The Voice (The 12 Finalists So Far...)

We've seen 12 finalists move onto the live performance rounds after three episodes of the Battle Rounds. Here, I ranked these 12 from the contestant I am least rooting for to the artist who I want to win it all. This list shall be updated in the next couple of weeks when The Voice finally reveals its top 16.

*** This post is one week too late. Sorry guys! I shall post my ranking of the Top 16 after I've watched this week's episode. Those in bold are the new finalists. Click here for my ranking of the first 8 (with clips of their performances).

12. The Thompson Sisters - Yes they were cute and adorable, but Kelsey did a much better job with Unwritten. She was in pitch and there's something about her voice that I think will do great in records and radios. These sisters better bring the harmonies in the live rounds if they want to win me over.

11. Raquel Castro - She's our youngest contestant this season! Although she was indeed superior in the Rhianna performance, she definitely had pitch problems. I have to be honest and say that I think she doesn't stand a chance in this competition. If she had only waited a couple more years before joining The Voice...

10. Patrick Thomas - I disagree with Blake's decision here. Yes, Patrick does have a good and powerful voice. And maybe Patrick's only moving onto the next round because he's a country singer and he's more in Blake's wheelhouse. But I think Tyler Robins outshined Patrick in the Battle Rounds. Tyler sang beautifully and he certainly had more soul. Also, he listened to Blake's advice of making the runs and riffs count and not oversinging. Just ask the other coaches, they agree with me!

9. Frenchie Davis - Our resident diva had good control in Single Ladies; and she didn't oversing the Beyonce anthem (ahem. Tarralyn Ramsey. ahem.) Plus, she definitely had stage presence (I guess all that Rent experience payed off.) But I'm not rooting for her though. She simply doesn't have that extra edge the other finalists have. I feel like others will outshine her in the competition. She has to be exciting and not just be a generic diva singer to actually go far.

8. Nakia - As much as I liked Nakia better than Tje Austin in the Blind Auditions, I think Tje did a much better job singing Closer. Maybe the song was just a much better fit for Tje? Nakia should have toned down a bit. But don't get me wrong, he sings well. He just needs to pick songs that fit him in the live rounds, because as Cee-Lo mentioned in his first audition, Nakia is one of those "exceptions to the rule."

7. Casey Weston - One, Casey looks gorgeous. Two, she has this unique and pleasant tone about her. She started Leather and Lace a bit wobbly though; maybe it's the nerves. She's 18 anyway. And Blake's right, with all the potential that she has, she can really develop into a wonderful artist.

6. Dia Frampton - I love Dia's soothing tone. It's like drinking hot tea in the middle of a cold stormy weather. (Oh wait, that was just Serabee.) I think her pleasing and unique voice has the potential to make hits. I'm just not sure if she can deliver exciting performances when she's that shy. She has to improve on her stage presence or she'll not last long in the live rounds.

5. Beverly McClellan - Quoting Randy Jackson, "Beverly's IN IT TO WIN IT!" (Ok, that phrase should be illegal now.) But honestly, she had the most confidence among the other semi-finalists. Well, is it cockiness or confidence? No matter what it is, she knows how to work the crowd. And, again with a Randy quote, "SHE CAN SING!" She has one of the most powerful voices in the show and she knows how to work it. Beverly should indeed remain a rock singer in the live rounds, but I'd like to see her slow it down a bit, forget about all the theatrics, and simply focus on her voice.

4. Javier Colon - After his Blind Auditions, Javier is definitely the early favorite right now; and he didn't disappoint in Stand By Me. He has a radio-ready voice that is quite nice. His Time After Time performance also showed he has the artistry that some of the so-called "artists" today lack. I just hope he can top his first 2 performances in the Final Rounds and not become the Andrew Garcia or the Casey Abrams of The Voice.
 
3. Jared Blake - Jared has a strong and forceful voice; but I loved how he didn't power through Ain't No Mountain High Enough. Other singers with his type of voice might have already belted and screamed midway through the song; but he didn't. He showed control over his voice; and even without the high notes, his voice remained powerful the entire time. His performance in the Battle Rounds also gave focus to the awesome quality and tone of his voice.

