Except, a Joe-free game…isn’t really much different than the game with Joe. Sorry to see a player go out that way, but other than bringing Jalapao down in critical numbers, now that they’ve merged, I don’t see it affecting the game much.

And Brendan? Dude, when you have a secret alliance and wait too long to so much as wink at your alliance-mates? Could have sent your backside home. I hope the two-day reprieve turns things around for Taj & Co. because I don’t know how much more of Coach I can take.

I do know I can take giving away more free stuff! This week we went old school, back to the scavenger hunt and you guys came through like the happening blog babes that you are. I asked you to tell me which book the character Pepper appears in, and everyone got it right. The Cinderella Rules was indeed the correct answer.

And…yes, there is a reason I chose that character for the scavenger hunt this week. She is the character I get asked about most, in regards to giving her her own story. So…? Stay tuned!

The winner of the free book this week is? Blog Babe Judy A! Woo hoo!! Just drop me a note with your title choices (in case I’m out of your first choice) and I’ll add your prize to the pile of books I have yet to ship out - but I am!! No, really.

I hope everyone has a happy Easter! Or simply indulges in the excuse for making chocolatey goodness a big part of your weekend plans.

See you Monday with (YAY!) new Amazing Race MAC! If any of you have been following Our Phil on Twitter as he bikes across America, it sounds like an amazing, if absolutely grueling, trip. I’m enjoying the pics and posts. If you want to Phollow Phil too….click on my Twitter link and you’ll find him listed in my “Who I am following” window and can link direct from there.

Happy Hoppy Day everyone!

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Really, that is the highlight of last night’s Amazing Race. Everything else is just details.

So, this week, we’re still in Siberia and it’s still frakking cold. I was cold just watching this episode. (Nice mug of hot chocolate, with whipped cream, of course, made it a much easier episode to watch…) Unfortunately, I don’t think our racers had any of the warm, creamy stuff. Instead, they had to either drive snow plows or deliver very pretty Russian brides to their equally beautiful church.

Then, if they weren’t cold enough running around in the freezing wind and snow, one member of each team got to run through the town for two miles…in their underwear. (Have I mentioned how much I miss Kris and Amanda? What would my chances have been that Kris would have taken that challenge?) And, bless you, Phil for giving us such an accurate description of what you meant by “in their underwear.” (Phil is a boxer brief man, in case anyone is wondering…. God bless, TiVo, btw.)

Oh, and Team Redhead and Marge/Luke? You can’t fault Victor for moving along on the race course while you stop for directions. This is not a team effort, despite your desire to make it so. If you and Team Red want to team up, fine, but drag other teams into it, and then get upset when they, oh, I don’t know, actually run this course like it’s a RACE? Get over it a little. It doesn’t make him untrustworthy. It makes him a racer trying to win a million dollars. (Which, you kinda get given you booted out Amanda and Kris with that U Turn…before I could see Kris in his skivvies. I’m just saying, if you want to get irritated about something, how about that?)

In the end, Margie/Luke come in first, Team Red come in second, Victor and Tammy in third, everyone else follows, up to the Flight Attendants, who roll in last (literally…they have rolling luggage people. On a worldwide race…just sayin…) And then we finally hear those magic words from Phil….you’re the last team to arrive…but this is a non-elimination leg. Finally!

As to the teams left on the course, while there are some I like more than others, there aren’t any teams I flat out don’t like. They’re all running a decent race, seem to all get along much better than in seasons past, both with their partners and with the other races. I’m thoroughly enjoying that aspect of this season. A lot more fun to watch, show. Keep up the great casting.

That said…Team Weeble and Team Sis could leave next and I’d be okay with that. I like Team Stew’s attitude. Not the most consistent racers, but level headed. Team Red and Marge/Luke are fun to watch together, I like their spirit (despite them temporarily forgetting it’s a raaaaaaaaace.) And I even enjoy Victor and Tammy. Her comment about them not exactly breaking with Asian stereotypes when Victor couldn’t drive well was pretty funny.

Next week? India. It’s always the leg where killer fatigue sets in, and being faced with the smell, the heat, and the relentless poverty and over crowding usually just pushes teams past their limit. I don’t know that I see that in the previews…and I think that if any season of teams can kind of rise above some of the ugly American behavior that the India leg(s) invariably bring out, it would be this season. Let’s hope.

Also? Camels!! Always good for comedy gold.

This week we’re also looking forward to the next round of Dancing With the Stars and American Idol. (No Survivor this week….but more basketball and I’m ALL for that!!)

Right this very second, however, you can enter in this week’s giveaway.

