tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44051630605798878142024-03-19T11:42:10.332+00:00VenkmanStantzA blog 65 million years in the making.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-19064545265572911042014-01-18T01:06:00.002+00:002014-01-18T01:06:31.690+00:00Sherlock series 3 has come and gone and we are still left wanting more.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">So within the space of 10 days we have gorged on Sherlock and are left with nothing. Nothing but a feeling that we kinda want a little bit more. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.empireonline.com/images/uploaded/sherlock-series-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.empireonline.com/images/uploaded/sherlock-series-3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">With everyone wanting to know how Sherlock survived his fall, there were always people who were going to be unhappy with the outcome. But did we actually get an outcome? Whether it was explained truthfully or not may never come out but what an energetic start to "The Empty Hearse." Any explanation that involves Derren Brown will always be a winner to me. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As usual Martin Freeman steals most of the scenes with his quiet presence, but this series it seems Sherlock was more up for a laugh. The second episode "The Sign of Three" may have been a bit more hit and miss but it was funny and terribly sweet at one point. Benedict Cumberbatch has been nothing short of perfect again this series. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">To round off the series we had the big bad in the shape of Lars Mikkelsen and shocks plus twists galore. Like an actual snake Lars Mikkelsen was one person Sherlock actually hated. He even had his own “Mind Palace” of sorts, full of interesting facts at the ready to blackmail people. We also had the reveal that Mary has a secret past that could jeopardise her future with John. John however only wanted to look forward, considering she was pregnant was probably the best idea. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Of course it wouldn’t be Sherlock without a twist, as if killing a man wasn’t one enough, we also had the revelation that Moriarty just might be alive. He was a great villain for Sherlock so this could be a stroke of genius. Steven Mofatt has said his appearance was not a last minute whim and that series 3 and 4 have been mapped out. That’s surely a good sign. Fans were gutted when he (seemed to) kill himself at the end of the last series. Lets just hope we don’t have to wait another 2 years for the next episode. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Miss you? Yes we did. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><u>Random Thoughts</u></span></div>
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<li>Licking someone's face is completely repulsive Mr. Magnussen.</li>
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<li>Was it just me who thought it was completely brilliant when Sherlock had a girlfriend? He was pretty bad to her though, even by his standards. </li>
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<li>So we have YET MORE CONSPIRACY THEORIES to enjoy till the show comes back. Great.</li>
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<li>"I've only been gone 4 minutes."</li>
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<li>Not sure how to feel about Mary and her double life. It will surely come up again in the future. </li>
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<li>Sherlock’s parents. Amazing.</li>
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<li>Benedict Cumberbatch has a real flair for comedy, the guy is funny.</li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-92024393621548196232013-08-06T00:06:00.001+01:002013-08-06T00:06:14.244+01:00I'm Kinda Excited About Doctor Who AgainWhile I was intrigued as the next casual viewer about the appointment of the new Doctor I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I saw the rumours but never thought they'd be an actual chance Peter Capaldi would be the Doctor. The more I think about it, the more I think they could not have given the role to a more perfect actor.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"...And I am the new Doctor."</td></tr>
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So his most famous role is Malcolm Tucker, but it's two other shows that I remember him mostly from. Vicar of Dibley is the first. Poor Geraldine, thinking she found a husband but instead ends up marrying him off to a woman with a name she can't spell. Love it. The other role is in Skins as Sid's dad. He was one of the more memorable additions to the cast in the first series.<br />
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This role will however pretty much banish him being Malcolm Tucker forever, it gives him a chance to do something else with his career while alienating exactly nobody.<br />
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I thought David Tennant was a fantastic Doctor, funny and endearing, he was someone who could do serious and comedy in a flick of switch. Personally, I never really got on with Matt Smith. He was just too similar to Tennant for my liking. Tennant also had the better stories (Blink and The Sound of Drums to name but two) which helped him.<br />
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There's just something about this hiring, it's perfect. I can't think of anything that's wrong with it. Steven Moffat has somehow managed to hire someone who you'd think was unattainable and in doing so he will definitely get some of the Whovians back on board, along with some new fans.<br />
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We've also had the inevitable fan made mash up video...<br />
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Which to be honest, looks amazing.<br />
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Bring on the regeneration.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-85907279780284639982013-06-14T23:32:00.000+01:002013-06-14T23:32:34.647+01:00So, we're just going to let the egg thrower be the main talking point on BGT are we? Yeah because there's not much else to talk about. Britain's Got Talent is over for another year, a Hungarian act won but a stage invasion dominated the headlines. To be fair, the final was all a bit dull in the end. Too many kids, too many singers and a lot of over over hyped acts all equalled to a very long evening. So when people like Jack Carroll, Attraction and Steve Hewlett come along they automatically stand out a mile. Steve Hewlett was a worthy wild card winner, it's a shame there weren't any magicians or better dancers in the final. Attraction were the best act of the competition but their final performance didn't have any of the emotion punch of the other two. Jack Carroll was good, he was always going to finish high and the judges obviously wanted him to win. Was anyone else surprised by the lack of support Francine had in the end? She only ended up with 2% of the vote, maybe people were fed up of the Jordan routine especially that horrible song at the end.<br />
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The big story of the evening however was a Natalie Holt rising from her seat in the orchestra and pelting Simon Cowell with some eggs. How she got the eggs in, and actually to the edge of the stage is anyone's guess. Her reasons for doing so were obviously nothing to do with being a fame hungry attention seeking brat. Oh no. She wanted to start a debate about Cowell's power and influence in the industry. Something which is hard to believe as she previously audition for BGT a year ago and was basically working for him on the final. So, she's quite happy to be on television but not too happy being a backing musician. Also, she looked far to happy with herself. Very rarely will I agree with Amanda Holden but she had it right when she called her a "stupid cow."<br />
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She might have been angry at Cowell's influence but that doesn't stop her wanting to be part of the show did it? The final was nowhere near as good as previous ones, especially the Diversity/ Susan Boyle one, no matter how hard the judges were trying to convince us. However you know exactly what you're getting with BGT. Four judges with not much to say, a few sob stories, little kids not understanding irony and Ant and Dec. You either love it or hate it. See you next year, maybe they'll unearth some talent that we haven't seen before. Yeah, maybe. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-35595990753880653472013-06-05T19:41:00.000+01:002013-06-05T19:42:49.561+01:00Sorting Out The X FactorSo the judges merry-go round on the X Factor has finally finished, and with Mrs O back in the hot seat it seems to have come full circle. So I've decided to throw out some ideas on what has been wrong with a format that has been on a decline for the past few years. They've already decided on bringing back just the room and judges for the first audition so what else can they change?<br />
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And so it begins... <a href="http://t.co/MVAS668lM1" title="http://twitter.com/radioleary/status/341864683445301248/photo/1">twitter.com/radioleary/sta…</a></div>
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— Dermot O'Leary (@radioleary) <a href="https://twitter.com/radioleary/status/341864683445301248">June 4, 2013</a></div>
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<b>1. Themes for the Live Shows.</b><br />
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And I mean proper themes, not "Let's have Olympic night, that'll be great."<br />
"But what does that actually involve? What kind of music?"<br />
"Look, I've given you a theme you work it out."<br />
I miss Big Band week. At least that was a proper theme, with a recognisable style of music.<br />
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<b>2. Judges actually Mentoring.</b><br />
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Okay, maybe that is a bit "The Voice" but then the judges can actually take some blame when the contestant isn't moving forward. Rubbish judge, rubbish chance. For example, Tulisa looked like she had given up last year. Maybe that's part of the reason her contestants were all gone fairly early on.<br />
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<b>3. Shorter live shows.</b><br />
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I like it feeling like an event on a Saturday night but when it gets to the business end of competition, two hours is too long with only two or three contestants to sing. <a href="http://venkmanstantz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-x-factor-blog-final-countdown.html">And then a two hour results show?</a> Dear god they aren't that interesting.<br />
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<b>4. Get some contestants that are good and worth talking about.</b><br />
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I'm probably in the minority here but I love the "controversial" contestant they have every year, but it's even better when they can actually sing a bit (Katie Waissel, Kitty). Yes, you need good singers but you definitely need entertaining acts. If not it's just The Voice.<br />
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<b>5. Bring back Brian Friedman.</b><br />
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Just put him on TV, for his fashion choices alone are amazing. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-69722761725233475642013-05-15T00:24:00.004+01:002013-05-15T00:24:55.150+01:00Yes, The Apprentice is better than last year but is that enough?
