Live from the CMA's

I mean, I can't even wait to write about this -- you are getting a live report (okay, I'm watching on DVR, but close to live).

Watching the CMA awards which for me is one of the best awards shows because it is full of performances of music I listen to all the time.

Carrie Underwood of course did not disappoint. 1 award for single of the year (Before He Cheats) and an AMAZING performance of her new single So Small. A beautiful yellow gown on a lit platform and a perfect performance.

What I also loved was that Sugarland won duo of the year -- they were up against a lot of duos who win year after year (Brooks and Dunn won 14 of the last 15 years) but Sugarland won because they are awesome. Don't you love my analysis? Then they performed Stay which is an incredible acoustic ballad. Standing ovation of course because the lead singer Jennifer Nettles is absolutely one of the greatest female vocalists of all time. Of course my favorite Sugarland moments come courtesy of my nieces Sonia and Julia who know every word to Baby Girl and Settlin'. They are ADORABLE.

I have respect for but don't really understand George Strait for Album and Song of the Year -- it doesn't feel relevant -- just giving a legend an award for being a legend?

Martina McBride can't really be criticized, but tonight the outfit for her performance was questionable (ADAM I thought you were dressing her!) Let's just say cowboy suit. Enough said.

Keith, oh Keith, oh Keith. I love you. Just thinking about last year and how you had to miss the CMA's because you were in rehab. Loved your performance of Everybody and thank you for throwing in all the spoken words "yes you did." Was Nicole there? No clothing faux pas thanks to Wendy Schecter. Jeans and a black button down with rolled up sleeves to reveal the tattoos. Thank you Keith.

This just in -- Carrie just won her second Female Vocalist of the Year Award -- luckily Faith Hill wasn't there this year to balk. Of course I love that she thanks American Idol always for her roots -- this girl knows her priorities.

Ummm Kenny Chesney needs a stylist and something to make the nasal go out of his voice. Pleated grey dress pants with a cowboy hat? Really? NO

JOSH TURNER -- if you want to hear one of the most fun songs out there right now -- check out his Firecracker. His beautiful deep voice on a rocking song. I don't really like that his wife now plays keyboard in his band -- no need. But the performance was great.

Not a fan of Kellie Pickler but her singing that song to her mother who abandoned her and breaking down in tears-- I mean it was sad.

Finally saw Nicole Kidman-- no need to dress like you are going to the Oscars honey -- this is NASHVILLE.

Hold on now -- they just explained why Rascal Flatts and Jaime Foxx are dueting -- they used to be roommates? Most of you know Jaime Foxx, but for the visual, here is the lead singer

This was the worst performance of the night. HORRIBLE. Oh my god, hold on I need to fast forward, this is painful.

Kenny Chesney wins the Entertainer of the Year which I think is awarded to the artist who makes the most money touring -- if this is the case, please buy a stylist Kenny. Or talk to Keith who was wearing an adorable vest, pocket watch, white shirt, tie number for his in the audience outfit.

Well good night all, I'm going to go listen to Firecracker again.

and remember...

don't be ashamed of your obsessions...

I am clearly not.

The Jovi

I know you have all been anxiously awaiting my report from Newark and the Bon Jovi concert. First of all, the stage was set as if it was in a Nashville bar. Country is everywhere -- not to pat myself on the back, but I was onto this "trend" for quite some time now. I like to think that my love for country and my love for the Jovi somehow brought these two together. Magic!

The performance was awesome -- all the songs you could want. Old -- Bad Medicine, Raise Your Hands and of course Livin' On A Prayer. Bed of Roses which I don't think I have ever seen them perform and Wanted Dead or Alive. Newer, Have a Nice Day was amazing -- I was laughing because my niece loves that song and loves to sing along, but I wonder what she would say if she saw Jon and Richie give the middle finger as they sing "Have a Nice Day!" Of course they closed with Who Says You Can't Go Home -- their newer anthem and of course the Jersey crowd loved it. Their performance of the new album was great too but I did miss them not singing I Love This Town -- I'll have to wait for Giants Stadium this summer. Rock On!

Umm not to mention that of course Jon looked great -- I mean every time he smiled we swooned. Every hip shake, pose, smirk. Okay, that's all I can write about right now.

And to my other love, let's talk about the new Carrie Underwood CD. FANTASTIC. So much better than the first which was enjoyable, but this is real. It is genuine -- not so pop sounding, much more country influenced and the voice. I mean I don't know how she does it (and believe me, I spent a good two hours this weekend trying to sing even some of it, sorry Apartment 2H). Her range is powerful and smooth. I can't wait to hear her sing it live because so far, I haven't ever heard her mess up live so I know I'll be blown away. For those who would never buy her CD, but have to admit that you like Before He Cheats (come on, I know you do) there is a great song called Last Name which I'm sure will hit the airwaves soon.