And please, if you enter the weekly contest, don’t forget to check back right here every Friday to see if you win. We have a few unclaimed prizes….(Minna, Fedora…) and follow the directions to claim your prize! Good luck!

So, this week is my birthday week (I claim the whole week. Hey, it’s my last year being 40-something, I get a week.) And if I get to celebrate all week….so do you! All you have to do is comment on any blog entry this week to be entered. There will be one winner EVERY DAY! Yep, five winners this week. I will name a winner a day, starting tomorrow (for comments posted today) and ending Friday with two winners named that day. Every day, new blog, new chance to win.

Also? I have new cover art/copy to show off….starting tomorrow with the September mass market edition cover for Too All A Good Night…leading up to the hubba hubba cover for my November release, A Great Kisser!

Have a great week…..and GO MOUNTAINEERS!

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Two in a row….not sure what that means, but hey TGIF13!!

So, Survivor was interesting. Kinda hilarious reward challenge making dizzy people walk balance beams, then very physical immunity challenge, slamming around in the mud trying to catch balls in nets. JT even loses half a tooth. A shame this team didn’t win, just based on his effort alone, he earned that one. But no…

Not sure why Taj had such a meltdown over the whole thing, not smart gameplay, for sure. And it still baffles me that Stephen and Sydney are never targeted to go home despite not seeming to do much, but Spencer’s butt is on the line after one mistake. I thought he was a sweetheart, but was pretty sure his time was up, and sure enough…buh bye, Spence!

Two weeks until another round…we get the NCAA tournament instead and I, for one, am totally okay with that. GO Mountaineers!! Upset over Pitt! HA! Loved it. And did anyone catch that UConn game last night? OMG - SIX overtimes. THAT was some basketball right there. I think they were playng the equipment boys and a few cheerleaders by the time it was all said and done. Four and a half hours of basketball. Insane. And it ends with the upset by Syracuse? Could it be any better?? Now they have to play WVU tonight with no legs and no rest? Mean of me, but I’m totally okay with that, too. I’m not thinking they’re going to pull that out, which means we might just go to the finals. Wow, what a run.

Now on to Free Stuff!! This week I went easy on ya…just had to send me an email, and a whole lot of Blog Babes did just that. But there can only be one winner and that would be? Minna from Finland! Just send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with your title choices (send a few in case I’m out of your first choice) and I will get your book in the mail to you! (And I did finally get caught up with that - so if you’re waitng on your book, it’s on its way!!)

Check in next week because I have sneak peeks! Three, count them, three new covers coming your way!! And one of them? Hubba hubba is all I’m sayin. Bring something cold to drink. And a fan. Yowza.

Also…if you want another way to win a freebie, you can check out Blaze of Beauty and try to win one of my books, and maybe score a few really sweet candles while you’re at it.

AND…if you’re a Rhapsody Book Club member, I am the Author Spotlight this month, so go to their website and check out the “Under the Covers” interview about my latest release, LET ME IN!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone…see you back here on Monday!

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FINALLY, the show begins for reals. The Powers That Be have hinted that there would be a big twist this season, and Simon announces up front that two will go home tomorrow - not surprising since we started with 13 instead of 12 - then Ryan closes the show by announcing that the way we send home singers this season is gonna change…and the judges will have more say. See, America, this is what you get for keeping Sanjaya on the show for so long. You’ve brought this on yourselves.

The rumor is that the bottom two vote getters will have a sing off…and the judges decide who goes home. I am all for this and think it will lend a really exciting twist to the show. So…bring it on!!

The judges make a splashy entrance, enter stage center, which was supposedly Simon’s idea. And, if so…way to dress for the occasion, dude. Of course, if I’m being honest, I actually applauded, because if the world were left up to me (and, honestly, when will the world figure this out?) every day would be Casual Friday and all panty hose, high heels, neck ties, and suit jackets would be globally banned.

So, it’s time for the first round…and the theme? Michael Jackson. At least they can’t complain that there aren’t enough songs to choose from. I think he’s only just shy of the Beatle’s collection.

Lil Rounds is up first and sings The Way You Make Me Feel, put a bit of a bluesy feel to it and does a great job with the hella voice of hers. Agree with Simon that the outfit wasn’t perhaps the most flattering, but I admit it’s nice to see someone who isn’t a size minus zero for a change.