2. Devon Barley - If only because he beat my early fave Rebecca Loebe... but they both did awesome in the Battle Rounds! "Creep" literally gave me chills. And the quality of Devon's voice is pretty solid, no? He was indeed the stand out in last week's episode. If he continues with performances like this, paired with his pleasing and unassuming personality, he may just win it all!

1. Vicci Martinez - Vicci has a really good quality about her voice. It has a raspy tone that's perfect for pop rock songs like F*cking Perfect. If she continues with these type of song choices in the live rounds, she has an absolute chance of winning the entire thing. But what's more impressive about her is that she emotionally connects with the songs she sings. From her performance of Pink's song, I can feel all the frustration and at the same time the inspiration that she wants to portray through the song. To be fair, her opponent, Niki Dawson, also did an incredible job. Too bad Cee-Lo had to pair them up together.

How about you guys? Who are you rooting for? Which eliminated singers did you like to see in the final round? And who among the remaining semi-finalists do you wanna see go through?

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, bookmark/follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis

Related Posts:
The Voice (The Finalists So Far...)

Love Bites [PREVIEW]

Finally, Becki Newton is back on our TV sets! If you loved her on Ugly Betty (c'mon, you adored her!) then you'll probably enjoy her newest show, Love Bites. Her return to TV is one year too late though. Love Bites was originally scheduled to air on NBC last Fall 2010. It has been bumped off the schedule a lot of times, until finally, it has landed a spot this Summer of 2011. Check out the full length trailer of the ORIGINAL Love Bites version that was supposed to air last year.

Because of the huge delay, changes in the cast and storylines were made. You can see sneak previews of the NEW Love Bites down below.

I don't really care about the big changes made on the show as long as my girl Becki will still lead it. Plus, it definitely looks like a promising romantic comedy series. I just hope it picks up good enough ratings for it to be renewed for another season (and maybe even transferred to the fall schedule.) I am crossing my fingers for this show. Becki Newton is too talented to be unemployed.

Love Bites premieres on June 2.

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, bookmark/follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis

More Summer TV:
Switched at Birth
The Nine Lives of Chloe King
The Great State of Georgia
The Lying Game
Falling Skies
Franklin & Bash
Platinum Hit
Alphas
Teen Wolf

Teen Wolf [PREVIEW]

We already have Jacob from Twilight, Alcide from True Blood and Tyler from The Vampire Diaries. It's as if they are still not enough for today's werewolf (and vampire)-filled age that MTV is now bringing us Scott, the Teen Wolf. (There's just something about very hairy men with teeth and claws as sharp as blades, no?) Check out the trailer of MTV's newest scripted drama below:

Teen Wolf is actually a remake of a 1987 fantasy comedy film starring Michael J. Fox. But MTV is venturing out from the original and takes on a much darker (and a much more TVD-like) version. I'm sure I'll check out the first couple of episodes since there's nothing much on right now. Although I'm always a little cautious when it comes to scripted shows from MTV. The network is not really known for quality series, but rather for its trashy guilty pleasures like Jersey Shore. (Remember when MTV played music videos?) And who wasn't turned off by their version of U.K.'s Skins?

So will you tune in? Or is Alcide enough of a werewolf for you this summer season? Teen Wolf premieres on June 5.

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, bookmark/follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis

More Summer TV:
Switched at Birth
The Nine Lives of Chloe King
The Great State of Georgia
The Lying Game
Falling Skies
Franklin & Bash
Platinum Hit
Alphas

The Glee Project! (Meet the Contenders)

It hasn't been a week since the Glee season 2 finale, and I get it, you're already having separation anxieties. (I am too!) But you don't have to worry about missing the show too much over the course of this hiatus anymore, because a new reality competition show is coming your way this June 12, and it's ALL about Glee!

The Glee Project is a reality series where 12 wannabees will compete for a 7 episode arc on Glee next season. (So much better than one million dollars, right?) Here's the good news: over the course of the show, various Glee stars will show up to give the contestants some advice and guidance; and in the first episode, it will be none other than Darren Criss (Blaine!) who will make a special appearance.

Here's The Glee Project's first promo (featuring the entire cast of the new show):

This music video has definitely gotten me excited for the show. Do you already have your early favorites? No? Then how about getting to know each contestant better after the jump?

