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Pan-Asian Girl Group Blush Debuts With Hit Single "Undivided"

2011-07-23T04:33:00.005+03:00

There's a new girl group in town, and they want to take over the world! The Pan-Asian girl group Blush debuted recently with hit single "Undivided," featuring Snoop Dogg. In three short weeks, they've reached #25 on the US Billboard Dance Chart, and they appeared on "So You Think You Can Dance" this week.

Blush consists of five talented ladies: Ji Hae from Korea, Natsuko from Japan, Victoria from Hong Kong, Angeli from the Philippines, and Alisha from India. Ji Hae participated on "Superstar K" and landed in the top 30, despite not having any formal vocal or dance training. Check out their live performance of "Undivided" in So You Think You Can Dance, USA below.

Blush Ft. Snoop Dog- Undivided - Live Performance by jo2306

Dynamo: Magician Impossible

2011-07-16T23:54:00.000+03:00

In a truly jaw-dropping stunt this weekend, Dynamo stunned onlookers as he walked across the river Thames in London. That's right - the British illusionist performed the impossible and actually walked on water in front of a crowd of enthralled spectators at Westminster Bridge in the capital. And they'll be plenty more astounding feats and mind-bending tricks in Dynamo: Magician Impossible, new and exclusive to Watch, starting Thursday 7th July.

Tipped as the most exciting British magician to emerge in decades and with a list of celebrity fans that reads like a 'who's who' of the Hollywood elite, Dynamo: Magician Impossible is the story of an ordinary boy from Bradford living an extraordinary life. Like his dear grandfather before him, Dynamo grew up practicing precision card-handling and developing powerful magical skills.

The series sees the 28-year-old travelling the globe as the unassuming anti-hero who just happens to astound everyone he meets, whether it's an international footballer or Hollywood actor.

Dynamo - Magician Impossible Episode 1 by jo2306
In episode one, Dynamo performs his spectacular matrix style levitation, physically moves a girl's tan line on the glamorous Miami Beach and performs magic with Manchester rock legend Ian Brown.

Other highlights in this mind blowing series include; transporting a mobile phone into a glass beer bottle, magically transforming snow into diamonds in the Austrian mountains and bringing a flutter of butterflies to life in Hollywood's famous Chateau Marmont.

Throughout the series, Dynamo: Magician Impossible will take viewers on his magical journey before stunning them with incredible, headline-grabbing stunts beyond the realms of possibility.

"Absolutely stunning" Will Smith
"The greatest magic I've ever seen" Chris Martin (Coldplay)

Teen Wolf, An Exciting New Series from MTV

2011-07-14T22:28:00.005+03:00

Teen Wolf is an American television series that currently airs on MTV. The series premiered on June 5, 2011, following the 2011 MTV Movie Awards. Teen Wolf is a supernatural drama series that follows Scott McCall (Tyler Posey), a high school student and social outcast that gets bitten by a werewolf while wandering in the woods. Scott attempts to maintain a normal life, while hiding from everyone his secret life as a werewolf with the exception of his best friend Stiles Stilinski (Dylan O'Brien) who helps him through this change in his life and body and another mysterious werewolf, Derek Hale (Tyler Hoechlin.

The series has received a mixed response from critics, earning a score of 61 out of 100 on review site Metacritic. The show's premiere drew in a total of 2.18 million viewers. The show has been renewed for a second season.

American daily ‘New York Post’ has hailed this TV drama series as “the best new teen/adult crossover series since Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, while US magazine ‘Entertainment Weekly’ praised it for being “good fun, well-written, and well-acted”.

Teen Wolf - Trailer / Bande-Annonce de 3... by Lyricis
And that new show is none other than Teen Wolf, new TV drama series Teen Wolf will take fans from across the region to the wild side with a brand new werewolf-human romance adventure with lots of bite.

Beginning on Sunday, 17 July at 9pm on AXN Beyond, Teen Wolf will also be simulcast on AXN and Animax in a premiere event. Subsequent episodes broadcast exclusively on AXN Beyond on Mondays at 9pm, which will be the show’s regular broadcast day and time, starting from 18 July.

Teen Wolf comes to viewers in the region in just over a month after its premiere in the U.S. Inspired by the 80s comedic movie of the same title starring Michael J. Fox, Teen Wolf has been given a contemporary spin and completely re-imagined into an edgy, action-packed and thrilling TV series.

Teen Wolf stars Tyler Posey (Lincoln Heights, Brothers and Sisters) as Scott McCall, an unnoticed outsider yearning to be recognized in some small way to take him out of his typical state of high school anonymity. When his best friend, Stiles Stilinski (Dylan O’Brien, High Road), convinces him to go into the woods one night to join a police search for a dead body, Scott encounters a creature in the darkness. Narrowly surviving its attack with a vicious bite to his side, Scott awakes the next day to strange surprises and his life is never the same again.

Teen Wolf - Romantic Scene - Date In The Forest - The most popular videos are a click away

Acquiring superhuman wolf-like abilities, Scott now hears things he should not be able to hear, sees with startling accuracy, and moves with incredible reflexes. Usually a bench warmer, Scott with his newfound powers, becomes a first team player for the school lacrosse team, outdoing even the top player Jackson Whittemore, played by actor-model Colton Haynes (The Gates). Sparking the interest of Lydia Martin (Holland Roden, Lost) the most popular girl in school, Scott falls instead for Allison Argent, the mysterious new girl in town played by Crystal Reed (Skyline).

Not only does Scott have to suppress his wolfish instincts and urges, he has to contend with other werewolves, including Derek Hale (Tyler Hoechlin, Road to Perdition, 7th Heaven), the more experienced and dangerous werewolf thought to be responsible for the life-changing bite. And as the story unfolds, Scott will have to fight a family of werewolf hunters, the leader who turns out to be Allison’s father…

Teen Wolf - Funny Scene - Am I Not Attracted to Gay Guys? - The funniest videos are a click away

With a forbidden romance set against the drama of high school life, Teen Wolf follows a dark, riveting plot and delves into themes of self-discovery, struggles and angst among its teenage characters coming into their own. Topped by an attractive, young and fresh-faced cast line-up, Teen Wolf has all the makings of the next big TV series in the massively popular supernatural action-romance genre.

Helmed by Australian director Russell Mulcahy (Highlander) and executive produced by Jeff Davis, creator of the original Teen Wolf movie in 1985, the TV series is proving to be a ratings hit on cable television in the US. Spot on for its target teen and young adult audiences, Teen Wolf’s premiere drew some 2.18 million viewers. In its fourth week, the series recorded a 23 per cent growth in its 12 – 34 year old audiences and was the top-rated show in its timeslot among women of the same demographic group.

With all the ingredients of a hit show coming together in a fresh and sexy thriller of the supernatural kind, viewers can expect a wild and exciting good time with Teen Wolf, howling this July only on AXN Beyond.

Akai Osei wins Got To Dance!

2010-02-16T23:45:00.003+02:00

The biggest national dance competition to ever hit UK TV screens concluded in a nail-biting 90 minute live final on Sky1 HD this Sunday. The ultimate dance off saw six talented dance acts compete against each other to win a life changing cash prize of £100k. It was ten year old street dancer Akai Osei who won over the public and claimed the title of Got To Dance champion 2010.

Ten year old Akai, who has only been dancing for year, wowed the viewers and judges alike with a set of sophisticated moves, including head spins, body popping and backsliding. The audience gave him standing ovations and the judges awarded him three gold stars following both of his performances.

On his win, Akai said, “I can’t believe it, this is amazing. It’s been the best night of my life, I don’t know what I’ll do with the prize money yet, but I definitely want to give some to charity. I haven’t decided which one yet.”

Our Got To Dance judging panel comprises of Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt, Diversity Leader Ashley Banjo and West End star and movie actor Adam Garcia, who said of Akai’s victory:

Ashley Banjo:

“Firstly, he and his family should be so proud. He sums up this competition, he’s not professional, has only been dancing for a year and is only 10 years old and has just got to dance and he beats me hands down!”

Kimberly Wyatt:

“I’m so proud of Akai, he has been on point to the max and I have so much respect for him. I love his confidence. Amazing!”

Adam Garcia:

“He has incredible stage presence and is just born to dance. I’ve always loved what he does, everyone loves what he does. Just incredible.”

Host Davina McCall commented:

“I am so thrilled for Akai, but glad the viewers voted, I couldn’t have picked a winner, all of the finalists are amazing, they have put in such hard work. I’m going to get Akai to teach me some moves now.”

Got To Dance scoured the UK and Ireland, visiting 14 cities and covering thousands of miles to seek out the best dance crews, troupes and solo dancers of all style and ages. From thousands of applicants, almost 100 dancers aged from 4 to 82 auditioned in front of a live audience and the Got To Dance judging panel. The panel then narrowed these acts down to the Final 18 who performed in a series of live semi-final shows competing for the viewers’ votes to go through to Sunday 14 February’s live final.

Acts who competed in the final against Akai were:

Jukebox Juniors, a junior Cardiff based dance troupe, Matthew Koon, a 16 year old contemporary dancer, Glaswegian junior ballet group The Box, ten year old Perthshire contemporary dancer Emily Crow and MJ Latin, a Latin American style dance group from Preston.

Charlie Bruce wins So You Think You Can Dance final

2010-02-16T23:40:00.002+02:00

So You Think You Can Dance, the BBC's hunt for the UK's best dancer, has been won by 19-year-old Charlie Bruce.

Charlie, from Leicester, won £100,000 and the opportunity to perform on the US version of the show.

She faced competition from just two other finalists, Lizzie Gough and Tommy Franzen, after Robbie White was forced to pull out with a dislocated shoulder.

The final of the BBC One show also featured a live performance by Robbie Williams on his 36th birthday.

Williams, who sang the official Sport Relief single Morning Sun, could not resist showing off some of his own dance moves.

Afterwards, he told the show's host Cat Deeley: "I thought it was a chance to do a medley of all my dance routines."

The final saw each of the contestants perform six routines. In the absence of the injured Robbie White, former contestants who had been voted off in earlier weeks returned for routines in which they were partnered with the competing finalists.

The winner burst into tears when Deeley revealed she had won the most votes from the public and said she would "never forget" the experience.

The teenager said she was "absolutely speechless" at her success and, fighting back tears, added: "Thank you so much. I did it."

Tommy was voted into second place and Lizzie came third.

Arlene Phillips, who joined the show's judging panel following her controversial departure from Strictly Come Dancing, told Charlie: "You have just changed through the night and grown through the series. What you have done tonight is mega, honey, mega."

Fellow judge Nigel Lythgoe praised Charlie's "journey" and said the teenager "grew" throughout the series. He said her trip to Hollywood to perform on the US version of the show was the "chance of a lifetime".

Although So You Think You Can Dance was on its first series for the BBC, its US equivalent - also hosted by Deeley - is hugely successful with viewing figures of 20 million and is about to start a seventh series.

Strictly Come Dancing: Chris Hollins beats Ricky Whittle

2009-12-21T19:26:00.002+02:00

Strictly Come Dancing reached its climax last night as Chris Hollins beat favourite Ricky Whittle. The Telegraph's fashion director Hilary Alexander gives her verdict on the showdown.

It was billed as The Hunk v. The Hobbit, the David and Goliath ballroom battle which would decide the winner of the Strictly Come Dancing title for 2009.

In the end, the result was biblical.

The Glitter Ball trophy went to team "C-Ola", as the perky BBC presenter, Chris Hollins, and his partner Ola Jordan, have become known.

The couple won over the viewers with their combination of crowd-pleasing cheekiness, fun, enthusiasm and good old-fashioned entertainment.

In the first half of the show, Hollins had prophetically quipped: "We might be the underdogs, but every dog has its day."

He and Ola may not have had the sensual polish, the finesse and the fitness of close rivals, Ricky Whittle, the Hollyoaks star, and his partner, Natalie Lowe.

But by the rip-roaring, "sexy swimming" finale to their Charleston, Team C-Ola had the studio audience – and, obviously, the viewers at home – eating out of their hands.

The judges heaped adjective upon superlative to praise the four dances each couple performed. Bruno Tonioli called Chris and Ola's Charleston "a Strictly Come Dancing classic".

Len Goodman pronounced Ricky and Natalie's quickstep "Strictly history". Craig Revel Horwood coined the word "lift-tastic" to describe Ricky's spectacular series of one-arm and two-arm flying lifts in the couple's "show dance".

I had started off this series – 14 weeks, 654 hours of training per couple and 17 dances ago – hoping Ricky would win. But by last night's final, I discovered I really didn't mind who got to grasp the "Glitter Ball". Both couples were fantastic. It's we, the viewers, who are the real winners in this show.

But what a week! Losing 'Wake Up to Wogan' was bad enough. We now have to face up to nine months of Saturday nights without a 'Strictly' fix.

The only thing we, perhaps, have to look forward to, is Ricky's promise to wear a thong if he got into the final.

Could that happen in a Strictly Christmas special? Now that just might make Ola and Natalie's costumes look a little over-dressed.

Natalie White wins 'Survivor: Samoa,' beats Russell Hantz, Mick Trimming

2009-12-21T13:40:00.005+02:00

Natalie White's strategy of riding Russell Hantz's coattails and not playing too aggressively paid off.

The 26-year-old pharmaceutical sales representative from Van Buren, AR claimed Survivor: Samoa's $1 million grand prize during the live portion of last night's finale broadcast from CBS Television Studio in Hollywood, CA.

"It's about having no regrets. You've got to take a big risk to get a big return," said Natalie after her victory was revealed.

"I had to quit my job to do it. So I gave up a wonderful job -- not just a wonderful job, but one that I loved so much... There was a lot at risk for me."

Natalie defeated Russell Hantz, a 36-year-old oil company owner from Dayton, TX, and Mick Trimming, a 33-year-old doctor from Boise, ID who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA, by receiving five of the first seven jury votes Survivor host Jeff Probst revealed. Russell received the other two jury votes that were disclosed. Jeff did not reveal the remaining eighth and ninth votes, which were presumably also for Natalie.

"Her key move in the game was aligning with me," said Russell after Natalie had previously stated her "key move" as orchestrating Erik Cardona's blindside after the merge.

"Okay, maybe I had two key moves then," replied Natalie.

Survivor: Samoa's finale broadcast began on Day 37 at the merged Aiga camp following the elimination of Shannon "Shambo" Waters -- who was ousted when Brett Clouser, a 23-year-old T-shirt designer from Salem, OR who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA, won Individual Immunity for the second consecutive time and staved off certain elimination.

Mick and Jaison Robinson, a 28-year-old law student from Chicago, IL, discussed the possibility of Brett winning Immunity again and immediately targeted Natalie if that were to happen.

"I think Russell will have a hard time voting her off," said Mick to Jaison.

"I think Russell will have an easier time doing a lot of things than you think," replied Jaison.

However they both agreed that Brett would be first, as Jaison was worried the only remaining Galu member could go on an "Immunity run." Russell was aware that Natalie's neck was on the line if Brett won Immunity again.

"You know what's going to happen if he wins the next one? I ain't going to be able to save you," Russell told Natalie.

"Why would I be next?" asked Natalie.

"Because the three guys stay to beat [Brett] in that last challenge," replied Russell.

"Well, that sucks," she said.

"Well we've just got to win," he said.

Natalie then asked point blank if she'd be going home if Brett won the next Immunity Challenge.

"Probably so," answered Russell.

In a confessional, Natalie said her strategy entering the competition was to "play the underdog," "be underestimated" and "just kind of slide through."

"Which I've done. And it's gotten me this far," she added.

The five castaways then arrived for the Immunity Challenge, and before Jeff explained the rules he asked Russell if it was the remaining four Foa Foa against Brett.

"Yes it is. That's what it is," answered Russell.

"It's an individual competition, so it's definitely a motivator," said Brett.

Each castaway would race across a series of obstacles and grab a bag of puzzle pieces before racing back. They then had to climb a steep wall to a platform and use the pieces to solve a puzzle. First person to get it right would win Immunity.

The challenge commenced, and while Russell was able to grab an early lead Brett's puzzle-solving skills helped him in the end and he won Immunity for the third consecutive time.

"To finally see a Foa Foa member go home will be relieving," said Brett in a confessional.

Natalie said she "definitely felt" like her head was on the chopping block. At camp, she talked to Russell

"I'm going to change it," he said.

"Promise me?" she asked.

"I promise you," he said.

Russell then revealed in a confessional why he wanted to keep Natalie around.

"I'm trying to keep Natalie because she's holding onto my coattails," he explained. "Who better to take to the Final 2 than her? There's no way she can beat me in votes."

Brett talked to Jaison about the impending vote.

"Do you guys know what you're doing, or is it up in the air?" Brett asked.

"You always think you know what you're doing but you never actually know what's going to happen," answered Jaison.

In a confessional, Russell called Jaison "the weakest link" and thought Natalie was stronger in helping to beat Brett in the next Immunity Challenge. He also weighed the pros and cons of keeping Jaison or Mick.

