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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This is becoming painful now, folks. But we’re finally down to 50, and they promise us that tonight we get to see the top 36. Which means next week? ALL SINGING! And, more importantly, we vote!

We did get to see glimpses of a few auditions and even a few new (to us) faces. In that category, I particularly liked Junot Joyner. Overall, the guys are more impressive (to me) thus far, than the ladies, although there are some very strong voices in both. (But, for the love of all that is holy, retire that Carrie Underwood song. Seriously.)

Liked Dueling Piano guy, wasn’t as impressed with Visually Impaired guy. Adam Lambert still makes me stare. I’m not sure I actually listen. I just stare. Still love Danny Gokey, feeling Jamar to a degree. Anoop getting all Bobby Brown with his bad self was just enjoyable as all hell. Aaaaaaand….can’t remember many of the gals. Mishavonna…liked her smokey voice (although wow, fashion don’t.) Still liking Jasmine, and Lil can hammer a tune. A lot of the country singers, all good, sound interchangeable to me. No names are sticking with me there. Did I mention Anoop doing My Prerogative? Can we vote yet?

Most disappointing for me was the fact that once homeless and adorable Laneshe and Woodland Creature Jr were both let go….and yet Tatiana and Nathan remain. Even Nick/Norman is through over them (although, I heart him, I really do. Pure entertainment, totally wrong venue.) But seriously, I NEED to see Tatiana Hysterics and Nathan Drama come to an ugly end. They owe me now. I don’t care if she can sing, she makes Amy Winehouse look like a Scout Troop leader.

We can only hope tonight we finally get reveng–er, justice. Then again…is it true if you make it to the final 50 you’re ineligible to audition for the show? Ever? Because….there might be some twisted logic in that. Twisted being the key word, but if it gets them off my television for ever and ever and ever…and ever, then I can live with one more night.

Oh….and am I the only one who is noticing, between the Grammy outfit Sunday and American Idol last night that Paula is slowly being assimilated by the Borg? Just me?

Also, during “the chair” episode of a very special American Idol tonight…I will love Norman forever if he enters the room and rocks it out Flashdance style. Who’s with me?

Don’t forget to enter this week’s freebie contest. Details in Monday’s post - cut off is 10pm EST this evening!! Good luck!

And? DISH of course. Who are you loving? Who, besides the oh so very, very obvious, are you hatin? Who do you wish you could hear sing for once, dangit?

And, seriously, did you watch The Mentalist? Show of hands on who loved Cho as a gigolo? Best. Episode. Ever.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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They announced the new celeb line up for Dancing With The Stars yesterday and, as usual, it’s…different. This season there is a husband/wife team competing against each other, Jewel and Ty Murray (she the singer, he the champion bull rider), a dating couple competing as a pair - Julianne Hough will be paired with boyfriend, country singer Chuck Wicks, and a pair of engaged pros (Maks and Karina) competing against each other. Make what you will of all that. I’m not sure how much I care about that twist yet, but suppose time and a few broadcasts will tell…

Other competing celebs are: Computer guru Steve Wozniak, Go Go Brenda Carlisle, gymnast Shawn Johnson, NFL great Lawrence Taylor, tv host Nancy O’Dell, actors David Allen Grier and Denise Richards, singer Lil Kim, actor Gilles Marini, and….filling in the love-to-hate slot, Steve O. Yep. I know. Let’s hope the experience is realllly humbling.

Haven’t seen who is paired with whom (other than Julianne) but assume that will start to show up today. The competition starts March 9, so the hoofing practice should be commencing today.

And, in the More Importantly Column…..time to giveaway a free book! Woo hoo!

We’re totally playing Who Is Going Home this week on Top Chef. So that means you have until Wednesday night at 10pm EST to send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “Pack Your Knives!” in the subject line and your guess in the email. You don’t even have to watch the series to play - after all, it’s a guess no matter what. Your choices are: Fabio, Stephan, Carla, Hosea, and, amazingly, still…Leah. Winning Blog Babe announced right here on Thursday - maybe it’ll be you!

Also this week….more AI MAC (and you never know, it might actually include commentary on singing…if there is any) and Friday, check back for all the MAC on the opener for this season of Survivor. And one week from today? Amazing Race MAC is back! Yay!! Who needs a groundhog when we have reality television seasonal programming to announce that spring really is right around the corner?

So….DISH! What do you think about this season’s DWTS line up? Early favorites?

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Thanks to everyone for entering this week’s Free Stuff Contest. So many entries this week, I’ve decided we should have two winners. Whoo hoo! Winning Blog Babes this week are: Nancy C and Tina K! Please contact me at donna@donnakauffman.com with your address and a few titles from my website bookshelf (in case I’m out of your top choice) and I’ll get your FREE STUFF in the mail to ya!

Check back in next week for more chances to win, more MAC, and, hopefully, a sneak peek at some upcoming releases!

