Idol Fills One Judging Vacancy

Filling one of the vacancies created when Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez quit, American Idol has announced the signing of Grammy winner Mariah Carey as a judge for next season.  After the news broke, Carey tweeted:

MariahCarey It's gonna be so much fun working on @AmericanIdol. As a singer-songwriter, I'm excited to help find and nurture new talent. LYM! --MC 7/23/12 3:11 PM

I'm probably in the minority, but the addition of Carey to American Idol doesn't move me.  Suffice it to say that Idol producers need to find a judge who will knock my socks off to keep my interest because as of right now, they have two judges that just don't excite me in Mariah and veteran Randy Jackson.

Oh, Good Evening!

Two Vacancies on American Idol's "Supreme Court"

The powers-that-be running American Idol are once again scratching their beds trying to figure out who can fill two vacancies on the popular show's judging panel in time to stay on schedule with auditions and production for Season 12.  Last week, Jennifer Lopez hinted that she might leave the show after two seasons.  Within days, Steven Tyler didn't just hint, he announced that he's done, leaving his "mistress," Idol, to focus on his main love, rock 'n roll.  Translated, his band Aerosmith is #1 in his heart.  Then a day later, JLo came back with a firm, "I'm leaving, too."

The question, now, is -- who should replace them?   

American Idol judges (l-r) Steven Tyler,
Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson.
Photo: FOX

I'm really sorry to see Lopez depart.  In terms of legitimate judging, she has been #1 among all the women who have occupied permanent seats on the panel and, I would rank her #2 all-time behind former judge Simon Cowell.  I think her departure hurts and I can't really think of who I would want as her replacement.  Suffice it to say, I'm not impressed by the names that have been floating around. (Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, etc.)

I also am sorry to see Tyler leave.  Yes, he is a crazy character but, I like the humor he brought to the show while still giving some decent critiques to the contestants based his passion for music and vast experience fronting a legendary band.  I will miss Tyler (if I return as a viewer next season) but could see his seat being filled by likes of Gene Simmons or Usher, maybe.

Team USA Olympic Uniforms

Team USA Opening Ceremony Uniforms for 2012 London Olympics.
Photo: Ralph Lauren

I will be the first to admit that I wouldn't be caught dead in the Ralph Lauren designed Team USA opening ceremony uniforms to be worn at the 2012 Olympics in London.  Just not my style and I thought we were Team USA, not Team Britannia!  (Don't they look better suited for the UK athletes?)

I'm a bit put off by all the political heavyweights bitching and moaning about the uniforms, not because they look whack, but because they were manufactured in China.  Listen to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's indignation.

Yes, Chinese-made uniforms for Team USA also seems a bit odd to me considering the Olympics is all about national pride and athletic superiority.  But, don't you have more important things to groan about, Sen. Reid?  Don't get me wrong.  I agree that there are unemployed textile workers in this country who would love to have made the uniforms.  But, they would also like to have jobs BEYOND just making a set of uniforms!!!  Why throw your political weight behind groaning about the outsourcing that sent Ralph Lauren's manufacturing operations to China in the first place?!?!?  And, to be fair, the same criticism goes to House Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and any other politicos who shared their indignation over the uniforms.

"Venus Is Too Close…"

The words in the title of this post were spoken by one of my favorite all-time television characters portrayed by the late Carroll O'Connor-- Chief William O. "Bill" Gillespie on "In The Heat of the Night."  At the end of the episode "Bounty Hunter," the Gillespie was telling one of his officers that weird things happen when Venus comes too close to Earth.

Venus (black dot, lower right) transits
in front of the Sun on June 5, 2012.
Click photo for larger view.

This isn't weird, but is pretty darn cool.  As I write this posting, Venus is passing in front of the Sun, visible to us here on Earth.  Venus is the big black dot you see on the lower right of the Sun.  I'm watching a live stream of the event provided by the University of South Carolina's Melton Memorial Observatory as seen through the specially filtered lens of a telescope.  Folks, this won't happen again for 105 years!  If I live to see the next Venus transit, as the event is called, I will be 152 years old.  Now, that would truly be weird!

Oh, Good Evening!

American Idol 11: And, The Winner Is...

Another American Idol season has come to an end. CONGRATS to Phillip Phillips on winning the title! It was, truly, the best possible result for both he and Jessica.

Phillip Phillips
Photo: FOX

The final competition show was, as I expected, very BORING. Phillip was his usual steady self, which is my way of saying he was good, but VERY safe. It seemed the song choices for him were designed to present him at his best. Interestingly, I felt the song choices for Jessica did just the opposite. Instead of playing to her season-long strengths, she sang songs that amplified her vocal flaws and you could hear her young nerves as well. Setup? Arsenio Hall would say, "Hmmm…." 

But, not winning is really the best thing for Jessica Sanchez. Now, it will be up to the recording execs to do what Randy Jackson suggested-- make sure they play to her strengths when picking songs, recording them and mastering the tracks. They need to let Jessica be Jessica and stop trying to turn her into the next Beyonce or Rihanna.