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean, come on. Did he think no one would mention his eyebrows?</td></tr>
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<span class="s1">The Apprentice was back this week with a double episode, more ridiculous sound bites and a grumpier than ever Lord Sugar. So nothing new then. After last year’s lack luster series in which actual business minded people wanted the investment here we seem to have more Big Brother rejects and reality TV wannabes than ever before. I can’t say I’m that excited; yes they are saying all the right (i.e. stupid) things, some are dressing to impress (i.e. short skirts, high heels) and a couple have the worst eyebrows I’ve ever seen but is it enough anymore? Sugar has the same old tired one liners, the tasks aren’t original and even Nick isn't making me smile as much as he used to. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">That’s not to say there’s no fun to be had. The Apprentice lives and dies by its contestants and the crew this year do look extra idiotic, so that has got to be a good sign. A few that have already stood out (not necessarily in a good way) are Luisa who thinks she’s like Jessica Rabbit, Jason who thinks he’s a machete, Zeeshaan who thinks he’s Napoleon and Alex who looks like a Welsh Dracula. I have to admit though I did love his turtleneck and overcoat ensemble he had going on in Belgium. I think he was modeling himself on Boycie from Only Fools and Horses. There is literally no other explanation for dressing like that. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">For me, the biggest problem is the prize. Long gone has the chance of working at one of Sugar’s companies, and in its place is a £250,000 investment and business partnership with the Lord. So, it doesn’t matter what they’ve done 12 weeks previous, if they have a great idea, they will win the show(hello Tom Pellereau. Even though I’m glad he won, he was lovely). After 9 series, the show has definitely reached its peak and will probably struggle to get to those heights again. It is still enjoyable but far from the must see TV of yesteryear. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Lord Sugar, you’re not fired but we will be keeping a close eye on you. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-13330685533195787972013-03-24T16:41:00.003+00:002013-03-24T17:20:30.376+00:00Is Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway the Best Thing On Television?<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">While watching Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway last night I felt like I had been thrown back about 15 years. Yes, partly because we were treated to a performance from PJ & Duncan (there's the next band for ITV2's The Big Reunion) but also because shows like this just don't exist anymore. It's basically Noel's House Party but without Mr Blobby. The Ant & Dec Undercover (Gotcha!), Little Ant & Dec (Wait 'til I Get You Home, just without the annoyed parents) all of the talking to the audience and revealing some weird secret of theirs or just trying to embarrass them (very similar to NTV). This isn't a bad thing. I think Saturday night TV has been crying out for something like this for a while. It's been 4 years since this show has been on air and they really seemed to have honed everything about it. When it first started, it was all about the audience member winning the contents of a certain ad break, when they clocked on we weren't too bothered about that (but we did want to know what sort of car it was) they concentrated on the other aspects of the show. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Little Ant & Dec are okay, I did love it when they got the others ones came back at the start of the series; Ant & Dec's comedy timing is pretty good. I'm A Celebrity Get Out Of Me Ear may be a ridiculously forced pun on their other titan of a show but it works really well. Emma Bunton and Louis Walsh were game which made it all the more funnier. But by far my favourite item of the show is the End of the Show Show. The first one with Robbie Williams was okay but since them, it's really impressed me. I thought the boys did a fantastic job with Spellbound, they actually put some real effort in. And the Riverdance was really impressive too. Then when they bust out PJ & Duncan last night I was speechless. Why, when watching The Big Reunion I didn't ever think "I'd love to hear Let's Get Ready To Rhumble" I don't know. It's sitting pretty at number 6 in the iTunes chart as I type. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The ratings have been a huge success, probably more the ITV dared hope for. There hasn't been much competition for it though so when The Voice returns to BBC One for it's second series next Saturday it will be interesting to see how it holds up. Personally, I think Ant & Dec have nothing to worry about as they have a solid family entertainment show in their hands. I can't even think of anything similar to it at the moment, i</span>t really is one of the best things on television at the moment. The Voice will probably have a big start but let's see what happens in a couple of weeks. Britain's Got Talent is also back soon so they are going to be the kings of Saturday nights. </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Is there any stopping Ant & Dec? Let's hope not. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-2981629148376600492013-01-10T22:49:00.000+00:002013-01-10T23:07:09.197+00:00My Year In TV 2012: Byrd, Baker Street and Big Red Balls<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My Year in TV contains basically a hell of a lot of reality TV, a Judge, a game show I thought I'd fallen out of love with and everyone's favourite fictional detective. Oh, and zombies. And throw in a funny family too.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My TV year was basically ruined right at the beginning. We were spoiled with Sherlock. Only 3 episodes long, but these mini movies put to shame almost anything else on TV this year. Well written, brilliantly acted and what a cliff hanger. The only problem with it was I wanted more. We are probably looking at the end of the year till we see Sherlock surface, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are pretty busy in Hollywood at the moment, but when Sherlock and Dr Watson do return we are in for one hell of a show. If Benedict isn't a complete out and out total movie star by the end of the year I'll eat my deerstalker.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">While Sherlock may have had it's dark moments it was overall pretty fun. That can't be said about my next TV choice The Walking Dead. A show that just gets better and better. You can see the characters actually evolving and it makes the show oh so much better for it. In the best story line of the comics (in my opinion) we have Rick and the group meeting the Governor. And how great is David Morrissery? Who'd have thought? My favourite member of the group is Daryl though. Would anyone have guessed he would have turned into someone so important and awesome at the same time. A little mid season break for season 3 just makes me even more excited for the return.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Let's look at comedy for a moment and for me the only show that is nearly perfect is Modern Family. 30 Rock is past it's best and while How I Met Your Mother, New Girl and The Big Bang Theory are still pretty solid Modern Family is just smile-some. It's one of those shows that won a bag load of awards but took me a while to get round to it. Best DVD I bought this year was the first series. Phil is without doubt my favourite character on the show. A loving husband and great dad, and most importantly funny too. Nobody is dead weight in this series though, go check it out if you haven't yet.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Something which I wasted much of my year on and that I can happily sit and watch for hours is Judge Judy. Even though these episodes are from 10 years ago. This women literally takes no shit off of anybody. And who doesn’t love Byrd, her loyal bailiff. It’s great when he stands in between the plaintiff and the defendant as if these people might actually come to blows, this isn’t Jerry Springer! Not yet anyway. Seriously, you can't lie to her, she knows everything. "THAT'S BALONEY!" "Sounds like a lot of 'Who shot John?'" "You know how I can tell you're lying to me? YOUR LIPS MOVE!!" "'Umm' is not an answer!!" She's a grandmother don't you know. And totally terrifying.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTsl1RXcZhyphenhyphensDWQ6BKVR14hnxnofO5Ab8HgRTwSTf0kXnRgpalhrM1AZoNrcRhvQtGDnIfSjclbDq1e36aT_sDmwzaG4zMSsmay84xV7nV1HUG7pQc0Vfr2RPrHIggE2G8NG2DsgWVHxc/s1600/C_71_article_1191625_image_list_image_list_item_1_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTsl1RXcZhyphenhyphensDWQ6BKVR14hnxnofO5Ab8HgRTwSTf0kXnRgpalhrM1AZoNrcRhvQtGDnIfSjclbDq1e36aT_sDmwzaG4zMSsmay84xV7nV1HUG7pQc0Vfr2RPrHIggE2G8NG2DsgWVHxc/s400/C_71_article_1191625_image_list_image_list_item_1_image.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And on to a show I thought I was over. There's just something about those big red balls and people getting smacked in the mouth with a wall that I love. Ladies and gentlemen I am, of course, talking about the majestic and mighty Total Wipeout USA. Another show where I love the hosts; the 2 Johns John Anderson and John Henson, are a great team. I'm not sure but think Anderson might be a proper sports pundit. Or maybe that's what he wanted to be. I know I shouldn't laugh but I do and frequently. There's just something very funny about people getting whacked in the face or seeing what the Johns like to call the scorpion move. That's basically when a contestant has their legs bend so far back they reach their head. Wipeout indeed.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I can't go without mentioning some reality TV. It's been an average year for the X Factor and Britain's Got Talent. The Voice started off well but went down hill from there. Only I'm A Celebrity was constantly entertaining, mostly for Ant and Dec, and even The Apprentice suffered from some fatigue. TOWIE nearly finished it's self off with the truly horrendous Live show (Never. Again.) but got back to it's strange self with the Essexmas episode. Just about. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Looking forward to this year we've got the return of Arrested Development, more Sherlock, Celebrity Big Brother and hopefully some great reality TV. Splash! sounds like something straight out of ITV2. I look forward to it. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-55857716933428988312012-12-30T22:38:00.000+00:002012-12-30T22:38:25.934+00:00The X Factor Blog: The Final CountdownAfter endless hours of tiresome cliches, dull contestants and Louis Walsh's ever changing hair we have finally made it to the end. In what was of the longest weekends of our lives, (2 hours on Saturday night AND 2 hours on Sunday? Ridiculous) we had our winner crowned. James Arthur, that of the awful glasses, shirt pulling and the "I realllllllllllly mean these lyrics, man" beats little ol' Chicken Jahmene and everybody's favourite 80s crooner Christopher Maloney. Who topped the vote for the first 7 WEEKS. Impressive.<br />
