CMA's - country and my biggest night

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood hosting the show -- So smart to use song to make their comic quips -- Swine Flu to the classic Blue, D-I-V-O-R-C-E taunting the break-up of country duo Brooks and Dunn, really fun. I am still amazed by how much Carrie has grown in her personality. She is relaxed, funny, and not to mention gorgeous. Also, can we note how much Brad loves Keith Urban - they are buds, they would probably want to hang out with me. Can't you see it? The three of us, chillin', playing video games...

Let's talk about Taylor's opening number. Not okay. Not okay. This is a girl that I love listening to...ON CD. Live is a whole other story -- and the gyrations and head shaking and pelvis thrusting. It is so annoying. I actually really like a lot of her music, it's fun and light and easy. But then she performs live on these shows and I am waiting to press fast forward. Crazy! But her Kanye incident provided the best entertainment of the evening.

Lady Antebellum rocks and I was PSYCHED that they beat Rascal Flatts for Group of the Year. For all those that don't know, Rascal Flatts basically puts out a new album every year and wins every award imaginable. So this was major for Lady A to win with their first album. Didn't agree with them winning Single of the Year -- Jamey Johnson's In Color is really fantastic, but then he won for Song of the Year so that's cool.

Miranda kicked it as always -- let me tell everyone that her new album is phenomenal, phenomenal, phenomenal. It rocks, it tugs at your heartstrings, it is funny. Pure country. But can we talk about Carrie's performance? I like men, but I could not take my eyes off of her. She is such a performer now. And with dancing or moving around, here is a phenomenal point -- she can sing at the same time. And I mean really SING.

So happy for Darius Rucker -- he has always been a great singer and musician and his crossover to country was genuine and refreshing. Great stuff.

Let's talk about Tim McGraw. I have heard bad stories about he and Faith that I won't post on this blog, but I always loved his look. And Keith and Nicole have clearly taken over as First Couple of Nashville. But this song is fantastic. Just fantastic. I can't download it because you have to buy the whole album and I don't want to. But I will do find a way.

Wow having this show air on Veteran's Day is overkill. Most of you haven't been to a Country Music Festival but there are about 75 million shout outs to the troops. I'm all for the support, but it gets to be a bit much. Is that wrong to say? I don't mean it in a bad way.

Daughtry with Vince Gill -- wow. I have loved this song, not only because of the lyrics and Daughtry's voice, but the combination with the sweet sound of Vince Gill. It is gorgeous.

Keith. Oh Keith. You are so hot and awesome and hot and awesome. I love you, really I do.

And now to my favorite moment of any Country night. Sugarland. Jennifer looks amazing of course (I try to help her by helping her stylist). And then that voice. Chills and tears. There is no one like her, no one. Phenomenal.

Really Taylor won Album of the Year? Ummm, that is a tough one for me. Love on the Inside (Sugarland) is phenomenal. No question. Defying Gravity (Keith Urban) is fantastic as is American Saturday Night (Brad Paisley) but Sugarland had the best written, produced album and they should have won. Although, whoever made Taylor sound that good on the album compared to how she sounds live, well maybe that person should have won.

Jamey Johnson and Kid Rock. Jamey is seriously cool and talented. And then add in Kid Rock, one of my new loves, and it is beyond cool.

Sugarland wins Duo and tries to give tribute to Brooks and Dunn, but they are exactly that, DONE.

Taylor gets to perform again. And she redeemed herself. Fifteen -- acoustically and she sang. Not perfect, but much better.

Jason Aldean -- love that someone can sing a song about a Big Green Tractor and it gets me to sing along. So hilarious. Country Music Hall of Fame celebration for Barbara Mandrell -- so much cooler to have Martina sing than Barbara.

Okay, so Carrie can wear ANYTHING. SIlver, Green, Red, Golden Yellow. And hot pants. It is insane.

Billy Currington was awesome. Funnest song of my summer.

Taylor won female vocalist of the year. Let me repeat that - Taylor won female VOCALIST of the year -- I think that is for the best VOCALS. SINGING VOCALS.

And Kenny gets to close it with a song with Dave Matthews. That is kind of funny because he tours non-stop just like Dave. And they have the same weird fans who would go to every show over and over. Funny and annoying.

Taylor wins Entertainer of the Year at age 19. She is a sweet girl. And I was touched by her parents joy. Wow. Well here is some good news. She does not have a new album so it won't be all about Taylor next year. There I said it.

Alright folks. Time to go to bed. Remember...
don't be ashamed of your obsessions...or of not really liking Taylor Swift live but still listening and singing along to her album.






Brad Paisley wins Male Vocalist -- that works. I do want Keith to have his moment again.

V and Mad Men's season almost closes

I loved V in its first incarnation -- Diana, Robin who had the alien baby, the actor Marc Singer. Unbelievable that it was 25 years ago (geez, I am old!!). Tonight marked the Series premiere of V (circa 2009). The beginning is simple, NYC and several other cities around the world are shocked by the arrival or massive spacecraft lurking in the skies above them. The Visitors on board the space ship immediately send a global message of peace -- premise is simple. We are another intelligent life form who simply need a mineral from earth, and in return we will leave your world a better place. We come in peace.

Key characters missions are explained right off the bat. Juliet from Lost (sorry, I don't know her name yet) is a single mother FBI agent whose divorce looms large and whose teenage son is immediately enamored by the V's and their message. Scott Wolf is an anchor searching for his big story to lift him from just reading the news to creating it and is immediately tagged by Anna, the V leader (they changed Diana to Anna!) as the one she wants to tell her story and more. The priest whose church is ready to support the V's because their presence has driven followers back to the church who is skeptical of the true mission of the V's. Brian who is about to propose to his fiance but then reveals he is one of the Visitors but is opposed to their mission. The rebel leader who sounds like a crazy man with all of his theories but slowly builds the Resistance as his theories prove true.

Immediately there are those who believe their message and those who question it -- sides are taken right away by some. Such a clear plot, such clearly made characters, everything we remember is out on the table. And now we are drawn it to watch the battle between the Visitors and the Resistance begin. Plus love the elements of modernity -- the Visitors were working undercover as "terrorists," the Visitors promise universal healthcare in their messaging. The Visitor's message is spread online through the youth culture. The story still works today. Good start and I am in.

Can we please talk about Mad Men? Best season ever. Finally tons of the personal intrigue that I love. Don's secrets all come tumbling out right in Betty's lap and she listens and hears him, but underneath it all, his secrets, instead of bringing them closer, give her the justification to finally admit she doesn't love him. They don't fight, she barely cries, the cold wall between them is finally out in the open and understood by them both -- they finally have a reason for the wall. Don and Betty have really been on the forefront of the season and I do miss some of the office intrigue, and I really miss Peggy, but it is so satisfying to watch Don and Betty go through this season. Oh and January Jones is just stunning -- every outfit she puts on takes my breath away -- can we talk about her look in Rome? It really is beyond. And the JFK assassination episode -- with Roger's daughter's wedding and Pete's revelation. So smart and intriguing. Can't wait for Sunday.

Of course my TV watching over the past few weeks has been overwhelmed by baseball. What great games! Yes I love the Yankees, but I really think their games in the Division Championships, the League Championships and now the World Series have been so exciting -- real, live plotlines, characters to root for, cliffhangers (and Cliff Lee!) -- and as the Yankees head to the grand finale (yes they will win), I thank them for giving me the best TV so far this season!

Bloomberg is giving his acceptance speech in Spanish and it is hilarious!!

More soon my friends and remember...

don't be ashamed of your obsessions...