Couple of TV hits -- FNL - can we talk about the scene in Mexico where Street and Riggins are partying and Street starts telling the crowd that he is going to get an operation and walk again? Tim's face hearing his friend's desperation - heartwrenching, just heartwrenching. And then he calls Lila to get her to come help him convince Street not to have the operation. Uggh.

And Brothers and Sisters last night? I don't want to give it away if you haven't seen it, but when Sarah has to send her kids to live with her ex and Sally Field (her Mom) comes over to support her - what great acting. The two of them are phenomenal and I was crying like a baby. And in the scene with Kitty and Rob Lowe, they played that Joshua Radin song - What If? If you haven't heard this and like a nice tearjerker, download it.

One last thought -- the Yankees. So Joe Girardi is the manager and A-Rod is gone. Good riddance -- let's see how much money you can make and let's see if you will ever find a home town that embraces you -- best of luck to you A-Rod. I'm optimistic about this new team - let's give them a chance and they can use some of the A-Rod money to get some pitchers.

Enough for tonight my friends and remember,

don't be ashamed of your obsessions...

I fell over

Oh my god The Office is so funny -- Celebrity Rabies awareness? Really? Okay here is the rewind for those who don't take pleasure in constant laughter. Michael hits Meredith with his car, she discovers while in the hospital that she has rabies and so he starts a fund instead of feeling guilty for hitting her with his car. Bracelets that say Support the Rabid. Too much. And of course he forces the staff to run in the race for the cure. He really wants to win but pukes from having eaten Fettuccine Alfredo to stock up on carbs. I can't take it. Why does Michael hate Toby? Poor guy - he is going to go nuts soon. But also the serenade that Andy performs for Angela. Here is what I love. He doesn't just sing to her or profess his interest. He goes to her desk, dials a friend and puts him on speaker, goes to another phone, dials a friend and puts him on speaker. And then in 3 part harmony sings Take a Chance on Me by Abba. He is really weird and recently he has been wearing weird golf pants, but I would fall for that.


And Pam and Jim together finally - so sweet. A rooftop soda and reminiscence...perfectly simple and right.


Okay, Pete -- this one's for you...Rock of Love -- as with every single dating reality show, the couple doesn't stand a chance. I think Jess realized that Brett doesn't have any hair and dumped him. Between the diabetes and the scary I wear a bandanna every day because I don't actually have hair, maybe he should be with the stripper. Not because of the diabetes but the fact that he drinks too much and then feels sick because his insulin level is off -- come on. I loved when he almost died on the sand dune buggy when Heather was driving like a mad woman. I saw Heather in the LA airport and she isn't too bad looking. Hopefully they will live happily ever after.


I got a vote of support in my love for Katherine Heigl by the way and was told to check out Californication, and a show on MTV about a bisexual? And props to Linda for the lyrics to "Your Love" Now I have even more reason to sing it to myself all day long.

So I hit the karaoke Saturday night with my partner in crime MC and let me say that we rocked that room. Journey, Fame, Total Eclipse of the Heart and yes, I did the Outfield song "Your Love." Despite Adam's consternation (I love that word) that it would not be a hit, the room loved it -- despite the fact that we had to scream at the top of our lungs to sing the notes after 4 hours of karaoke. SING SING rules!

I have TONS of movies to see -- it is overwhelming, but thankfully to the WB crew I already saw Michael Clayton so that is a check (IT IS very well done -- a classic suspense drama that is really well acted). But on my list are: We Own the Night, Jesse James, Elizabeth and I still have to see Once.

Have checked out Pushing Daisies on ABC -- The way Olive (Kristen Chenoweth aka Glinda the good witch from Wicked) sings to herself in Pushing Daisies -- soundtrack in her head - so me. It is quirky but sweet and fast paced. Let's see how it goes.


Joe tells me he likes Dirty Sexy Money - pure entertainment. Will I regret my cancellation of recording the series on the DVR?


Went to see Kelly Clarkson tonight in her revised smaller concert series. Thank you hubstub for the 15th row tickets (and D for the advice). Background...I saw Kelly do a small outdoor concert after her first album (post Idol pre-Since You've Been Gone) and she was just screaming and jumping around and I feared that the Idol couldn't sing or sustain. That is all different now. She SANG and I mean SANG tonight. Even though her new album is terrifyingly difficult to sing, she did it all -- beautifully. Reaffirmed that "How I Feel" is the theme song for me right now. Take a listen and you will totally get it. She wonderfully attacked the criticism that her songs are all boy bashing by saying that she is simply young and she has to go through a lot of losers to find the one, so right now she is going through the losers and writing about them. If you have the album WHICH YOU SHOULD, listen to Chivas, the track that comes on at the end added on to the final track. It is amazing. And since the title is not listed on the CD, I was pleased to learn that the song is about Chivas the liquor as opposed to Shivers which my lyrically challenged brain thought. Makes SO much more sense now.