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The musical guests were a real let down as most of them had been on the show already this series. I can't have Rhianna, One Direction or Emili Sande shoved down my throat any more. The show was over bloated, contained little singing from the finalists and was a bit of a damp squib in the end.<br />
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Personally, I was rooting for Jahmene but I was not bothered at all by who won. Lacklustre is the best way I can describe this series. It just seemed like a massive disappointment, partly due to the average acts, but the blame mostly falls on the judges who are now convinced that they are the real stars of the show.<br />
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Nicole has been nothing short of fantastic this year; what a revelation and thank goodness she was there because without her the live shows might have crumbled. Gary, while a very credible recording artist you can't help feeling the <a href="http://venkmanstantz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/the-x-factor-blog-live-shows-is-that.html">first live results show</a> put the nail in the coffin for his X Factor career. Tulisa was getting worse and worse press as the series went on; and she wasn't totally blameless. She was looking defeated before Ella went and afterwards she obviously didn't care. And Louis Walsh. Even he has clocked on how bloody ridiculous he is, now in on the joke he is pointless.<br />
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It's a show that I will tune in again for when the new series rolls around. There was a time when I claimed I'd not watch it anymore or at least not as much but I get sucked in every time. EVERY TIME. The problem is though it's not must see TV anymore; and until it finds that missing piece that makes the X Factor fun again, people will continue to turn off. I'm not sure if Simon's return would have the effect they are after; saying that though people tuned in for Britain's Got Talent to see his return (personally, I thought it was a weak series but I'm not sure anything will ever top Diversity v Su-Bo).<br />
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There's loads of time to talk about how to make X Factor better but for now I'm just looking forward to a small break from it. James Arthur, good luck. The male winners of X Factor haven't been bad but they've definitely been unlucky. See if you can break the curse.<br />
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Now on to The Voice which is back for a new series. Good?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-37312595896256483692012-12-07T21:56:00.000+00:002012-12-13T22:39:56.725+00:00The X Factor Blog: Of Course Union J WentThere’s light at the end of the tunnel, we are nearly at the end of what feels like the longest X Factor ever. There will be a post mortem, no doubt, but for now let’s see how obvious this semi final actually was. In fact it was pointless. There was never any doubt Union J were leaving. With no judges vote to save them, Maloney seemingly untouchable and people probably now voting for James after his fall into the bottom 2 Union J must have had their bags packed. No matter how many times the judges kept banging on about how they were the “next big boy band” (shut up, Louis) the general public just didn’t want to vote for them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjId3gqFq9LglenMVUYjHHTGaNHJTGjYLNhuzkwewluCjUHbDGR-gXz9AvmFw7xfbpRPo73PuBACJAfdEAiSmtikVILQHAlmdF0df2pX3sxGWtP7jVhkRsvvTbTRzbg06XXgIBAKBZVMfLE/s1600/Union-J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjId3gqFq9LglenMVUYjHHTGaNHJTGjYLNhuzkwewluCjUHbDGR-gXz9AvmFw7xfbpRPo73PuBACJAfdEAiSmtikVILQHAlmdF0df2pX3sxGWtP7jVhkRsvvTbTRzbg06XXgIBAKBZVMfLE/s400/Union-J.jpg" width="400" /></a>The “theme” this week was basically just sing a song with words. Some rubbish about sing a song for yourself and one for the win. I don’t know, the producers have really given up with the themes this year. One of the shows biggest disappointments is the lack of thought gone into the weekly themes. Bring back Big Band week.
There’s not even much to say about this week, it was dull and very predictable. While not Tulisa’s biggest fan she looked so nervous performing. She just doesn’t have the same presence like Cheryl Cole, nor much of a solo career by all accounts.<br />
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Let’s just get to the end quickly and quietly shall we? Reserve your energy because it’s a 2 hour extravaganza on Saturday night where one contestant goes and the winner is crowned on Sunday following another 2 hour, err, “extravaganza”. Guests include the little known Rhianna, the unheard of Emeli Sande and a new little band called One Direction.<br />
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All have which performed on the X Factor this year. What a massive anti climax. Must try harder X Factor.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-80514523918739590252012-12-06T21:53:00.000+00:002012-12-13T21:54:50.728+00:00What is I’m A Celebrity Without Ant and Dec?<link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CNatz%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</style> It’s been a really enjoyable series this year, we’ve had the one contestant
that the public want to torture (Helen), a politician who claims they are on
there to talk about serious issues (Nadine), a bit of a bossy boots (Rosemary),
an 80s singer (Limuli), someone who had to quit (Brian), a token blonde
(Ashley) and a man who calls it as it is (Eric). There’s always filler; not
their fault but their screen time is probably at the expense of other more
mouthy characters. See Linda; who seemed quite nice but the others were a bit
more in your face. We’ve also got Charlie who looked like she was going to turn
into her on screen character Janine, but turned into the eventual queen and
quite a nice girl. Janine would have eaten Rosie Webster for breakfast; don’t
stand too close to any cliffs Helen.<br />
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Let’s be honest though, we all know who the stars of the show are: Ant and
Dec. They have outshone themselves this year. Personal highlights include Dec
and his “Evening Prime Minister”, Ant with his Eric Bristow impression but my
favourite was Dec giving Ant a birthday card. Not just any card, a musical card
with Kajgoogoo’s Too Shy playing in it, which they accompanied with a little
dance. Red or Black is all forgotten guys.<br />
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Nobody watches this show for the celebrities, and this show just wouldn’t
work without Ant and Dec. While it might not quite be a vintage year, it is up
there. Helen going from zero to hero, Rosemary annoying them all and Kiosk
Keith in the jungle are some personal highlights. I love Kiosk Keith, more of
him please. <br />
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It’s a show which I can only put down its popularity to its hosts and the
mix of celebrities. While you might not have heard of some of them, the most
important thing is that they don’t get on. Throw in the fact they are basically
starving and certain people not pulling their weight and people’s masks soon
start to slip. It’s quietly turned into my favourite reality show; one that doesn’t
outstay its welcome and while it does have new and more horrible tasks each
year, it has basically stayed the same. Take note X Factor, you don’t need to
keep messing with a winning format. <br />
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Bring it on next year. Don’t ever change boys.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-8498540055171437282012-11-27T17:32:00.001+00:002012-11-28T01:00:28.637+00:00The X Factor Blog: Normal Service ResumedIt was coming, we all knew it; Rylan has left the X Factor.
Love him or loathe him we all ended up talking about him. I really enjoyed some
of his performances, but it was the banter with <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city> that I will miss. He always gave as good
as he got and by all accounts, he was a really nice guy. No one had a bad word
to say about him and I loved his swansong where he hugged <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>. He knew he was going. I would have
rather Union J went; they are so bland and boring. As usual Louis Walsh is ruining
them, as he ruins all the acts he mentors.
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE_KtL2StCGN833HOw1HUKzpxhH9I_z0ltefjAR4mFHTZiyqb4P47giIV95A_gWGDUh2XkcxHWQlgLSnoRPMcBr0V3pYYPs5FM_FCU0N8Hqo9mzzd3JBmKfqIpDEOt48Q66thcLThv4fk/s1600/rylannicole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE_KtL2StCGN833HOw1HUKzpxhH9I_z0ltefjAR4mFHTZiyqb4P47giIV95A_gWGDUh2XkcxHWQlgLSnoRPMcBr0V3pYYPs5FM_FCU0N8Hqo9mzzd3JBmKfqIpDEOt48Q66thcLThv4fk/s640/rylannicole.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rylan sure has a certain style...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So the semi finals are next week and we have a real threat
of Christopher Maloney not only getting to the final but winning. Union J have
been in the bottom 2 three times so they have no chance of winning. We all know
exactly how this is going to happen. James third, Jahmene second, Maloney the
winner. If he wins, that might just be the final nail in the coffin to this
show. Not only will they need a massive rethink for next year, but they are
going to have to concentrate even more on getting all those viewers back who
have given up. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No one seems to know who is voting for Christopher, and he
seemed really fed up last week when the judges were giving him absolutely
useless feedback. They don’t even know what to say to him anymore. They slate
him, people vote. They praise him, people vote. They comment on the scary
lasers coming from his eyes, or the crazy dancers around him or that he was
singing “For Nandos”; it just doesn’t matter, people vote. It would be funny if
he did win; the only act that the judges didn’t take through and he wins.
