TV-Review Final-"Dancing With the Stars" Fall 2007; "October Road"; Gardens-A Rose on Thanksgiving?

It's a final review and roundup of the Fall 2007 competition of Dance With the Stars.

Winners, losers and pics and video you'll find nowhere else on the Internet.

Plus, a rose plucked from my garden on Thanksgiving day.

True! A pic and some thoughts.

Quote of the Day

 


HELIO WINS ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" Fall 2007





Helio is a cute fellow and goodness knows he's got an alluring smile. Mel B was a way better dancer but Mel has personality issues, as I saw it.

Marie Osmond remained long enough to win the number three spot but that honor was more about Marie's pleasant personality than her dance skill. I loved it when in response to a question about whether she was bitter about a bad comment by a judge, Marie said "What's not to like? I'm almost 50, and I just did cartwheels while dancing on national TV." As I paraphrase.

She's right, of course, and it's that enthusiasm and self-deprecation that got Marie Osmond votes that her dancing would never have gleaned.



Below, some pics from earlier in the contest…just for smiles.





Top Ten Stars In ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" Fall 2007
=======
Mel B-Spice Girl-Second place
Mark Cuban-Internet Entrepreneur-sent home 10/22/07
Marie Osmond-Singer-third place
Jane Seymour-Actress-sent home 11/2007
Wayne Newton-Las Vegas Entertainer-sent home 10/8/07
Helio Castroneves-Race car driver-WINNER!
Jennie Garth-Actress-sent home 11/19/07
Cameron Mathison-Soap Star-sent home 11/12/07
Floyd Mayweather-Boxer-sent home 10/15/07
Sabrina Bryan-Cheetah Girls-sent home 10/29/07

Prior Links to Posts for "Dancing With the Stars" Fall 2007
======================
Episode 9/23/07
Episode 10/1/07-The Top Ten
Episode 10/8/07-Wayne Newton Goes Home
Episode 10/15/07-Dispute of the Feet; Mayweather Sent Home
Marie Osmond Faints
Sabrina, the Best Dancer of All, Sent Home
Down to Top Five
Down to Four
Jennie Garth sent home
Helio Wins!

October Road...Better to Read the Book

ABC's Home Page for "October Road



Nick Garrett is an author who wrote a best-selling novel about the people of his home town with the improbable name of Knights Ridge.

He comes back after a ten year separation; ten years during which he had no contact with the folks in his home town as his novel tended to reflect them in a most unflattering light.

Well right there I've got a plot I don't believe. First, I've written ten books about characters in my life and nobody cares enough to read about them. I have great doubt that any novel about a rather boring town named Knights Ridge would gain any best-selling status, particularly if the characters in this ABC series named "October Road"...the reason for that name eludes me...are any indication of their personalities.

It's not that the folks depicted on this series are bad people. They're not even boring people except if you're watching them on a busy night, allocating an hour of a precious life to watch a show filled with very ordinary life drama.

First, this Nick guy...nope, no thrills there, no hidden greatness, no still waters running deep. The guy is just not that interesting is what I'm saying here. Yes, he likes Hannah, a character from his past who happens to have a son that Nick suspects might be his. Well I don't believe this either.

If Hannah had a baby by a guy with a best-selling novel and didn't sue him to high heaven for child support...well how believable is this? The constant question as to the paternity of the boy might add an element to the drama but that doesn't mean the viewing audience believes it.

The other characters in this series, an episode I watched on Monday 11/26/07, hey, they're nice, sweet people. But they're hardly the stuff to carry a drama series for any length of time.

The barkeep at the local watering hole is all excited to be dating a former football hero and well-known ladies' man. Yes, I understand all about dating and guys who I considered out of my league suddenly importing me into their league...that kind of thing.

But it was barely better than getting a root-canal as we watched Janet Meadows bite her nails with the anxiety of hooking up with the town football hero. First he pays attention to other ladies, then he sweet talks Janet that it doesn't mean anything. Then they grapple with just how they should announce their "relationship" to the world.

It was like watching paint dry.