"The good thing about keeping Jaison is he can't beat me in the votes, the bad thing about keeping Jaison is he can't beat Brett in the challenge," explained Russell. "The good thing about keeping Mick is he could possibly beat Brett in the challenge, the bad thing about keeping Mick is he might beat me in jury votes."

He approached Jaison about getting rid of Mick, and Jaison agreed.

"I think Russell and I trust each other enough and we're comfortable. When I say this, I mean it. When he says this, he means it," explained Jaison.

However Russell also told Mick that Jaison would be next, and Mick agreed.

"I wish he could stay around. But Natalie's head is much more in the game than Jaison's," said Mick in a confessional. "He shows up, but he's just not really into it at all."

Russell knew that he and Natalie were in control over what transpired at Tribal.

"We're the ones making the decision," he said before approaching Natalie -- who weighed the options.

"They both have goods and bads," said Russell in a confessional. "So now I'm weighing what in the world I'm supposed to do."

Tribal Council then commenced, and the jury -- Erik, Kelly Sharbaugh, Laura Morett, John Fincher, David Ball, Monica Padilla, and Shambo -- entered.

Natalie explained that if they were unable to beat Brett in the next Immunity Challenge, he would certainly get all the jury votes -- so it was a tough decision about whether to keep someone strong to help beat Brett or keep someone that would be easy to beat at the final Tribal.

Jaison added it was especially difficult because there were a few players remaining who "could command a lot of jury votes."

"It makes sense to keep people that can beat him at this last Immunity," said Mick.

Jeff then asked Brett if he had been "sandbagging it" up until that point in the competition, when he seemed to turn on the burners.

"I think the past few challenges have just coincided with certain skills I have and having really nothing to lose is a different frame of mind that I have that the se people don't necessarily have," he added.

Jaison reiterated Brett needed to go as soon as possible to prevent him from getting to the final Tribal.

"If he got there, he'd definitely have an upper hand," said Jaison.

Brett said at this point, it didn't matter how many jury votes he had since he wasn't at the final Tribal yet.

"I've won three challenges in a row, but it doesn't mean anything if I don't win the next one," he said.

Brett, Russell, Natalie and Mick all voted for Jaison -- who became the sixteenth castaway eliminated and eighth member of the jury.

"I'm kind of pissed off at Russell for blindsiding me this way," said Jaison after his ouster.

"For a relationship that you've had since Day 2, you at least let the guy know that he's going home. So I don't think I'd be cheering for Russell this one. I'd root for Brett. Brett's the underdog. He is who we were. We came from nothing to be something and he did pretty much the same thing."

Back at camp, Brett described it as a "miracle" to still be there.

"This is something I didn't really imagine," he said, adding Immunity was his only hope. "My fate is in my own hands."

The next day on the beach, Russell asked Brett if he thought he could beat him if they both made the Final 3 jury vote.

"I don't know," answered Brett. "I think it would be pretty close."

Russell said he'd rather be next to someone who "deserves it more" and Brett agreed, stating he'd "rather go up against someone that's harder to beat and lose" than someone who is easier to beat and win. Russell saw an opening, and struck a deal with Brett.

"What I can promise you is me and you will be in the Top 3," he told him.

"Okay," said Brett.

"If you win it, then you're safe," explained Russell. "If I win it, I'll take you to the Top 3. If you win, you're in the Top 3. We have no doubts. I'm going to do it straight up with you. Deal?"

"Deal," said Brett as they shook hands.

In a confessional, Russell called the deal an "insurance policy" in case Brett were to win Immunity.

"It looks like I'm going to be in the Top 3 no matter what," boasted Russell in a confessional. "If I win this challenge today, I'm 100% positive that the game is mine. I won the $1 million."

They then retrieved some Tree Mail, which informed them they'd be remembering Survivor: Samoa's 16 previously booted castaways via the game's traditional "Fallen Comrades" journey. Once it was complete, the castaways met for the final Immunity Challenge, and Jeff explained the rules.

Each castaway would place a wooden statue on the end of a pole. At regular intervals, another section would be added to the pole -- making it more difficult to keep stable. The last person with his or her statue standing would win Immunity and an automatic bid to plead his or her case in front of the jury.

The challenge commenced. Mick was the first one out, followed by Natalie -- setting up a showdown between Russell and Brett, which was eventually won by Russell.

"This is worth $1 million right now. In my opinion, I just won the game," said Russell in a confessional.

Back at camp, Brett told Mick he was "proud" of himself for making it as far as he did and called Survivor an "awesome experience."

"I failed," he said in a confessional. "I'm pretty certain that I'll be going home tonight. The only thing I have to fall back on is Russell's deal that he made with me that if one of us were to win then we'd take the other person to the final."

The former Foa Foa members discussed their chances at the final Tribal -- as Natalie said she thought Russell would win, and Mick agreed Russell had a "great shot." Russell was also confident, thinking the fact that he beat Brett in the final Immunity Challenge was just what he needed to make his case with the jury.

"I made a promise to Brett," said Russell in a confessional. "But you see, I made a promise to Mick too. Either way I slice it, if I break my promise with somebody I'll be putting them on the jury and they're taking it personal -- they hate me. This is why the game gets tough."

Mick told Natalie he was "skeptic" Brett was going to go that easily and thought something might be up.

"Mick, you're fine," assured Natalie. "You're so paranoid... Do you honestly think any of us want to go against [Brett] on the jury?"

"I wouldn't think so, but Russell's got all these little strange plans and ploys," said Mick.

"No Mick, it's a done deal," assured Natalie again. "You're coming back here tonight, and so am I, and so is Russell."

Russell then approached Brett and explained he had a deal with both him and Mick.

"I wish I was like you when I was your age," gushed Russell.

"I appreciate that," replied Brett.

"The only option we have is Natalie is going to vote you and Mick is going to vote you . If I vote Mick and you vote Mick then it's a 2-2 tie," explained Russell. "Then it's a challenge -- it might be a fire challenge. Do you think you could beat Mick in a fire challenge?"

"Yeah," replied Brett.

In a confessional, Brett said it was "hard to take [Russell's] word 100%."

"All I can do is hope that he's a man of his word," said Brett.

Russell said in a confessional he was solely focused on "jury votes" when deciding between Mick and Brett.

"Mick's a real good guy, I like him a lot," added Russell. "Brett's a good guy too. But I'm playing the game. I'm still strongly considering keeping Brett. May the best man win. That might get me jury votes -- keeping the strongest here."

The penultimate Tribal Council then commenced and the jury entered. Russell said he "definitely" knew it would be him and Brett facing off at the end of the final Immunity Challenge.

"I knew he would be the one that would be there at the end," said Russell. "I put more effort into this challenge then I did into anything in this entire game."

Mick said he "absolutely" knew Brett would be next as soon as Russell won, and added it was a "huge relief." Natalie echoed Mick's statement and Russell said Brett played a great game.

"He deserves to be sitting up there with me," said Russell about Brett. "We're probably the two best up here and you want the best up here to talk in front of the jury. That's just how it should be."

Mick said Russell was making a good point, however he didn't necessarily agree with it because Brett in front of the jury met only one thing -- he would win the $1 million.

"Russell knows strategically it's not a good move to take Brett and put him in front of that jury," added Natalie.

Brett said Mick and Natalie had to be "a little worried" and Jeff asked if Russell would get "respect" from the jury for taking him.

"Oh yeah, most definitely," replied Brett. "By that action, you're showing a sense of confidence in yourself."

However Russell, Natalie and Mick all voted for Brett -- who became the seventeenth castaway eliminated and ninth and final jury member.

"Wow. They did it," said Erik as Brett had his torch snuffed.

"I knew a couple Tribals ago that it was my time to go," said Brett after his outer. "I'm the last Galu member, I'm so proud of that. To get to where I got -- 38 days, one of the Final 4 -- was definitely a testament to will, my hard work and I definitely feel like I went out on my own accord to some degree."

The next morning, Russell, Mick and Natalie toasted to making the Final 3.

"I said from Day 1 that I was going to get here, and here I am," said Russell. "Not only did I get here, I brought two people here that I wanted to be here with me."

Russell told Natalie and Mick that the jury would accuse them of riding his coattails and asked how they would defend themselves -- specifically claiming he was going to call them the "nice guy and nice girl."

"Russell has good points, but he needs to be reminded that he couldn't have done this without us," said Mick. "We just took totally different paths to do it. Some people may say I like your path a little better, here's your vote."

Natalie thought there was "strategy" in Russell boasting that he had the jury in the bag.

"I'm not going to give up," she added. "I'll just explain to the jury I do not work the same way as Russell. That would clearly not have worked for me. The girls that were aggressive, they got eliminated early."

In a confessional, Russell said it would be a "shame" if Natalie or Mick won.

"It wouldn't make any sense to me," he said. "I played this game strategically better than anybody -- maybe in history. I really think this jury is going to put my name down. I accomplished the impossible out here. All by myself and brought a couple of bums with me."

The final Tribal Council then commenced, and the nine jurors entered. Jeff explained that Mick, Russell and Natalie would each make an opening statement before the jury members would have as opportunity to either ask a question or make a statement of their own.

Mick said he came into the game realizing there would be a lot of pressure on him to have more of a "moral leeway" than he was "willing to give" -- and added that temptation only grew at the merge. However he said he still wasn't willing to go outside the parameters he set for himself.

"The fact that I was able to get this far doing that, that was kind of my goal in this and I feel like I accomplished it," he said.

Natalie said there were lots of doubters in her Survivor ability even before she left, and added she decided to go through with it because she wanted to gain confidence and go outside of her comfort zone -- which she felt she did despite it being the hardest thing she had ever done mentally, emotionally or physically.

Not surprisingly, Russell made it clear he was there to win, which he tried to do by making "huge strategic moves" throughout the game -- beginning at Foa Foa and continuing after the merge. He called Laura's ouster the "biggest move of the game" before he turned on John.

"It went like dominoes from there," said Russell, adding defeating Brett was the "most difficult" thing he had to do physically.

"If either one of these outwit me then give them the money. If either one of these outplayed me then give them the game," said Russell about Natalie and Mick. "But you know what? I don't think that they have."

Jaison went first and he gave the Final 3 an opportunity to share information about who they "really are."

Natalie said she's "technically unemployed" since she quit her job to join the show's cast. Russell explained he was a "businessman."

"I opened a business five years ago, struggle for three years and just became successful with the business for two years," added Russell. "This is the first business that I have succeeded with."

Mick said he's $320,000 in debt from medical school. Jaison said he believed all the answers, but pointed out Natalie neglected to reveal she "made a lot of money," Russell was the "wealthiest" in the Final 3, and Mick will get paid very well as a doctor.

"Whatever decision is made, no one is broke," said Jaison. "I think you guys should look for other criteria."

Shambo apologized to America for "dismantling" Galu and questioned that decision. She then called Mick's decision "feckless" and insulted him for not knowing what it meant and called Natalie Russell's "coattail" rider. Natalie disagreed and said it was "intuition" to not play "aggressive" and put a target on her back.

"No way in god's green earth you're getting my vote," said Shambo to Natalie.

Brett asked Mick how he would plan a man date for the two of them and explained it was a way to see how invested Mick was in him as a "human being." Kelly said she disagreed with Natalie being independent.

"It wasn't because I had no fight," argued Natalie. "But I did do things on my own and I'll tell you I got better throughout the game to believe in myself."

Kelly then asked Russell if he was the same in real life as in the game.

"I'm 100% different outside of this game," he answered. "The thing that bothers me is I don't want my kids to think this is how I really am."

Russell added he embraces "honor, integrity and loyalty" outside of game, which Kelly had a hard time believing.

Monica asked Mick why he deserved the win over Natalie and Russell. Mick said he was not really sure what Natalie did along the way except align with Russell, whom he felt was willing to lie and pit people against each other for his own gain. Mick added he felt Russell let his "giant ego" get out of hand and said that wasn't the kind of character that deserved the $1 million.

Russell defended himself by stating his character wasn't in question when Mick and Natalie were using it to get to the Final 3.

"They both didn't mind following the snake," he said.

Dave asked what each thought there current chances were -- as Mick said between 20 and 25%; Natalie between 30 and 40%; and Russell said he initially thought his odds were much higher but now pegged them around 55%.

"It might happen, it might not happen," he said.

Laura asked Russell what he learned about her through the game, and he said he knew she was Galu's "biggest threat" and was also "controlling."

"If it wouldn't have took place like it did, I don't have a doubt in my mind you'd be here right now," he added.

John then asked Mick to give his "hard sell," and Mick said he has a "solid character" and doesn't treat people "like pawns."

"I don't think you could give it to a more stand-up dude. I just don't," said Mick.

He then asked Natalie to defend herself, and she reiterated that she'd been flying under the radar and tried not to play too aggressively.

Erik went last and said Mick did nothing before stating Russell "admittedly played an unethical game."

"The crazy thing about it is you're sitting there and I'm standing here. Did you get to the right place by behaving the wrong way?" asked Erik.

"I've never been in a situation in my entire life where that was the case. But you sit there proud of it."

Erik said while Natalie may be "weak" and "undeserving," that shouldn't be any less admirable than "lying, cheating and stealing" your way to the Final 3.

"You are sitting there and that makes you just as dangerous as any one of those guys there. You would say that you were probably the least deserving of the title of Sole Survivor," said Erik.

"But maybe, just maybe, in an environment filled with arrogance, delusional entitlement, maybe the person who thinks that she's least deserving is probably the most. You've got my vote, I hope you get four more."

The nine jurors were then given a minute to think before casting their votes. The live portion of the broadcast then commenced and Natalie was revealed to be the winner.

During the live reunion show, Jeff pointed out that Russell looked "visibly upset."

"I feel like I played the best strategic game in history, and I'm not the only one who thinks that," replied Russell. "I can guarantee you millions of people probably think the same thing. Natalie, her best move was to jump on my back."

Jeff then quickly polled the jury about whether Russell would have won had he instead chosen to take Jaison and Shambo -- and according to the results, he would have.

"Natalie, all I want is the title of Sole Survivor. I will pay you $10,000 for the title. If Jeff says, 'Russell, you are the Sole Survivor,' and I get it in paper written down -- that I am the Sole Survivor. I want the title," he pleaded.

"Are you asking Natalie to tell you you're a better player?" asked Jeff.

"No, I'm asking Natalie to ask you to tell me that I'm the Sole Survivor," replied Russell.

"I'm going to decline Russell's offer," said Natalie later in the broadcast. "I'm not interested. In order to win the title of Sole Survivor..."

"$100,000," interrupted Russell, upping his offer.

"No," said Natalie.

Jeff later revealed that Russell had won the "Survivor of the Season" text message/cbs.com vote that allowed home viewers to award $100,000 to one of the season's castaways, with Brett and Shambo finishing in the Top 3 with him.

In addition, Jeff also formally confirmed that Survivor's upcoming twentieth season -- which was filmed back-to-back with Survivor: Samoa in Samoa this summer -- will be dubbed Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains and feature "20 of Survivor's greatest castaways."

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains will premiere February 11, according to Probst.

Russell Ferguson injures leg, wins 'So You Think Yiou Can Dance' title

2009-12-17T22:18:00.003+02:00

Russell Ferguson was crowned So You Think You Can Dance's sixth-season champion during last night's live finale broadcast of the Fox reality competition series.

The 20-year-old from Boston, MA claimed the $250,000 grand prize and became the first ever krumper to win the show's title.

"Yeah! Yeah!" yelled Fegruson as he leapt around the stage, took his shirt off, and eventually fell to his knees before standing back up.

"I just want to thank everybody so much. This means everything to me. I've been dreaming of this ever since I was born. I just thank the judges so much for their criticism -- you guys make me better as a person, as a dancer... I want to thank my parents, my mother, my father, my girlfriend's over there, my little brother. I love all y'all."

Ferguson's victory came after he injured himself during a routine earlier in the broadcast. As host Cat Deeley called out the Top 6 finalists to reveal the first elimination, Ferguson was visibly in pain.

"I messed my knee up... I mean my leg up," he said through tears.

"We'll get you some help okay? Have you seen the medic?" asked Deeley, as Ferguson nodded his head "yes."

"Okay. Hang in there one second for me and we'll get you off here as soon as possible," she replied. "It is time for some results."

Later in the broadcast when Ferguson was scheduled to perform a routine with previously eliminated finalist Noelle Marsh, Fox instead aired video footage of when the performance originally aired during the third week of the competition.

"Obviously, as you've seen earlier in the show, Russell has been injured here tonight. But luckily, we have a tape of the original performance," said Deeley.

In addition, video footage from one of Ferguson's Tuesday night routines with fellow Top 6 finalist Kathryn McCormick also aired in place of a live performance due to his injury.

Ferguson was subsequently seated on a stool onstage each time an elimination was revealed, except when Deeley called him out to reveal the winner -- when he walked out on stage with eventual runner-up Jakob Karr.