Scott is up next, and we’re getting a little family background with each singer and we learn that he’s been mostly blind since birth, as has his sister, despite no history of it in either family. Now, he’s a darling guy and so very, very earnest, but I don’t find his music all that riveting. He sounded tons better tonight with the keyboard at hand, but sang a little known MJ song, Keep The Faith, which also didn’t move me, but did make me think that perhaps his music career could go the spiritual route and he might do well for himself there. But as a pop idol, not so much with me. Sorry, Scott.

We managed to get all the way through the family information section on Danny Gokey and it had nothing to do with his deceased wife, so…that was a bonus. He comes from quite the clan, with a father who is apparently the reincarnation of Burl Ives. Or just thinks he is. Danny sings PYT, which…okay. Let’s see how that works out. Interesting take on the song. He gives it all he’s got and does a pretty decent job…I think he’ll be one who will benefit, much as David Cook did, from the polishing this show will give him. All the elements are there, but they need a bit of smoothing out and refining. Still….pretty darn good opener. Judges are digging it.

Next up, oil rig boy, Michael Sarver, and it seems like all these singers so far have had a tough life. He’s singing You Are Not Alone. A ballad…and he does a very nice job with it, which is good considering I haven’t been a big fan. I’m not a huge ballad fan, mostly because they all sound the same. So you really need to bring something unique to it, either a really distinctive voice or a change up on arrangment. Michael just does a decent job singing it. So, while nice, not memorable. Unlike Gokey, who you know who is singing the minute you hear him…this guy could be anybody. Sorry, Mike! Judges are diggin it. Me, not as much. Because singing passionately isn’t going to be enough this season - everyone here can sing passionately, and everyone wants it. You gotta bring more.

So what is Jasmine wearing? Sort of Mod Squad Meets An Unfortunate Pepto Bismal Incident. She comes from a very photogenic family. Dang. Mom needs to rethink the hair, though. Okay, so she’s going with I’ll Be There. Another ballad, but this one is more distinctive on its own, so all she has to do is bring the vocals, which isn’t a problem for her. But, again, she’s a very good singer and she delivers, but I don’t know that you’d know her voice on the radio and I think that’s what it’s going to come down to this year, amongst this group. Still, enjoyable evening of singing so far. But I haven’t been compelled to hit iTunes yet….

I’m already fast forwarding through Paula’s comments and we’re only four singers in on round one….just sayin.

Okay, what the hell is this new show, Glee? I seriously think I must watch this. Or get a gig as a staff writer there.

On with the show…we’re up to cutie patootie Kris, who has a really deep voice for a not so massive dude. Aw, he’s a newlywed and they’re ridiculously cute. I hope he brings it, because I really want to like this guy. He’s singing Remember the Time and we get him with the guitar. I think he’s definitely more comfortable with it, and he does a bit of a current Maroon Five-y version of the song, and while it’s not a knock-out-the-park performance for me, it is relevent, which is the first time this evening anyone has come close to approaching that. Yes, even Gokey. So, you go, Cute Patoot!

Paula, somewhere deep down, below all the pharmaceuticals, does actually have a point. But my life is simply not long enough to wait around for her to figure out how to articulate it.

Jello Hair Girl, Alison, is up next and still has a massive voice, but not so much with the personality, although certainly better. She’s singing Give In To Me…and sounds like she’s had this long life filled with too much partying and too little sleep, so how that happens at 16 I have no idea, but it’s just jarring for me. I know, I’m not giving her the props she really deserves, because she has a rock star level of talent…but she’s uncomfortable for me to watch and listen to. (And wow, until they work on the whole speaking spontaneously thing, she needs to just stand there a nod a lot. Because Jason could pull of the stoner thing and be adorable….Alison just sounds like she’s strung out.)

So, Anoop is up next and given his love of 80’s tunes, I’d think this theme would be right up his alley! I heart his family. Awww. He goes with Beat It. Wow, big song for him. Liking the new tighter hair style, and love that he’s abandoned the sweater-geek look, but still wears a tie under his jeans/army jacket ensemble. Seriously, you have to love this guy’s commitment to his true self. However, with this particular tune, unless he’s going bring the dance moves with it, it’s going to come out thin and wanting. And it does. He definitely goes for it, but not the right song choice. Not without a tightly choregraphed dance crew on stage with him. Sorry, A-Dawg, because you know I love you. I’m worried about you now.

Jorge…wow, what a clan. Extended doesn’t do justice to how big his family is. Nice to see the love and support. He’s singing Never Can Say Goodbye. I happen to really love this song, and he does a nice job with it, but memorable? Probably not. Needed a bit more funk bassline and earnestness, both of which should have been natural for him. Come on, Jorge, don’t let me down! I don’t want to be saying good-bye to you already.