That’ll show up how bloody terrible the judges actually are. There are lots of
stories in the press about him; who knows how true they are. Maybe he is
getting the sympathy vote; if so then the judges need to start critiquing him
properly and not compare him to cornflakes or whatever the hell Nicole was on
about. Maybe if they start saying he’s the next global superstar people will
get bored of voting for him. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve had Simon Cowell tweeting that he wants people to vote
for the people who are their favourites, but maybe that’s what they are doing.
A lot of people buy Jane McDonald’s albums, who’s to say they won’t buy Maloney’s
music? If they want to find a relevant artist they need to do some drastic
changes next year, and stop treating the general public like idiots. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Farewell Rylan for now. I will be very disappointed if you
don’t make at least a guest appearance on TOWIE soon. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-63905970856612251952012-11-19T11:35:00.000+00:002012-11-28T00:26:29.842+00:00The X Factor Blog: Everyone Loves The Drama Apart From Tulisa Who Blames UsSo in Guilty Pleasures week Ella, one of the favourites, leaves. The UK has a collective fit, people scream fix and Twitter has a meltdown. In one of the biggest shocks in X Factor history two of the favourites were in the sing-off. James and Ella had the judges practically salivating with every performance. James has started to grow on me slightly while Ella seemed a bit too media savvy for a 16 year old, she had Sylvia Young all about her. I can’t argue with her voice; it is truly amazing but I found her a little dull. She’s a nice girl who has a bit of Leona Lewis and Stacey Solomon about her. It’s probably for the best she didn’t win, she can concentrate on being a teenage instead of the Syco machine chewing her up and spitting her out. The same goes for James, if he wins he will go the Matt Cardle route and no one wants that. Jahmene might benefit from being the winner, mostly for the confidence rather than the contract. They would know how to market him and he has a certain audience already. Union J haven’t got a chance of winning but Simon would probably want them to win the most; easily marketable all they need to do is follow the One Direction mould.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumr8JJfTo7i5p9fTIpjRKUeJQw2HPDwggRTP-BTyfZdSFJMAw3vhP68MTFD7qSjI6O2Yn3_CGMFLQ6Dow2v3s0c1CkfDXXK7RmwvTxhCjvFe6zL0wO1XqyycT2h7yzEO73pZm5rjSIioi/s1600/deadlockxf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumr8JJfTo7i5p9fTIpjRKUeJQw2HPDwggRTP-BTyfZdSFJMAw3vhP68MTFD7qSjI6O2Yn3_CGMFLQ6Dow2v3s0c1CkfDXXK7RmwvTxhCjvFe6zL0wO1XqyycT2h7yzEO73pZm5rjSIioi/s400/deadlockxf.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most unsurprising Dead Lock of all time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We all know Rylan and Union J are the next ones out, it just depends on the order. X Factor always has one shock that people are outraged about and Facebook groups set up (yeah, that’ll really get Cowell thinking won’t it, a FACEBOOK GROUP) but the X Factor goes on and people forget.<br />
<br />
What has annoyed me this year is the way the judges are acting. Apart from Nicole, who is scha-mazing, the other judges look either fed up, disillusioned or just plainly don’t want to be there. Gary has been lost to the cause since week one, the moment Rylan stayed at the expense of his own act. Tulisa is more interested in chasing semi famous guys than mentoring her acts and Louis just sits on the end of the panel stirring it up. When Tulisa was throwing her toys out of the pram saying the public were voting for the wrong people she must have forgot where she was. If we, the public, want to vote for Rylan or Christopher, we will. The more the judges try to tell us to vote for someone, we will do the opposite. Especially with judges like Tulisa who people seem to have quite a strong opinion on. Personally I’m not a fan, she always goes on about being honest but she hasn’t actually got anything to say. She thinks she is urban, but she’s just really a plain Jane. I can’t get over how boring she’s become. She’s constantly in the papers for the wrong reasons; jumping from guy to guy or a horrible sex tape. Now she’s ended up with some average footballer with a pregnant ex- girlfriend who also likes texting call girls who slept with Wayne Rooney. Love, you can do better. It’s going to be her last year on the X Factor anyway; she is possibly one of the worst judges they’ve had. Yes she won last year but maybe, just maybe the X Factor should be less about the judges and more about the talent on stage.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-11800195947034320082012-11-16T20:32:00.000+00:002012-11-28T00:25:16.772+00:00The X Factor Blog: Rylan Spices Up The X FactorI’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I hate mash-ups. But a Spice Girl medley?? I’ll take it! Before we get to Rylan and his best performance so far, we had the judges trying to stick up for their acts. Gary was digging into Dermot because he was supposedly doing Christopher down week after week. To be fair Gaz, Dermot wasn’t the one booing last week, that’s the audience mate. Christopher opens the show with some kind of ten pin bowling inspired theme to Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing.” Maybe it was a slight dig at the judges but it wasn’t as funny as “All By Myself.”<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_9hatso8Rki5-wnSKeVGdZQnkslBMvaUFMo8gHXyf8yDGlWvGT9z2vN2ohcVPfWy30rQhx3HLdX_YcP6C4d52dfYXCs9MSs9WMCw5QJ3EPtFXawkkGSMRqNWwBo_TSmVtv2ImF9jZS6T/s1600/judges2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_9hatso8Rki5-wnSKeVGdZQnkslBMvaUFMo8gHXyf8yDGlWvGT9z2vN2ohcVPfWy30rQhx3HLdX_YcP6C4d52dfYXCs9MSs9WMCw5QJ3EPtFXawkkGSMRqNWwBo_TSmVtv2ImF9jZS6T/s400/judges2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As usual, Nicole is head and shoulders above the other judges</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jahmene was fantastic with his performance of Robbie Williams’ “Angels”. I really think we are looking at this year’s winner. Ella is nice and has a truly amazing voice but doesn’t have much else about her. James is not my cup of tea, there is only so many times you can pull at your shirt just to show us how much it “means” to you. Boring. I’ve also decided that “stripped back” is the new “mash-up”. Let’s nip it in the bud, shall we? Stripped back is another word for dull or not as exciting as the original.<br />
<br />
We also had a time filling, pre-recorded performance from One Direction that contained the gruesome five some sitting on stools that sent under 14 year old girls into hysterics. Probably, I don’t know. But I do know that Cowell is laughing all the way to the bank with those boys, as bland as they are. The best singer and lad who seems the nicest is the one no one talks about, I don’t even know his name but when they formed it looked like he was going to be the lead singer. Liam? Yes Liam. The others are far, FAR too smug to actually be very likeable. Teenage girls hey? They’ll buy into any old shit (trust me, I know).<br />
<br />
Anyway, to Rylan. Now that’s entertainment. The first performance I’ve really loved from Rylan, however that might be due to the fact it was the Spice Girls. Who hasn’t got a soft spot for the Spice Girls? But it had a sky dive and some dances so everyone was happy.
District3 Vs Union J were in the sing off and poor Louis couldn’t decide between his boy bands, which basically sealed District3’s fate. No one cared.<br />
<br />
Best of British? A theme they actually kept to. Well done judges. Well done everyone.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-90614561140718029222012-11-06T19:04:00.000+00:002012-11-28T00:24:32.616+00:00The X Factor Blog: Apparently It's Number Ones Week<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h6VnZ1z6ji77ylzgoVNT-XO5_UC0NKUMPTzhDi6eLsDbaoGRHMzFDbJyzx-1JqNsthV5Z27Ee9yL3ez1_Fyown9i-bWq5Yhw16f1PkCrZKNK3ntXrDbhOMubasb5GN-KP2JuU6EyqihR/s1600/kye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The theme this week was Number Ones, but really it was sing
whatever song you want I'm sure it was number one in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bosnia and Herzegovina</st1:place></st1:country-region> once.