"When I first auditioned in New Orleans, I never even thought that I would be anywhere near this point," said Karr, a 19-year-old contemporary dancer from Windermere, FL who currently resides in New York, NY, in a video montage before the results were revealed.

"I wish that this could go on forever. I could stay right here in this second for the rest of my life and be so happy."

McCormick, a 19-year-old contemporary dancer from Augusta, GA who currently resides in Burbank, CA, finished third.

"This has been something that I will never forget<' she said after her elimination. "This has been like anything I've ever imagined for myself and I'm so blessed and so thankful that I was able to share it with every one of you."

Ellenore Scott, a 19-year-old contemporary/jazz dancer from Santa Cruz, CA who currently resides in Brooklyn, NY, finished in fourth.

"You can't explain what happens to you on this show unless you're in it," said Scott. "It builds each one of us in a really unique way and it bonds us all together in a way, it's more than amazing -- absolutely more than amazing... I'm so blessed and so happy."

Ashleigh Di Lello, a 26-year-old Latin ballroom dancer from Orem, UT, finished in fifth.

"This entire experience... I'm so grateful to God for giving me a second chance at life to dance, for this show -- the opportunity to get up on this stage and do what I love for all of these weeks. I am so grateful," said Di Lello after her ouster.

Her husband Ryan Di Lello, a 28-year-old ballroom dancer from Springville, UT who currently resides in Orem, UT, finished in sixth.

"To be able to share this with my sweetheart is like a dream come true," he said.

"What I'm going to take is the little things -- the friendships, the warm hearts, the people I'm going to really keep close to me forever. If I have motivated or inspired anybody, I could not ask for anything more. This has just been a dream come true. I'm just so thankful. I'm humble to be here."

In addition, the finale broadcast featured the Top 20 finalists performing different routines from the season, as well as performances by Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, British third-season The X Factor winner Leona Lewis and American Idol eighth-season runner-up Adam Lambert.

Joe McElderry wins X Factor crown

2009-12-14T02:34:00.002+02:00

Eighteen-year-old Joe McElderry has beaten Olly Murs to win the sixth series of the ITV talent show X Factor.

The pair battled it out on primetime TV across the weekend to win a lucrative £1m recording contract.

More than 10 million viewers voted in the final show of the series, which has dominated TV screens this autumn.

It is the second consecutive year judge Cheryl Cole has mentored the winner. "I can't even speak," said McElderry. "Thank you so much everyone."

"I feel over the moon, I'm absolutely delighted," said Cole, who comes from the same area as McElderry.

"The right person won. I'm so proud of you. The North East are going to be going mad."

"I couldn't believe it," McElderry later told spin-off show ITV2's Xtra Factor. "I feel like I'm floating... I just feel like jelly."

"I've had the best experience of my life."

Runner up Olly Murs, 25, was gracious in defeat, calling his rival "phenomenal".

"I came out there fighting, did the best I could, and the best guy won. Joe deserves it."

Festive hit

Simon Cowell, the show's creator and Murs's mentor, told McElderry he was "gutted for Olly" but "thrilled for you because you're brilliant".

McElderry won almost two-thirds (61.3%) of the votes in the final, compared with just over a third (38.7%) for Murs, according to voting statistics released on The X Factor website.

The student, from South Shields on Tyneside, had been the bookmakers' favourite to win the series.

However, ahead of Sunday's final, judge Cowell insisted "there could be an upset".

After the announcement McElderry performed the Miley Cyrus track The Climb, which will be this year's X Factor single and is widely tipped to be the Christmas number one.

"Christmas chart success is virtually assured," said Ladbrokes' Nick Weinberg, who have cut McElderry's odds of a festive hit to 1/8.

Sunday's high-profile finale included performances from George Michael and Sir Paul McCartney, who was joined by Murs, McElderry and fellow contestants in a rendition of Drive My Car.

The show opened with this year's 12 finalists - including infamous twins John and Edward Grimes - singing Take That's Never Forget.

Also on stage during the two-hour extravaganza were the 2008 X Factor winner Alexandra Burke - who sang with last year's runners up, JLS - and Leona Lewis, who triumphed in the 2006 series and has become a huge star on both sides of the Atlantic.

The final instalment in the contest - which followed Stacey Soloman's departure on Saturday - began with Murs and McElderry performing their favourite song of the series.

Murs performed Twist And Shout, while McElderry - better known for his ballads - gave an upbeat rendition of Don't Stop Believing.

"Geordie Joe - you're got everything: the voice, the attitude, the charm," said judge Louis Walsh. "Small boy, big voice - and a great future."

"You would have a hit record with that song, it was that good," said Cowell.

Both contestants went on to sing their versions of The Climb, but despite admiration for Murs, Walsh maintained McElderry "had the edge", calling it "a note-perfect performance".

Cowell remarked that nerves had led to a shaky start from McElderry, but added he was "brilliant in the last half".

"I can't call this now, I really can't," he said.

Lucrative series

Ahead of the result, an emotional Cole, recalled her own break, in another TV talent show, Popstars: The Rivals.

"I've lived the dream - now I just want to see you live yours," she told McElderry.

This year's X Factor is expected to be extremely lucrative for ITV1.

The series has dominated peaktime viewing on both Saturday and Sunday throughout the autumn.

The 40 ITV1 shows are thought to have brought in more than £75m in advertising, plus revenue from the phone-votes.

One analyst claims the total benefit to ITV is almost £100m, including income from showings on its website itv.com and the ITV2 spin-off show.

But despite the hype that has surrounded this year's show, not all winners in the show's six series have gone on to enjoy global success.

Leon Jackson, who won the competition in 2007, was dropped after his debut album charted at number four in the UK, while Steve Brookstein - the winner of series one - was also dropped eight months into his contract, despite a number one single and album.

Gibraltar wins Miss World 2009

2009-12-13T19:16:00.002+02:00

Gibraltar's Kaiane Aldorino claimed the title of Miss World 2009 on Saturday, defeating 111 other hopefuls at a glittering ceremony in South Africa.

"Thank you South Africa, this is the most wonderful moment of my life," said a tearful Aldorino, whose website describes her as a 22-year-old human resources clerk who loves dancing and spending time with loved ones.

Confetti rained down the stage as Aldorino, representing a British territory at the western end of the Mediterranean Sea with a population of less than 30,000, accepted the crown.

Mexico's Perla Beltran came second, with South African entry Tatum Keshwar taking third place.

The African-themed gala event at a Johannesburg convention centre attracted a multi-national crowd, waving country flags and cheering wildly for their favourite contestants.

Miss India, Pooja Chopra, a hot favourite with the crowd, got eliminated in the top 16, after winning the "beauty with a purpose" title for her charity work.

"The build up to this event has been phenomenal, the girls have had a time of their lives in South Africa," said Chinese television presenter Angela Chow, who hosted the show.

Here is the outcome of Miss World 2009:

Miss World 2009:
GIBRALTAR, Kaiane Aldorino

1st Runner Up:
MEXICO, Perla Beltrán

2nd Runner Up:
SOUTH AFRICA, Tatum Keshwar

TOP 7 FINALISTS

COLOMBIA
, Daniela Ramos
PANAMA, Nadege Herrera
CANADA, Lena Ma
FRANCE, Chloé Mortaud

TOP 16 SEMIFINALISTS

JAPAN, Eruza Sasaki
SIERRA LEONE, Mariatu Kargbo
INDIA, Pooja Chopra
KOREA, Kim Joo-ri
MARTINIQUE, Ingrid Littré
POLAND, Anna Jamróz
BRAZIL, Luciana Bertolini
VIETNAM, Trần Thị Hương Giang
KAZAKHSTAN, Dina Nuraliyeva

FAST TRACK EVENT WINNERS

-Japan (Sports Winner)
-Canada (Talent Winner)
-Sierra Leone (Talent Winner)
-Mexico (Top Model Winner)
-Gibraltar (Beach Beauty Winner)
-India (Beauty with a Purpose Winner)

CONTINENTAL QUEENS OF BEAUTY

Beauty Queen of Africa: Tatum Keshwar (South Africa)
Beauty Queen of Americas: Perla Beltrán (Mexico)
Beauty Queen of Asia & Oceania: Trần Thị Hương Giang (Vietnam)
Beauty Queen of Caribbean: Ingrid Littré (Martinique)
Beauty Queen of Europe: Kaiane Aldorino (Gibraltar)

This year’s board of judges are:

Julia Morley (Miss World Limited Chairman and Chairman of the Judges)
Priyanka Chopra (Miss World 2000 from India)
Zhang Zi Lin (Miss World 2006 from China)
Mike Dixon (Musical Director)
JJ Schoeman (Designer)
Lindiwe Mahlangu-Kwele (CEO Johannesburg Tourism Company)
Graham Cooke (MD World Travel Group)
Warren Batchelor (Executive Producer, Miss World 2009)

Michael Voltaggio wins 'Top Chef: Las Vegas' title, beats brother Bryan

2009-12-12T18:43:00.004+02:00

Michael Voltaggio was crowned Top Chef: Las Vegas' winner during last night's finale broadcast of the Bravo culinary competition series.

"I'm really exhausted and surprised and happy and sad. I didn't know that you could actually feel every single emotion at the same time," Michael said after his victory.

"It's been a rough road -- it's been a pretty strange process -- but it was worth it. I would do it again because it definitely got me in touch with who I am as a person and who I am as a cook."

The 30-year-old from Frederick, MD who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA claimed Top Chef's sixth-season prize package of $100,000 in seed money to help open a restaurant, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, a showcase at the Annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen; and $100,000 worth of merchandise provided by Macy's.

Michael's brother Bryan Voltaggio, a 33-year-old from Frederick, MD who currently resides in Urbana, MD, finished as the runner-up.

"I'm more proud of the fact that Bryan and I made it all the way to the end than I am about winning the entire competition," said Michael. "It was probably one of the hardest moments of our lives. I wish both of us could win."

"I'm disappointed a little bit in myself," added Bryan. "I set out to win the whole thing, so coming in second place, that's tough. But I'm proud to see my little brother win. I'd rather him than anybody else."

Kevin Gillespie, a 26-year-old from Atlanta, GA, finished third.

"I had a bad day. It just sucks one day ruined it for me," Kevin lamented after his ouster.

"I'm proud of making it this far and I'm proud to lose to people as good as Bryan or Michael. I was the underdog from the very beginning that managed to rise up and show that if you fight really hard you can make it. It just didn't go all the way."

Top Chef: Las Vegas' finale broadcast began with the three remaining finalists traveling to a Napa Valley vineyard, where they were met by host Padma Lakshmi and lead judge Tom Colicchio.

Tom explained that for their final challenge, the finalists would each be cooking a three-course meal. For the first course, the finalists would be cooking with a set of identical mystery ingredients, while for their second course they could cook any dish they wanted with any ingredients found in the kitchen. For the third course, they were required to cook a dessert.

The finalists then each randomly selected two of the 14 previously-eliminated contestants to them for the final challenge -- one on the initial prep day and one on for the actual service day.

Kevin chose Preeti Mistry and Ash Fulk, Bryan picked Ashley Merriman and Jennifer Carroll, and Michael selected Jesse Sandlin and Eli Kirshtein.

"I'm a little jealous of my other two competitors," opined Kevin.

The chefs discovered what mystery ingredients they'd be working with for the first course before getting to work -- which would include three hours of preparation on the first day and three hours of cooking on the second day.

On the morning of the second day, the three finalists were surprised to be visited by their mothers. Tom then revealed that the finalists would also be cooking a fourth course that would be dedicated to their moms and inspired by their favorite childhood dish. The three finalists then started cooking.

Kevin's mom-inspired course was fried chicken skin, tomatoes, and a liquid squash casserole; his course with the mystery ingredients was rockfish in duck fat, roasted matsutake, and roasted crab broth; his chef's choice course was a slow cooked pork belly, roasted broccoli and brussel sprouts, and caramelized ham jus; and his dessert was roasted banana, chocolate bacon mousse, and peanut bacon brittle.

Michael's mom-inspired course was cream of dehydrated broccoli, spot prawn and fried broccoli; his course with the mystery ingredients was a butter poached rockfish, tomato-komba sauce and sweet and sour salad; his chef's choice course was a fennel-scented squab, cassoulet, and textures of mushrooms; and his dessert was a chocolate caramel coulant, and butternut squash ice cream.

Bryan's mom-inspired course was a tuna noodle casserole; his course with the mystery ingredients was a sous vide rockfish, diced matsutake, and meyer lemon jam; his chef's choice course was a venison saddle, brussel sprouts, sunchokes, and maple-glazed carrots; and his dessert was a sheep's milk and white chocolate "dulce de leche" cheesecake, dry caramel, fig sorbet, and poached pear.

The finalists presented their courses to a finale dinner panel which included regular judging panel members Padma, Tom, Food & Wine magazine editor Gail Simmons, and restaurant critic Toby Young as well as chef Douglas Keane, Terlato Wine Group president Bill Terlato, their moms, and restaurateurs Donatella Arpaia, Stephen Starr, Drew Nieporent, and Sam Nazarian.

adma, Gail, Toby and Tom then met the three finalists to critique the final dishes.

Bryan's fish was criticized by Toby for not being bold enough, while his venison was praised by Gail and Tom. Padma complimented Kevin's chicken-skin dish, however Toby and Tom thought the pork wasn't as good as it could have been. Toby thought Michael nailed the matsutake and pickled tomato, and Tom thought all of his dishes were successful. Michael also acknowledged the cake was overcooked and dry.

The judges then began their final deliberation.

Gail thought Kevin's mom-inspired course had the most flavor, while Toby liked Bryan's the best and Tom thought it was too bland and also wasn't a fan of Michael's.

Tom complimented Michael's use of the mystery ingredients was the best, while it was agreed upon Kevin messed up on the mushroom on his dish. Gail thought Bryan's dish had no texture.

Tom and Gail thought Bryan's third dish was flawless, and Toby agreed -- however he didn't think it was as memorable as Michael's, which Gail wasn't a fan of. None of them really cared for Kevin's third dish.

They all knew Michael didn't make his dessert the right way but Gail still liked it, and Toby summed up the day for Kevin.

"I thought Kevin's dish was again disappointing and -- don't get me wrong, I think he's on the fast-track to becoming a culinary superstar -- but he had a bad night," said Toby.

The three finalists were then called back and Michael was revealed as the winner.

Bravo renewed Top Chef for a seventh season in October and subsequently held casting calls in San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, Washington, New York, Dallas, and Los Angeles.

Meghan Rickey and Cheyne Whitney win 'The Amazing Race' 15th Season

2009-12-07T20:11:00.003+02:00

Dating Couple" Meghan Rickey and Cheyne Whitney won The Amazing Race's fifteenth season during last night's finale broadcast of the CBS reality competition series.

"This is absolutely a dream come true," Meghan said after the couple's victory.

"I couldn't have imagined a better race. I've learned so much about Cheyne. He's just such a good friend and such a good person. I know that he's always going to be there for me throughout my entire life."

Meghan, a 23-year-old account executive from San Diego, CA, and Cheyne, a 23-year-old student also from San Diego, were the first team to cross the fifteenth-season's finish line in Las Vegas and claimed the $1 million grand prize.

"The whole experience in itself was life changing," said Cheyne. "And the money isn't even as important as what we got to do together."

"Brothers" Daniel and Samuel McMillen finished second.

"We're completely happy to be here," said Dan. "We wanted to share our story. We wanted to not let our family down just by being who we were, but we just wanted to come out and do this race and finish this race."

"We bicker, we pick at each other. But we know it's not going to matter," added Sam. "At the end of the day we're still brothers, we still love each other."

"Married Couple" Ericka Dunlap and Brian Kleinschmidt finished third.

"I think my family's going to see some things in Brian that they never had an opportunity to see before and I hope they fully accept him for who he is," said Ericka. "This was just a part of our journey. I'm just really grateful that I had him to do it with and I'm really glad that I have him in my life to learn from."

The Amazing Race's finale broadcast began at the previous Pit Stop at Strelecky Ostrov in Prague.

Since Meghan and Cheyne were the first team to arrive at the Pit Stop, they were the first team to depart at 11:10AM. They opened their next clue, which instructed them to fly nearly 6,000 miles to Las Vegas, their final destination on the race.

They found a travel agent and booked a British Airways flight leaving Prague for Vegas at 6:40PM.

"I'm sure we're all going to be on the same flight together," said Meghan, adding the flight would arrive stateside at 2PM the next day.

Meghan and Cheyne were followed by Sam and Dan (12:08PM) and Brian and Ericka (3:15PM) -- and Meghan's assumption was correct as all three teams had the same flight.

The three teams then arrived in Vegas and hailed taxis to take them to the Graceland Wedding Chapel.

Once there an Elvis impersonator handed them their next clue, which instructed them to travel to the Mandalay Bay casino. Brian and Ericka's cab driver took a shortcut and got them to Mandalay Bay first and they were met by a Roadblock.