Have a safe and warm weekend.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Okay, so I totally agree how harsh it is to force kids who are all, ultimately, competing for one open spot, that being winner of American Idol, to sing in a group together where they can essentially have a hand in destroying someone else’s shot…but I have to admit that I did spend a little time thinking about some fun groupings after last night’s show…because, seriously, can you see “Crawling Off My Skin” guy, with Joplin Girl, Von Smith, Pole Dancer, and Norman? Yes, cruel, but why not just lump them all together in clusters and leave the normal people to duke it out more professionally? Okay, so Norman doesn’t deserve that fate…but the rest?

But no, tragically, we have other groupings entirely…equally horrific for but for entirely different reasons. I guess they are left to form their own teams, which, in and of itself is like the worst version of high school PE pick ‘em you could imagine. I know I’d get stuck with the last choice losers. I know this. So I felt for some of these people, I really did. Others? Not so much…you chose these people, deal with it!

Except for the group that ended up with…The Giggler. Tatiana. Wow, she didn’t get cut? For reals? It’s almost too much for anyone to bear, really. And then poor Rose gets stuck with Bikini Girl and her Sorority Sisters (Jasmine, really? I’m so disappointed in you. Choose better!)

On the other hand, Danny’s group is kicking A. Love them, rehearsin in the kitchen.

Tatiana OMG please! Go away. Could we just put her with Skin Crawley guy and watch them completely implode? Wow, with the crazy, already. I am never usually a fan of bus throwing under? But here….wow, I’ll drive the damn bus. Waaaaay too much time on the crazy. Dollops of crazy works well, sprinkled in amongst all these great singers we’re supposed to have. But..not so much with that tonight apparently.

The first group knocks it out of the park…and where have they been hiding those guys? All go through. Which, they have to know they can easily crank the numbers down just by eliminating the crazy. Then there was the Simon Edict - forget the words, you’re out. Which, if you were super confidant up to that point about remembering them, wouldn’t that just freak twist your brain out? Would mine.

This was followed by? The Forget The Lyrics and Sucky Groups montage. Which goes on. And on. Wow. Emily is gone and I can’t even feel sorry…remember the dang words! And shut up, Ryan Pinkston. (Norman makes it through, people. Come on. I’m just sayin! You can’t top that?) And, honestly, yes Simon can be trying, but at the same time….you’re the final 100 out of hundreds of thousands. GET IT RIGHT for gods sake. Sheesh. I’d be fed up, too. It’s a waste of time and someone else’s talent.

And then? Robert Downey Jr Jr comes and saves us all. With his group. I’m officially on that train. Wow, and then Oil Rig guy totally owns me, followed by squeeeee Adam freakshow Lambert (really, I have Freddy Mercury flashbacks, I can’t help it) so, things are finally looking up. Yes, yes, I know this is about to come to a crashing, flaming halt…so let me enjoy the pretty, people! Apparently we’re only going to get brief glimpses of actual talent tonight.

Time for the flames… Rose, Bikini Girl, Jasmine and whoever…and who sucks? Wow, it’s Rose. So…that’s a shame. Now if Joplin girl is out, we lose all the alt rock chicks in one fell swoop. This doesn’t bother me as much as it would have prior to this horror fest, but yikes…that was not good.
Can we bring back Adam and Oil Rig guy? Just sayin. I might have to fast backward and watch that again, just to bleach this out of my brain. And we haven’t even gotten to the real crazy yet. (Can we just cut them all now and skip the pain? No?) Yikes. And they put all that hot mess through???Tatiana, too? The hell? But at least bikini girl is out. Which seems like such little compensation right now. Because I seriously cannot watch another minute of screen time devoted to the Tatiana Freakshow. I’m sorry. The hell….. Crazy Crawly Nate is through, too. WHAT a waste of an hour that I can’t get back.

Aaaaand, we don’t get to see any more of the good? Really? So we get the trainwrecks, find out they cut The Osmond (who we don’t get to see perform) and the Baby Face Austin (who totally blew it) and….who the heck knows who else. In a montage of happy, we spy Joplin Jackie Tohn and Forest Creature Jason Castro’s brother are through, but wow, seriously, this was a chopped up mess of a show that focused on a handful of crazies for almost the whole hour. Yay. That’s entertainment right there. Balance, producers, balance. The crazies only work when you show us how good it could be. And more than just twice. What a huge - huge -disappointment. Show me some singers!

Cut from 104 to 75. Next week goes to 50….then the final 36 (gosh, do you think we’ll have even seen all their faces by then?) After that? We, the peeps, step in and have our say, until it’s down to the Big 12. Maybe by THEN we’ll actually know them. Maybe. Me? Not breath holding over here.

Come on, Top Chef….save me.