Honestly it was a bit tedious. Lucy Spraggen was too ill to perform this week,
down will the flu the producers tell us. Can’t say I’m bothered, she is
starting to bore me with her strange ways of “singing” and that god damn
guitar.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h6VnZ1z6ji77ylzgoVNT-XO5_UC0NKUMPTzhDi6eLsDbaoGRHMzFDbJyzx-1JqNsthV5Z27Ee9yL3ez1_Fyown9i-bWq5Yhw16f1PkCrZKNK3ntXrDbhOMubasb5GN-KP2JuU6EyqihR/s1600/kye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h6VnZ1z6ji77ylzgoVNT-XO5_UC0NKUMPTzhDi6eLsDbaoGRHMzFDbJyzx-1JqNsthV5Z27Ee9yL3ez1_Fyown9i-bWq5Yhw16f1PkCrZKNK3ntXrDbhOMubasb5GN-KP2JuU6EyqihR/s400/kye.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kye Sones; nobody's favourite chimney sweep.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But enough of what we didn’t have this week, let’s get on to
what we did have. There was Nicole who went to <st1:place w:st="on">Essex</st1:place>
with Rylan and they just happened to go to Amy Childs salon (I was wondering
what she was up to. ITV1 is definitely a step up on Peter Andre: It’s My Sad
Little Life and You Will Watch It and Love Me on ITV2). Nicole is not bad at
accents, I’ll give her that. On her adventures, Nicole also went to Asda with
Jahmene and dressed up in the lovely green uniform. Something tells me she
never would have ended up working in Asda if the Pussycat Dolls hadn’t formed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can barely remember any of the performances as they were
mostly terrible and they only about three <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> number ones between them. Apparently
if it a number one hit in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New
Zealand</st1:place></st1:country-region>, that’s okay. Kye was terrible,
Rylan was rubbish and District3 are useless. Of course Christopher Maloney was
as bad as any of them but he is like human Teflon, nothing sticks to him. Say
is quietly, but he might win. Seriously. It will be a total “up yours” to Simon
and the producers who keep trying to convince us this is the best ever line up
of talent and that Tulisa is a good judge. It’s not and she’s an awful judge of
anything. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fearne Cotton’s best mate Kye left (I knew there was a
reason I hated him) so it’s just a matter of time District3 before you’re
leaving. Next week it’s the best of British so expect songs from Justin Bieber,
Rhianna and maybe some Katy Perry. Honestly, why even have themes if you’re not
even going to try a tiny bit. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-34794136417374475652012-11-04T20:06:00.001+00:002012-11-28T00:23:50.679+00:00The X Factor Results Live Blog Week 4Week 5 and yet another live blog for the X Factor results show. Who will leave and will there be another DEADLOCK? (Probably.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=X-factor.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="XF 2012 26" border="0" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/X-factor.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They are all the same height... I've never noticed that before.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>8.56: "I was writing an album, I'll release an album." No cares Kye. Well, Rylan's time is nearly up but he lives to fight another day. I still think it should have been District3, they were awful last night. Let's see what next week brings!<br />
<br />
8.54: DEADLOCK. Oooooooh BYE BYE KYE. EAT IT BARLOW. I don't even like Rylan that much, but I like seeing Gary annoyed. He'll probably win it anyway with Christopher, just out of spite to Simon Cowell.<br />
<br />
8.52: Gary, shut up. Makes you look like an idiot. Why is Louis bothered about doing the right thing?<br />
<br />
8.50: Show off.<br />
<br />
8:47: He's gone for the breath-y approach to singing. Not as bad as I thought. Kudos Rylan. I would get rid of Kye anyway. He's rubbish.<br />
<br />
8.45: Oh Rylan. This will be terrible.<br />
<br />
8.40: District3 have had quite a few bad weeks. But then I suppose Rylan has always been bad. Time to get rid of the "joke" act? Peronsally I'd get rid of boring sparrow faced "ladies man" Kye.<br />
<br />
8.39: I love the fact Christopher is getting through. Keep singing the 80s power songs!<br />
<br />
8.37: Louis and the groups. Yes the girls love to scream for them but never pick up the phone. Bottom 2? District3 and Kye.<br />
<br />
8.30: That was a crap song so stop saying great Dermot. Was there always that many members of No Doubt?? Says something when the best song of the results show was the group performance from the contestants, sheesh.<br />
<br />
8.26: How amazing does Gwen Stefani look? Does she AGE??<br />
<br />
8.21: These adverts do not contain Kevin Bacon. So what's the point? Oh Rita Ore, I haven't seen her in 60 seconds.<br />
<br />
8.19: Were the questions THAT hard that the X Factor decided to get rid of them altogether??<br />
<br />
8.15: This is a bit dull. There's only one of Rita Ore's songs I like. She is just a mini Rihanna isn't she? That camera man made sure he got a good close up of her catsuit, gees.<br />
<br />
8.11: District3 are rubbish aren't they? You know what my favourite performance was? Christopher's. Only because he sang All By Myself, I hope, ironically.<br />
<br />
8.07: What the hell is that song they just song? Am I so out of touch...? No, it's the children that are wrong. Union J sounded terrible.<br />
<br />
8.04: Well we've had a montage of last night, was anyone really very good? I had already forgotten the theme. Let's get on with the group performance. Always a highlight. Ahem.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-64228318104396205362012-11-03T18:55:00.000+00:002012-11-18T20:37:38.181+00:00Strictly Come Dancing: Upping The Production Values For Halloween.<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Saturday night TV is always the biggest night of the week and Strictly Come Dancing Vs the X Factor has been going on for years. X Factor has had a lead over it</span>s BBC rival for a little while but the tide seems to be turning. SCD has been quietly sneaking up on its more teen friendly foe but this series it’s done one better and actually over taken it. And kept the lead. </div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Personally, I’ve never been much of a fan of SCD. I did enjoy the first series but I always kept with X Factor as I thought that was more enjoyable. Loud, full of pop culture references, OTT drama and some truly stupid characters I was always going to choose X Factor over SCD. It was the new Pop Idol and Popstars, and I loved those shows. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=strictly-halloween-thriller_0.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="SCD 1" border="0" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/strictly-halloween-thriller_0.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SCD does Thriller... Not the most original but does it matter when it's done this good?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">However, I watched SCD with it being a Halloween special and I have to say I was impressed. They really got involved in the theme (which <a href="http://venkmanstantz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/the-x-factor-blog-x-factor-does-very.html">X Factor DID NOT</a>). The costumes, the make up, the song choices, the staging; it was all brilliant. Okay, so I’m not really fussed with the celebrities; I think this show could work with just the general public again. Fern Britton, the cricketer or the soap stars don’t really do it for me. The Olympians are a nice touch but Victoria Pendleton is a bit weepy, I can’t be doing with too much of that. Lisa Riley is a revelation and I’m so glad she is a good dancer and has not turned into a joke act. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Let’s be clear though. SCD is not perfect. Far from it. There are some truly cringe worthy performances in the “comedy” VTs that the insist on doing. I hate them so much; it made the staged conversations on the X Factor look natural. So they could go. I have no problem seeing how they’ve got on through the week with training, but you lot aren’t comedians so don’t try and be funny. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">There is one other problem for me with SCD and that’s Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly. I have never seen a more awful presenting duo. Even Des and Mel were better than these two (well, maybe not). Is Bruce messing up the jokes, the joke? If so it’s really uncomfortable. I know he’s nearly 90 but really I think it’s time for some new blood. I just have this horrible vision of him falling over when he’s dancing. Bring in Anton, we all know that's where it's heading. And Tess seems like the most insincere person ever; I would not be able to watch if rumors were true and her husband Vernon Kay got the job. They are the smuggest couple on TV and I couldn’t handle it. Claudia Winkleman would be a better presenter. </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=Strictly_Come_Dancing_Halloween_special_review.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="SCD 2" border="0" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/Strictly_Come_Dancing_Halloween_special_review.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just can't stand them, alright???</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p2">
The only thing that I really could have done without is the god awful Gangnam Style dance Bruce and Tess did. I’ve talked about my hatred for this and thought SCD would not have gone there but gone there they did. <span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">SCD is not everyone’s cup of tea but then neither is the X Factor. I’ll watch this again, but hopefully they’ll easy up on the “hilarious” VTs. They are fucking awful. How can the BBC be so crap at comedy, then so amazing? It’s a mystery (machine). </span><br />
<span class="s1"><br /></span>
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-9038069195028821382012-10-30T17:36:00.000+00:002012-11-04T17:39:13.586+00:00The X Factor Blog: X Factor Does (Very Little for) HalloweenIt was pretty dull affair this week after the enjoyable Club Classics show. No Lucy Spraggan performance as she pulled a “Diana Vickers” and was off sick. She was put through to next week at the annoyance of some. Always bit of a difficult one this; I’m pretty sure the producers wouldn’t have given a bye to one of the less successful acts i.e. District3, Jade or Kye.