In this Roadblock, one member from each team would have to rappel down the side of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Once they got to the bottom they would receive their next clue. Ericka decided to do the Roadblock, followed by Cheyne and Sam.

"Our taxi driver sucked," said Dan as he waited at the bottom of the building.

Ericka was the first one down. She and Brian opened their next clue, which told them to travel to The Mirage casino.

"I think the karma is finally going to pay off," said Brian as they hopped into their cab. "We're definitely feeling good, but we're not getting cocky. Anything can happen."

Cheyne then reached the bottom and left for The Mirage with Meghan, followed by Sam and Dan.

"Dang it, I hate being in third place right now," said Sam.

Brian and Ericka were the first to arrive at The Mirage, where they were met by a task in which they would have to join the cast of the Circque du Soleil show Love.

Using bungee cords, one team member had to launch their partner high enough in the air to retrieve a bouquet of flowers. Once they grabbed the entire bouquet, they would hand it over to the flower child -- who would hand them their next clue.

Ericka was attached to the bungee cords, followed by Meghan and Dan. Despite arriving in first, Brian and Ericka quickly lost their lead when she had a hard time getting high enough to retrieve the bouquet.

"It was frustrating because I knew she was trying her hardest," said Brian. "She was just an inch away."

Ericka thought she needed to switch with Brian since he's taller, and he finally seemed to understand once Meghan grabbed the bouquet.

"You want to switch or not?" he asked meekly.

"Yeah, I want to switch!" she replied. "Get me down I want to switch!"

Opening their next clue, Meghan and Cheyne learned they were looking for "the most famous casino in the country of Monaco" and needed to figure out they were looking for the Monte Carlo casino. Unfortunately, the cab driver they asked told them he believed the The Venetian casino was the clue answer.

Back at the Love show, Dan was the next to grab the bouquet -- causing Ericka and Brian to switch roles again and Ericka to launch into an extended meltdown.

Dan and Sam had their cab driver simply follow Meghan and Cheyne, meaning both were now en route to the wrong destination. However on the way to The Venetian, Sam and Dan called the Mandalay Bay to ask what "the most famous casino in the country of Monaco" was and learned the correct Monte Carlo answer.

"They're turning that way," Meghan noticed. "Let's ask Cheyne. I'm scared."

They asked some people on the street and still couldn't get the right answer. Meanwhile, Ericka finally grabbed the bouquet and they received their next clue. Brian thought he knew the Monte Carlo was the answer and Ericka assured him he was right.

Sam and Dan were the first to reach the Monte Carlo and learned that for their final task, they'd have to count $1 million worth of poker chips from a table containing 84,000 chips of different denominations. When they thought they were finished, a dealer would check their amount before handing them a special chip and their next clue. Sam and Dan took a strategy of collecting only red $1,000 chips.

Meghan and Cheyne finally learned they were looking for the Monte Carlo, however on their way there they got stuck in traffic.

"I think we just lost some time," said Meghan.

Brian and Ericka were the next to arrive at the Monte Carlo and also started with the $1,000 chips. Meghan and Cheyne eventually arrived and began with the $1,000 chips as well, putting them in stacks of 25.

Despite the different start times, all three teams appeared to finish counting their chips within moments of each other and their assigned dealers started checking their totals. Meghan and Cheyne learned they were correct with their first count attempt, however neither Sam and Dan or Brian and Ericka were as lucky.

Opening their next clue, Meghan and Cheyne learned they needed to travel to the "High Roller's Suite" at the MGM Grand Hotel, where singer Wayne Newton would tell them the finish line's location.

Meanwhile, Sam and Dan and Brian and Ericka both re-checked their counts, and while the brothers got it right Brian and Ericka still didn't.

"How does this happen every single time?" a depressed Ericka asked.

Meghan and Cheyne arrived at the suite and were met by Wayne, who sent them to the finish line -- which was at his house. Sam and Dan also met Wayne and he gave them the finish line's destination too -- even though they didn't know his name.

While Meghan and Cheyne were the first at Wayne's ranch, they had a hard time finding the entrance. However it didn't matter, as they were still the first across the finish line.

"This has been such a learning experience," said Meghan. "Every step of the way has been so neat."

"She was one of the strongest competitors in the whole race -- even compared to the guys," said Cheyne about Meghan. "She raced with the best of them."

The Amazing Race's fifteenth season covered eight countries and more than 25,000 miles in 21 days.

'Dancing with the Stars' crowns Donny Osmond ninth-season champion

2009-11-25T23:53:00.002+02:00

Entertainer Donny Osmond and his partner Kym Johnson were crowned Dancing with the Stars' ninth-season ballroom champions during last night's live finale results show on ABC.

"Yeah!" yelled Osmond after host Tom Bergeron revealed he was the ninth-season celebrity winner based on the combination of the judges' score shares for the dancers' Monday and Tuesday night performances and the share of home viewer votes cast immediately after Monday night's broadcast.

Osmond's victory marks the first time in four seasons that a male has taken home the mirror ball trophy -- as Shawn Johnson won last spring's eighth season, Brooke Burke won last fall's seventh season and Kristi Yamaguchi won the Spring 2008 sixth season. Prior to that, a male had claimed four consecutive titles.

At 51-years-old, Osmond also became Dancing with the Stars' oldest winner ever.

Singer Mya and her professional partner Dmitry Chaplin -- -- who topped the judges' leaderboard for six of the competition's 10 weeks -- finished second.

"We are so happy to come this far," Mya said after Osmond was revealed as the winner. "I had a broken foot last year. I'm just so happy to have made it to the finals and it's all about teamwork and we enjoyed ourselves. We had the time of our life."

Former The Osbournes star Kelly Osbourne and her partner Louis van Amstel finished third.

"It's been the most beautiful, amazing experience," said Osbourne after the studio audience chanted "Kelly!" when her ouster was revealed.

"The only thing I really want to say in thank you America. Thank you so much for voting me in every week. It's because of you I've grown so much. It's because of you that I have this opportunity, so thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Osmond and Johnson had received a combined score of 85 out of 90 possible points for their three Monday night routines -- placing them in second behind Mya and Chaplin, who had scored an 87. Osbourne and van Amstel had finished third with 76 points.

All three couples then performed their favorite ninth-season routine during last night's live finale -- with their scores contributing to their final combined judges score total but not being voted on by home viewers who had already voted based on Monday night's performances.

The final performances were scored using with the same format as Monday night's "megamix" round, with Osmond and Johnson placing first and scoring 30 points, followed by Mya and Chaplin in second with 28 points and Osbourne and van Amstel in third with 26 points.

Last night's victory represented the first for Johnson on the U.S. version of the show, as she won Australia's Dancing with the Stars second season in Spring 2005 with TV personality Tom Williams.

The Apprentice Australia – The Finale – Andrew Morello Wins

2009-11-25T03:56:00.003+02:00

The episode started with the bore, the blonde and the boofhead as the three contestants left standing. At this point I wanted the boofhead to win.

Theirfirst task was to have dinner with Mark Bouris at Aria restaurant in Sydney. Considering the chef, Matt Moran, used to be signed to Channel Nine I was disappointed he did not get a cameo.

At the dinner Mark Bouris wanted to know what drives the contestants. For Gavin it was money, Heather her daughter, and for Morello he said he had aspirations, but not necessarily material ones.

I am not sure if they were sweating because they were under the pump from Bouris, but considering he was also a bit moist it must have been hot at dinner because of the lights.

The following morning was an elimination, and Mark Bouris asked each of them why he should hire them and Gavin’s answer came across as quite arrogant as he said “I have been preparing for this day for many many years…..I do the deals that you guys do on a day to day basis.” Unsurprisingly Mark Bouris fired him.

Then to camera Gavin confirmed what I had thought that he had not really wanted the job.

I got the feeling that Mark Bouris had probably already decided this prior to the boardroom.

The final two were then going to duke it out, but they would have the help of six the previous contestants – three on each team. The interesting thing was that it was not the last six contestants to be kicked out, as Lynton Pipkorn was there but no Amy Cato or Blake. I would be very curious to know why this was the case.

Heather had first pick and she predictably picked Gavin, and the other members of her team were Mary-Ann and Sabrina.

Morello picked Sam, Lynton, and Carmen. I thought he had the stronger team, and they were more cohesive.

The challenge was to create a brand identity of a new men’s fragrance. They were to name it, design a bottle, create a print ad, and also create and produce a thirty second TV ad. And on top of all that they had to manage and design a product launch.

Morello’s team thought of a gangster theme, and the bottle would be in a silver bullet design. They were going to name the fragrance Clyde, as in Bonnie and…

Heather was having a crisis in confidence and was indecisive about a name – it was between Style and Adam. But Adam had already been taken. So she settled on the name Alpha Male.

I wonder how much help the teams get, obviously they are told to do research on the street by sending team members out canvassing.

Cracks were already forming in Heather’s team. Sabrina did not like Heather as she said to Mary-Ann “It is not sitting well with me that I have to help this person who was very bad towards me, and you in the past. If she wins because of my ideas I am just going to be gutted.”

I think Channel Nine need to do an extra episode, showing us the footage that we have not seen. As there was definitely some ill will towards Heather.

Then it was on to the event managers to discuss the launch. Morello had a lot of ideas, which did verge on tackiness particularly the ice sculpture, the event managers modified his ideas somewhat.

Heather went for a more elegant launch and their main focus was their product.

The TV ad had to be shot in three hours. Morello had the advantage of having Lynton on his team who had done this sort of thing before. His concept was a poker den with him being in the ad with the actors as well as Carmen, and Sam.

He seems to have a penchants for smoke machines, but this set off the fire alarms.

The bottle arrived towards the end of the ad, and as Carmen said “It looked like it needed batteries in it.”

Heather’s advertisement concept was urban man discovering her wild roots. This involved an attractive man emerging from the bushes removing his clothes.

Mary-Ann and Sabrina were told to wait in the car, and they were not happy about it. I wonder if this was a passive-aggressive way of Heather saying she did not have faith in them.

Heather’s bottle was much classier. I think girls would buy Heather’s product for their guys. But guy’s would buy Morello’s product.

The launches were at the Paddington Town Hall. Morello’s launch grabbed his audiences attention, but his TV ad was a tad kitsch.

Whereas Heather’s was classy, if a tad boring.

However the difference between the two was that Mark had a smile on his face the whole way through Morello’s launch, in fact he looked like a proud dad.

Michael Edwards was impressed with the Alpha Male name and was surprised it was still available. Victoria Campbell from L’Oreal also loved the bottle and name.

In the boardroom Mark Bouris thought their were negative connotations to the gangster theme, and he did raise the issue of the phallic shaped bottle. I think the shape would be a talking point. It did remind me of a bottle of Lynx deodorant, my understanding that is one of the most popular anti-perspirants with the younger guys.

Heather got caned about leaving the girls in the car. Gavin kept on butting in the the board room and Mark Bouris had to put him back into his place. In fact I thought Gavin was slightly sexist speaking over Heather. She is more than capable of speaking for herself.

Sabrina finally got her revenge at the eleventh hour when she admitted she wanted Morello to win.

Mark Bouris said Morello had an infectious personality, but choked a bit when he was asked how he would deal if he had to make unpopular decisions.

Heather was praised for being a hard worker, however Bouri’s concern was she left behind a bit of human carnage.

It was no shock when Morello was hired, and I was happy with that.

American Music Awards 2009: Highlights, winners, and more

2009-11-25T01:04:00.004+02:00

The American Music Awards are over and what a show it was! Lady Gaga was on fire, Rihanna wowed the crowd, Jennifer Lopez took a spill, and Adam Lambert gave a rockin' performance. Taylor Swift continued to dominate, giving us a taste of what the Grammys will most likely end up looking like. So what happened, who won, and what will people be talking about tomorrow?

For starters, if you heard that Jennifer Lopez fell down, well, it's true. During her performance of 'Louboutins,' Lopez was climbing on the backs of her dancers (while wearing Louboutins - ouch!). As she jumped off the back of the last dancer, she landed poorly and fell flat on her rear end. Ever the professional, Lopez jumped up and continued on with the song. Lopez is no dummy, however, and surely realizes this will end up on YouTube. This is one tape she can't get a court order to prevent from going viral!

Another performance that will have people talking tomorrow was from Lady Gaga. Surprised? Doubtful. Lady Gaga knows how to entertain and everyone remembers her crazy yet compelling performance at the VMAs. Once again, Lady Gaga spared no expense with the theatrics. Playing a piano that's on fire? Ok! Breaking glass with a microphone? No problem!

Video: 2009 American Music Awards Live Performances - Black Eyed Peas - Watch more Music Videos at Vodpod.

Taylor Swift managed another amazing feat: She won Artist of the Year over Michael Jackson. Swift was the night's big winner, taking home three awards. Jackson still won Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist and Male Pop/Rock Artist.

Here is a list of winners to glance through, then be sure to check out the slideshow of memorable moments from the evening's festivities.

See Memorable moments of the American Music Awards 2009 here:

Favorite Pop/Rock Duo/Group: Black Eyed Peas

Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group: Rascal Flatts

Favorite Female Pop/Rock Artist: Taylor Swift

Favorite Alternative Rock Artist: Green Day

Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist: Michael Jackson

Favorite Male Country Artist: Keith Urban

Favorite Female Soul/R&B Artist: Beyonce

Favorite Female Country Artist: Taylor Swift

Favorite Male Pop/Rock Artist: Michael Jackson

Favorite Male Rap/Hip-Hop Artist: Jay-Z

Favorite Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift

Stan Walker wins Australian Idol 2009

2009-11-22T23:35:00.003+02:00

SOUL singer Stan Walker has triumphed over rock chick Hayley Warner to be crowned the seventh Australian Idol.

Walker, 18, was the favourite to win the grand final of the Network Ten singing contest and said he felt "blessed" to win.

"I just want to thank God, man. Hey, I want to thank my family for coming and supporting me. My family they came from New Zealand," he told the crowd on winning.

Walker, who was born in Melbourne, raised in New Zealand and is now a shop assistant in Coolangatta, Queensland, wins a $200,000 artist's development fund and a recording contract with Sony, with his single Black Box to be released soon.

Warner, 17, from Sydney, said she knew Walker would win.

"I have said all along he had it in the bag," Warner said.

Judges Ian "Dicko" Dickson, Marcia Hines and Jay Dee Springbett praised both contestants, saying it didn't matter who won because they would both have great careers.

Springbett said to Walker after performing: "You're Stan-bloody-tastic - you're a star in the making."

Dickson said: "Week after week you've stamped your individuality ... you're fantastic."

The grand final at the Sydney Opera House saw the top 12 reunite to perform.

The two finalists sang with Canadian star Michael Buble, performing his hit song Feeling Good as 6000 fans watched on in the sweltering heat.

Last year's Idol winner, Wes Carr, and singer Mika also performed.

Walker joins the ranks of previous winners including Carr, Guy Sebastian, Damien Leith and Casey Donovan.

He said he had imagined himself in the position of the original Australian Idol winner, Sebastian.

"I remember watching Guy, thinking one day I'm gonna be there."

This year's Idol has suffered a ratings drop, struggling to reach a million viewers each week, and there is some speculation it won't be back next year.

There were a number of changes this year as Springbett replaced judge Kyle Sandilands after he was fired for a scandal on his radio show, and the program also lost host James Mathison.

Irina Shabayeva crowned 'Project Runway's sixth-season (2009) champion

2009-11-22T21:58:00.007+02:00

Irina Shabayeva was crowned Project Runway's sixth-season winner during last night's finale broadcast of the clothing design competition's first Lifetime edition.

"I'm definitely proud of myself. I think this deserves a pat on the back. I did have some stiff competition," said Irina after her victory was revealed and she was congratulated by her parents.

"All good things take a lot of work and effort, and that's why they're great. So it was well worth it. I can't believe I'm a Project Runway winner. That's crazy. That's insane."

As Project Runway's sixth-season champion, Irina -- a 27-year-old Republic of Georgia native who immigrated to New York City with her family as a child -- won a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine, a trip to Paris, one year of representation from Designers Management Agency, and $100,000 to start her own line.

Irina defeated Althea Harper, a 24-year-old from Dayton, OH who currently resides in Brooklyn, NY who finished as the runner-up.

"I think everything happens for a reason, and even though I didn't win I feel just really great because I made a lot of good friends, met a lot of great people and got a lot of great advice," said Althea after her elimination.

Irina Shabayeva crowned 'Project Runway's sixth-season Pt.1
by jo2306

"I'm feeling good because overall everything was positive. I made have been the winner, but I'm still a winner."

Carol Hannah Whitfield, a 24-year-old from Anderson, SC who currently resides in Brooklyn, NY, finished in third place.

"I came to Project Runway having no clue what was going to happen. I didn't really set any expectations, I just wanted to do my best and just kind of go with it," she said after her ouster. "I feel like I did really well... It's like simultaneously the most bizarre and most amazing experience of my life."