The rest of the plot was just as dreary. Nick and some buddies break into a college office to find a manuscript of Aubrey, a girl who has Nick's eye. Hannah sits outside of Nick's father's house early in the morning, just to tell Nick that she won't be seeing him on a romantic basis. Nick's father had to tell him to go outside because for whatever oddball reason, Hannah didn't knock.

And then there's the nut who is having a love affair with his TV. The TV even has a name...Jason! Seems he is a recluse but now we have a sweet young thing trying to coax him back into the world.

I'm not going to bother watching this show again but I don't know, if there's a craft to be done, a meal to be cooked, some web surfing needing to be done...this show might be a nice background, requiring only an occasional nod.

For now, I have no idea what TV viewing demographic this show would appeal to.
Maybe teenage females?

=============
Focus on TV Posts of Fame

Those Wacky TV Chefs. Includes Rachel Ray and the sexiest chef of them all.

TV News Pundits including Russert, spitting Matthews and the one I adore.

"Dancing with the Stars" of 2007, reviews, pics and videos.

American Idol 2007 and The Bachelor. One night's review with links to all the others.
===============
 




It’s November of 2007 here in Serendipity Shore. On Thanksgiving morn, I plucked the above rose out of my gardens. Thanksgiving in this year of our Lord, fell on 11/22/07.

I think that’s very amazing. I can’t remember ever having a rose beyond mid-October in any of my gardens that had a rose bush.

That’s it. We call it the Thanksgiving Rose and it has inspired me to write about it for my annual Christmas fiction story.

More Gardens and Bird posts HERE
=================

TV-Review-"Dancing With the Stars", "The Bachelor"; Thanksgiving Miscellany

We continue to review ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and "The Bachelor" takes his loves home to meet the family.

A Thanksgiving Miscellany post featuring Turkey trivia, cartoons and other miscellany of the holiday.

Web Site Worth the Visit Dirty Car Art It used to be a childish prank. Now it's an art form. DIRTY CAR ART HERE

 


Jennie Garth Sent Home; Marie Remains Against All Odds

I’ve only a few notes for the “Dancing With the Stars” episode aired 11/19/07. I’ve made a great remix of the four finalists below, both dances, with text on screen to identify the dancer and the dance.

First, Marie Osmond remains a contender although she’s definitely NOT the best dancer. But for a woman of 40+ years, she’s damned good and America loves her.

For Jennie Garth got sent packing on the elimination show of 11/20/07 and she wasn’t going to win the thing. But if the voting was based solely on the skill of the dancer, Marie Osmond would have been gone long ago.



You know what it is? Marie Osmond is a really nice lady! I’d love to have her for a neighbor. They keep voting for her and while I’d be surprised if she won the thing…I wouldn’t rule it out.

I was surprised at the announcement that two of the judges, Carrie Ann and Bruno, will be stars of their own dance show as announced this past week. Their show premieres 1/7/08. I wonder if there are enough dance-enchanted viewers to support another major dance reality series. For sure men don’t like watching the dance and women, well maybe a bit.

Finally, below I’ve included a short video of a point I’d like to make. Because Jennie Garth finally received a perfect score for her cha cha on the episode of 11/19/07. However, Jennie and her partner made a mistake during that dance and I’ve slowed down the motion and point it out in the video below.

See, Jennie got her hand placement a bit mixed up during the dance. It’s a minor thing, hardly worth noting. But if a dancer’s going to get a perfect score they should be, well, perfect.

I really think the judges forced this perfect score because for all her effort, Jennie did deserve at least one perfect score. Perfect scores, it seems, are not necessarily delivered for perfection.

Marie has yet to receive a perfect score. The judges, as I surmise, figure she’s got enough of an advantage what with all of the women in America on her side.