(Descriptions were taken from Oxygen.com and photos were taken from Poptower.com)

Alex
Alex has been a performer since he was a toddler, and has been performing in amateur shows since high school. He lost his father to cancer at the age of six and finding his love for acting and singing has helped him find a way to express his emotions. Extracurricular activities such as church choir, school choir, improv club and costume design keep him extremely busy. He has tremendous range and has the ability to tackle any lead role - both male or female!

Bryce
Bryce has been performing ever since he picked up an acoustic guitar and taught himself to play at age 13. In his junior year of high school, he discovered the theatre department and for the first time in his life felt comfortable in his own skin. At 15, while vacationing in the Bahamas, Bryce dove headfirst into a coral reef, splitting open his head and breaking his neck. For the next seven months he lived in a neck brace unsure of whether he would walk again. Currently, Bryce attends Berklee College of Music in Boston where he is a Voice major with a scholarship. He sings jazz, rap, pop, punk, reggae and gospel and is also an accomplished songwriter.

Cameron
Cameron is a natural musician who, up until six months ago, had never taken a single music lesson. He's been performing in amateur shows for four years. In high school, Cameron was hated by all the guys but loved by all the girls. He grew up loving the Beatles - they inspire him and influence him as a musician and a performer.

Damien
Damian tours with the Irish vocal group Celtic Thunder and has been performing with them since age 14. While he has a lower voice than most male pop singers, Damian is a versatile vocalist who has learned to master many different styles. A native of Ireland, he brings a different cultural mindset than others competing on the show.

Ellis
Ellis has been performing in amateur shows for four years. Always the outcast in high school, Ellis used her vocal talents and musical theater to find friends and express herself.

Emily
Emily has been performing for 11 years, both in off-Broadway shows and in Las Vegas. She attended the LaGuardia High School - New York City's "Fame" school - and prides herself on her training. Her feisty and flirty personality commands attention and comes out in the way she performs. She has her eye on the prize and will do whatever it takes to win, competition and all.

Hannah
Hannah has been performing in amateur shows for six years. Even though she sometimes feels self-conscious about her weight, she uses her sense of humor and exuberance to overcome any negative feelings she has about her appearance. Besides her talent for singing, Hannah can also rap (under the alias Rouge), which illustrates her sincere quirkiness and positive attitude.

Lindsay
Lindsay has been performing in amateur shows for 13 years. Deaf for the first six months of her life, she especially appreciates her ear for music more than ever. She hasn't always been accepted as a performer, but she continues to work hard, accept who she is and allow her inner-beauty to shine.

Marissa
Marissa has been performing in commercials and shows on both an amateur and professional level for over 12 years. She is a native New Yorker with a colorful bohemian style. She is an artist in every sense of the word: skilled in singing, acting, dancing, drawing and design.

Matheus
Originally from Brazil, Matheus moved to the United States eight years ago to consult American doctors about his 4'9" height. Their conclusion: he is "just short." Despite not knowing any English, he enrolled in school three days after moving to the States and through the help of his trusty dictionary, mastered the language within months. Music has always been his best companion - helping him get through life's difficult challenges.

McKynleigh
McKynleigh has been performing in amateur shows for 13 years. As a biracial musician, she surprises people when they discover her strength is singing country music. Growing up home-schooled, she always wanted to be in show choir but never had the chance.

Samuel
Samuel, a musician at heart, is not only the lead singer in his band, but he also plays guitar, drums, bass and piano. He's a hopeless romantic and has a knack for serenading the ladies, often more confident singing to them than actually talking to them.







I have to say that from first impressions, I am already rooting for Marissa and Samuel because they seem to have intriguing personalities. Plus, they are well-rounded artists and that always gets me excited about any performer. I am also intrigued by Matheus' story; and Bryce and Lindsay's voices have this raspy/rocker quality that I really like.

So what do you think of our contenders? Do you already have your picks? And are you looking forward to this new show we'll all be obsessing about? 

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, bookmark/follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis

Related Posts:
What We May Possibly See in the 3rd Season of Glee 
Glee Finale: Highs and Lows
Glee: Wanna Know What This Photo is All About? [SNEAK PEEK]
Glee: "New York" Spoilers
 

True Blood Season 4 (Art Promos)

Here's some bloody HOT poster promos for the newest season of True Blood premiering this June 26/27.

Warning: these photos are dead sexy.

