Food Network Star – Recap & Review – Dessert Chopping Block

photo: food network

Food Network Star
Dessert Chopping Block

Original Air Date: May 27, 2012

Melanie – TwoCents Reviewer
melanie@thetwocentscorp.com

Loved this episode! It felt like my three favorite Food Network shows combined into one: Food Network Star, Worst Cook’s In America, and Chopped! Yes, that’s right, the contestants got to have their own experience with the Chopped judges (including my favorite, Alex Guarnaschelli) and the infamous baskets.

So what do you get when you take the Star contestants and toss a Chopped basket at them?.

TwoCents and Five Questions with Phil Phillips (American Idol)

phil

Phil Phillips, American Idol Winner

Who knew six months ago that the bluesy youngster from Georgia had a chance of winning America’s number one singing competition? He sure didn’t and to be honest, neither did I. He wasn’t a part of my dream final four. That was Jessica, Colton, Skylar, and Joshua. But about midway through, his quirky way of incessantly messing with the melodies of popular songs grew on me. I had the chance to speak with Phil on a conference call and he was very humble and down to earth.

TheTwoCents: Now that it’s over do you feel any pressure to achieve mainstream success? How do you deal with that?

TwoCents and Five Questions with Jessica Sanchez (American Idol)

jessica

Jessica Sanchez, American Idol Runner Up

So many were sure that the sixteen year old Filipino was going to win American Idol; but she wasn’t. I was rooting for her. When she sang Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You, she blew us all away and showed us all she was a star. The past has shown that you don’t have to win to be successful after Idol. Hello, Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry and Adam Lambert. Jessica will go far and I can’t wait to hear her album. When I spoke with her during her conference call, she was excited for the future and very proud of her friend, Phil.

TheTwoCents: Is there any song that you wanted to sing this season but for whatever reason it just didn’t seem right for the week or whatever that you didn’t get to?

Daytime Emmys to Air on HLN

daytime emmys on hln

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) and HLN proudly announce the live broadcast of the 39th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Awards on the HLN Television Network on Saturday, June 23rd at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA.

“The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), is very excited to announce that the 2012 Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Awards will be broadcast live on HLN on Saturday, June 23, from the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, California,” said Malachy Wienges, Chairman of NATAS. “Working with the show’s producer, Gabriel Gornell of LocoDistro, we are preparing a new, fresh, creative show that will honor all the genres that make Daytime Television part of our daily lives. These shows include Daytime Dramas, Children’s and Animation Programming, Game Shows, Courtroom, Talk, Culinary, and the Morning Shows.”

Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters” Cooks Up A New Season in July

Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters” season four is smokin’ in Las Vegas with 12 new award-winning chefs hungry to compete for the title and win $100,000 for their charity, premiering Wednesday, July 25 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. In each episode the winners of every quickfire challenge will be awarded $5,000 while the victors of the elimination challenges will receive $10,000 for their designated charities. Celebrity chef Curtis Stone is back as series host alongside returning judges James Oseland and Ruth Reichl with new judges, food and travel journalist Krista Simmons and features editor of Gilt Taste, Francis Lam.

In a dazzling season of high stakes, big egos and sizzling drama, top names in entertainment join the judges table including Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, folk rock music duo Indigo Girls, famed Burlesque performer Dita Von Teese, popular American party band The B-52’s, Olympic Gold Medalist Brian Boitano, Las Vegas performer Holly Madison, among others. For more information, visit http://www.BravoTV.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BravoPR.

American Idol — Recap & Review — Finale Results Wrap-Up

photo: fox

American Idol
Finale Results Wrap-Up

Original Air Date: May 23, 2012

Patricia Morris Buckley — Sr. Staff Writer
pmb@thetwocentscorp.com

So, we have the 2012 winner of American Idol. Once again, it’s a WGWG (white guy with guitar). Is this the fifth or sixth year running? I’d have to take a look at my notes to be sure, but as a female, I’m too disgusted to think about it.

But I have to say it was one of the best finales yet. The action flowed smoothly and no one took off their clothes to upstage Bikini Girl (not even Steven!).

Revenge – Recap & Review – Reckoning

photo: abc

Revenge
Reckoning

Original Air Date: May 23, 2012

Melanie – TwoCents Reviewer
melanie@thetwocents.com

There was a lot of anticipation heading into the season finale, and I’m thrilled to say that it delivered! Not only did the show tie up season one story lines, but it laid the groundwork for an even more amazing season 2. And they’ve even given us hope that one annoying character won’t be returning (well, at least we can pretend until September right?)

So what has me dancing with excitement and begging for more?

American Idol – Recap & Review – Finale Results

photo: fox

American Idol
Finale Results

Original Air Date: May 23, 2012

Patricia Morris Buckley — Sr. Staff Writer
pmb@thetwocentscorp.com

Idol has often been accused to providing lots of filler in its results broadcast and rightly so. But this year’s finale was jam packed with exciting performances, great guest singers and two of the three judges performing.

However, when it came to the results, no one was surprised. For the fifth year in a row, the status quo continued. All it took was tons of charm and a radio-ready voice. And the winner is…

TwoCents and Five Questions with Kelly Clarkson (Duets)

can she duet?

Kelly Clarkson, Singer

Twelve years ago, nobody knew Kelly Clarkson existed. Then along came a little show called American Idol and suddenly she was a star. She is undoubtedly one of the most successful winners of the show and has won multiple awards and had albums go platinum. Recently, she appeared as a mentor alongside Blake Shelton on The Voice and starting tonight, Thursday, May 24, she is starring on ABC’s new show, Duets. She will be starring alongside Robin Thicke, Jennifer Nettles and John Legend. The superstars will cross the country looking for talented singers to perform with them. Ultimately, each Superstar will choose two singers to be his/her duet partners. Together the Superstars and their protégés will take the stage each week and perform in front of a live studio audience.

In the end, only one duet will be at the top of the charts, and the winning amateur will receive a recording contract with Hollywood Records. I participated in a conference call with Kelly about the show and here are some things that she had to say.

TheTwoCents: Kelly, as someone who has been on the rejection side of things in situations like this, how was it having to tell people that they didn’t make it?

Modern Family – Recap & Review – Baby on Board

photo: abc

Modern Family
Baby on Board

Original Air Date: May 23, 2012

Wyner C – TwoCents Reviewer
wyner@thetwocentscorp.com

There’s a baby on the way and it’s a shocker. Babies are always a welcome; they’re innocent and they smell so nice (when they’re not wallowing in their own feces). Let’s take this baby journey with our favorite extended family.

While preparing for Lily’s dance recital at the Pritchett-Tucker household, Cam and Mitchell receive great news: they are having a baby…a Latino baby…today! I love how Jolie-Pitt they’re getting. The fathers decide to skip the recital for the hospital. Way to make the older child feel loved.