<br />
<br />
<div class="p2">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=The-X-Factor-artic_2381266b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="XF 2012 25" border="0" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/The-X-Factor-artic_2381266b.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jade. She has a young daughter, did you know that?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="s1"></span>
What also showed X Factor up was how much effort Strictly Come Dancing put in. The X Factor had a couple of kids dressed up as the Droogs from A Clockwork Orange (really family friendly that. You fucking idiots) and Union J hanging about on a car. SCD had the themes from Scooby Doo and Weird Science. CHECK. MATE. </div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Where the hell was Brian? Did they give him a week off? Well, they shouldn’t have. If anyone was needed for the Halloween episode, it’s Brian Friedman. And Dermot, I only want to see your double dance from now on. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What else did I hate about this show? Tulisa looking like a spoilt brat for most of the show. Then, when Gary called her out for having fag ash breath she looked like she was going to blow a gasket. Or cry. Either way it was a bit uncomfortable and not what I expect from a 41 year old man. Although Louis' face was a picture.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">ALL of the song choices were rubbish. When will somebody sing “Monster Mash”? Okay, so there’s probably only that, “Thriller” (which was been done numerous times) and the Ghostbusters theme that can be played on a Halloween night, but you know what? The producers wanted that theme so maybe you all should have put a tiny bit more effort into it. Even just popping along to Pound Land and getting a few costumes would have looked better. Just wrapping someone in toilet roll WOULD HAVE LOOKED BETTER. Take a look at SCD; the make up and costumes were fantastic. The songs were a stroke of genius. MUST TRY HARDER X FACTOR. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Let’s talk about the sing off. Why have it? Jade was never going to win the competition but she was so much better than Union J. There was never a chance the judges were going to get rid of the “new” One Direction though where they?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Nicole is the only shining light in this show; she looks like she's having fun and she's the only judge I want to hear from. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">One last thing; if I hear one more mash-up from anyone I’m going to throw my remote at the TV. And just watch SCD. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-11234757178755684472012-10-25T23:27:00.001+01:002012-10-25T23:58:32.203+01:00The X Factor Blog: Battle of the Cheeses and The Scottish Widow in Nightmare WeekNot a bad live show, this one. Here are some observations.<br />
<ul>
<li>It contained "The Greatest Dermot Intro... Ever!" The shimmying was of the highest standard, and the editing was brilliant. We also had The Harshest Judging Ever by Gary. He told Kye exactly how bad he was last week, and let's be honest, he was shit.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=louis-walsh-burgundy-jacket-roll-neck-jumper-x-factor.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="XF 2012 23" border="0" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/louis-walsh-burgundy-jacket-roll-neck-jumper-x-factor.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All because Simon loves Milk Tray...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li>Club Classics week turned into Nightmare week. Everybody had a something bad happen to them from losing their voices to losing their beards. Maybe everybody should have just had a week off.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Why is it only Nicole who looks like they are enjoying the show?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>There were some terrible versions of "club classics"; James Arthur I thought was boring (why do people like him? I don't get it).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Louis came dressed as a cross between a James Bond villain and the Milk Tray man. AGAIN.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>No idea why Gary was stressing about Ella dancing, it's not like she launched into a massive dance routine it was just some arm waving.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Tulisa made her best comment of the series comparing Rylan to a Babybel and Christopher to stilton. I liked Christopher singing the theme from Three Men and a Little Lady, but that worries me because where does that leave him to go for Movies Week??</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Club Classics week, it's always shit. Just sing the goddamn song the way it was written. Stop trying to be clever by slowing it down or a rubbish mash up.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Rylan was a bit meh this week again.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Lucy kept her flippin' guitar like a safety blanket. If they can't get her to let go of it during Club Classics week then there's no hope.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I love JLS but it's be nice to get some other good acts on the results show apart from ex contestants. And Emili Sande? I could get her to appear for my birthday party, she's everywhere. At least she didn't sing Read All About It. There was real danger of that happening.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I have to say I have a little soft spot for Jahmene now.</li>
</ul>
One last thing...<br />
<br />
Why did Brian Friedman come dressed as the Scottish Widow?<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/A5urGNxCEAAl8a6.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=scottishwidowerpichigh-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="XF 2012 24" border="0" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/scottishwidowerpichigh-1.jpg" /></a><img alt="XF 2012 21" border="0" height="266" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/A5urGNxCEAAl8a6.png" width="320" /></div>
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Brian Friedman is fast becoming my favourite thing about this show.</div>
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Hold on, who left? Oh yeah, MK1. Never mind. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-9087027948691857132012-10-18T23:15:00.000+01:002012-10-25T00:02:23.483+01:00The X Factor Blog: Gary Barlow and The Overs and OutSo Melanie left in the second sing off of the series. Does
anyone care? She was a good singer but never really threatened the competition.
By this rate <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>’s
work will be over in a few weeks. Kye had a terrible show with a mash up of
some Eminem songs without the rap; surprise surprise it was rap but with a
capital ‘C’. Then there’s Christopher who everyone seems to hate but if the
tabloids are anything to go by he is topping the vote every week. <br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also had Rylan and some dancing pandas, which I kind of
enjoyed. But I’m still not convinced he’s actually that entertaining. He’s no
Jedward or Wagner is he? Unfortunately he is the closest X Factor has got to a
fun act and tabloid headlines so he has to stay. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=rylanandnicole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="XF 2012 20" border="0" height="640" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/rylanandnicole.jpg" width="444" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were all slightly surprised, weren't we?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thinking about it, Rylan was the most memorable act this
week. District3 were terrible and deserved to be in the bottom 2, they won’t
last long. <br />
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<br /></div>
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Week 2 and Lucy’s still got her guitar, I want it gone by Club
Classics week. She sang Gold Digger. It was weird. And that strange look she
was giving her dancers? Well, that was uncomfortable. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t even remember anyone else it was a boring week
mostly due to the boring theme ‘Love and Heartbreak.’ For goodness sake,
REALLY? In other words, “just sing a ballad,” or “we really can’t be bothered
too think about a theme.” </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I still haven’t got a favourite contestant, but Nicole is my favourite judge by a mile. Also I want more drama,
dammit! AND NO MORE GANGNAM STYLE.<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-1049760772796884142012-10-14T20:00:00.001+01:002012-10-25T00:00:01.484+01:00The X Factor Results Week 2 Live Blog<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: left;">This might not work, but welcome to some live blogging on the X Factor Results Show! Because there aren't enough opinions on the X Factor out there. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=XFactor2012promopicture-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="XF 2012 16" border="0" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/XFactor2012promopicture-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole is way too classy to point, and Gary only gives it the shoulder. Louis, Tulisa- TRYING TO HARD!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.57 Not much drama tonight, but I'm sure the X Factor producers will come up with something exciting for next week. Until then!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.56 Bye Melanie. You've been loud. You were a bit hippy-ish and not really what the X Factor wants. What is the point of the Overs category??? Gary has lost 2 acts in a row now, I wouldn't be surprised to see him lose another next week.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.55 DEADLOCK</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.52 Yes she has a massive gob, but she's a bit blah. She reminds me of JK Rowling if she sang. Tulisa, are you fucking DEAF? The boys have terrible harmonies!!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.46 Why do they make the other contestant stand by the edge and watch them perform? District3 are rubbish aren't they? As if they choose these over Triple J/ now known as Union J plus One. They look weird while singing. Yeah that was crap boys, sorry.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.43 Called it. District3 Vs Melanie. Melanie doesn't have much of an audience, who would pick up the phone for her? Well, no one by the look of it. And District3 are just a poor man's Union J who are a poor man's One Direction. They were bad last night.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.41 RYLAN IS THROUGH. REPEAT RYLAN IS THROUGH. The pandas have saved him.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.40 Christopher is the male version of Tesco Mary.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.35 What is Tulia wearing? WHAT IS IT?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.29 So who's leaving? I reckon Rylan might just be safe. Might be. District3 are in trouble, maybe Jade, maybe Melanie?? Maybe not. To be honest I can't remember everyone's name or if they were any good. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.27 Quite like this Taylor Swift song.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.23 Switch looks fucking terrible. That Eastenders girl is rubbish.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.20 Lily Allen talking about Sky. Who gives a shit. Anyway.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.19 KEEP VOTING! DOWNLOAD! SOCIAL MEDIA! Just stop it ITV. Stop it.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.15 I know Rebecca Fergerson is a good singer, but she just doesn't do anything for me. Can't believe she went out Zayn, what was she thinking? Each to their own I suppose.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.13 Dancing pandas... I'm still not sure what to think of it all. Although I do hate Gangnam Style. I HATE IT.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.11 I felt mightly uncomfortable watching Lucy's performance. Not a fan.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.08 "The people's vote." Yeah out of 4 rejects Gary. Chris is naff, just deal with it.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.05 My favourite bit of the week. The group performance. Why is Christopher looking more and more plastic every week? Jahmene is looking a bit like a wax work too.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.04 Tulisa always looks rubbish standing next to Nicole.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8.03 Do many people know who Taylor Swift is?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
8pm: The contestants are all here, lined up ready to be shot down in a "blaze" of glory. Maybe.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-8980970705873109842012-10-12T21:34:00.000+01:002012-10-15T23:11:21.910+01:00The X Factor Blog: Live Shows. Is That Your Final Answer Louis?Full disclosure; thank goodness the X Factor results show
was exactly like it was. Louis dithering, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>
is outraged and the worse singer is saved at the expense of a better, but more
forgettable one. But let’s get back to Saturday first shall we? 2 hours and
20 minutes of mostly boredom. Rylan came on but it was too little too late, and
he wasn’t as entertaining as the judges thought he was.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=rylan3.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="XF 2012 18" border="0" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/rylan3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's only one word... UNDERSTATED.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s discuss Dermot and his dancing. What is it with
Gangnam Style? Is it a style or just the name of the song? You can explain it
to me but I think the truth of the matter is I’m too old and really don’t care.