A humble Stephan? Am I in a parallel universe? Tatiana?? At least it was good to see it rattled his cage a little, seeing a good chef sent home. My Fabio love still runs strong. It scares me when they show all the backstory…usually that means Pack Your Knives time. But then…we never saw the Jeff backstory…so maybe the editors are getting craftier. I hope so. Cuz Fabio has used up all his lives. And I’m amazed at how much Carla and her Spirit Guides have grown on me. I want to eat at her place. Between her and Fabio…best commentaries ever. Hosea, on the other hand…down the ladder for me. And if Leah “What do you mean? This is me being excited.” doesn’t go home next…no words.

Ooooh, Eric Ripert. Mmm. Filleting tiny sardines? Not so mmm.

Loved Carla’s “seriously, move along” speech for Ripert. Very funny. What I love most about Ripert as a judge is how calmly he moves about and dispenses smiles and helpful advice. The man is ridiculously talented and yet quite willing to share his knowledge in an open, friendly manner. Love him. Plus, not hard to look at or listen to…which is never a bad thing.

So…I could do without the fillet show again. Ew! And the eels? Much eye averting here. I give credit to Hosea for hanging tough. There was no contest with Stephan, though. And Leah, you win round one then just give up? Wow. Attitude - F.

Now…wait… so they all go to La Bernadin, the beautiful and very pretty Eric Riperts restaurant for lunch. His cuisine is very basic, elegant, with complex flavors. Of alllllllll the chefs this season, who has been trumpeting that line ad nauseum? All together now? Jamie. Who is singularly unimpressed with this food? Yep. Jamie. What’s up with that? Everyone else is orgasmic (okay, Leah was only that way for Eric, big shock there) and Jaime’s all yeah, take it or leave it shrugs. Wow. Down a few rungs there. Not to mention confusing given your whole season of I’m all about simple, clean, seasonal flavors. Parallel universe again. Tatiana?? (Karma, of course, returns again, and when they find out they have to recreate the dishes…Jamie pulls the knife with her least favorite dish. Ah, the circle of life. )

We learn that Carla is from DC? How did I not know that? So I can eat at her place. Yay! (And Spike from previous season just opened a high end burger joint downtown, too. I have little love for Spike, but I hear the food is tremendous.)

Elimination Challenge: Stephan rocks it, Carla is good, Fabio is good (whew!) Hosea, not so much, Leah okay, and Jamie a complete failure. So….wow. I didn’t want Karma to take quite that big a bite because she’s a good chef and a real contender here…but, right now, that looks to be the way it’s going to go.

Toby, once again, overly assy. I am overly over him. Even Ripert gave him wide berth.

Judges Table: Top 3, as predicted, Carla, Fabio and Stephan. I predict Stephan takes it. Again. But deservedly so. He rocked it. Fantastic prize, too - gets to hang out in Ripert’s three Manhattan restaurants, then fly to the Food and Wine festival with him. Wow. Best prize, easily, so far. Leah, Jamie, Leah on the bottom. Jamie should probably go, but wow, soooooo close and yet still, Leah might stay around. To their credit, the judges actually seem to have a very fair and understanding discussion of the various failures and understanding that each chef went through in trying to reproduce something so difficult. At the end, I honestly didn’t know who would go home. Just who I want to go home. Bur no….yet another more talented, deserving makes a critical error slightly less egregrious than Leahs and goes home instead of her. Sigh. Very. Deep. Sigh. Bye, bye, Jamie.

Wow, the final five…at least I still have Carla and Fabio. I think Stephan is the clearest deserving winner and has been all along. And we can please for the love of smoked salmon get rid of Hosea and Leah and leave the others for a very entertaining and wonderful final three. Please.

Tomorrow I announce the winner of this weeks FREE STUFF, so check out Tuesday’s blog for the details. One last day to enter.

Good luck…and DISH! Favorite singer out of the so very very few we’ve met? What’s your dish on the Top Chef dishes?

Tags: Writing by Donna
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So, last night on American Idol, we finally get to Hollywood Week. Harsh Week is more like it. Yikes. They split 147 singers into two groups. Half head out for fun and sightseeing, the other half do their suicide performance. Stand in a row, take the mike, sing a few lines…and you’re in, or you’re done. It seemed pretty harsh, and for the cut ones, it was…but at the end of two days, they still have 104, so…take it all with a grain of salt. Still…

They get to do Hollywood Week at the Kodak this year. Like that. We see some pretty major talent, too, so the season looks way promising. As long as they pick talent over, say, bikinis. Which, so far…not so much. Well, the talent is there, but so is she. Sigh. We can hope that changes.

