Channelup

Weird night on American Idol . The producers put the rule out there that the songs have to be “popular downloads on iTunes.” That narrows down the choices to every single song ever written, ever, in history. My expert, perfect-pitch thoughts on the night: I want them to sing at my house for me: - Kris Allen and Adam Lambert. Both were awesome, sang great, made great song choices and came off a step above the rest of the group. I hated them, judges loved them – Danny Gokey and Lil Rounds. I didn’t think either sounded particularly good. Danny sounded like he was straining and Lil, to me, sounded like a screeching cat. The judges, on the other hand, couldn’t get enough of either. They are both front runners so this probably isn’t too big of a deal. I usually love/hate them, I didn’t hate/love them tonight : Matt Giraud and Scott McIntyre. Giraud is one of my favorites but he sounded like complete, cringe-worthy garbage. I am worried about his chances. I typically cringe every...

If only the CDC was actually running government strike teams. They got to the scene of Jack's exposure to the virus faster than anything that has ever happened in the 24 world. Jack was exposed to an unknown virus and needs some help pronto. With the CDC on the scene we get to see Jack take off his shirt and the doctors gasp in horror at the toll it has taken on his body. Oh wait a minute, those are just his scars and tattoos, not the virus. He strips down and we almost get a real time look at his little David Palmer (his nickname). After running some tests we find out the virus is a danger to Jack but not to anyone else because he isn't contagious. I can only assume that Jack Bauer has the ability to will his immune system to control the virus. To him the virus is just another terrorist needing to be subdued. Tony has been captured by John Voight's gang of Blackwater wannabees (Starkwood). They are in control of the weapon. Voight seems crazy through and through. ...

David heads out for a night on the town with Prince Jack. Ever partied with a prince before? I have but I figured none of you had so I just thought I would ask. Anyway, it's awesome. The ballet is in town and Queen Rose wants it to be a special night for Shiloh. David gets invited, then uninvited, then invited out with Jack. The royal family all have their own agendas and are willing to basically f-over David for their own gain. Jack thinks David garners too much attention around Shiloh and wants to knock him down a peg or two. Queen Rose just doesn't want David around the princess and also thinks he is a getting a bit too big for his britches. Prince Jack looks, at all times, like he has the flu and is on some kind of cocaine binge. Jack is a legitimately troubled soul that can't seem to get out of his own way. He wants the power associated with being royalty but hasn't reconciled the idea that to be a king one must act "kingly." Kingly, in this sen...

JD is a mack daddy? Tyra throwing a tea party? Dillon might redistrict? Riggins is the responsible one? Its bizzaro world on Friday Night Lights. Another great episode. I read recently that FNL might be close to signing a two year extension. That was the best news of the night for me. I feel this show blurs the lines between entertainment and reality so much that I find myself rooting for characters in the ways I root for my own friends. I want Saracen to win. I want Tyra to find her own way out and I want Riggins to pull it all together. Matt is dealing with his granny's slow spiral into dimentia. A transcending scene with him grabbing her slippers that are already on her feet. It almost felt out of a documentary (which it seems Peter Berg is going for). This was painfully touching. Kudos to a show that deals with issues beyond the scope of CSI and the like. I get the feeling that many folks understood this story line more than I ever could. JD McCoy, QB sensation, is l...

The other night the little lady and I were having the great debate over watching either Lost or American Idol live. Exciting times around the Norrie house. It got us talking about the generational shift occurring in television viewing these days. Again, exciting times around the abode. Click here to read more on Cinemablend .

So Michael is quitting. Seems like a good idea considering the economy. Everyone is hiring; especially the paper business. Some legitimate hilarity in this episode which is good to see as the last few ones have been a bit slow. An uncaring Michael Scott is a funny Michael Scott. Michael's last days are full of hard work, drinking artificially flavored scotch and stickying Jim's papers. Idris Elba's character is an interesting addition to the show as he is so unfunny, he becomes funny. Whenever I look at him I can't see anything but Stringer Bell. He has driven Michael to insanity in the form of newly conceived "Michael Scott Paper." Michael can't get others to defect over to his side,and Stringer needs to have him escorted from the building by good old Hank. Poor Hank. Stringer's hatred of Jim is also perfect in the awkwardness Jim exudes whenever they are together. Reminds me of half the relationships I have ever had. In his last ditch atte...

Finally a Lost episode that is entertaining and doesn't confuse the ever-living shit out of me. Spoilers ahead And wow! I had all these hilarious and witty little jokes lined up for this one ready to fire out there like a machine gun. Then "BAM" Sayid ices little Ben "Harry Potter" Linus and all bets are off. First of all, it is near impossible for a television show to kill off a kid who is a character. I honestly cannot think of another instance of it happening. Secondly, the time travel, past, future implications of this are staggering. Is Ben still alive? Does he just disappear? Does my head explode from trying to make sense of it all? Obviously Ben is pure evil but I was kind of getting used to having him around, messing with minds, manipulating, being a sort of androgynous foil for every male and female character in the cast. Can't you see Michael Emerson just appearing out of nowhere on the Lost set to ask things like, "Don't you wan...

American Idol must know something the rest of the radio and record production world doesn't. After making us endure two hours of Randy Travis inspired country music last week, they decide to bring out teen pop sensation Smokey Robinson this week. It's Motown Night in Hollywood! To quote Matt Giraud's original song tonight, "Let's get it on!" For this I am just going to write up ideas on the fly as I watch. Matt Giraud - awesome. Great move getting up from piano. This guy won’t win but he should be in the top four. God I want to kill Kara. Kris Allen - initial reaction was he was going to get killed. I may be wrong. Looking just like my friend Keith Gaub from high school. Really great performance. He is better vocally than I thought. Simon says Kris has no confidence. Which is probably the only reason Simon is famous. Conceited enough for a village. And Seacrest makes the same joke so I am forced to strikethrough it. Scott Mcintyre – looki...

I love President Obama as much as the next guy, but this needs to stop. Mrs. Channelup and I were driving in the car on the way to sushi tonight and I started complaining about Presidential news conferences interrupting primetime network programming. My main complaints centered on his insistence on being honest with the American people and holding to his promises he made in the campaign about a more open government. What the hell is this guy's problem? Stop it already. I like my Presidents quiet, lameduck and enjoying his CSI or American Idol. If i had known this dedication to the American people would keep me from Danny Gokey and Lil Rounds singing Motown songs while Seacrest makes thinly veiled homoerotic jokes toward Simon, well I might have voted for McCain.

I realized something about 24 last night. It has become a total background show for me. What I mean by background show is that I can watch it on in the background, go about other business like email, writing, reading, etc and still not miss any substantial plot points or moments of interest. It is like Muzak, with guns, yelling and horrendous national security. This change didn’t come on quickly. I have been tuned into the show for pretty much the duration. What I realized last night is that there is nothing new or particularly thought-provoking happening here. 24 follows such a template and format that, at this point, I am not sure what would even surprise me about it. For instance, last night Jack and Tony tracked down the WMD being brought in by Jon Voight and his Blackwater-like cronies (yawn), got in an intense firefight with the Gang who Couldn’t Shoot Straight (boring), rescued the WMD, got exposed to some kind of poison gas, got in another firefight, and finally lost t...