Meghan’s turn. Gee. Can I go get some snacks? Take five? No? So…she congrats her bro on turning 21 -and we see him in all his stoner glory in the audience. Yo, dude, have you checked out Jello Girl? I see future couple all over that pair. Also, Meghan, with the full arm tattoo, yeah, the whole Katy Perry outfit? Wow, just all kinds of nauseating. Mom, however, pretty stunning. Hard to picture Meghan herself as a mom, though. She seems so young. So very. She’s singing Rockin Robin. Because….really? And, oddly, I’m kind of digging her voice more, which - quel shock! - but wow, what a cheese-tastic song to sing. She does actually have a distinctive voice, but where did this choice even come from? Yikes. About as anti-relevant as you can get. Times ten. Hated it. And the even cheesiertastic dancing it rode in on.

Yay, we finally get to my favorite new gay television boyfriend! Woo! Adam Lambert arrives and he’s singing Black & White…interested to see what he does with that. Can he just sing a couple of songs and we can skip straight to tomorrow? So..okay, pay attention everyone - THAT? Is stage presence. He owns. OWNS. Because, that song? Seriously? Who would do that? And I’m totally downloading it right now. Right after I go back and watch it again. Holy sh*t. I need something cold to drink….and then I want to go shopping with him.

I hope for the sake of the next up, it’s a long commercial break.

We get Matt Giraud AND his piano and I am all over that. Two faves in a row! He sings Human Nature, and I’ll be honest, not my fave performance, but I know I’m going to be downloading this guy this season. I can watch and listen to him sing for hours and I really, really like the quality and sound of his voice. He’s distinctive and current and I am all about keeping him around for weeks to come. Nicely done!

Pimp spot goes to Alexis. She’s singing Dirty Diana, which is all kinds of awesome. She looks great. However, as she opens, she’s only getting half of each word out before rushing on to the next…let’s hope she gets in the groove and delivers. Because I think we know after tonight, that anything less is not going to win you this contest. And, to give her props, she does totally go for it. Not sure she has the strength of voice, in terms of punch (aka Jello Girl) to really rock it the way she’s trying to, but big props for going for it one hundred percent.

All in all…probably one of my favorite first rounds ever, to be honest. I think we have a really talented group this season, nary a Sanjaya or Christy Lee in the bunch. Even the less than memorable performances were solidly delivered, if not necessarily recording artist caliber. But a very entertaining night. With some stand out faves that are going to make this a very interesting season indeed. And if we really do get the sudden death sing offs? Oh, I am ALL over that.

Tops? Adam, Matt, Kris, Lil, Danny, and Alison (….because what else can you do? Mediocre she’s not.)
Middlin’ but could move up: Alexis, Jorge
Entertaining, but I won’t be downloading…yet: Jasmine, Anoop
Will probably be typing my blog while listening: Scott, Michael, Meghan

Which two will go home tomorrow…I have absolutely no idea. It’s that good this season, y’all.

What did you think? Because now? Is your time to DISH!!

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So, American Idol: Round 3 wasn’t as difficult, it seems, as we might have thought it would be. However, for being the best of the three rounds, performances-wise, the little show opener number was horrifyingly craptastic. (They had the guys all sitting, if you wanted to know how they resolved the blindness issue.) But that was not why it was so crappy. These singers might have done fairly well separately, but together they were horrible. Truly horrible. And their stage presence not much better, all together now. Wow.

So, I ff on to learn who’s going through. To the surprise of no one, Lil is the top female for round 3…and Scott is picked top guy. Then it was down to Ju’not and Jorge for the final spot….and it went to? Jorge! And? I’m very okay with that.

This means we have a whole lotta guys in the top 9 and only three women. 2 - 1 odds there. Makes ya wonder if there was no top female/top male requirement, what the division would be.

Anyhoo…so now we’re on to naming the 8 contestants who will be given another shot at filling the final three spots, who will be chosen by the judges after a sudden death round of singing tomorrow night. (Wow, this better be fantastic, y’all.) They brought back a bunch (but not all) of the previous contestants, then threw in the leftovers from tonight (since they didn’t know in advance who would make it through.) The judges were given a commercial break to confer on if any of the current crop should go through and who, if anyone, from who’d they’d already decided on, should be dropped. They did say there was a last minute change up.

Now, looking over the group they brought in (not including the group three leftovers, only a few of which would have been there if this happened next week) I thought they did a pretty good job in bringing in the folks we really have a vested interest in. They pick 4 guys and 4 girls…so enough girls if they put through all girls to even out the score…but given the guys on the bench, I am highly, highly doubtful it will turn out that way. At least, just from past performances, I’d be stunned if it was all women from this bunch.