Top Ten Stars In ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" Fall 2007
=======
Mel B-Spice Girl
Mark Cuban-Internet Entrepreneur-sent home 10/22/07
Marie Osmond-Singer
Jane Seymour-Actress-sent home 11/05/07
Wayne Newton-Las Vegas Entertainer-sent home 10/8/07
Helio Castroneves-Race car driver
Jennie Garth-Actress-sent home 11/19/07
Cameron Mathison-Soap Star-sent home 11/12/07
Floyd Mayweather-Boxer-sent home 10/15/07
Sabrina Bryan-Cheetah Girls-sent home 10/29/07

Prior Links to Posts for "Dancing With the Stars" Fall 2007
======================
Episode 9/23/07
Episode 10/1/07-The Top Ten
Episode 10/8/07-Wayne Newton Goes Home
Episode 10/15/07-Dispute of the Feet; Mayweather Sent Home
Marie Osmond Faints
Sabrina, the Best Dancer of All, Sent Home
Down to Top Five
Down to Four
Jennie Garth Sent Home

Brad Womack…Sleep With ‘em, Make ‘em Cry, Leave Them Sobbing

Yes, yea, yay, I watched the final of “The Bachelor” Fall 2007 and I sure hope the producers of this show don’t allow some creep to come on this show and do this again.

For Brad Womack, millionaire and marriage-eligible, chose exactly NO ONE out of 25 beautiful, damn near perfect women, from which to choose.

I got some thoughts on the matter.

First, Occam’s Razor would dictate that the simplest solution is that Brad did not find any of the women who so demeaned themselves to worship at his feet, worthy for his fine self.

Hey, it happens.





I think it’s a bit deeper than that.

I think Brad has a drinking problem. Yes I do.

He mentioned, in that show after the final rejection of BOTH DeAnna and Jenni, that he’s heard rumors that he has kids, that he’s homosexual, all sorts of rumors. That bit about Brad having kids must be a rumor because many of the search hits on this Blog have been to the affect “Brad Womack’s son”…like that. Made me wonder if someone out there knew something the “Bachelor” viewing audience didn’t know.

I’ve noted several times in the series that Brad waffled when asked whether or not he had a drinking problem. One time I believe it was DeAnna’s father who asked if Brad didn’t drink a lot what with owning a bar and everything.

A time or two again the issue came up.

Now Chris Harrison mentioned that Brad specifically asked for DeAnna’s father to be flown in for the final rose ceremony so he evidently did, up until the last moment, intend to ask DeAnna to marry him.

I think that Brad knew that no matter how much he loved the lady he chose, a woman would not tolerate a drunk for too long.

Further, as basis for my rumor, AND IT IS ONLY A RUMOR AND SPECULATION, I must caution, is Brad’s assertion on the show after the final rose ceremony that for the two and a half months since he ditched both Jenni and DeAnna that he has not been dating anybody. I think he’s been in rehab.

Come on, why else wouldn’t he be dating anybody in two and a half months?

I think he realized at the last minute that even this drama of choosing a lady from the contenders on “The Bachelor” reality series would not work unless he stopped his problem drinking.

It was a bit heartbreaking to see Brad tell DeAnna again that he doesn’t regret his decision to send her home. I know she hoped he would change his mind. Haven’t all of us women been there and done that?

I suppose I must admire Brad for his conviction despite the criticism.

Although he never turned down any of those nights in the Passion Pit now did he?

I seriously think that if this sort of thing were to happen on the next Bachelor reality series it will be the end of that show. The young dreamy women who watch this show, plus this old lady Blogger, are simply not going to tune in for eight weeks of excruciating heartbreak.

Word to the Wise.
====================
Final dozen contenders-"The Bachelor" Fall 2007
========================
Deana-sent home 11/19/07
McCarten-sent home 10/15/07
Bettina-sent home 11/5/07
Estefania-(Stephy) -sent home 10/15/07
Kristy-sent home 10/22/07
Lindsey-sent home 10/8/07
Mallory-send home 10/1/07
Erin-sent home 10/1/07
Jessica-sent home
Jenni-sent home 11/19/07
Sheena-sent home 10/29/07
Michelle-sent home 10/1/07
Sarah-sent home 10/8/07
Hillary-sent home 10/22/07
Jade-sent home 10/15/07

============
Prior Links for posts for "The Bachelor" Fall 2007
=============
The First 25..Down to 15
Episode 10/1/07-Down to a Dozen
Episode 10/8/07-Nine Ladies Left
Down to Six
Hillary Gets Hysterical-Four Left
Sheena Sent Home-Episode 10/29/07
Top Two-Episode 11/5/07
Recap episode
Brad Rejects EVERYBODY!