It’s still a little frustrating in that there are a whollllle bunch that the judges apparently love but we really still don’t get to see. (Rrrrr….) And then there’s My Beautiful Forest Creature’s brother…who makes it onward. Let us hear him! And freaky Adam Lambert, too! And so many we’ve never seen before and still don’t know. But I guess that will eventually change, I just have to be patient. (I heard that!) I could do with less time spent on the soon-to-be rejectees, Dennis Brigham. I will say that the first group had it harsher, but then when they got their sightseeing day, I bet they had more (read: relieved) fun, so it balances.

Barry Manilow gives them a pep talk and it’s good advice. Whether he’s current or not, he’s had a huge career, and the biz is the biz. I think it’s cute that he still is so into this show. Good for him.

Okay: Of the ones we saw that made it through (not wasting time on those who didn’t…Jesus)

People I really liked (of the still too scant few we got to see….) : Lil Rounds, Anoop Desai (really love), Jasmine Murray, Stephen Fowler (first time for us to see him), Danny Gokey (aka Robert Downey Jr widower), Osmond offspring, Emily Wynne-Hughes (despite crummy song choice),

People who were good but didn’t stand out and make me care. Yet.: Jorge (good, love the little dance at the end, but maybe too showboaty), Jamar Rogers (friend of RD Jr), Jeremy (oil rig guy)

People who were different/good but I’m still undecided on: Rose (love the voice, not sure she can handle it), Jackie Tohn (Joplin beatnik…not terr-ee-blay, but not sure I can stand weeks of that. Or her.)

People who reallly need to be gone. Now. : Nathanial Marshall (way too affected for me, sorry, sob story or no…and lose the headband, dude, wow, he’s a hot mess), Bikini Girl - because…do I really need to explain?, Von Smith (because indulgent is only one of many things that was. None of them engaging.)

And then there’s Nick/Norman. I have no clue where he could ever fit into the world of singing, on or off Idol, but he is a natural comedian. I really think he needs to work that angle. Love him — love — but not so much for Idol. Maybe we can just have him do color commentary on the rest of the season. Wouldn’t that be great? He’d be like the best (read: most hilariously biting) red carpet interviewer ever. I hate to lose him entirely.

Next week? Group singing! Bringing the drama, too. I normally hate the drama stuff, and can do without it during the auditions. But something about the group sing really entertains me. I don’t know why. Just does. It’s just so….dicey. ::rubbing hands: Bring it on, Fox!

Don’t forget this week’s contest. See Tuesday’s post for details. And check back here tomorrow for more Idol and the next round of Top Chef MAC.

For now? DISH! Who is your early favorite? (Hard to pick from the less than 12 we got to see, I know…) Who needs to go? Show of hands?

Tags: Writing by Donna
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If you missed dallying with Dylan Chisholm the first time around…his story, THE GREAT SCOT, hit the stands today in mass-market paperback. Check him-er, it-out!

On Sale Now in Mass Market!

Here’s what it says on the back cover….
LOCH AND LOAD, BABY

Location coordinator Erin McGregor has finally found the perfect setting for her romance reality show, Your Prince Charming. The Chisholm clan stronghold in the Scottish Highlands has it all—romantic moors, windswept cliffs, misty lochs, a four-hundred-year-old castle, and possibly the most gorgeous man she’s ever laid eyes on in chieftain Dylan Chisholm.

His three youngest brothers spoken for, Dylan Chisholm is at the top of his village’s matchmaking list. Now they’ve sent some impish, forthright American lass up to tempt him into a devil’s bargain: a foolish romance show for the money his village so desperately needs. It took a tragic loss to get Dylan to embrace his heritage. He can’t turn away from such a promising offer. But keeping his thoughts off Erin McGregor is another matter. She’s everything he never wanted in a woman, and suddenly, she’s everything he craves in every way possible…

Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com

And here’s what Booklist had to say….

Erin MacGregor’s latest location-scouting trip for the reality dating show Your Prince Charming leads her to misty Glenshire, Scotland, and its resident laird, Dylan Chisholm. Erin has heard that Dylan is turning the family’s castle into a bed-and-breakfast. Surely he can’t resist her offer to rent out the estate for filming this season’s show. Think of the publicity. Not to mention the big check. But he has other ideas, none of them compatible with turning his castle into a production-crew madhouse. Erin is sure that her salesmanship can overcome Dylan’s objections, but she is a little leery about her growing attraction to the stubborn Scot. Erin is a quirky, fun heroine–thankfully not at all the model-perfect type. Dylan is wonderfully sexy and a modern variation on the Beast: less brooding but still reclusive and burdened. Kauffman’s lively wrap-up to the Chisholm Brothers series (including Bad Boys in Kilts , 2006) is heartwarming. Nina Davis

If you give it a try, I hope you enjoy! (And for the rest of the Chisholm Brothers’ stories, check out Bad Boys In Kilts!)

Wanna chance to win a copy of The Great Scot (or any of the books on my website bookshelf?) just send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “I love FREE STUFF!” in the subject line. One winner will be chosen from the pile and announced in Friday’s blog. Good luck!

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