My god I hate “cool” YouTube videos that do the rounds. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First we had the wildcard and it was a bit of a shock as
Christopher Maloney went through in front of much more delightful Amy. What the
hell was that stupidly dramatic and over the top cry and roll he did? Stuff
like that just shows how fake and insincere you are. It was funny how his “crippling
nerves” disappeared when he performed on stage. Best putdown of the night goes
to Nicole when she said to Christopher, “You might want a little burger with
that cheese.” WAMMY. </div>
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Most of the other contestants were also pretty bland. Lucy is one singer that I really have a problem with. One good audition and she has been pretty terrible
ever since. She sang her own song which was instantly forgettable and not a
patch on the X Factor’s other original song writer <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chico</st1:place></st1:city> and the much catchier, It’s Chico Time.
Ella was the best by a mile but that doesn’t always guarantee a win. Misha B
was the best last year but look what happened there. Ella is a nice girl but
she’ll need something else. People loved Stacey Solomon before Cowell called
her a singing candle then that was her chance gone. Saying all that though, she'll be a good girl (hopefully) stay at the headlines and win the whole thing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A quick word on the theme of the night. It was Olympic
Night; not that they put any effort into it at all. They invited some Olympians
but spent about 10 seconds acknowledging them. The theme is always a joke as
the judges will just pick whatever song they want. Remember Jamie Afro singing
a track off the soundtrack to Gummo. Classic.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=gary.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="XF 2012 17" border="0" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/gary.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How convenient a camera was there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But to the results night. Dermot was getting angry with
Louis, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>
made it obvious who the winner in the sing off should be and Rylan showed he
really just can not sing. I loved every moment of it. Yes it’s made loads of
headlines. There are screams of it being a fix and “real” talent is losing out
to the joke acts but let’s be honest; as nice as Carolynne is she was never going
to win. I sometimes think they put acts through like her so they can’t audition
anymore. Anyway, she's gone now. We'll probably have forgotten her in a couple of weeks so let's see what Louis can mess up next week shall we?<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-77861091208848724252012-10-07T11:24:00.000+01:002012-10-11T11:25:59.414+01:00The X Factor Blog: Holiday Time at Judges' HousesIt’s Judges’ Houses this week, where Dermot gets to go on 4
holidays in quick succession. Louis is in Las Vegas with Sharon Osbourne and
her unmovable face, Nicole and Ne-Yo are in Dubai, Tulisa’s vile yellow hair
and Tinie Tempah are in St. Lucia and Gary is at a lovely mansion in the heart
of England with *SURPRISE* Cheryl Cole! So expect some waterworks and bad
decisions as the judges whittle it down to the final 12.
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=cc.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="XF 2012 13" border="0" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/cc.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CC flies in.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were some easy decisions; Ella was always going
through from the first audition. There were some obvious decisions; who was
Brad in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>’s category?
Of course your lack of airtime means you aren’t making the live shows. There
was a female version of <a href="http://venkmanstantz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-x-factor-blog-peter-andre-principle.html">The Peter Andre Principle</a> in Jade Ellis. She’s got a
kid don’t you know. She wants her kid to have nice things. And yes, she could
just get a “normal” job but isn’t it better she goes on a TV talent show where
she’s away from her kid for a few months? Then if she does win it she’ll be
away from home even more! The money is much better than her being at home?
Right? RIGHT? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There seems to be an over abundance of crying this year too.
And deary me, all the girls looked horrendous with their make-up running down
their face. While we are on the subject of crying, how can we not mention Rylan
in the most unconvincing performance in X Factor history? He is nowhere near as
entertaining as Jedward, Wagner or even <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chico</st1:place></st1:city>.
But he is about as annoying as Katie Waissel and Kitty Brucknell. They could at
least hold a note though, whereas Rylan is just terrible. And why was he
dressed as a Jedi? There was no way he wasn’t going through though, the X
Factor needs an act like him; someone to divide opinion.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Another contestant I was a bit unsure about is Lucy Spraggan.
While you can’t deny her first audition was extremely popular, the comparisons
with Victoria Wood are obvious, but does she belong in this competition? She
only had that one good audition, all her others have been quite average and she
how will she cope singing Disco, Motown or Big Band? Let’s be honest, not all
her songs are going to be as fun as her first. The other song she has sung was
really forgettable; while they mean something to her, they aren’t actually very
good. Tulisa made the biggest Gamu-shaped mistake this year; Amy should have gone
through at the expense of Lucy who belongs on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">Britain</st1:country></st1:place>’s Got Talent. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=Lucy-Spraggan-2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="XF 2012 14" border="0" height="225" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/Lucy-Spraggan-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucy and that fucking guitar...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A few random irritations. What is Tulisa talking about when
she’s on about her “muffins”? The guy who left MK1 for 33% must be happy, good
luck trying to collect on that. I can’t stand the “it’s not good news… IT’S
GREAT NEWS” line. It’s so annoying and lame. Stop it. And the unsurprising
surprise twist involves the public picking up the phone for their favourite
wildcard. Surely it must be Amy. Won’t it?</div>
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Cheryl Cole makes her “comeback” this week with best bud <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Gary</st1:city></st1:place>. I’m convinced she
wants her spot back on the panel and this is her little way of seeing if the
public would take her back. She’ll be back as full time judge next year, and
we’ll have Gamu auditioning too. Hey producers! You can have that story line if
you want. I want 33% though please. </div>
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Final thought. We’ve got the final 12 but where’s my wind
tunnel and classy make-overs that we always get? The Celebrity Squares format
was not working for me. </div>
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Also, the contestants have sang Emile Sandi’s Read All About
It now. You’ve used that song choice up, that’s it, once only, no more. LET’S
NEVER HEAR OF IT AGAIN (Wishful thinking).<br />
<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-316078839330818752012-09-29T11:23:00.000+01:002012-10-11T11:05:04.046+01:00The X Factor Blog: Boot Camp- 72 Hours of ClichésLet’s welcome Nicole Schenziger back to the panel full time.
Anyone who’s been saying she should be dropped in favour of Mel B are crazy.
Give her a chance, she hasn’t done anything yet. Mel B had that one montage of
nasty comments and everybody was comparing her to some kind of reality TV show
monster. The rest of her work was pretty average or dull. Why are we inviting
the Spice Girls back into our lives???