Biggest surprise? Ricky Braddy. Love that choice and am very, very glad he made it in for one last shot. Biggest disappointment? Yep, they brought her back. Goddess Whacknut. (What WAS she wearing, btw? Yikes!) Who did I want in from the assembled group who didn’t make it? Ju’not. But I don’t know who I’d have booted, so that was a hard call. Well, yes I do. Megan Corkrey. (I know…seriously?) In a heartbeat. But I would have put Felicia in her place, if we had to have 4 guys, 4 girls.

The remaining five are: Anoop (wheeee!), Von, Matt Giraud, Jesse Lengseth (who was the last minute switch in..wonder who they switched out? Ouch!), and Jasmine. And really, can’t complain about that crowd….except we could have had Ju’not and Felicia and not Megan/Tatiana….but mostly it’s good.

I will hate this show forever if they put Tatiana through. She was already in full whack mode tonight. I cannot do that every week, y’all. Tomorrow is my limit. After that, my spirit will be broken.

So…who do I want to go through? Anoop, Ricky or Matt, and Jesse. (Sorry, Jasmine, but Lil will pound you to dust, and I’d rather have another bluesy interesting singer…) And if it ends up being Anoop, Ricky, and Matt…well, I would be fine with that outcome as well. Sorry, ladies.

What did you all think? Who’s in? Who’s out? And shouldn’t we give Nick/Norman (who was in the Bring Back crowd, btw) a blog or something for this season? Anyone?

DISH! (And, wow, if anyone wants to dish on the trainwreck that was apparently the season finale of The Bachelor, feel free. I don’t watch the show, and just got brought up to speed on what happened, and dude….seriously? There should be a mandatory waiting period for this guy to ever buy another diamond. Just sayin.)

Tomorrow I’ll announce the winner of this week’s blog candy - see Tuesday’s post for details on how to enter. Good luck!

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Sorry for the MAC delay. The lovely snowstorm we had yesterday altered my world quite a bit, but things are back on an even keel today!

So…on Amazing Race, Victor learned (we hope) that just because he’s nine years older, he’s not always right, after the Bataan March he made his sister walk over the mountains and back. Whereas his sister learned that she’s brilliant, but incredibly uncoordinated. (I know, but seriously, it was a cartwheel and a somersault. On the floor. Not a back flip dismount off a balance beam.)

Kris learned to keep his fanny pak on him at all times so they won’t lose out first place again. Mel and Mike, however, learned that perseverance (and being brave enough to wear a leotard…a really tight leotard) might get you a trip to Costa Rica when you hit the mat first.

All the other teams learned that things go a lot better when you all get along with each other.

And, finally, Victoria and Brad learned to never take an alternate flight that no one else is taking where your connecting window is less than half an hour. They have a lot of time to think about this now, as they hit the mat last.

Oh, and we learned that this is apparently the “locals drink, play music, and laugh at the racers” season. It’s becoming a trend. I am okay with this.

Tonight? The last 12 sing and I hope we finally get to learn how the wild card part is going to go. I think it’s all this week. Which is good. I am ready for the show to begin. Hopefully tonight’s group, with the added benefit of more practice time and seeing their fellow contestants crack under the pressure, will figure out way to, you know…sing well. Just a thought.

Right this very second, however, you can enter this week’s Blog Candy giveaway. Send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “No rules, no guessing, just send me a book!” in the subject line. On Friday, I will pick a name from the entries and announce it right here.

So…who are you liking this season on Amazing Race? I’m not disliking anyone, really, not like other seasons anyway. Looking foreward to tonight’s round of 12….and next week? We get dancing again! Yay! (I also heard that So You Think You Can Dance will be back in May - double yay!)

Your turn…DISH!

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So, lots of things to talk about….

But first is my slow recovery from the massive disappointment that was the Top Chef finale. Carla, Carla, Carla. Hootie…why did you return back to your self-doubting ways and listen to Casey? I mean, did you NOT see her season? Worst finale flameout ever. Seriously. I know this is on you, but I have to say…Shut up, Casey! And? How in the world was having Casey there remotely equal to having Richard, or even Marcel? Where was someone like, oh, Tiffani? Who was a close runner up. Not the biggest flame out of all time. And then? And THEN? They go and choose freaking tool Hosea for the win? See, this is why it should have been Fabio in his place, then any finish would at least have been satisfying on some level. Did he deserve the win based on his final meal…maybe. But I truly think the final win should cover the whole season of food…and that would have (obviously) been Stefan. Which might have been a bit anticlimactic, sure…but a hell of a lot more satisfying than freaking Hosea. Wow. Horrible, horrible end to an otherwise entertaining season. Oh, and Stefan? For all your boastful, Finnish ways, when Carla’s tears undid you? You won me over. I think he’s a little more dry and a lot more complex than was shown. But…what can you do? Enjoy the 100K Hosea. Gag. Here’s holding out hope Carla wins fan fave….or Fabio. Give that man a blog, Bravo!