It's the season's newest love quadrangle! Who will Sookie pick? Sneaky Ex-bf Bill? Loyal Werewolf Alcide? Or Tortured Vamp Eric? I've got a feeling it will be a fun-filled Sookie-Eric season though.

 
Is True Blood going with a Tara-Sam pairing again? I guess not before Sam deals with all of his brotherly and shape-shifting issues and Tara gets over all the bad s#*! that had happened to her over the past 3 seasons. And where is Jesus in this picture? Lafayette needs some lovin' too!

The show really has one sexy cast. Ryan Kwanten (Jason), Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica) and Kristin Bauer (Pam) are definitely on the top of that list.

For more cast shots of the upcoming season, check out E! Online's True Blood gallery:

E! Online: True Blood Season 4 Gallery

From the looks of it, it's gonna be one sexy season. Possibly the sexiest season yet? I'm definitely pumped up! Are you guys ready for more blood-sucking drama?

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, bookmark/follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis

Related Posts:
True Blood Season 4 (New Trailer)
True Blood Season 4 (Spoiler Compilation) 
A Sookie and [SPOILER ALERT] Hook-up?!?

What We May Possibly See in the 3rd Season of Glee

The sophomore run of our favorite musical dramady has just finished its course less than a week ago, but we're now getting some news about what may possibly happen in season 3.

• To those of you who got confused with Sam and Mercedes' hidden relationship, you may just have to wait 'til next season to know what their exact reasons are for keeping things secret. This means that when we get back, Samcedes will still be alive and kicking!
• Sunshine Corazon's future in the show is still uncertain. The producers' big plans for next season may or may not include her. Nothing's set in stone yet until they begin production by the end of June.
• Producers will definitely tackle the issue of how most of the characters are graduating soon.
• We might get into Santana's coming out of the closet in season 3. Just like Kurt's coming out story, it'll be a big deal and it's not gonna be rushed.
• There's gonna be some Will and Emma action next season. Whether things will turn out good or bad between the two, we still don't know. But they're both single now and Will helped Emma get better, so them getting together may not be entirely far-fetched.
• Quinn may also get a new love interest in season 3!
• After her sister's death, Sue may not be a changed woman after all! She may start ruining things for the glee club once again.

Source: EW.com

Of course, things may still change when Glee resumes production in June. It is still early. But something is better than nothing right? I guess we'll just have to wait a couple more months to know what the real deal is for Glee season 3.

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, bookmark/follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis

Related Posts:
The Glee Project! (Meet the Contenders)
Glee Finale: Highs and Lows
Glee: Wanna Know What This Photo is All About? [SNEAK PEEK]
Glee: "New York" Spoilers 

SYTYCD 8: Atlanta and San Francisco Auditions

American Idol has just wrapped up its season and Dance fanatics know what this means: So You Think You Can Dance is back! And look who's returning? It's Mary Murphy! Joining our Hot Tamale is executive producer Nigel Lythgoe and the always lovely Cat Deeley.

The season premiere brought us to Hot-lanta and San Francisco for the first rounds of auditions. And in true SYTYCD fashion, we were introduced to some hot dancers. Let me list down those that had gotten me excited for season 8.

Melanie Moore

I hate having early favorites because they always crush my spirits when they do not crack the top 20. But seriously, how can anyone not love Melanie? One, she looks like a star. Two, she seems to have an extremely pleasing personality. And three, she dances really beautifully. Lil C was right, she can dance for Zeus in Olympus. She just moves like a goddess. (Plus, her paintings are to die for!) Melanie's gonna break my heart if she doesn't get through Vegas round.

Marko Germar

Here's one athletic dancer. But as Dance followers know, athleticism and technical know-how are not enough to be America's Favorite Dancer. The main reason I'm including Marko in my list is that aside from being a strong contemporary dancer, his pre-audition package seems to show that he also knows how to b-boy. That flexibility will definitely work for him in this show.

Amber Williams

Now this is hot dancing. Did Amber light up that stage or what? As Tyce said it, Amber can command attention, and she certainly caught mine. She had pretty wonderful moves in her audition piece too! My only problem with her is that she can be a bit too crazy for comfort. She does have a quirky personality, which is awesome, but I hope she can also tone it down just a little.