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<br /></div>
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So, everybody is back at X Factor Boot Camp again. The
horrible VTs continue with us just “dropping by” to see the contestants pack
their bags and head off to <st1:place w:st="on">Liverpool</st1:place>. For most
of them though they shouldn’t have got off the National Express as they were dumped before Boot Camp even kicked off in the big surprise twist. The
big surprise twist that they did last year. They got a little party with JLS though
so swings and roundabouts. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=x-factor-boot-camp-gathan.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="XF2012 11" border="0" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/x-factor-boot-camp-gathan.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You will be missed Gathan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The “This is my once in a lifetime opportunity” phrase they
keep jabbering on about is a load of rubbish. We all know that the producers
will get them to return next year. It should be called the Ex-Factor the ridiculous
amount of ex contestants that have got through this far. </div>
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My favourite contestant was Gathan. There is a ready made
boy band with him, Rylan and Octavio. Make it happen Louis, MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Gathan is already convinced he has won the competition, it’s a shame he didn’t
make Judges’ Houses. He would have been really entertaining come the live shows.
</div>
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Anyone who shakes so much and is really nervous about
performing, well maybe you’ve chosen the wrong career and you really
shouldn’t be a national TV. It is so annoying and it does not endear me to you
(see Jahmene, Christopher).</div>
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We also had a few shocks. Joseph Whelan, the guy who would
give <a href="http://venkmanstantz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-x-factor-blog-peter-andre-principle.html">Peter Andre a run for this money in Dad of the year awards</a>, seemed like an
obvious choice to go to Judges’ Houses but fell short.</div>
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Rylan Clark. You know what the best thing about him? The
fact he wears t-shirts with his face on them like it’s the most normal thing in
the world.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=rylan.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="XF2012 12" border="0" height="400" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/rylan.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Rylan's many t-shirts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Where the hell did James Arthur’s Deidre glasses come from?
You can’t expect to add them and nobody is to mention them??</div>
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How do people let themselves be judged by Tulisa when she decided on having scarecrow
straw-yellow hair? </div>
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Was there a separate Jade category we weren’t informed
about?</div>
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We had Simon Cowell’s contractual involvement to try to get
the ratings up by ringing the judges to tell them who their category was. Absolutely
pointless. Louis has the groups AGAIN. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city>
has the Overs, Nicole is with the boys and Tulisa is with the girls. Why did
Tulisa shout like that when Simon called her? She pulled possibly the most
unattractive face she could have pulled. She does my head in. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So it’s Judges’ House next week. Let’s see who makes a
massive mistake and leaves someone great out. It’ll be Louis. It's always Louis. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-10324664031530049102012-09-23T19:05:00.000+01:002012-09-24T23:23:15.732+01:00The X Factor Blog: End of AuditionsIt's the last of the auditions this week; they seem to have
gone on forever this year, so we end on another double episode full of men
fawning over Tulisa, a new tactic to get noticed and Bianca Gascoigne. <br />
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First up we have an older gentleman who seems to hate
Tulisa. His “average old man audition” didn’t set Tulisa’s ears alight and he
was quite forthcoming in his opinion. “It was that fucking Tulisa’s fault.”
Calm down granddad!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=x-factor-judges2-460x307_zpse057e75f.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="XF2012 10" border="0" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/x-factor-judges2-460x307_zpse057e75f.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't smile too much Gary. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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Rita Ora was back and obsessed with finding someone who knows
themselves. What the hell does that actually mean? Especially in a karaoke competition? </div>
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Some great sob stories returned this week. The Rebecca <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ferguson</st1:place></st1:city> Story “I had
kids young and gave up my DREAM.” Wow, way to blame your children on your existence.
There was also a new tactic to getting on stage this week, someone claimed to have
gone to school with Tulisa. Now, we know that’s a lie. Tulisa never went to
school. She was far too busy being “gangsta” with her cousin and getting
terrible tattoos. There was another Jane McDonald-esq wannabe with an
annoying
<st1:place w:st="on">Nan</st1:place>, the women claimed she was 33 years
old,
but I highly doubt that. </div>
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One of the oddest auditions of the weekend was Bianca Gascoigne.
Not sure how I feel about ‘celebrities’ (this word is used in the loosest term
possible) auditioning. Some ex-contestants don’t know when to say “You know
what? I’ve had a couple of goes, it’s not worked out, and it’s time to choose
another career.” The judges really shouldn’t tell people they are a star, and
this is what they should be doing. Because they probably SHOULD be doing
something else. How long before we have X Factor WINNERS auditioning again? Slightly
surprised they didn’t let her go to the next round (they let through far worse people) if only
for a bit more publicity in the papers.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=BiancaGascoigne_zpseabdae9d.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="XF2012 9" border="0" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/BiancaGascoigne_zpseabdae9d.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the worse voice of the competition.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The guitars make me want to scream. This isn’t The Voice.
And what about Tulisa vs. Louis? Neither are current. Tulisa is so chav-tastic
and the whole “I’m really tough” attitude is so weak it’s embarrassing. And
Louis “I’ve sold a billion records” or whatever, no one cares what he has to
say. Tulisa moaning about fish and chips was a bit weird too, she probably
should have just toughed it out. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The section that must have been entitled “Everybody Loves
Tulisa” was bullshit. That many men all in love with her doesn’t seem natural.
Put Nicole next to her and let’s see who they choose. </div>
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<br /></div>
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So the auditions are all wrapped up now and Boot Camp
awaits. Expect “surprise twists”, people getting kicked out and maybe a band put together of rejects. Not long till the Live Shows, let’s get on with this shall we?<br />
<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405163060579887814.post-88514749307162949692012-09-22T12:56:00.000+01:002012-09-24T23:21:50.529+01:00True Blood Season 5 Episode 1: Turn! Turn! Turn! True Blood season 5 started on Monday night on FX and you can call it a lot of things but subtle isn’t one of them. Full of sex, blood and creative swearing it’s still not for the faint hearted.<br />
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<a href="http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/?action=view&current=TrueBloods5Poster002_zps29cf302c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="true blood s5" border="0" height="400" src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f399/missy_cool145/Random%20blog/TrueBloods5Poster002_zps29cf302c.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
<span class="s1">Read on for my spoiler filled review.</span><br />
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<span class="s1">It started off right where we left it. Tara has been shot by Debbie (Alcide’s ex) and Sookie took it upon herself to kill Debbie. With Sookie and Lafayette distraught, Pam turns up and they somehow convince her to turn Tara. Tara is not a fan of vampires but Sookie and Lafayette don’t want to say goodbye to their friend, so Pam does it as long as they help her get back into Eric’s good books. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Talking of Eric, him and Bill are still reeling from Sookie’s revelation that she doesn’t want either of them but can’t dwell to much on it as they’ve got to clean up the mess they’ve made. Bill staked Nan Flanagan after she threatened Sookie’s life. She wanted Bill and Eric to join her in overturning the American Vampire League (which she had just quit). But threatening Sookie was just a step too far and Bill staked her. The Authority caught them as soon as they left the building and they were taking away to be dealt with. However, Eric’s “sister” helped them escape and tried to get them new identities but the Authority knew exactly where they were and caught them again. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">We also had Sam having to deal with the aftermath of Alcide killing his own pack-master, Marcus. Unwilling to turn him in, Sam gets tortured by the pack to find out where Marcus’ body is. His mother seems scary, to say the least. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">A solid opening episode, it’s good to see Bill and Eric playing nice. Let’s hope they don’t stay away from Bon Temps for too long though. The episode ended with Tara rising from her grave and looking at Sookie like she was a free lunch. Making Tara into a vampire will at least give her something to do; for a character who seemed so important in the first series she really has faded into the background. But will it be a step too far for Tara? </span></div>
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<span class="s1">We also had the return of Reverend Steve Newlin who’s now a vampire (and in love with Jason), Russell Edgington is still on the loose, Terry possibly has some weird fire curse surrounding him and how does Jessica really feel about Jason? </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Random thoughts and favourite parts:</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Best line of the episode goes to Pam, just before getting into her grave with Tara. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">“I am wearing a Wal-Mart sweatsuit for y’all. If that’s not a demonstration of team spirt I don’t know what is.” </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Where did Jesus’ corpse go? Hopefully it’s not the end of him, Jesus was a great character in season 4.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">What does the Rev really want? After being the leader of the Fellowship of the Sun cult, who turned him into a vampire? And why is he after Jason? </span></div>
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<span class="s1">True Blood can do without Terry and Andy Bellefleur story lines. They don’t bring much to the series. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Eric’s “sister” was something they haven’t dealt with before on True Blood. Whilst not technically related (they share the same maker, Godric), it was still pretty weird when he introduced her to Bill as his sister after kissing her. And then the obligatory love scene. Anyone would think they just wanted to see Alexander Skarsgard naked. </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0