And then we have the next batch of American Idols announced, and it’s not exactly a shock to learn that Adam and Jello Hair Girl Allison are in. All we were really waiting on was who made the third spot. And though I’m okay with it, as he was one I had tagged, I found myself disappointed it was Kris and not, perhaps, one of the other girls, like Mishavonna or Jesse. Watching them all perform the group song in the beginning (and wasn’t it weird watching Nick/Normund sing straight? So odd.) it was clearer who had stage presence and who didn’t and Kris? Wow, really not so much. Now we wait for the last batch, which isn’t just the drama and pain that is Nathan Headband, but Von, JuNot, Jorge, Lil, and a bunch of “who are they’s?” sing this go around, so….could be interesting. Or not, as the past two weeks have shown. Then we finally get the wild cards and perhaps something fun back in the mix to round out what is, thus far, a kind of lackluster top group.

Alright…now on to Survivor. First, it was weird coming off of AI and going straight to Survivor as Spencer, the young guy, looks like Nick Mitchell and that was just..all kinds of wrong and confusing a little bit. Anyway- this week we get more of Coach being a total assbag. And while I love the fact that Tyson totally acknowledges this and is just playing him….Tyson isn’t exactly a lovely individual, either. And didn’t you think, when Jerry was voted off for being ill, that they made it look like Coach and Tyson were caught off guard? Like maybe they’d voted for Erinn? Except the closing credits showed everyone voted for Jerry except Jerry. A shame on that, because I liked the guy. Who am I liking most right now? Taj, hands down. Her little secret alliance with Brendan is awesome. Hope the plan to bring Stephen and Sierra in works. Could be one of the most fun secret alliances in Survivor. If they pull it off. Also…will Brandon tell Taj he found his idol? I think he will…

Now, on to the most fun part! Free stuff! Not to many of you voted for Hosea, so your chances were pretty high here, but there can only be one winner, and that is? Blog Babe Lee Ann! Woo hoo!! And everyone who posted a comment are in the running for the second prize…and that winner is? Rachael! Send me your address if you haven’t already…and a few choices (in case I’m out of your first one) and I’ll get books in the mail.

Have a great weekend all….tune in Monday for some Amazing Race MAC and more chances to win Free Stuff!!

So…what did you think about the Top Chef finale? Who is your fave left to be in the Final 12 of AI? Who would you send to Wild Card? For me…Anoop is an easy inclusion, Mishavonna, and Jesse…

DISH!

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So, last night on Amazing Race, good teams went bad, bad teams went good, then bad teams kinda went bad again…and yay, another great leg of the race!!

We started off with Steve resigning his That Guy club membership by apologizing to his wife for his behavior on the first leg and becoming supportive guy who says nice things about his wife. Aww, way to go, Steve!

Then Team Weeble gets all cocky - on Leg Two, mind you - and loses their edge by not calling ahead for plane tickets to Germany, and goes from third to last in one missed plane swoop. Hopefully they’ll learn early that it’s always a RAAAAAACE!

Mom/Son are still rocking, and I thought it was great that the weather gods decided to let Mel have his paraglide over the Bavarian Alps. Very cool!! And I love that he was so appreciative of his opportunity to do this - and also that he’s serious about being a full partner in running this race, despite being Old Guy (and Old Guy with a groin injury to boot!) Go Mel!

Now it’s Segway Obstacle Course! Not as entertaining as the Cheese Hill….but wait! The other option is cream cake target throwing! And the target? The other teammate! HA! And there are more beer drinking and music playing locals to laugh, and laugh, and laugh at the cake covered racers. Yay, challenge designers! Good times.

Team Lawyer Sibs are doing really well, and Victor seems to be understanding that just because he’s ten years older, doesn’t mean he has to direct everything, but he acknowledges its hard to undo a lifetime of it being the other way. I like this team - they’re both competant and likable and having a great time. Laughing through the pie throwing challenge and, in general, rocking this race. I do wonder how things will go when they experience setbacks, which all teams do at some point. For now…we like them. (And ha! on his sister telling him to stop singing - he’s just so giddy with how much fun he’s having, it’s kind of cute. I’m liking him. This week.)