Project Runway's sixth-season finale broadcast began with the three remaining finalists finishing their "surprise" thirteenth design and finalizing their collections for the finale runway show at New York Fashion Week, which took place at Bryant Park in February.

The finale runway show then commenced, and each of the women was shown -- despite February reports that they had actually remained hidden backstage -- coming out on stage and introducing themselves to the audience before their designs hit the runway.

After being shown taking to the runway for a second time and walking with their models at the conclusion of their runway shows, each of the women was also shown receiving rave reviews from audience members who all seemed to know their identities.

Project Runway's regular judging panel -- Heidi Klum, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia -- and guest judge Suzy Menkes then met with three finalists to critique their collections.

Irina Shabayeva crowned 'Project Runway's sixth-season Pt.2
by jo2306

Irina was first, and Suzy said she liked her collection's concept.

"It seemed very coherent," she said. "There was a starting point and it was really worked around in different ways."

Heidi thought it looked "finished," while Nina liked the T-shirts she had designed.

"It was you communicating in a very intimate way," said Nina before asking why the collection was so black, which Irina replied was "intuitive."

"You give yourself a bit of a disservice," warned Michael.

Carol Hannah was next, and Nina said she "loved" the first look.

"It was very spirited and you work very well with these fabrics that are difficult," added Nina.

Heidi was surprised to find her favorite was the thirteenth design Carol Hannah had put together in the last couple of days.

"I had a hard time seeing it as a 13-piece collection," added Heidi. "I just felt like every time something came again it was interesting, but it was always so different that it didn't seem cohesive to me."

Althea went last and Michael said her designs could be "dissembled" into separates, which he liked.

"You could buy a piece and add it to your closet and put your own spin on it, which I think is great," he added.

Suzy liked the knitwear but was unsure where that felt in with the futuristic theme.

"I thought the last three pieces of your collection were off," added Nina. "I almost thought we had moved into another show."

The judges then deliberated their decision.

Michael called Carol Hannah's opening design "exciting" and "photographical" and Suzy thought she had "the best sense of color."

"She played with the color, she just didn't play with it enough," added Michael.

"She loves dresses and she's impeccable in her tailoring," said Heidi. "That's what has made her get this far -- she's always been really good at that."

Nina said she loved Althea's "sense of coolness."

"She can really translate what's going on in the street," she added. "She's got that connection with what is cool and what is out there."

Michael thought women would "respond" to Althea's designs, and Nina agreed.

"Again, it looked a little bit like an assemblage of clothes," said Michael. "It didn't really tell a tale, I don't think."

Suzy didn't think Althea's designs "took well to the runway."

Heidi thought Irina's designs were "really well made and modern" with an "edge."

"She definitely had the best sense of showmanship," said Michael. "She knew how to punctuate it with the hats... They were all a little different but the same, which is a collection."

Heidi said she agreed that Irina's lack of color hurt her, and Michael said he was confused by her gown design.

The finalists then returned and Irina was revealed as the winner.

Irina Shabayeva crowned 'Project Runway's sixth-season Pt.3
by jo2306

"Your line was sleek, modern, cohesive and it told a story," said Heidi to Irina. "You knew what kind of woman you were designing for, and you really did articulate that beautifully."

Irina Shabayeva won the sixth season of the fashion reality show "Project Runway" on Thursday in the conclusion of the hit cable series which was delayed for months by legal wrangling.

Shabayeva, 27, the daughter of immigrants from the Republic of Georgia who moved their family to Brooklyn, impressed the show's judges with an edgy collection of 13 looks shown at New York's Fashion Week earlier this year.

MISS BRAZIL, LARISSA RAMOS - THE NEW MISS EARTH 2009!!!

2009-11-22T21:36:00.003+02:00

The latest edition of Miss Earth was held at the Boracay Ecovillage Resort and Convention Center, in the island paradise of Boracay. Originally slated to be the first Miss Earth to be held outside the Philippines, Santiago, Chile begged off after encountering organizational problems and was thus moved back to the original host country. And after several weeks of competition, a new winner has been crowned.

Who won Miss Earth 2009? Miss Brazil, Larissa Ramos, won Miss Earth 2009. In winning Miss Earth 2009, Brazil is thus the first country to
have won the title twice since its inception in 2001.

Miss Philippines, Sandra Seifert was named Miss Eart Air (first runner up); Miss Venezuela, Jessica Barboza, is Miss Earth Water (second runner up) and Miss Spain, Alejandra Echevarria, is Miss Earth Fire.

In keeping with its theme of beauty with a purpose, delegates of Miss Earth 2009 visited the different islands of the Philippines with the theme "Green Lifestyle" and promoted the use of recyclable materials as part of collective lifestyle. In addition, they engaged on different environmental activities including planting trees, and had school tours in the provinces of Ilocos, Laguna, Negros Occidental, Albay, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Pangasinan, Batangas, Iloilo and Metro Manila.

Here is the official results:

MISS EARTH 2009:
Brazil, Larissa Ramos

MISS AIR 2009:
Philippines, Sandra Inez Seifert

MISS WATER 2009:
Venezuela, Jessica Barboza

MISS FIRE 2009:
Spain, Alejandra Echevarria

TOP 8

Thailand, Rujinan Phanseethum
Brazil, Larissa Ramos
Poland, Izabela Wilczek
Martinique, Pascale Laurie Nelide
Spain, Alejandra Echevarria
Venezuela, Jessica Barboza
Philippines, Sandra Inez Seifert
Colombia, Alejandra Castillo Múnera

TOP 16 Semi-finalists
(in order of announcement)

Poland, Izabela Wilczek
Korea, Park Ye-ju
Brazil, Larissa Ramos
Colombia, Alejandra Castillo Múnera
Thailand, Rujinan Phanseethum
Spain, Alejandra Echevarria
Northern Ireland, Kayleigh O’Reilly
Philippines, Sandra Inez Seifert
South Africa, Chanel Grantham
France, Magalie Audrey Thierry
Georgia, Nonna Diakonidze
Singapore, Valerie Lim
Martinique, Pascale Laurie Nelide
India, Shriya Kishore
Venezuela, Jessica Barboza
Paraguay, Gabriela Mercedes Rejala

Preliminary Awards:

Best in Swimsuit:
Philippines, Sandra Inez Seifert

Best in Evening Gown:
Philippines, Sandra Inez Seifert

Best in National Costume:
Tanzania, Evelyne Almasi

Miss Photogenic:
Czech Republic, Tereza Budková

Miss Talent:
Tahiti, Niuriki Teremate

Miss Friendship:
Switzerland, Graziella Rogers

Sponsor Awards:

Best in Eco-Design Wear:
Jamaica, Jennae Dawn Jackson

Best in Eco-Bag Design Wear:
Czech Republic, Tereza Budková

Best in Use of Indigenous Products Wear:
Albania, Suada Saliu

Miss Fontana Resort:
China, Yan Xu

Miss Golden Sunset Resort & Spa:
Cuba, Jamillette Gaxiola

Miss Discovery Suites Award:
Spain, Alejandra Echevarria

Miss Eagle Express:
Korea, Park Ye-ju

Placenta Award:
Puerto Rico, Dignelis Jiménez

Pasigandahan Award:
Guam, Maria Luisa Santos

Miss Gandang Ricky Reyes Award:
Spain, Alejandra Echevarria

Miss Asei:
Korea, Park Ye-ju

Miss Perwoll:
Venezuela, Jessica Barboza

Miss AVSCOR:
Dominican Republic, Mariel Aracelis Garcia

Miss HDR Management:
Poland, Izabela Wilczek

Miss Jubilee Presidents’ Foundation:
Philippines, Sandra Inez Seifert

'V', TV Review

2009-11-22T12:21:00.006+02:00

Bottom Line: Leaping lizards! A new version of the classic space invasion is fun and smart.
After about 25 years, those sneaky, lizardlike aliens are back. Once again, they want to take over Earth and, maybe, destroy or consume the populace. But so what? In exchange for their malevolence, they promise to provide a world of fast-paced, eye-catching action and provocative drama. Bold and still surprising, ABC's new "V" is clever enough for a cult following and accessible enough to reach a broad demo.

"V" was a popular miniseries when NBC aired it in the pre-Fox and early cable year of 1983. It worked so well that creator Kenneth Johnson had a sequel the following year, "V: The Final Battle." That proved so popular that NBC, disregarding the "Final" part of the title, reintroduced "V" as a weekly series that fall. That's when it stopped working.

V First 8 Minutes [ABC First Look]
Uploaded by ByCarLost. - Watch original web videos.

And that's too bad because the idea behind "V" -- a modern retelling of how the Nazis rose to power in Germany -- is a powerhouse concept that combines conflict, suspense and imagination with some heavy-duty philosophical issues. Johnson, in fact, said his original inspiration was the Sinclair Lewis novel, "It Can't Happen Here," and he came up with something that is less science fiction than political science fiction.

This latest update, with a teleplay by Scott Peters, preserves the original framework but shifts the atmosphere to accommodate contemporary concerns. Based on the pilot, the militaristic notes will be more subdued. Instead, there will be more of a post-Sept. 11 emphasis on questions of trust and terror.

"V" is short for Visitors, which is what the aliens call themselves. They announce their presence while simultaneously hovering in huge unassailable spaceships above 29 of Earth's major cities, including New York, where the series is set.

Alien leader Anna (Morena Baccarin), the very picture of sweetness and innocence, promises to share advanced technology and live in peace. Many Earthlings are eager to believe her, including young adults who sign up for the Peace Ambassador program (analogous to Hitler Youth).

But there are skeptics. These include FBI agent Erica Evans (Elizabeth Mitchell), whose son joins the Ambassador program, and Father Jack (Joel Gretsch). Complicating things is the wave of Visitors who came to Earth years earlier and are working incognito. At the same time, though, other secret Visitors have become disillusioned and join the resistance.

Somewhere in between is news anchor Chad Decker (Scott Wolf). In exchange for exclusive interviews with Anna, he makes an uncomfortable bargain to ask only softball questions.

It could be complicated, but Peters' tightly written teleplay makes it easy to follow. In addition, the pilot raises provocative issues without getting didactic. That, combined with mythology less dense than, say, ABC's "Lost," should make this an attractive viewing option.

Leona’s second album, ECHO features collaborations with Justin Timberlake and OneRepublic.

2009-11-22T11:55:00.005+02:00

One begins listening to this second album from the 2006 X Factor winner hoping its title isn’t prophetic – nobody needs an echo of Lewis’s soporific, saccharine debut, Spirit.

Listen to the tracks here.

While her 2007 album remains the fastest-selling debut release from a British artist – it outsold the Spice Girls’ greatest hits compilation by two to one – Spirit offered little beyond the anticipated. An assortment of big-lunged ballads, replete with lyrics about overcoming adversity, it ticked all necessary boxes and met audience expectations disappointingly perfectly.

More is expected of this 13-track set, which hasn’t quite hit the ground running as its lead single, Happy, failed to set charts alight internationally (though it's sure to perform better domestically). Recorded stateside over the course of nine months, Echo is undeniably a bolder affair than its predecessor, but still falls into the same trap of an over reliance on Lewis’s voice – not half as strong as her supporters might think – in favour of developed arrangements musically muscular enough to render attentions rapt.

When she reaches for the highs, Lewis comes off as a discount Mariah Carey – Can’t Breathe is an unbearable exercise in vocal histrionics that will have all but the most fiercely loyal of devotees reaching for a bucket. Its staccato tics might briefly recall the addictive “‘ella, ‘ella, ‘ella” motif of Rihanna’s Umbrella, but it lacks any of the Barbadian singer’s sassiness and compositional edge. Better are the Arabic overtones of Brave, but it’s still more straight-to-DVD Disney than DreamWorks blockbuster in scope.

The employment of an assortment of co-writers, including Justin Timberlake and OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, hasn’t resulted in an album of pronounced diversity. With only a couple of exceptions, Echo sticks to safe songs that complement their singer’s ballad-heavy catalogue. Outta My Head is a sidestep into cheesy Eurodance beats that almost comes off – it’s a touch too cheap-sounding, too tinny of production – and the Timberlake duet Don’t Let Me Down shuffles to subtle percussion evocative of the American singer’s Cry Me a River and What Goes Around…, albeit without any comparable soulfulness.

Echo’s problem is that its central protagonist simply doesn’t stamp her authority on proceedings – yes, that’s her dominating the mix, but there’s no character in her performances, no life in her voice beyond that prompted by out-of-shot puppeteers. Its songs are fine for what they are, and clear improvements on what came before. But for a multi-million selling artist, Lewis still lacks an album worthy of her international profile.

Nicole Fox wins the thirteenth season of 'America's Next Top Model'

2009-11-22T11:46:00.004+02:00

Nicole Fox was crowned America's Next Top Model's thirteenth-season winner during last night's broadcast of The CW reality competition's finale.

"This journey was incredibly hard. I have learned to embarrass myself and to speak -- which was a struggle," Nicole said after her victory.

"Sometimes I didn't think I was going to survive the journey, like I remember during casting week I went home and I cried because I was like, 'What have I gotten myself into with this?' I didn't think it would be okay to be that dorky girl, but I'm a dork and I'm America's Next Top Model."

As Top Model's thirteenth-season winner, the 18-year-old student from Louisville, CO won a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl Cosmetics, a contract with Wilhelmina Models and a cover and six-page spread in Seventeen magazine. In addition, Nicole became Top Model's first 5'7" or under "petite edition" winner.

Laura Kirkpatrick, a 19-year-old waitress from Stanford, KY, finished as the runner-up.

"My mom, my grandma and my sister and my littler brother are going to be so proud of me," Laura said after recovering from her initial tear-filled disappointment. "They won't even care that I'm not America's Next Top Model."

The thirteenth-season finale began following the double elimination of Erin Wagner and Jennifer An, as both Laura and Nicole expressed surprise at being in the Top 2. Laura expressed confidence at her ability to beat Nicole if it came down to personality.

"Nicole's pictures are always really good and they've been really strong in the past, but personality-wise and stuff, I don't see her as a whole lot of competition," said Laura in a confessional.

However once the girls learned they'd have to compete in the season's second CoverGirl commercial shoot, Laura's confidence quickly turned to concern due to her dyslexia.

"I do feel like I have an advantage over Laura because she just stresses out so much about being able to read and memorize a line," commented Nicole.

The next day Laura and Nicole met Top Model photo shoot director Jay Manuel for their CoverGirl commercial and photo shoot -- with the winner appearing in advertising for the cosmetics company.

The girls then met twelfth-season champ Teyona Anderson, who revealed what makeup they'd be modeling. Jay then explained that while he was coaching one of them during the commercial's filming, judge Nigel Barker would be photographing the other one.

Nigel thought Nicole looked "fantastic and "amazing" and also "modeled really well." Laura initially struggled with the commercial shoot as she stumbled over lines, but Jay thought she had a "really good attitude."

"I feel like I have defeated dyslexia," she said after it was done.

The girls switched spots, and it was Nicole's turn to have a hard time with the commercial -- as Jay thought she sounded snooty and her performance level was "low."

"I feel like I was trying so hard not to be snotty," opined Nicole. "Jay tells me that I look like a snob and nobody would buy this mascara from me. I'm like, 'Oh my god!'"

The next day the girls were met by Seventeen editor-in-chief Ann Shoket, who was there to shoot their potential cover photo for the magazine.

"Those girls did so well. I was so impressed by what I saw today," Ann said after it was over. "It is anybody's game at this point."

Back at the house, the girls practiced their runway walk for the season's finale runway show before they each had a one-on-one conversation with Top Model creator and lead judge Tyra Banks.

They then arrived for the runway show, where they were met by Jay and Top Model judge and runway expert J. "Miss J" Alexander -- who revealed Erin, Jennifer and fellow previously-ousted thirteenth-season finalists Brittany Markert and Sundai Love would also be participating.

"This is the first time that we have brought back eliminated girls," said Jay.

All of the girls then received hair and makeup before the runway shoot commenced. While both were nervous, neither Nicole nor Laura had any significant problems.

"You guys really did a good job, both of you," Tyra told them afterwards. "You should be proud of yourselves. I know you were nervous, but you did a good job."

That night Nicole and Laura arrived for the thirteenth season's final elimination ceremony -- where they were met by Tyra, Nigel and Miss J.

The judges then evaluated Laura and Nicole's photos from the previous thirteenth-season shoots and watched their recent CoverGirl commercial and photo shoot before deliberating their decision.

Tyra then revealed Nicole as the winner.

Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza is Miss Universe 2008

2008-07-17T17:05:00.004+03:00

Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza, has won the Miss Universe pageant. The 22-year-old stunner beats runners-up from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Russia and Mexico to clinch the diamond-studded golden crown.