=============

Focus on TV Posts of Fame

Those Wacky TV Chefs. Includes Rachel Ray and the sexiest chef of them all.

TV News Pundits including Russert, spitting Matthews and the one I adore.

"Dancing with the Stars" of 2007, reviews, pics and videos.

American Idol 2007 and The Bachelor. One night's review with links to all the others.
===============

 




Holidays Around the World





Turkey Trivia and Thanksgiving Humor

Turkey Trivia



Baking the Turkey

STUFFED ROAST TURKEY
1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
6 cups water
3/4 cup egg substitute
2 pounds day-old white bread, cubed and toasted
2 medium onions, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 to 1 tablespoon paprika



GRAVY:
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
2 cups boiling water
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Remove giblets from turkey. In a saucepan, bring water, giblets and neck to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour or until tender. Remove giblets with a slotted spoon; dice. Set aside 3 cups cooking liquid. In a bowl, combine egg substitute, bread crumbs, onions, celery, giblets, poultry seasoning, salt, sage and pepper. Add reserved cooking liquid; mix well. Just before baking, loosely stuff turkey with about 8 cups stuffing. Place remaining stuffing in a greased 2-qt. baking dish; refrigerate. Skewer turkey openings; tie drumsticks together. Place on a rack in a roasting pan. Brush with butter; sprinkle with paprika.

Bake uncovered, at 325° for 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 180° for turkey and 165° for stuffing, basting every 30 minutes (cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly). Bake additional stuffing for 35-40 minutes.

For gravy, dissolve bouillon in water. In a saucepan, whisk flour and 1/4 cup pan drippings until smooth. Gradually add bouillon mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Serve with turkey and stuffing. Yield: 14-16 servings.

No More HO HO HO From Santa

From News.com.au

THERE'LL be no ho, ho, ho this Christmas. Aspiring Santas have been told not to use the term "ho" because it could be seen as derogatory to women.

Talent Plus




The Tragedy of Preparation H

Once age caught up with the bags under my eyes, I learned to dab a bit of Preparation H, yes the hemorrhoid ointment, on them and boom, they’d shrink up and reduce my facial age by ten years.

From Peoples Pharmacy.com

Can Hemorrhoid Ointment Work For Wrinkles
Newspaper Columns, Pharmacy Q&A November 4, 2002
Q. I have a friend who says that Preparation H can smooth wrinkles on your face. She has lovely skin, but I am dubious. Could a hemorrhoid product really do any good against wrinkles, or is this an urban legend?

A. Preparation H has a reputation for unique uses beyond the obvious one. For decades people told us that they used this ointment on bed sores, surgical scars (to reduce itching and inflammation), burns, cracked dry finger tips as well as wrinkles. One woman told us that Preparation H rescued her plum tree after she scraped the bark with her lawn mower.

Alas, the formula for Preparation H has changed and this beauty tip will no longer work.

Not to worry. We’ve got a link to a site that still sells, from Canada, the OLD formula for Preparation H.

Order the old formula of Preparation H HERE

You could always use the stuff for hemorrhoids.

Leaving With a Smile

TV-Review Dance With Stars, The Bachelor, The Next Great American Band

It's the weekly update of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and "The Bachelor", with pics and video you'll find nowhere else on the Internet.

And a bonus, a review of Fox's "The Next Great American Band" with one video featuring all the contenders in one convenient spot. Remixed by me and unique to this Blog.

Quote of the Day FAMOUS LAST WORDS "There doesn't seem to be a limit to what liberals will do to rob working Americans of their rights in the face of coercive and corrupt union bosses. Last week, House Democrats voted 221 to 8 to cut funding for the Labor Department office that protects the union rank and file from corrupt union bosses. Amazingly, the only Labor Department office to get its funding cut was one that has convicted more than 750 union criminals and won the legal restoration of $70 million in embezzled funds." - Newt Gingrich

 


”Dancing With the Stars” Episode Aired 11/12/07-Cameron Sent Home

In the episode aired 11/12/07 the viewers learned that Marie Osmond’s father had passed away the prior week. Marie informed us that her Dad lived 90 wonderful years so while the end of a life, the passing of an era, is sad and melancholy, it isn’t as if a young man was denied a lifetime is what I’m saying here. His daughter Marie said the same thing.

