It's country week on "American Idol," and it's positively boring.
Most of the singers just don't look like they have fun with their performances. Even the usually animated Taylor Hicks is "safe, boring, lazy," according to judge Simon Cowell. Kellie Pickler and Bucky Covington are obviously comfortable singing country songs, and hopefully they'll last another week. As usual, Chris Daughtry is spectacular, even when singing a more mellow song.
Lisa Tucker was eliminated last week. She's way too high school musical-ish anyway.
Mandisa was the surprise elimination this week. "Idol" airs Tuesday night on Fox.
It's week six of the candidates' job interviews on "The Apprentice," and Donald Trump has the teams dream up new jingles for Arby's new natural chicken selections. Sean is Project Manager for Synergy and its rock music jingle is a hit.
The team wins a special truffle dinner at Alain Ducasse at the Essex House. Gold Rush is down a team member, as Lee takes the day off to observe Yom Kippur. Project Manager Bryce is left with useless Lenny, who says he knows nothing about jingles since he's from Russia; and Tarek, Roxanne and Charmaine.
In the boardroom, Carolyn Kepcher says, "They missed the mark." Bryce stupidly brings Lenny and Lee to the chopping block, when he should have brought Tarek and Charmaine, since they wrote the boring, old-timey jingle. Plus Charmaine poorly scheduled the group's meeting with the Arby's executives, which made them late. Donald scolds Bryce for bringing back Lee, and says he can't fire Lenny because he didn't really do anything wrong. Bryce is fired, but it's his own fault. "Apprentice" airs Monday night on NBC.
I'm loving the new text message feature available to "Apprentice" watchers. By texting "APP" to NBCTV, you will receive messages from cast members during the show and automatically sign up to win Donald's money each week starting April 24. For example, after Bryce was fired, Donald sent out a message saying: "I liked the fight I saw in Bryce. I really did. He is clearly a passionate guy and I like that. I just didn't understand his rationale." (By the way, Bravo's "Top Chef" has a similar text message program, too.)
Channel surfing: "The Amazing Race" has moved! The Emmy-winning show now airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS. ...On "Blow Out," Jonathan goes to New York City for Olympus Fashion Week, and with his hairstyling team, does hair for designer Charles Nolan. The situation is intense backstage, as photographers and reporters get in the way of the hairstylists and Jonathan freaks out, walking out, but only for a minute. Of course, the models' hair ends up gorgeous. "Magic happened and then it was showtime," Jonathan says. "Blow Out" airs Tuesday night on Bravo. ...
The Botox is a-flowin' on "The Real Housewives of Orange County" this week, as Lauri convinces Vicki it's time to be injected. Vicki's teenage kids are mortified while watching their mother go under the needle. Kimberly goes on vacation with her girlfriend and gets a little too wild while dancing with random guys at a club. She winds up losing her diamond bellybutton ring. Jo gets a job, which really upsets her fiance, Slade. He says she's betraying their family by going to work. These people are unbelievable! "Housewives" airs Tuesday night on Bravo. ...
A&E finally aired the last three episodes of "Rollergirls." The TXRD All-Scar Army beats the Arizona Renegades team in the first all-girl interstate bout in 30 years. The Rollergirls celebrate the end of the season at the Rollerball awards ceremony, which is total debauchery (scantily dressed Cha Cha leaps from table to table, Gunsmoka La Loca's exposed parts have to be blurred out a few times). Venis Envy wins Rookie of the Year, Cherry Chainsaw is Most Feared, Holly Peno gets the Golden Ticket award, Chola is the Crowd Favorite, Lux and Frankie (sporting a new Lux pinup girl tattoo) win Couple of the Year, and Gunsmoka is MVP. Too bad Sister Mary Jane and her Holy Rollers are shut out. The season doesn't end well for them either, as Lux and her Rhinestone Cowgirls beat the Holy Rollers, 39-36, in the Calvello Cup finale. It's a sad goodbye to SMJ and Jailbait, and the final shows are "dedicated in loving memory to Ann Calvello 'Demon of the Derby.' " Goodbye, Rollergirls. But my fingers are crossed -- I hope this isn't the end for the series! ...
On the "Flavor of Love Reunion: After the Love," the self-proclaimed "Black-chelor" returns to clear up loose ends with the ladies. I swear I was watching an episode of "Jerry Springer," with all the trashy catfights and screaming going on. New York and Pumkin battle it out again, but Flav's bodyguard, Big Rick, manages to restrain New York enough that she can't get any punches (or spitting) in. Flav and his final choice, Hoopz, reveal that they've broken up. "I wish I woulda picked somebody that had time for me," Flav says. "I knew it! New York knew it!" New York yells. I wonder if she'll get a second chance. Flav says he's going to do another round of the show on VH1.
First Published: April 6, 2006, 4:00 a.m.