 
Jeffery McCann 

I thoroughly enjoyed Jeffery's b-boy audition. The only problem with break dancers in SYTYCD is that most of the time, they have difficulties in learning the other styles of dance thrown at them like contemporary or ballroom. But Jeffery certainly has smooth moves that I think can translate well into choreography and into the other areas of dance.

 
Ryan Ramirez

Ryan almost made it to the final rounds last season so there is no surprise that she can really deliver a good performance. And I agree with Toni Redpath, she does have a controlled abandonment that's lovely to watch.

Lily Nguyen

We only saw a glimpse of her auditions but Lily instantly grabbed my attention. I don't think we ever had a b-girl crack the top 20. (So this is me crossing my fingers, hoping she'll do well in Vegas.) From the clip though, I think she has the ability to adapt in other areas of dance too.

So who are your favorites so far? (Please also say Melanie Moore!) Are you glad Mary Murphy is back? And are you also dying of anticipation for Vegas Round?

Stay tuned for more SYTYCD updates!

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis

The Community-Cougar Town Connection

There is some cross-network/cross-show lovin' going on... and I am liking it!

It's no secret that the writers, producers and cast of Community are in love with Cougar Town (and vice versa). The Pulp Fiction episode of the NBC comedy just showed its viewers just how much they adore the Courtney Cox starrer by having Abed mention the title more than 10 times!

In this incredible scene, Abed was talking to Jeff about him being an avid fan of Cougar Town and how he became an extra in the comedy. So I thought that was the end of that. But what happened next completely blew my mind. In Cougar Town's 2nd season finale, Abed WAS in the background! I never thought this would actually happen since the two shows come from different networks (Community is on NBC while Cougar Town is on ABC). But there it is. Abed (NOT Danny Pudi, mind you), was in Cougar Town!

There were some misalignment with Abed's story and his actual scene in the ABC comedy. One, he wasn't walking, and two, Courtney Cox wasn't in the scene. (Scheduling conflicts were the reason for this.) But who cares? It's still as awesome!

This also happened after Dan Byrd and Busy Phillips, both stars of Cougar Town, had (blink-and-you'll-miss-it) cameos in Community's second season paintball finale.

(To those of you who want to rewatch the Community finale, this clip was taken from the scene when the Human Beings were cheering for their victory against City College.)

I think what these two under-appreciated shows are doing is really wise. They are definitely quality comedies but they don't have the biggest following that they deserve. Having each show give a shout out to the other will only help them both in the long run.

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis 

It's Lee Dewyze vs. Nigel Lythgoe!

The latest season of American Idol may be over, but the drama isn't! This time, it's between executive producer Nigel Lythgoe and Season 9 winner Lee Dewyze.

Those who have watched the (pretty spectacular) finale results show may have noticed the producers' snub of Lee Dewyze. Unlike past Idol winners like Carrie Underwood and David Cook, our most recent champion before Scotty McCreery didn't make an appearance on stage. (He did, however, make an appearance behind Ryan Seacrest's head when our host was by the audience area doing his spill. Anyone else caught that?)

So maybe the producers just didn't want to relive the disaster that was season 9? Apparently not. Just after all that confetti in the Nokia Theater settled down, Nigel sent all his followers an interesting tweet:

Allegedly, Nigel and Co. did want Lee to be on the show to present the award to Scotty. But then Lee instantly refuted this with his (longer) tweet:

And when everyone thought that this was just some misunderstanding on both parties, Nigel (basically) called Lee a liar:

So who's telling the truth? Which side are you on? Or are you just glad American Idol went out with a bang (Damn Beyonce! Gaga! Haley! Steven Tyler!) even without the season 9 champ? Personally, I think it was simply a case of miscommunication.

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis

Heroes 2.0? It's Syfy's "Alphas"! [PREVIEW]

Missing the glory days of the first season of Tim Kring's Heroes? Looking for another superhuman series that will not face the same writing problems that No Ordinary Family and the succeeding seasons of Heroes had? If your answers to these questions are yes and yes, then Syfy may just have your new summer addiction.

Alphas is about a group of people brought together to fight crimes because of their extraordinary abilities. I've never passed on a show about humans with special powers so I'm definitely checking this one out. Plus, I'm already liking the characters' powers. At least they're not the usual flying, super strength, mind reading or invisibility abilities. I'm just hoping that the show will follow an intriguing underlying mythology while still keeping the plot mostly uncomplicated. Also, this show will be riding on its characters, so they better have good chemistry! (and character development's required too!)   