Cool wood stamping clue thing! And having to ask a local for directions while covered in cake was also amusing. Definitely a much easier leg than the first and somewhat anticlimactic, but still interesting to see how the teams, who all left within one hour of each other, have changed leads and places throughout this leg.

Aww, okay so now I feel sorry for Linda Lost In The Alps. I was so proud of her for tackling her fear of heights in offering to do the paraglider, only to have to defer because of the winds and walk down. It does look like the trail down wasn’t marked very often, as other racers did worry at times that they’d somehow gone off course…but somehow Linda manages to get so far off track she ends up on a road at the bottom of the hill and has to hitchhike back to the cable car place. Which doesn’t appear to be a short drive. Wow, Linda. And awww, he’s still supportive when she shows up late and last. Good job, ex-That Guy!

Okay, so now Victor and his sing-songing is getting a bit much, but he’s still cutely excited. They are team number one. And they seem to have a pretty commanding lead.

Yay, more cake with Team Cute Couple! And they’re also having fun with this. I love them all going to the pitstop with cake all over them. Mom/Son are having a bit more of a struggle with the cake - other teams got to the cherry filled one pretty quickly. Mel/Mike decide to go the Segway route, apparently having done them before. Hope the obstacles don’t hurt Mel! Man, Mom/Son are still throwing pies! Ha!

It seems like the teams are all catching up, to some degree, at the pie/Segway task. Not sure how far behind Steve/Linda are, but I hope they have a chance to finish. Besides, I’m sure that even as nice as he’s being, Steve wouldn’t mind tossing a pie at his wife right about now. Not that I blame him, really. Not this time.

Mel/Mike make up massive time doing the Segway and get to the pitstop castle, only to be able to see Phil at the Amazing Bathmat through a locked gate, which they cannot open. After some very awesome eyebrow porn from Phil, a local walks up and casually opens the gate. Don’t you hate that? That would so be me. They are Team Number 2.

Amander/Chris, Team Cute Couple are Team Number 3. Margie/Luke, Team Mom/Son are Team 4, which Phil signs again, because he’s freaking awesome. And shocks Luke who was convinced the cake challenge cost them major time. Brad/Victoria, Team Older/But Fit couple is Team 5.

To the surprise of no one, Team Weeble takes the stunt Segway challenge. Everyone who did this challenge seemed to have little problem with it. And weren’t covered with pie, to boot. Team Flight Attendant are slinging pies…and still no sign of Linda/Steve. Sky is growing dark.

Team NFL Cheerleader Jaime/Cara are Team 6. Linda/Steve show up as Team Flight Attendant leave the pie shack, so they made up decent time, but I don’t see them making it past this leg. A shame really, all things considered. There are other teams who are kind of interchangeable at this point (Yes, I’m looking at you Team Cheer and Team Stewardess) and at least these two are entertaining and memorable. Ah well.

And then Team Stew gets totally lost trying to find the wood slicer and gives Steve/Linda a chance to catch up…almost. Teams get lost trying to find the pitstop, but Team Sisters, Kisha/Jen are Team 7, Team Weeble is Team 8, Team Stewardess is Team 9…and? Yep, Linda/Steve are last. Boo. And here, last week I wanted them gone. Whoda thunk? Ah damn, a shame they didn’t get further. And you’re right, Linda…hold on to that, it is priceless.

Next week? Romania! Gymnastics! In leotards! (Okay, so maybe now I’m not all that upset about Steve and Linda not being here…) Ooh, Team Lawyer sibs get some conflict, so I guess that question will get answered sooner rather than later. And Team Cutie might be pulling a very unfortunate Dallas Manuever next week with their fannypak! Ack!!

Tune in tomorrow for all the details on how to win free stuff this week. And? DISH! Who is your fave team? Who do you want gone from your television screen? Which names won’t you bother to learn? And who watched the Oscars? Penelope? Really? And not Mickey?? I did like how they did the presentations. Maybe one of the better formats I’ve seen in a long time. Well done, show!

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First, on American Idol, we’re down to three from the first group. Alexis Grace makes it in and sings well again…then my spirit is broken a little when Michael Sarver makes it in over Anoop and sings like a bar band guy, again….wrapping up with the fake drama surrounding Tatiana and Danny, and to the shock of no one, Danny makes it in and Tatiana tries to melt down all over the place while he sings out (also not the best singing…again) and though the camera finds her several times she’s given no actual airtime to share her breakdown with us. (Currently on the top five list of things to be thankful for.)