Yet Marie looked at the camera and told the American viewing public that one of her father’s last wishes was that she win the Fall 2007 ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” competition.

Well now, how could we vote her off knowing this?

Although with the help of my handy-dandy Excel spreadsheet I discover that so far in this contest, the final five contenders, in terms of judge-awarded points, falls as follows:

Highest points to date
1-Mel B.
2-Helio
3-Jenni
4-Cameron
5-Marie

Marie, since 10/15/07, has received a total of 171 points with Cameron, who was sent home on elimination night 11/13/07, at 180 points. That’s a difference of nine points between them and by me that’s a significant spread in a contest with a mere point often the difference between contenders.



Yes I understand that these are judge points and not definitive except perhaps to influence the voting viewers with expert critiques. But season after season judges’ commentary, and in this case, actual points awarded, generally follow the votes of the viewers save exceptional cases.

Marie Osmond, hey, I like her. I think she does a wonderful job, she is in her late 40’s if I’ve got that right, and she’s competing against a bunch of 30 something very healthy contenders. It’s also very noticeable, at least to this rather dedicated viewer, that Marie has lost a lot of weight during this contest. But Lord that woman has played to the audience’s kindness week after week, along with Jane Seymour, also one of the elder contenders. Seymour lost her mother earlier in the series and this fact likely kept her around longer than she deserved.

Cameron Mathison the soap star was sent home this past week and this is no surprise. Cameron was a pretty good dancer with a muscular chest and forearms that he had no problem displaying week after week. Cameron is very obviously a heterosexual and I’ll never be convinced that heterosexual males will ever be great dancers although I’m not sure about Mario Puzo from the past. Helio is a race car driver from Brazil and hey, I’m not sure about him either. Helio is, however, the best male dancer out of this year’s offerings and he’s hanging in there. I’m not sure he’ll beat Mel B of the Spice Girls as she’s right up there just inches from the winner’s circle.

I don’t think Marie’s going to last much longer in this series although who knows, Jennie Garth is about to be sent home and Marie could inch her out another week.

Here’s my idea. It seems that each season’s series of this reality show there is entered an older fellow or female. These older folks can’t compete with the younger ones and it doesn’t seem fair. Although, heh, I do understand that these stars enter this thing for exposure and expect to be sent home right quick. But a Wayne Newton and the mailman from Cheers can’t possibly win against a Mario Puzo or Kelly Monoco.

I say spin this reality series off. It obviously is a viewers’ winner for ABC as they promote every ABC show they can every week. Have an “under 40” series and an “over 40” series.

There’s lots of old ladies like me who would love to see Marie Osmond or Jane Seymour win. These two contenders did a great job but how could they possibly beat Mel B or even Sabrina of the Cheetah girls who should still be a contender?

If ABC takes my idea I want credit for it. We shall see.

Top Ten Stars In ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" Fall 2007
=======
Mel B-Spice Girl
Mark Cuban-Internet Entrepreneur-sent home 10/22/07
Marie Osmond-Singer
Jane Seymour-Actress
Wayne Newton-Las Vegas Entertainer-sent home 10/8/07
Helio Castroneves-Race car driver
Jennie Garth-Actress
Cameron Mathison-Soap Star-sent home 11/12/07
Floyd Mayweather-Boxer-sent home 10/15/07
Sabrina Bryan-Cheetah Girls-sent home 10/29/07



Below, a remix of all FIVE of the dancers with the names and dance being performed on the screen.

Enjoy!


Prior Links to Posts for "Dancing With the Stars" Fall 2007
======================
Episode 9/23/07
Episode 10/1/07-The Top Ten
Episode 10/8/07-Wayne Newton Goes Home
Episode 10/15/07-Dispute of the Feet; Mayweather Sent Home
Marie Osmond Faints
Sabrina, the Best Dancer of All, Sent Home
Down to Top Five
Down to Four

”The Bachelor” Episode Aired 11/12/07…Re-Visiting the Rejects

The final two contenders are scheduled to visit Brad’s home on the show scheduled for Monday 11/19/07. The show this past week was interesting if you had been following the show.