 

So will you tune in when Alphas premieres this July 11/12? If this doesn't become a generic superhero show, then it'll definitely be a part of my regular TV habit.

Alphas is also penned by Zak Penn from X-Men: The Last Stand.

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis    

More Summer TV:
Switched at Birth
The Nine Lives of Chloe King
The Great State of Georgia
The Lying Game
Falling Skies
Franklin & Bash
Platinum Hit

Teen Wolf

X Factor: Cheryl Cole Out?

The American version is not premiering until next fall, but we may have our first twist already!

It has been reported that Cheryl Cole will be one of the judges for the X Factor U.S. She was supposed to be joining L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell in that judging table when the reality singing competition begins. But there are new reports coming in that Cole may actually not be flown across the pond to join the Cowell-produced show! What I've been reading is that one of the concerns with Cole is her heavy British accent that American viewers may find difficult to understand. Also, it was said that she may not have the best chemistry with fellow judge Paula Abdul.

 
But here's the real shocker. Nicole Sherzinger, who was originally brought to the show to co-host with Brit Steve Jones, is reported to be the one to replace Cole as a judge. If this does happen, then Steven Jones will be the sole host for the X Factor.

Replacing cast members is normal for a new show before it premieres. This is usually the time when producers and network executives look into its new series and see how else it can be improved. The question now is if this a good move for the X Factor and its network, Fox. Well, we'll just have to find out come fall. I feel bad for Cheryl Cole though. (Accent? Really?)

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis   

Glee Finale: Highs and Lows

The second season of Glee had a lot of wonderful things going for it (Klaine! Max Adler! Santana! Holly Holiday! Fondue For Two!), but it also had its fair share of disappointments (ahem. Sue Sylvester.) Whether the sophomore run of this eccentric show had you all excited or frustrated, you can't tell me you didn't look forward to its season finale where the New Directions competed for Nationals in New York City!

And like any other Glee episode this season, "New York" also had its highs and lows. Let me list down what I thought were fantastic moments, what were missed opportunities and what were just plain infuriating.

HIGHS

• The "I Love New York" and "New York, New York" mash-up. Until now, this song is still stuck in my head. Thank you Glee, for showcasing the wonderful voices of Santana and Mercedes in this highly entertaining number. What? You also can't get enough of it? Well what do you know, I've embedded the incredible performance below! (Also, plus points for those colorful and youthful outfits!)

• Santana from Lima Heights Adjacent. I cracked up when Santana lost it (in Spanish!) after New Directions didn't get through to the next round of Nationals. Now, we all know what happens in Lima Heights Adjacent: Bad. Things.
• Rachel and Kurt's blossoming friendship. Who wasn't touched when these two high school outcasts were talking about their big dreams in Broadway? Their rendition of "For Good" was flawless too!
• "Pretending". Oh, that performance was full of emotion and angst. And that kiss! The silence in the theater that came afterward said it all.
• Blaine telling Kurt the L Word. No, not lesbians (more on that later). Blaine sort of casually blurted out "I love you" when Kurt was talking about what happened in New York. The way Blaine said it was perfect. Plus, Kurt said it back!
• Brittana. They're still not (TOGETHER) together. But I loved how Brittany told Santana she loves her more than anything in this world, and how Santana told Brittany that she's her best friend. Who's shipping Brittana? I sure am!

LOWS

• No Emma. Who else thinks the finale should've been longer? If it was, then the Will and Emma scene the producers were talking about should not have been cut. Now we have to wait 5 more months to know what exactly will happen between the two.
• Happy Quinn. Quinn seemed to be fine with Finchel by the end of the episode. Did anyone else catch that? And only because of a haircut? I dunno, it was a sudden resolution for me. Honestly, I feel cheated by the writers. How can someone head-over-heels in love get over a recent breakup (and Finn getting back together with Rachel!) that quickly? It just doesn't make any sense, plotwise.
• Will's quick decision of staying with his kids. Speaking of sudden resolutions, I also felt the same way with Will's decision of not doing April Rhode's musical in Broadway. Yes, yes, New Directions is Shuester's joy now, but showing us more scenes about his inner struggle could've helped the storytelling, don't you agree?
• "My Cup". This could have been funny, if we hadn't seen it all before. Remember "My Headband"? Brittany S. Pierce deserved better than that.
• Samcedes? We saw Sam and Mercedes hold hands toward the end of the episode; and I just don't get why they needed to keep their relationship a secret. And is it just me, or did this pairing come from nowhere? Here's Glee again, pairing up all the New Directions kids with each other.