Miss Universe 2008: Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza

1st Runner Up: Taliana Vargas (Colombia)

2nd Runner Up: Marianne Cruz Gonzalez (Dominican Republic)

3rd Runner Up: Vera Krasova (Russia)

4th Runner Up: Elisa Najera (Mexico)

Top five stunners

After the stunning top ten hopefuls sashayed the ramp, the judges announced the top five as: Dayana Mendoza (Venezuela), Elisa Najera (Mexico), Marianne Cruz Gonzalez (Dominican Republic), Taliana Vargas (Colombia) and Vera Krasova (Russia)

Best National Costume Award goes to Miss Thailand.

Miss Congeniality is Miss El Salvador

Miss USA trips on stage

For the second year in a row, Miss USA has fallen down during the evening gown competition at the Miss Universe competition. It was a nightmare come true for Miss USA Crystle Stewart, a Texan, who tripped on the train of her bejeweled evening gown as she made her entrance.

During the 2007 Miss Universe contest in Mexico City, Miss USA Rachel Smith also tumbled during the evening gown competition and became an unintended star on YouTube, where the video was shown over and over again.

Miss Universe 2008 Miss Venezuela Wins

Top ten contestants announced

The finalists walked across the stage in bikinis for the swimsuit competition and the excitement was spectacular when the top 10 contestants were announced.

The top ten finalists are: Dayana Mendoza (Venezuela), Zana Krasniqi (Kosovo), Elisa Najera (Mexico), Laura Dundovic (Australia), Marianne Cruz Gonzalez (Dominican Republic), Claudia Ferraris (Italy), Taliana Vargas (Colombia), Vera Krasova (Russia), Crystle Stewart (USA) and Claudia Moro (Spain).

After narrowing to 10 contestants, the show will move to evening gowns, with the smiling hopefuls walking across the stage to music. From there, five contestants will be eliminated, and the judges will choose the winner from the five remaining.

15 semi-finalists announced

The field is reduced to 15 semi-finalists, including: Dayana Mendoza (Venezuela), Zana Krasniqi (Kosovo), Elisa Najera (Mexico), Lam Thuy Nguyen (Vietnam), Tansey Coetzee (South Africa), Laura Dundovic (Australia), Hiroko Mima (Japan), Marianne Cruz Gonzalez (Dominican Republic), Claudia Ferraris (Italy), Taliana Vargas (Colombia), Vera Krasova (Russia), Jazmin Dammak (Hungary), Eliska Buckova (Czech Republic), Crystle Stewart (USA) and Claudia Moro (Spain).

The 80 contestants gathered in the seaside city of Nha Trang, Vietnam, vying to succeed reigning Miss Universe Riyo Mori of Japan.

Miss Universe 2008: Curtain raiser!

Gates of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam have opened, and hundreds rather thousands of people are thronging the venue while millions across the world have already tuned in to their TV sets to watch eighty of the world’s most beautiful women battle it out for the hot spot – the Miss Universe 2008 crown.

The show is hosted by Jerry Springer as well as former Spice Girl Mel B. The judges panel comprises of Donald Trump Jr., (executive vice president of the Trump Organization); Roberto Cavalli (fashion designer and entrepreneur); Nadine Velazquez (international cover girl); Jennifer Hawkins (television presenter and Miss Universe 2004); Louis Licari (celebrity colorist and “Today Show” ambush makeover expert) and John Nguyen (vice chairman of Hoan Cau, LTD Investment and Construction).

Actress Eesha Koppikhar has also been selected as one of the judges at Miss Universe 2008! And apparently, she’s the first Bollywood actress to judge this particular contest.

Confirming the news from Hong Kong, where she was to board a flight to Vietnam where the contest is taking place, she said, “It all happened at the last minute. I’m so excited! I have an international agent who mailed my details and they thought I was qualified to judge the show. I’m sure I’m going to have a rocking time!”

Apart from the beauties sashaying down the ramp, the pageant promises a power-packed performance by sensational pop star Lady GaGa on her hit number ‘Just Dance’. The thud has rocked several venues around the world and is expected to bring the same excitement to Vietnam.

In a few hours, Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori will hand over the exquisite crown to her successor. The Top 15 finalists will be judged in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown, and interview during the broadcast. Also, the winner for Best National Costume, as decided by online votes, will be announced.

Tanya Hutchinson wins TV Land's 'She's Got the Look' reality series

2008-07-17T16:59:00.004+03:00

Tanya Hutchison of Orange County, CA has been crowned the winner of "She's Got The Look," TV Land's original reality series searching for the next great supermodel -- over 35. Hutchison was announced as the winner on last night's dramatic season finale and has landed a lucrative modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models, Inc. and a fashion spread in SELF Magazine.

"She's Got The Look," is a collaboration with Wilhelmina Models, Inc., which sets out to discover a sophisticated, beautiful and confident woman 35 or older who is destined to become the next great supermodel. Iconic supermodel Kim Alexis, who has graced the covers of more than 500 magazines, hosts "She's Got The Look." Supermodel

Beverly Johnson -- who made history as the first African-American model to appear on the cover of American Vogue -- celebrity stylist Robert Verdi and Wilhelmina president Sean Patterson are featured as regular judges on the series. The series is executive produced by Emmy Award-Winner Allison Grodner ("Big Brother," "Blowout").

In last night's finale, four finalists remained, and they had to put to use everything they've learned throughout the series to make it to the top. The women pitched themselves to the editors of SELF Magazine and then realized their pitch in their ultimate cover girl photo shoot.

Tanya Hutchinson wins She's Got The Look

"Tanya truly embodies what this competition is all about," states Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land. "Not only is she beautiful but she has also had rich life experiences and has overcome so many obstacles to become the woman that she is today. 'She's Got The Look' is about the whole package, and Tanya has that."

"Tanya not only embodies beauty inside and out, but she is charming beyond belief," states Wilhelmina President Sean Patterson. "The goal of 'She's Got The Look' was to prove to the world that women over 35 who aspire to model would encompass more depth, charm and ultimate beauty than the average model. With Tanya, we found a uniquely beautiful and inspiring woman who will undoubtedly be a success in the modeling industry."

Hutchison is a 45-year-old wife and a mother of five who resides in Orange County, CA. Having begun modeling at a young age, Hutchison is proud to have overcome a life-threatening knife attack that left her scarred internally and externally. After the incident, she began to doubt herself and the price of beauty. She recently found a deeper meaning in her life by committing to missionary work in Africa, where she lectures young women on the importance of empowerment.

TV Land's nationwide search, which included months of online submissions, auditions and regional competitions around the country, resulted in flying 20 contenders to New York City. These semi-finalists were put to the test of expressing themselves and their fashion know-how. Ten finalists were then selected to live in a New York City loft and compete in challenges such as photo shoots, runway competitions and tests on their fashion sense. At the conclusion of the competition, one woman is crowned the ultimate winner.

Last week, TV Land announced that it has renewed the series "She's Got The Look" for a second season. Emmy Award-Winner Allison Grodner will return as executive producer. Premiering in 2009, the second season of "She's Got The Look" will expand from six episodes to eight and will again set out to discover a sophisticated, beautiful and confident woman 35 or older destined for supermodel stardom.

"She's Got The Look" is an Allison Grodner produced exclusively for TV Land. Keith Cox and Sal Maniaci serve as executive producers for TV Land; Sean Patterson and Corey Preston are executive producers from Wilhelmina.

Christina Machamer defeats Louis Petrozza to win 'Hell's Kitchen'

2008-07-09T19:00:00.001+03:00

Christina Machamer was the Hell's Kitchen fourth-season contestant with the least amount of experience, but Gordon Ramsay rewarded her on potential.

The 25-year-old culinary student from St. Louis, MO was revealed to be Hell's Kitchen's fourth-season champ during last night's finale broadcast on Fox.

She claimed the position of executive chef at Gordon's recently opened The London West Hollywood -- a job that comes with a $250,000 salary.

"Oh my goodness. Holy f**king s**t! I am like so happy on 10 different levels, I can't even explain it," exclaimed Christina after her victory. "I'm really happy. It's almost like a fairy tale. I guess it really does happen to people, even big goobers like me... Mostly what I'd like to say to Chef Ramsay is thank you for your faith and your trust in me."

Christina defeated Louis Petrozza, a 47-year-old catering director from Charlotte, NC, during the finale broadcast.

"It's been a tough journey. It's been hard, it's been painful, it's been long but it's been good. It's been good," said an emotional Petrozza. "I've met so many beautiful people, so many beautiful people. How priceless is that?"

Hell's Kitchen fourth-season finale began where the previous episode left off with Petrozza having to choose between Matt Sigel and Jennifer Gavin for the last spot on his team for the final dinner service.

"Matt, he's a freaking lunatic, and Jen, she can be a bitch," opined Petrozza.

He chose the bitch, who joined Bobby Anderson and Ben Caylor on Petrozza's team. Christina go Matt, who joined Corey Earling and Louross Edralin on her team.

With 10 hours to go before the service commenced, Petrozza and Christina went over their menus with their teams. Petrozza was confident thanks to his buds Bobby and Ben while Jen sulked about not being in the finals. Matt had a problem respecting Christina as his leader, and she tried to compliment his risotto to get in his good graces. It worked.

"You earned my respect just now," he told her.

"He bought it hook, line and sinker," she said in a confessional. "It was great."

Petrozza then told his team nothing was prepped, and they were frustrated by his lack of organization.

"I'm a tiny bit overwhelmed," he said.

Prep work began with six hours to go before the doors opened, while construction continued in the restaurants. Designer John Janavs then met with Christina about the color of her half of the restaurant, and she was frustrated it still wasn't done and she wasn't in control. Petrozza's booth upholster also wasn't ready, which had him nervous.

During prep work Jen asked Gordon for a letter of recommendation, which Christina called "classless." Meanwhile Matt was screwing around in the kitchen and Corey complained to Christina about how he wasn't taking it seriously. Corey and Matt bickered as Jen copped an attitude with Ben after he called her "sweetheart. Jen pouted and told Petrozza he couldn't trust her.

"She's doing the same dance we all know her for," said Petrozza. "If Jen smarts off, I'll throw her out in a second."

With an hour to go, Gordon was ready to review Christina and Petrozza's dishes. Each finalist prepared three appetizers, three entrees and three desserts.

Christina's appetizers featured a trio of beef sliders, her entrees included a New York strip steak with succotash, while her deserts featured a tropical sundae. Gordon thought the appetizers were "very delicious" but wondered where the variety was and suggested she "sex them up." He complimented the dessert and implored some innovation.

"It was my strategy to be reasonably simple. I don't like things that are overcomplicated," she said.

Petrozza's appetizers included a lobster strudel, his entrees featured a filet mignon with risotto and onion ring, while his desserts included a vanilla souffle. Gordon thought the texture of the appetizer was "overcooked and terrible," complimented his beef but wasn't a big fan of the risotto, and called the dessert brave before liking the way it was made.

Gordon thought they had "two completely different menus" -- with Petrozza going for "highly imaginative food," which was dangerous; while Christina "played it safe," like a "plain Jane." Petrozza's booth upholstery arrived with a half hour to go and the paint was done on Christina's half. Gordon liked the mood Christina created with her design and also enjoyed the comfort of Petrozza's.

Hell's Kitchen's final tenth-season dinner service then commenced with Christina concerned about Matt being "unpredictable" and Bobby worried about Jen's bad attitude disturbing Petrozza's team. Each kitchen would serve 13 tables and 50 diners. Customer reviews and Gordon's observations would determine the winner.

Orders came into both kitchens with Petrozza and Christina communicating well with their teams, and Gordon was excited to see if they could keep up the momentum.

Christina's appetizers were enjoyed by the customers while Bobby had problems executing Petrozza's difficult strudel. Petrozza criticized it for being cold and asked Bobby to redo it. Gordon was impressed with the way Petrozza handled the situation and Bobby corrected the mistake, with the patrons enjoying the dish.

Christina continued to push her team to the limit and she got antsy, wanting to jump in and personally help Louross instead of controlling the pass. She sent Matt to help Louross, which wasn't exactly the biggest help.

"Working with Matt, it was like really frustrating," said Christina as Matt asked tons of questions about the salad he was making. "I have no idea how we're going to get through service."

Petrozza's appetizers were out to half his customers before his kitchen ran out of the cheese for his salad. Jen blamed Petrozza in a confessional for the station not being properly prepped before Bobby dropped the bomb that they were also out of strudel.

"What can we do? We can't take two of the appetizers off," said Gordon. "I swear I'll stop it."

Petrozza was angry and didn't know what to do, so he asked Bobby who compromised with a lobster risotto. The quick thinking led to food once again going out of the kitchen, and the appetizer worked as the patron's liked it. Some of Christina's entrees then returned to the pass when they weren't warm enough, which further delayed the kitchen.

"Come on, now we're backed up now!" said Gordon, asking Christina to turn up the volume a bit with her communication.

She did so and Gordon thought it made her team "on top of their game." The effort was reflected in Christina's satisfied patrons. Petrozza was plating the food too slowly, unwilling to pull others off their stations. He relented and took help from Ben and Jen who quickly rectified the situation, pushing the entrees out.

Christina criticized Matt for his monk fish being raw and Gordon reiterated the complaint. Matt began to mumble under his breathe at Gordon.

"F**king useless," said Gordon, who called Matt over and told him to concentrate.

Jen's "crummy attitude" compounded the fact that she was slow delivering an onion ring, and then when she did, it had to be redone. Petrozza implored Jen to move more quickly and Gordon backed him up by encouraging Petrozza to remind her who was boss. He did so and she delivered the onion rings.

Petrozza was up 10 tables to eight over Christina, who pressured Matt to deliver the monk fish. Once again it was undercooked and Christina was cursing Matt for landing on her team. When Christina couldn't straighten Matt out Gordon offered to do it for her.

"I'll f**king tell him if you want me to," he told her. "I'll run it! Run your brigade!"

Christina was more assertive and Matt continued to mumble under his breath about wanting to be left alone.

"I don't know what Matt's problem with the monk fish was," she opined. "This is my night and I'm not going to let him ruin it."

She pushed him forward as both kitchens reached the homestretch, with Gordon describing the competition as neck-and-neck. The desserts were sent out to compliments from the patrons and Hell's Kitchen officially came to a close for the fourth-season.

Gordon congratulated both kitchens for having "more highs than lows" but reminded them their would be only one winner. Petrozza and Christina then said goodbye to their teams before retreating to the dorms.

"I really do feel pretty good about it. I feel like I've got a good shot at this. I think I've got an edge," aid Petrozza. "But you can never be certain."

Gordon poured over the comment cards and reflected on the recently concluded dinner service before calling both Petrozza and Christina downstairs.

"Making this decision has been shear agony for me. I went back and forth a number of times," Gordon told them. "Clearly you both have strengths and without a shadow of a doubt are two very worthy finalists. After getting to know you both and watching you grow through Hell's Kitchen, I know both of you are going to go on to great success."

Christina was then revealed to be Hell's Kitchen's fourth-season winner and she celebrated the victory with her parents and her teammates from the final dinner service.

"Oh my God I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you guys," she exclaimed as she gave Corey a hug. "If it wasn't for you guys I wouldn't be here."

"Christina had the least amount of experience coming into Hell's Kitchen," said Gordon at the finale's conclusion.

"But I saw something in her that was quite special. She had the best potential across any other chef in Hell's Kitchen, and in my business, I think long term. I definitely, definitely made the right trust. I feel like I've been on a roller coaster the last three months. Of all the Hell's Kitchens, this has been the one with the most ups and downs. But we ended on a high note, and now it's time for me to get the f**k out of Hell's Kitchen."

'Bachelorette' DeAnna Pappas picks Jesse Csincsak, gets proposal

2008-07-09T18:57:00.002+03:00

Jesse Csincsak proposed marriage to DeAnna Pappas and she accepted during last night's The Bachelorette fourth-season finale broadcast on ABC.

Pappas subsequently presented her final rose to the 25-year-old professional snowboarder from Breckenridge, CO after rejecting the marriage proposal of Jason Mesnick, a 31-year-old account executive and single father from Kirkland, WA.

"I know she's the one," said Jesse just prior to his proposal. "I'm so in love with DeAnna -- I don't even know how to put it into words, how badly I want to be engaged to [DeAnna]. She's just that one person that I can't see myself without. I just want to start my life with her. I've never felt this way about anyone. I really think she's my soul mate."

The Bachelorette's fourth-season finale began with Jason and Jesse traveling to DeAnna's hometown of Newnan, GA to meet her dad Greg, her sister Crissy and her brother Thomas.

The Bachelorette DeAnna Pappas Picks Jesse Csinkcsak

"Today is the most important day in this process," said DeAnna. "I am extremely close with my family, and it's very important to me if my family accepts them."

While DeAnna's family was very accepting when they met The Bachelor eleventh-season star Brad Womack, suffice it to say they were a slightly more protective this time around.

"We all thought Brad was going to choose my sister, and then in the end, it just completely crushed her," commented Crissy. "It completely crushed our family."