I was very pleased with the crowd at the Beacon -- mix of women, men, old, young. But of course, I was standing next to two girls who were talking so much that the guy in front of us told them to please stop being distracting (hee, hee). Then the girl proceeded to grab my arm and try to make me wave my arm from side to side in the air. Umm, Rachna does not like to be touched! And this is not Yo! MTV raps! Geez!


Sagum and all the others, I owe you a full breakdown on Friday Night Lights, but I am stunned by the wonder of the first two episodes. Speechless by how good Connie Britton (the wife) is. And loving the stubble on Coach Eric Taylor...


Next week I am going to see Bon Jovi -- I am gong to Newark, yes Newark to see them. So if you had any doubt about HOW I FEEL about things, remember...


don't be ashamed of your obsessions...

What to watch?

Okay everyone, I have some recommendations. But first, let me share my recent adventure. I had to travel to Paris for work and since the Parisian TV experience in my hotel is not pleasant -- it is a very international experience, for sure, with German MTV, two Italian channels, CNN, Sky News and a couple of French networks, but it is pretty much unbearable. An Italian version of Dancing with the Stars -- really? Jackass dubbed into French? No thanks.

So this trip, I decided to bring a DVD player and all 5 DVD's of season 1 of Friday Night Lights. What better way to get ready for the new season, right? I know, I'm sick. So anyway, great idea, but after watching the first DVD, the power in the battery died and my technologically challenged brain decided, sure any piece of equipment can be plugged into the wall if the plug has an adaptor on it. Wrong -- FYI, European outlets have a different voltage coming through them and will basically zap electronic equipment. I hear the laughter coming from all of you. Don't you know about power supplies in different countries -- ha, ha, you would think she has never traveled, ha, ha. But listen, explain this to me -- IT IS CALLED A PORTABLE DVD PLAYER!!!!!!!!!! Does "portable" mean portable in one country only? Computers can just be plugged in, and they aren't even called PORTABLE! Whatever, I got four episodes and then had to spend the rest of the trip changing the channel between Dora the Explorer in French and MTV's Parental Control in English -- that is one show that could have been dubbed and might have become more enjoyable.

So I came back to NYC and a DVR full of new and returning favorites. I am not yet caught up and am still saving the new Friday Night Lights for full non-jet lagged viewing. In terms of returning shows, Heroes is holding up really well. Milo looks great with his new haircut and the show still blows my mind with the twists and turns. New season of Survivor is fantastic -- one player is a cafeteria lady, another a gravedigger and then there is the 70 lb Courtney from NY who is attempting as an anorexic to waste away even more with no food and compete in strenuous physical competitions. But she wonders why her teammates are discriminating against her? She looks like she could blow over if someone sneezed on her. Watch, she will end up winning.

Grey's Anatomy is fantastic -- the humor is back and the heart tugging is still there. I don't miss Burke, but most importantly, Katherine Heigl is proving why she just won the Emmy. She is funny, poignant and in my mind definitely more the heart of the show than Ellen Pompeo. And finally Dr McSteamy is smiling -- love the friendship forming again with him and McDreamy. Here is my question, do people auditioning to be on the show, i.e. Meredith's new half sister, have to learn how to speak in the Grey's rhythm? They all talk really fast and have certain speech ticks. It is really weird. And of course when the episode is over, I speak the same way -- sorry everyone who has to see me the next day...

Still have to watch the Office (by the way, anyone looking for a b-day present for me can buy me Season 3), 30 Rock, ER...so more on returning shows soon.

Onto new shows, already told you I'm done with Gossip Girl, I also tried Dirty Sexy Money and I'm not feeling it. Maybe it is clever, but to me there is no emotional connection to the characters -- a really wealthy family hires the son of their recently deceased lawyer to be the new family lawyer. There is the Patriarch who tries to buy his way into everything, the Matriarch who was sleeping with the recently deceased lawyer, the spoiled daughter who is on her 4th husband, the priest who actually has a kid --- whatever and there are other family members and I don't care. I don't even care enough to explain it to you. I have one more episode stored, but I think it might get erased this weekend.

Private Practice -- I want to like it -- I like a lot of the actors, but I just can't devote myself to it. Grey's is so much better and in the spring Idol will be up against it so why bother?

I owe you more new show stuff - Big Shots, Pushing Daisies, Tell Me You Love Me, etc.

Music wise, love Stronger by Kanye -- I think he is full of himself, but the Daft Punk collaboration is genius. But let me bring you back a little -- I am obsessed (can you imagine?) with The Outfield "Your Love" A couple sang it at karaoke a few months ago, and now I can't get it out of my head. You know the song... It starts "josie's on a vacation far away" followed by some words I can't understand and will therefore not try to guess at in writing. Anyone who can help me, I appreciate it. Download it - you will not be able to get it out of your head. Might try it a Karaoke this weekend - they put words on the screen for idiots like me :)

So much more to discuss...the Yanks, end of Rock of Love, Top Chef and the Little Big Town concert. So until next time,

don't be ashamed of your obsessions...