So how about you? What did you like and dislike about the finale? What do you wanna see next season? What do you think is up with Sam and Mercedes? And are you in love with Santana and Klaine as much as I am?

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis 

Related Posts:
The Glee Project! (Meet the Contenders)
What We May Possibly See in the 3rd Season of Glee
Glee: Wanna Know What This Photo is All About? [SNEAK PEEK]
Glee: "New York" Spoilers

Platinum Hit: A New Breed of Reality Singing Competition?

Tell me honestly, are you tired of singing competition shows filling up your daily TV routine? American Idol just finished its 10th season a few hours ago. The Voice is giving us a pretty satisfying first season run. And the American version of The X Factor is coming to our TV screens this fall.

If, like me, you still can't resist undiscovered talent wowing us with spectacular performances or struggling artists making fools of themselves in front of millions of viewers, then here's another series for you: Platinum Hit.

Platinum Hit is a singing reality competition show... but with a twist. The contestants in this new Bravo series are all singer-songwriter types and they will be judged on both their singing and writing abilities. Sounds interesting, right? I think true artists should definitely know how to make their own stuff and I'm glad Platinum Hit is giving us the platform to discover the real deal. I'm just excited to hear what these superstar wannabes come up with.

Plus, we get to see all the contestants live under one roof, and we all know what happens when you put a group of artists together: a whole bunch of drama. And unlike Idol, we actually get to know the singers better with this format.

And did you miss Kara Dioguardi? I have to admit, she annoyed the hell out of me during Kris Allen's season. But she also had some good critiquing points in her second season in Idol (which, unfortunately, none of the current judges have). Kara has also penned quite a lot of nice songs like Terrified (I just love Katharine McPhee and Zachary Levi's cover. Check it out on YouTube!) that she may actually be a good judge for this show. (Let's just forget about that Kris-Adam finale song, shall we?)

 
Am I the only one looking forward to this show? Do you think Kara's a good fit for this? How about Jewel?Will we discover the next singing (and songwriting!) sensation here? And will this be our new obsession every week? Platinum Hits premieres next week, May 30/31!    

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis

More Summer TV:
Switched at Birth
The Nine Lives of Chloe King
The Great State of Georgia
The Lying Game
Falling Skies
Franklin & Bash
Alphas
Teen Wolf 

CW Extended Trailers (Ringer and The Secret Circle)

Ringer

My snap judgements for Ringer: here

The Secret Circle

My snap judgements for The Secret Circle: here 
 
***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis  

And our American Idol Winner is.... [SPOILER ALERT!]

No, it's not Haley. (But she'll always be a winner in my heart.) It's Scotty McCreery people! Scotty's the new American Idol! I'm pretty OK with the results. Between the 2 finalists, I prefer our resident country boy to win it all.

But wait, is I Love You This Big really his winning song?!? (Again. Worst. Song. Title. Ever.)

So what do you guys think? Did Scotty deserve to win? Or were you rooting for Lauren? and Haley needs to release an album soon, no?

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis

American Idol: A Top 2 Disappointment

Who's in it to win it all?

You could've fooled me if you told me this was the performance finale of American Idol 10 because nothing spectacular came out of that episode. This is what you get for voting out Haley Reinhart, America! But we can't change what had already happened. All we can do now is await the results due in less than 24 hours. Who do you think will win season 10? Let's look at the final 2's (lackluster) performances, shall we? 

Round 1:

Scotty's Gone vs. Lauren's Flat on the Floor

Winner: Scotty. Gone was definitely the most enjoyable performance of the night. Was it just me (or the camera angles), or did we have less of Scotty's cheesy facial expressions? He definitely did not miss a single note in this song (and he has been pretty consistent about this the entire season), which is so much more than I can say about Lauren's Flat on the Floor, or her previous performances for that matter.