Notable? No one really did much consoling to Tatiana. I think she’s been so toxic no one wanted the crazy all over them. She basically had to corner the poor 16 year old into giving her some comfort. A bit disappointed that Danny’s first impulse was to bask in his own momentary glory and not at least turn and glance at his competitor…but when you see everyone scurry away from her in her moment of rejection, that’s kind of telling. Plus, do you really think she’d have remembered he was on stage at all if she’d won? So…I’m just walking away from that.

Hope we get Ricky and Anoop in the wild card round. I also fear we’ll get Tatiana just so they can humiliate her some more. All of that, and the picture of Danny’s wife, all need to go far, far away from this show now. Seriously. Move along, nothing to see here.

On Top Chef we’re also down to three….only not the three I was hoping for. Everyone brought their A game to the finale in New Orleans and prepared excellent dishes. That said, comparatively speaking, Stephan more or less phoned it in and coasted into the finals on his former laurels. His bottom two placement in the last two challenges no longer makes him a lock for the win, at least in my mind. Hosea, unfortunately, totally stepped it up and deserved his place in the final three (even over Stephan) while Fabio faltered just slightly enough to be the one sent packing. (Sob!) Jeff was brought back to be given another shot, and if anyone had stumbled at least a tiny bit more, he might have made it through, but was sent packing again, albeit with his head held much higher.

And that leaves? Carla! Who won last night, the challenge, the new car, and more of my heart. Love her. Whoda thunk, way back in the beginning of the season, that not only would she still be around, and be such a strong, worthy contender, but that we’d all love her so much. Yay, show! Yay, Carla!

Next week….12 more singers to slaughter on AI…and three chef’s to the finale on Top Chef. Tonight? Survivor. In the rain. A lot of it, from the looks of it.

Tomorrow….winner of this week’s giveaway is announced right here. See Tuesday’s blog for details on how to enter! Good luck!

And? DISH!!

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American Idol introduces us to their final 36…and a new twist on “Chair Night.” This time, when they were “undecided” they brought two contestants in and made them sing. Right there. For your life. Screw the nerves. Of course, the guy in the hall waiting to go second always had the advantage…and always won, in each case. So….fair? I think not. Seriously screwing with their psyche? Most definitely. I’m not a huge fan of that.

In the end, most of the faves made it through - Danny, Anoop, Oil Rig guy, Welder Guy, Visually Impaired Guy, Von, Adam, Lil, Mishavonna, Joanne, Junot, Kai…and the list goes on. It even includes people we’ve never before seen in our lives. I know. Including two guys in the first sing off - hard to care, you know?

Disappointments? Oh, there were those, too. Danny stays, but his best friend, Jamal…goes. Norman stays (a surprise really, but I can’t be too upset because I heart him)….and then they kept Nathanial Headband and Whole New Level of Crazy Tatiana. I know. The only upside is that now they can be voted off by America. Live. In front of millions of people. Punitive of me? Yes. But so was being forced to watch their pointless drama these past three weeks. Only fair, I think.

Net week we get 12 of the 36 singing for their lives…and we vote. Finally.

On Top Chef last night, it was a good challenge. Carla wins the Quickfire with green eggs and ham (you had to be there, totally earned. Go Tortoise!) and earns Wylie Dufresne’s admiration. (Is it me, or is he a strange fella? Like the Willy Wonka of chefville. With eggs.) The elimination challenge is even better Some of the top chefs on the planet (and off, from the way they were pimped) chose what they’d have as a last meal…then the chef’s had to prepare it. Everyone pulled a name knife…and we’re off.

So, it’s all good until someone breaks a finger - and that person is my fave, Fabio. Who has possibly one the best quotes ever, which is something like “I’ve been kick-ed in the ass so much that I could still be finding shoes up there.” Love. Him. Squared. But he continued on, despite being seriously hampered by a bum hand. Much respect there. And not only did he persevere - he wins! YES. With Carla a very close second. In the bottom? Stephan. I know! It was a gratifying night all around. But nothing tops the ultimate gratification of Leah being told to finally — FINALLY! — being told to pack her knives and go. Yes. There is a Santa Claus…now if he could just visit the AI set and get rid of the crazy….

And almost all the Blog Babes voted for Leah…so stiff competition this week! But there can be only one winner….and? Congratulations Marie! Wooo hoooo! Contact me with your mailing address and your top title picks (in case I’m out of your first choice) and I’ll pop your prize in the mail.

Tonight - Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice crossover goodness. And? Survivor is back, Survivor is back! Tune in tomorrow for some Season Premiere MAC.

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