Jason was up first and he was "overcome with excitement" at the prospect of meeting DeAnna's family. He made a good first impression by arriving with flowers, which caused DeAnna to call him "sweet and thoughtful." Jason told DeAnna's family about how he's divorced and has a 3-year-old son from the marriage.

"I don't want to look at it as a pro or a con, but she moves immediately into a family," said Greg. "I'm not sure if she's ready for that right now."

Jason explained how important his son is to him, and DeAnna said that's how important she is to her father. Greg quickly said it would be tough for DeAnna to leave Georgia, and Jason said he could appease that by lots of visits.

"It would take an awful lot of visiting, replied Greg.

Crissy then spent some alone time with Jason and stressed how important it was for him to not break her sister's heart. DeAnna talked with her dad about what she liked in Jason, who then finally had some time to speak with Greg, and he quickly got to the point.

"I want you to know how serious I take marriage," said Jason. "I want to get your permission to propose to her."

"Nobody's ever had the guts to ask me that," replied Greg. "I would expect it... I appreciate your sincerity, and if she chooses you, you have my blessing."

Jason thanked Greg, who was impressed with the suitor.

"I think he's a great pick for my daughter," said Greg.

Jason said goodbye to DeAnna, who then spoke with her family about how their time with him was. Greg spilled the beans about Jason's question, and DeAnna was glad to hear Jason asked.

"It simply solidified my feelings about him," said DeAnna.

Jesse then had his turn to meet DeAnna's family, which he described as "nerve wracking."

"I knew he was nervous right off the bat," correctly guessed Tommy.

Greg knew Jesse was a guy DeAnna doesn't normally date and also knew meeting him would be different than Jason. Jesse immediately dug a hole for himself when he had no long-term employment plan beyond his snowboarding career.

Greg took Jesse outside and asked if he'd ever been in a serious relationship. Jesse answered he had, but then added they "grew apart." He continued to get grilled by Greg, who stressed the importance of "frequent visits" to Georgia if he's the chosen suitor.

Crissy asked DeAnna if she could honestly see herself settling down with him.

"I don't know if I know Jesse yet," Crissy told her.

Jesse knew the short amount of time he had with DeAnna's family didn't go well.

"I blew it," he opined as he left the house.

DeAnna met with her family and revealed she still didn't know which suitor she was going to choose.

"Jason is absolutely falling in love with you. There's no doubt about that," said Greg, "Jesse told me the same thing, but it's just the way he said it and the way Jason said it -- there was a difference there. I just felt it was more heartfelt from Jason than it was from Jesse."

"Did Jesse ask your permission?" quickly asked DeAnna

"Nope," replied Greg. "It's just that's the way he is, so that's the way he's going to be."

DeAnna was more confused then ever as the night came to close. The next morning, she awoke and welcomed her extended family to meet the guys.

"The guys can expect a big fat Greek party!" said DeAnna.

Jesse was the first to arrive, unaware of the twist that awaited him. But then the doorbell rang and in walked Jason.

"It was a little intense. It was like another competition almost," opined Jesse. "I know that I have to put myself out there 110% and if I don't there's not a shot in hell I have of being with her."

Jesse and Jason then flanked DeAnna on the couch, and the two exchanged playful jabs as she sat uncomfortably between them. Both professed why they were there and how much they care for her, and the situation became a bit more real for Jason.

"I know what I want, but to see and know and hear that she's got feelings for Jesse is really hard," said Jason. "It doesn't feel good inside at all."

After a Greek lunch, both Jesse and Jason spent some alone time with various family members. Jason was well-spoken in professing his love for DeAnna when speaking with her grandparents, and grandma Lilian was obviously smitten.

"You're the one for her," Lilian told him.

Jesse didn't have the same luck with Crissy and DeAnna's sister-in-law Crystal.

"We all want nothing but the best for DeAnna, and Jesse is just a hometown guy," said Crystal. "He just seems to be very grounded, it didn't seem like he was thinking very thoroughly about the questions we were asking him."

Realizing his chance was going down the tube, Jesse pulled Greg aside and asked the all-important question Jason popped the previous day.

"If she does choose me, I would like to get close to her," began Jesse. "I guess I'm asking your blessing and your permission that if DeAnna does feel that I am the guy for her than it would obviously mean the world to me to have your blessing to propose to her."

"Are you ready?" replied Greg.

Jesse then explained how he had been talking to his own dad about how he knew when his mom was the one, and the answer has always been "you'll know." After DeAnna visited Jesse's hometown, he said that his dad gave her the "stamp of approval."

"It meant the world to me, and it would mean the world to me to have your stamp of approval to pursue your daughter," he continued.

"I just want to make sure that she gets the very best and she's treated with the dignity and respect she deserves," said Greg. "I think you would do that, and I offer you both of you my blessing."

As the day came to a close the family invited Jason and Jesse for a shot of Ouzo before saying goodbye.

"It's hard to ay if my life would be better with Jesse versus Jason," said DeAnna. "I've been trying to figure that out all day long."

DeAnna retreated to her family for some input, and Crissy made it known that she felt Jason was the better choice because of their comfort level around each other and Jason's life experience. Crystal disagreed and thought DeAnna would be better suited with a fellow "free spirit" like Jesse.

"If you picked Jason, you'd be fast-forwarding your life five years," she told DeAnna, who was still confused about her decision.

"I don't know which guy's dreams are going to come true and which guy's heart's going to get broken," she said.

As it got down to crunch time, DeAnna returned to Grand Bahama Island in preparation for her last one-one-one dates with both Jason and Jesse. However...

"I found out that Jeremy wanted to talk to me," she said, referring to recently rejected suitor Jeremy Anderson.

"I'd rather be like Brad and run the other way and not have to deal with any of this. But I can't bring myself to do that because I know what that feeling feels like. I know what that confusion and that heartache and not understanding feels like. I couldn't bring myself to put Jeremy through that pain and that heartache I experienced. I hope and I pray that he leaves here with a better understanding and that he feels better about me sending him home."

Jeremy and DeAnna met that night and he was anxious to see her to tell her his true feelings. He received a hug upon his arrival before telling her how he felt.

"I really do feel like you're making a big mistake with me," he told her before expressing regret for not putting himself out there fully. "I'm terrified of getting hurt, that's the biggest reason why I'm so guarded."

DeAnna said she sympathized with how Jeremy felt.

"It's just not in my heart," she said through tears. "Right now I feel it for two other people."

"That hurts," answered Jeremy.

"I will not lead you on. I will not drag this out to the last day and promise you something that I cannot keep," she said. "Right now, I am not in love. I feel like at this moment, as much as we have shard and as big of a bond as we have, if we were meant to be my feelings would be stronger, but they're not... If you were to propose to me, I couldn't do it."

After rejecting Jeremy -- incredibly ironically for the second time -- DeAnna awoke the next morning to focus on Jesse and Jason.

First up was Jesse, who accompanied DeAnna on a seaplane to a deserted island, where they spent the afternoon walking the beach.

"I want her to know that I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her," said Jesse.

That night he gave her a "book of thoughts" and said he hoped to have the opportunity to continue to fill its pages with her.

"I just want you to know that I've never been so sure of something in my life," Jesse told her. "I'm ready to settle down and spend the rest of my life with you. I'm falling in love with you and I feel like I am that guy that will make you happy for the rest of your life."

"It felt really good to hear Jesse say, 'I love you,'" DeAnna explained to the cameras later. "It's exactly what I want to hear, but to say anything back, I don't want to do that because I was in that position and in the end, I was left alone. I want to make sure I'm being fair... I want to know that in the end I only look one of them in the eye and say, 'I love you' in return."

The next day DeAnna and Jason went scuba diving among tropical fish and sharks.

"I am in love with DeAnna and I want to spend the rest of my life with her," said Jason.

That night at dinner she said she had no unanswered questions about him before he presented her with a board game he created himself and had them completing tasks like reenacting their first kiss.

"The game really just helped me say a few things that I wanted to say," he said before using it to open up to her.

"You are perfect for me. I see us, I really do. I wouldn't be here if I didn't," he told her. "I love you DeAnna. I really do. There's not a doubt in my mind. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"I melted. I felt like the luckiest woman in the world," said DeAnna in a confessional afterwards. "Jason showed me everything tonight He was this romantic guy, he was this thoughtful guy. He makes me feel like no one else does... I can see an amazing future with Jason. He has so much to offer to me, that's why I'm falling in love with him."

DeAnna then said goodnight to Jason and retreated to her room for the night.

"I do not know what I'm going to do tomorrow," she said. "It's not a question of being in love anymore. I'm in love with two totally different guys. I definitely don't know how I'm supposed to let one of them go home when I'm in love with both of them."

The next morning DeAnna arose for the big day and still said she could see herself spending her life with either Jason or Jesse.

"I've made tough choices all along and this is the toughest by far but I know who I'm going to pick," she said. "I can only hope that he feels the same way about me."

Jason and Jesse went out and picked out engagements ring for DeAnna, with both nervous about whether or not they'd be the one with the opportunity to give it to her. The reality of the situation was also sinking in for DeAnna.

"It's going to hurt to let someone go that I'm falling in love with," she said. "He's going to feel just as I felt the day Brad sent me home... I'm facing two moments right now -- one moment where I'm going to feel like the happiest woman in the world, and one moment where I'm going to b the saddest woman in the world. Even though I waited so long to make my final decision, I am 100% sure... I am expecting a proposal today. This evening, I will hopefully be engaged to a man who loves me as much as I love him."

The Bachelorette's final fourth-season Rose Ceremony then commenced, and Jason was the first suitor to exit the limousine -- sealing his fate.

"I can't wait to get down on my knee and propose," he said.

"No, I can't," she said as Jason got down.

"You have no idea how much I care about you," she said. "You're this amazing, perfect person that I've never had in my life before. I know that my life would always be good with you -- that I would always be safe and that I could depend on you. Even though I'm in love with you, I am in love with someone else."

"You're in love with somebody else?" he asked.

She nodded yes.

"I saw a million similarities," he said. "I thought you felt it to. I was wrong."

"No, please no!" she said. "I meant everything I ever said to you. I would be the luckiest woman in the world to ever be with you. I just can't because my heart is somewhere else."

"I understand you," he quietly replied. "I heard you say that. I really did fall in love with you."

The two shared an emotional embrace and DeAnna walked him out.

"I'm completely shocked. Why me?" said Jeremy as his limo pulled away.

"I feel like I'm a good enough guy who cares about people genuinely. I was so ready to be in love again. I was so ready to be there again. It hurts to be so close to somebody and for her them to say, 'You know, I do like you a lot, but I like him more.' She wanted something that I couldn't offer her. She wanted this alternative world, or she thinks she wants it. She wants safety and security and once you have safety and security you want to live on the edge, and then once you live on the edge you want to go back to your safety and security. The best person is both, the one who has them all. I thought I did. I think I do. God I want to fall in love. I've had this huge hole in my heart now for years... I just got hurt again. I've had up body armor since my wife left me. I thought it was coming down. Now it's up. The only for sure thing I have is my little boy."

As Jesse's limousine approached, DeAnna didn't waiver in her decision.

"I am extremely confident about the man I've chosen," said DeAnna. "I am sure he's the one... Today I am ending up with my soul mate. I have found the man of my dreams."

Jesse then approached DeAnna.

"When I first came into this, I would have never have thought that this process was real and that I could fall in love here," said Jesse to deAnna. "But I have fallen in love with you. The thought of not being with you kills me. When I look at you, the word that always pops up in my mind is forever. I ant to spend forever with you and I truly believe that you are my soul mate."

Jesse got on bended knee.

"DeAnna Marie Pappas, will you spend forever with me?" he asked.

"Yes!" she replied.The two embraced and kissed before Jesse slid the ring on her finger.

"I would not be okay if you weren't in my life, and I love you," said DeAnna. "I've waited so long to say that. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you," he replied.

"Jesse will you accept this rose?" she asked.

"I would love to!" he said. "I've waited forever to get this rose!"

During the After the Final Rose special that followed The Bachelorette's finale, DeAnna and Jesse revealed they've already set a wedding date: May 9, 2009.

"It's going to be a big wedding," Jesse told The Bachelorette host Chris Harrison.

"I think we're planning the Bahamas -- it's where we fell in love, it's where we got engaged," DeAnna explained.

Alexandra 'Ally' Evans crowned Britain's Next Top Model 2008

2008-07-09T18:53:00.003+03:00

Public school girl Alexandra Evans has been crowned Britain's Next Top Model.
The 19-year-old beat her friend, red-head Catherine Thomas, 18, in the final judging session in Cape Town, South Africa.

Evans wowed the judges in the last task, which saw her and Catherine strut their stuff in a catwalk show in front of a packed crowd.

She also wins the chance to front a £100,000 campaign for cosmetics brand Max Factor, as well as a photo shoot (below) that will appear on the front cover of Company magazine in August.

In the early stages of the 12-week competition, Alex had been criticised for her inability to walk like a model but she so impressed one of the panel with her catwalk performance that he said she was better than the professionals.

Britain's Next Top Model 2008 Alexander 'Ally' Evans Wins

The winner, from Cranleigh, Surrey, says she will turn to journalism if her modelling dream does not turn out.

But there is little chance of that now that she has bagged the top prize of a contract with modelling agency Models 1, who also represent Twiggy, Linda Evangelista and Amber Valletta.

A thrilled and shocked Alex said: 'Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could achieve anything like this... but now I have proved myself wrong.'

Judge Lisa Snowdon was full of praise for the winner, saying: 'This girl blossomed before my eyes.

'She's always been one of the most interesting girls. She's very special looking and all her pictures are fierce - the fashion world is her oyster.'

Curvy brunette Stefanie Wilson, 22, who the judges had earlier criticised for being 'too Playboy', was the first to be kicked off the last round of the show.

Broadcast last night, it showed the three finalists battle it out on a photoshoot in the wilds of South Africa.

Catherine had to pose in a skimpy gold outfit while 'wearing' a yellow python as a stole.

Alex had the slightly easier job of lying on a rock alongside an Iguana - which she appeared delighted by when it was presented to her at the start of her shoot.

Stefanie, meanwhile, was completely horrified to be given a tarantula to pose with but manage to pull off some fabulous pictures as it crawled over her back.

The show, running over 12 weeks on Living TV, saw 13 contestants battle it out for the top prize.

The girls, mentored at times by designers including Zandra Rhodes, Sadie Frost and her partner Jemima French, faced tough challenges along the way to test every aspect of their modelling ability.

The final decision was made by the judging panel, made up of British model Snowdon, Icelandic model-turned photographer Huggy Ragnarsson and stylist to the stars, Gerry DeVeaux.

Demelza Reveley is Australia’s Next Top Model 2008

2008-07-09T18:49:00.002+03:00

After eleven weeks of intense competition, catwalk cattiness and emotional drama, Demelza Reveley (pictured) has been named AUSTRALIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL during last night’s live finale of the hit FOX8 reality series. The 16-year-old school student from Wollongong took the title after narrowly beating Alexandra Girdwood, 21, from Sydney in a nail-biting fight to the finish line.

The winner was announced during the massive live finale at Luna Park’s Big Top in front of an audience of close to 2,000, and again incorporated a viewer vote to help decide who would be named AUSTRALIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL.

As winner of the fourth series, Demelza takes home a prize package including representation for 12 months by premiere model agency Priscilla’s; an all expenses paid trip to New York to meet with top international agencies; a Ford Fiesta Zetec; a contract as the face of Napoleon Perdis which includes an international photo shoot; and an eight-page fashion feature with Vogue Australia.

“I am so excited to be following in Alice Burdeu’s footsteps, this is an absolute dream come true” said Demelza after the announcement was made last night.

“I have worked so hard these past few months to trim down and set myself up as a major contender in the modelling world, and it’s so good to have my hard work pay off. New York, here I come!” she said.

Australia's Next Top Model 2008 Demelza Reveley Wins

Hosted by Jodhi Meares, AUSTRALIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is the hit reality series exclusive to FOX8 that follows a group of young women as they try to prove they have what it takes to make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of modelling. The 13 finalists, chosen after a nationwide audition tour in November 2007, spent ten weeks living together in a waterfront mansion while filming the series earlier this year.

Aside from the stress of learning the ropes of the business, the finalists had to deal with the ups and downs of ‘model house’ life: all the tears, tantrums and high drama you’d expect when you put 13 competitive and hugely ambitious girls under one roof! In each episode, the program’s panel of judges – including leading fashion designer Alex Perry and fashion identity Charlotte Dawson – assessed task performance and potential.

After each critique, one girl was eliminated and sent home. By the final, live episode, just two girls remained – Demelza and Alex. Both finalists have been the subject of intense media scrutiny throughout the series – Demelza coming under attack for being one of the “Dapto Dogs” who bullied Byron Bay student Alamela Rowan, and later for her drastic weight loss; and Alex being criticised for having collagen implants in her lips… with disastrous results. The results were close but in the end Demelza proved too good for her competition and beat Alex to become AUSTRALIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL.