Round 2:

Scotty's Check Yes or No vs. Lauren's Maybe It Was Memphis

 

Winner: Lauren. Scotty was pretty decent in Check Yes or No, but it was a bit sleepy for me. My problem with Scotty is that he's the most predictable contestant this season. Predictable in Idol, of course, means boring. Lauren, on the other hand, is not the best technical singer. You'll almost always find vocal flaws in her performances. But no doubt, the 16 year old has a good tone, and this showed in Maybe It Was Memphis. To be the next Carrie Underwood (as what the judges and the producers seem to be pushing for her), she will need a lot more vocal training.

Round 3:

Scotty's I Love You This Big vs. Lauren's Like My Mother Does

Winner: Lauren (only by the skin of her teeth). I cannot believe Scotty would agree to sing a song entitled I Love You This Big. It's just... wrong. Again, nothing really spectacular with the last 2 songs. Maybe it's Scotty's unfortunate title, but I liked Lauren's song a wee bit better. What turned me off was her hugging Mama Alaina in the middle of the song (that just felt staged), and the overall favoritism of the producers toward her. (She was sick! She loves her mother! She's the next Carrie Underwood!)

So who do you think will win? Personally (and after much thought), I'd like Scotty to be the next American Idol. He was the most consistent this season. Lauren has a lovely tone but she's not there yet vocally. (And the judges, of course, are not giving enough constructive critique to help her, or even Scotty.) And I just don't like how the producers of Idol are pushing Lauren down our throats.

It doesn't really matter who wins in the end, right? Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry have great careers even though they weren't crowned the Idols of their respective seasons. Lauren has the bigger chance of winning right now (only because of the favoritism she gets), but Scotty will have a big career no matter what. And Haley too! I'm hoping Haley gets signed into a record deal and she produces lots and lots of wonderful albums! HaleyFTW!

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis

   

Glee: Wanna Know What This Photo is All About? [SNEAK PEEK]

Glee has just released an all new clip from its 2nd season finale, "New York", and it gives us a pretty clear picture of what the New Directions kids were up to in Central Park as seen in the photo below.

The promotional picture was taken from a scene in the finale where our beloved Glee gang were performing a mash-up of Madonna's "I Love New York" and Leonard Bernstein's "New York, New York". Wanna have a first look on the energetic and definitely Glee-ful performance? Then hit the video clip embedded after the jump!

Now, just play it over and over again until the final episode of the season comes out tomorrow. Also, [SPOILER ALERT!] there are reports that the finale will involve a cliffhanger between Will and Emma, possible drama between Rachel and Quinn (perhaps involving Finn), and sparks to possibly light up again between two old flames.

Will the season end with another Will and Emma kiss? How can New Directions win Nationals with all the drama its members are involved in? Who might get back together? For more "New York" details, click here.

And tell me honestly, how awesome did Santana look and sound in that clip? Sound off below!

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis

Related Posts:
The Glee Project! (Meet the Contenders)
What We May Possibly See in the 3rd Season of Glee 
Glee Finale: Highs and Lows
Glee: "New York" Spoilers 

True Blood Season 4 (New Trailer)

If this and this haven't gotten you excited about the fourth season of this fang-tastic guilty pleasure, then I suggest you to watch the newly released trailer below.

And Sookie, haven't you heard? It's the season of the witches!



***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis

ABC Extended Trailers

Once Upon a Time

My snap judgements for Once Upon a Time: here


Last Man Standing

My snap judgements for Last Man Standing: here

Pan Am

My snap judgements for Pan Am: here
 
Revenge

My snap judgements for Revenge: here

Charlie's Angels

My snap judgements for Charlie's Angels: here

The River

 

My snap judgements for The River: here

 

Apt. 23

 

My snap judgements for Apt. 23: here

Man Up

My snap judgements for Man Up: here

Suburgatory

My snap judgements for Suburgatory: here

Scandal

My snap judgements for Scandal: here

Work It

My snap judgements for Work It: here 

Good Christian Belles

My snap judgements for Good Christian Belles: here 

I am excited for Once Upon a Time, The River, Scandal, Apt. 23, Good Christian Belles, and Pan Am. How about you guys?

***If you like this post, recommend it! Or better yet, follow Couch Patatas to get regular TV updates. Follow me on Twitter too! @ansis_aldrich

Happy Watching!
-Ansis