Hillary, the RN who carried on so bad when Brad sent her home I wanted to smack her silly, seemed more in control of her fine self, thank God. What’s the deal here, ladies and gems? A bunch of women sign on to a reality show that would allow one fellow to pick and choose who he keeps hanging around and who he sends home. The lure is a bachelor fellow who would be considered a good catch in the world of romance.

But when he doesn’t give you a rose, ladies…get a grip! Out of 25 ladies he’s going to, over the span of the show, deny roses to 24 of you!





Brad’s twin brother was featured on the show on this review night but I’ll never get his assertion that if the ladies couldn’t tell him from his identical twin brother than they never really knew Brad. I think that’s a crock. Chad, Brad’s twin brother, dressed in the same clothes as his brother and imitated his mannerisms. Identical twins are human clones, nothing less. They are IDENTICAL! Their parents and those close to identical twins have difficulty telling them apart. To expect a bunch of young women who have little time with the bachelor to suddenly become tuned in to one identical twin over another, especially with the effort made to intentionally pretend to be the twin, is a bit unrealistic.

Also, one audience member questioned Bettina if it bothered her to be “intimate” with Brad knowing that she was sandwiched between nights of being “intimate” with two other girls. Bettina answered, simply and succinctly, that it was very difficult.

Well duh.

I understand that a man choosing a future wife would, logically, be intimate with she who might be his choice.

But that bit about this series really, really sucks.

For if Brad chooses, say, DeAnna over Jenni, DeAnna will spend the rest of her life knowing Brad slept with Jenni and Bettina, and herself, as if they were pieces of meat.

Brad can hold it over DeAnna’s head that Bettina and Jenni were better at sex than her and gosh that bothers me.

But it’s not my problem, eh?

I just get to watch.



Final dozen contenders-"The Bachelor" Fall 2007
========================
Deana
McCarten-sent home 10/15/07
Bettina-sent home 11/5/07
Estefania-(Stephy) -sent home 10/15/07
Kristy-sent home 10/22/07
Lindsey-sent home 10/8/07
Mallory-send home 10/1/07
Erin-sent home 10/1/07
Jessica-sent home
Jenni-
Sheena-sent home 10/29/07
Michelle-sent home 10/1/07
Sarah-sent home 10/8/07
Hillary-sent home 10/22/07
Jade-sent home 10/15/07
============
Prior Links for posts for "The Bachelor" Fall 2007
=============
The First 25..Down to 15
Episode 10/1/07-Down to a Dozen
Episode 10/8/07-Nine Ladies Left
Down to Six
Hillary Gets Hysterical-Four Left
Sheena Sent Home-Episode 10/29/07
Top Two-Episode 11/5/07
Recap episode

Fox’s “Next Great American Band” Episode Aired 11/9/07

Below is a video of the top eight bands in this contest, compiled and remixed courtesy of yours truly. I’ll not say much more beyond, watch the video and see if any band, or the entirety of the talent, lures yon reader to watch this reality show airing on Fox on Friday nights.

I will mention that the most horrific of the top ten, that godawful girls’ band Rocket, and The Muggs, both with terrible lead singers, were sent home.

Top Ten Bands in Fox’s “The Next Great American Band” Fall 2007
======================
Six Wire
Tres Bien!
Franklin Bridge
The Clark Brothers
Light of Doom
Dot, Dot, Dot
Cliff Wagner and the old number 7
The Muggs-sent home 11/9/07
Rocket-sent home-11/9/07
Denver and the Mile high orchestra

Below, a remix of the top 8 bands for the 2007 title of “The Next Great American Band”



Prior Links to Posts for "The Next Great American Band" Fall 2007
======================
The Top Ten Announced
Two sent home

=============
Focus on TV Posts of Fame

Those Wacky TV Chefs. Includes Rachel Ray and the sexiest chef of them all.

TV News Pundits including Russert, spitting Matthews and the one I adore.

"Dancing with the Stars" of 2007, reviews, pics and videos.

American Idol 2007 and The Bachelor. One night's review with links to all the others.
===============