood’s wife dropped her separation request. RadarOnline
  • Pamela Anderson likes to recycle her ex-husbands. Daily Mail