Jennifer Hof is Germany's Next Top Model 2008

2008-06-14T17:27:00.007+03:00

Last night millions tuned in to watch the grand finale of the third season of Heidi Klum’s immensely popular TV casting show “Germany’s Next Top Model. The audience held their breath as 17-year-old Jenny Hof was named the winner and scooped the prize of a modeling contract and a cover photo on the German edition of Cosmopolitan magazine.

The teenager with the short platinum blonde hair was handled as the favorite early on. But before the winner was named, the candidates were cut down to two and the remaining girls had to show their worth by posing for a photo shoot with a huge spider and a snake.

Countless advertising breaks later, when Jenny was finally announced of the winner, it came as no surprise, but merely confirmed the rumors of a secret list that had predicted she would win.

Jennifer Hof Germany's Next Top Model 2008

Hof, who is 180 cm tall and has incredibly long legs, measured at 113 cm, certainly has model proportions. She will soon begin shooting for her own campaign with C & A, but recognized herself, “It will probably take a few weeks, before I understand what happened today.”

I think this 5′11″ beauty has what it takes to go far. Her look is fresh and hot–does anyone else think she’s a bit reminiscent of Agyness Den?–and she’s really young. I hope to see her around the fashion circuit! As the winner, she receives a contract with IMG modeling management.

Germany's Next Top Model Season 3 Finalists Catwalk

Stephanie Izard wins 'Top Chef,' becomes show's first female champ

2008-06-14T17:14:00.003+03:00

Stephanie Izard became Top Chef's first-ever female winner when she took home the Top Chef: Chicago title during last night's fourth-season finale broadcast on Bravo.

"It's real exciting being the first female to win Top Chef," said Stephanie after her victory was revealed. "I'm so glad that I was able to pull through. Finding out that after all this hard work and maybe doubting it a little bit, this is just a reaffirmation. This is what I'm meant to do in life."

The 31-year-old chef from Stamford, CT who currently resides in Chicago, IL claimed Top Chef: Chicago's grand-prize package of $100,000 in seed money to help open a restaurant; a feature in Food & Wine magazine; a showcase at the Annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen; and a "gourmet dream vacation" in the French Alps.

Stephanie defeated Lisa Fernandes, a 27-year-old chef from Toronto, Canada who currently resides in New York City, and Richard Blais, a 35-year-old chef and culinary designer from Uniondale, NY who currently resides in Atlanta, GA, during last night's finale broadcast.

Stephanie Izard wins Top Chef's first-ever female winner

"I was just hoping. In my mind, I was like, 'There a really good shot I could take this.' Then she said Stephanie's name and I was like, 'F**k!,'" said Lisa after the winner was revealed. "This whole journey's been awesome. I'm proud of the dishes I've done, and this is what I want to do. This is what I'm always going to do."

"It's just disappointment," added Richard. "Losing at the last second sucks. That's why it's tough too, because you put your whole heart into it and then it doesn't work out. One thing that's good about this is to kind of refocus, just keep doing what I love to do. The future's bright for sure."

Top Chef: Chicago's finale began in San Juan, Puerto Rico following conclusion of the previous Judges' Table, which had ended with the elimination of Antonia Lofaso.

"There has never been a female Top Chef winner, so hopefully I will be the first one," said Stephanie.

The three remaining finalists met Top Chef judge and restaurateur Tom Colicchio and host Padma Lakshmi for their final challenge, and they were introduced to professional chefs April Bloomfield, Dan Barber and Eric Ripert. Tom explained that for the final challenge, each contestant would prepare a traditional four-course meal consisting of fish, poultry, meat and dessert dishes.

The three aforementioned professional chefs would be serving as sous chefs for the challenge. Since Richard and Stephanie both had four fourth-season elimination challenge victories to their credit, they drew knives to see who would pick which sous chef they wanted. Stephanie won and chose Eric, Richard picked Dan and Lisa got April.

The contestants would have three hours that day and four hours the following day before they'd have to serve their four-course meals head-to-head to nine dinner guests at a black-tie event.

All the chefs got to work and Lisa explained she wanted her courses to reflect her Thailand and Vietnamese cooking style, which she said she is naturally good at and wanted to showcase. Richard planned to use his Top Chef journey as the concept for his courses, with a mix of classic training and molecular gastronomy. Stephanie wanted to highlight her style, which she said was a well-balanced mix of different flavor combinations.

Richard quickly impressed April, Dan and Erik as he pulled out liquid nitrogen and gave an impromptu demonstration in molecular gastronomy.

"I think I just showed Eric Ripert something that he hasn't seen before," said Richard with slight amazement. "That's f**king cool."

Lisa and April got along really well and conversation flowed easily between the two, which surprised Stephanie since Lisa hadn't gotten along with any of the fourth-season contestants. The first day of work on their final courses then came to a close.

The next morning the three finalists arrived in the kitchen and were met by Tom, who revealed that they'd be without their sous chefs for the final four hours of preparation -- a move that obviously made the day a lot more difficult for the finalists.

Lisa was preparing grilled prawns, Tom Kha Gai soup and dumplings, Wagyu beef and black Thai rice pudding; Richard was preparing scallops, Guinea hen, foie gras and eggs, pork belly and banana "scallop" and bacon ice cream; while Stephanie was preparing seared red snapper, quail with lobster ravioli and quail eggs, lamb medallions and ricotta pound cake.

"All in all, all three menus sound great," commented Tom. "We're looking forward to a great meal."

With only a few hours remaining the contestants began to put the finishing touches on their dishes, however Stephanie was having doubts about her dessert because she had only made it once before.

"Stephanie's biggest weakness is the doubt that she puts on herself sometimes," said Lisa. "It's like, 'Stop doubting yourself! Be confident!'"

It was time for the chefs to present their meals. Joining Padma, Tom and fellow regular Top Chef judges -- Food & Wine magazine editor Gail Simmons and former Queer Eye food and wine expert Ted Allen -- for the dinner were April, Dan and Eric, as well as Delirio chef/owner Alfredo Ayala and Tim Zagat.

The chefs served their first course and Stephanie's red snapper was the most well-received.

"I think it's probably the best of the three," commented Alfredo.

"It was good. It was almost really good," added Tom.

All nine people at dinner gushed about Lisa's Tom Kha Gai soup and dumplings, and it was clearly the favorite in the second course.

"Lisa's soup was absolutely delicious," said Gail. "It was really well-balanced. I could eat a giant bowl of this and be completely satisfied."

"Lisa's was really very good," said Tim. "I probably would be happy to have seconds."

Both Richard's pork belly and Lisa's Wagyu beef received mixed reviews during the third course, while all of the diners were pleasantly surprised by Stephanie's use of mushrooms, braised pistachios, blackberries and olives on her lamb medallions.

"I thought she was going to crash and burn when I saw those olives," said Gail. "The second I put it in my mouth it was like a light bulb went on. I said, 'Oh, she's really thought about this.'"

"This is the first time I hear at the table everyone is using the words, 'I love,'" added Alfredo. "We haven't heard that yet."

"Richard's dish just needs work, Lisa's dish is just pedestrian, Stephanie's is full of surprises and it works," said Tom.

The desserts were then served, and both Lisa and Richard received rave reviews. However Stephanie's fears were realized when her ricotta pound cake wasn't very well-received.

"It was okay, but it was nothing special," said Tim.

With the dinner in the books, all of the diners discussed the meals.

"I think over the entire season -- over the last several months -- we've seen these chefs grow. We've come to know them," said Tom. "Richard is definitely more intellectual and out there. Lisa is sticking true to herself, what she likes to eat and what she likes to cook. Stephanie tends to have more of a homey spin on things. I think we have a very strong contrast of styles and flavors and I think it's going to be a very interesting Judge's Table."

Top Chef: Chicago's final Judges' Table then commenced.

For the first course, Padma thought Richard's scallops were under-seasoned and Tom agreed, calling them a "little bland." He thought Lisa was "very assertive" with her first course and she said it reflects her "spicy personality." Gail commented that Stephanie's first course was a "beautifully presented dish," and Ted and Padma agreed.

Gail thought Richard's second course "became kind of muddled," a general consensus amongst the judges. Ted said Lisa's was "virtually unanimous" as the favorite and "blew everybody away." Stephanie's dish was mostly complimented, however Tom said he couldn't understand why she used raw, crunchy leeks.

Richard's third course was criticized for the beef not being crispy enough, and he explained it was only seared because he wanted to keep the "integrity" of its flavor intact. Lisa said her beef was also "just barely seared" and Tom questioned that decision. Gail said the sweetness of the sauce used by Lisa threw-off the beef's taste. Stephanie's lamb was praised.

"I think it was one of the more creative things to happen all night," said Ted.

"This dish kind of reminded me why you should always keep a very open mind when you're eating," added Tom. "It was the last dish I tried. I thought it was full of surprises."

Richard and Lisa both received compliments for their desserts, and it became clear that the final course was obviously Stephanie's weakest.

"I had some issues with the dessert," said Tom to Stephanie. "It was a miss."

Stephanie admitted she "fell short" on the dessert and Lisa boasted about how she was confident in all of her courses. The same couldn't be said for Richard.

"I feel like I choked a little bit," he said. "I think I over thought things too much. I think when I'm at my best is when I'm not thinking. I think it certainly wasn't my top performance that I've had so far on the show."

The judges began to deliberate and Gail immediately expressed surprise at Richard's comment.

"In a sense, I agree with him," said Tom. "He made a few mistakes. When he says he chokes, he looks at the pork belly dish and knows that dish wasn't complete. I think we all agree that dish could have been better."

Tom quickly added Lisa and Stephanie also had "a few missteps" as well before the panel seemed to reach a decision after taking a poll on each dish.

Richard, Lisa and Stephanie then reconvened at the Judges' Table.

"This was a very, very tough decision -- very difficult to make," Tom told them. "In the end, we based our decision on which meal we would go back and like to have again."

Padma then revealed that Stephanie was the winner.

"I won Top Chef! Holy s**t! Really?" said Stephanie after her victory was revealed. "This is the biggest thing that's happened in my life. My life is about to change. It's going to be absolutely insane."

Bravo has already renewed Top Chef for a fifth season.

Lee McQueen named as The Apprentice UK Season 4

2008-06-14T17:02:00.003+03:00

Sir Alan Sugar announces his decision

Recruitment sales manager Lee McQueen has become Sir Alan Sugar's fourth Apprentice - despite having been caught lying on his CV earlier in the series.

McQueen, from Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, said he had to take "a deep breath" when the tycoon told him "you're hired" in the hit BBC show.

The 30-year-old beat three other hopefuls to land a £100,000 job alongside Sir Alan.

He said he would buy his girlfriend new shoes with his first pay cheque.

McQueen will begin work as Sir Alan's new apprentice on 1 July.

As well as planning to lease a new Porsche, he also said he wanted to help his mother get central heating in her flat.

"It's a terrible moment when you've got two great people and I have to make my mind up," said Sir Alan, who chose McQueen over runner-up and favourite Claire Young.

He called McQueen "a team player", adding that "he always seemed to give his all".

"He delivered every single time I asked him to do something," the Amstrad founder said.

Of Young, a retail buyer, who frequently clashed with Sir Alan in the boardroom, he said: "She's always got my help and assistance whenever she needs it."

Lee McQueen named as The Apprentice UK

Final showdown

The series pitches aspiring entrepreneurs to prove themselves in the world of business in the hope of winning a contract to work alongside Sir Alan.

McQueen was pitched against fellow hopefuls Young, Alex Wotherspoon and Helene Speight in a task to create a men's fragrance.

But Wotherspoon and Speight's efforts were not good enough for Sir Alan, who called McQueen and Young - a retail buyer nicknamed The Rottweiler - back for one final showdown.

Sir Alan told the pair: "Claire, you have some great attributes and Lee, you're very convincing. You are very, very, very convincing. I've concluded... Lee, you're hired."

"When I heard those words 'you're hired' it took a couple of seconds to sink in," McQueen said.

"What swung it for me was when I rolled off my record to Sir Alan. I've been a project manager three times, won three times and never been in the boardroom.

"Claire doesn't need anyone to feel sorry for her but I am gutted for her. I believed at some point that Sir Alan would choose her. She probably went through the biggest journey."

'Very emotional'

He added: "I'm a big softie and when we learnt we were the final two it was very emotional."

McQueen - who earned £78,000 last year - has been asked by Sir Alan to launch a digital advertising product which will come under one of the tycoon's "portfolio of companies".

He said he was "very ashamed" to have been caught lying on his CV in an episode when he was also hauled over the coals for his poor spelling.

"It lost me some of my integrity," he said.

"I got a good grilling and I deserved it, and I learned from my mistake. It won't happen again."

George Sampson's high-energy dance earns Britain's Got Talent victory

2008-06-13T22:49:00.002+03:00

ITV celebrates ratings triumph as 14.4 million viewers watch live talent-spotting programme.

More than 20 million viewers tuned in for the Saturday night battle of the talent shows as ITV celebrated a ratings triumph with the help of a breakdancing teenager.

George Sampson's victory in Britain's Got Talent was watched by 14.4million viewers, turning the live programme into the most watched entertainment show of the year.

The figure, 60 per cent of all Saturday night viewers, topped the 13.9million who tuned in to the first ITV Pop Idol final in 2002, when Will Young beat Gareth Gates.

The ITV1 show left I'd Do Anything, its BBC One rival, trailing. A peak of 7.3million viewers watched Jodie Prenger, 28, win the competition for the role of Nancy in a West End production of Oliver! Prenger, a size-14 singer from Blackpool, won the contest after benefiting from a public backlash against suggestions from Cameron Mackintosh, the musical producer, that she was “not right” for the part.

George, 14, from Warrington, beat nine other acts to take the £100,000 prize and will appear at the Royal Variety Performance. His high-energy dance routine to a version of Singing in the Rain, complete with a staged thunderstorm, won over the judges and garnered millions of viewers' votes. But agents and record companies are wasting no time in turning all the finalists, including Faryl Smith, a 12-year-old operatic singer, into star names. George, Faryl and Andrew Johnston, the 13-year-old singer who finished in third place, will headline a nationwide Britain's Got Talent tour beginning this Friday at Hammersmith Apollo in West London.

Britain's Got Talent George Sampson Wins

George, who is being guided by the public relations team that looks after Robbie Williams, will sit a mock GCSE music exam before joining the tour. The show's producers promised that the wellbeing of the child stars will be paramount as they embark on a taxing 13-date tour appearing before thousands of fans each night. Tutors will join the tour party to ensure that the children do not fall behind.

Grorge said that he plans to spend his money paying off the mortgage of his mother, Lesley, to thank her for paying for his dance lessons.

He said: “This is like the star on the Christmas tree. I've danced on many stages since being 6 but the Royal Variety is the biggest variety show of all time.”

He was less enthusiastic about his imminent exam. “I've not had much time to revise, but hopefully it should be OK.”

An ITV decision to schedule Britain's Got Talent nightly last week, building momentum for the final, helped it to overshadow Lord Lloyd-Webber's search for an actress. The audience figures for Doctor Who slumped as a result of the ITV competition. Britain's Got Talent, co-produced by Simon Cowell, averaged ten million viewers for each episode during the series, making it one of ITV's biggest successes.

The Times understands that 2.2million votes were cast during the Britain's Got Talent final, suggesting that viewers were less keen to participate than in previous shows. A total of 8.7million votes were cast during the 2002 Pop Idol final but since then ITV has admitted a series of deceptions carried out during telephone votes. George was the clear winner in the telephone poll, which raised £600,000 for the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund.

David Cook beats David Archuleta, crowned 'American Idol' champ

2008-05-22T23:40:00.003+03:00

David Cook took David Archuleta's Tuesday night "knockout" punch and came out a champ.

The 25-year-old from Blue Spings, MO who currently resides in Tulsa, OK was crowned American Idol's seventh-season winner during last night's live two-hour finale broadcast on Fox.

Cook won Idol's seventh-season title after host Ryan Seacrest said "97 and a half million" home viewer votes were cast immediately following Tuesday night's live performance broadcast that saw Archuleta and Cook each sing three songs.

Seacrest said Cook defeated Archuleta, a 17-year-old from Murray, UT, by a 56% to 44% home viewer voting margin, or roughly 12 million votes.

"I started this season -- much to [Simon Cowell's] chagrin -- as the word nerd, and I'm absolutely at a loss for words right now," said Cook after the results were revealed. "Thank you, you guys... This is amazing. Thank you."

David Cook beats David Archuleta, crowned American Idol cham

Cook joins original Idol Kelly Clarkson; second-season winner Ruben Studdard; third-season champ Fantasia Barrino; fourth-season winner Carrie Underwood; fifth-season champ Taylor Hicks; and sixth-season winner Jordin Sparks as the recipient of a management contract with Idol creator Simon Fuller's 19 Management and a recording contract with a division of Clive Davis' BMG Music Group.

While Cowell labeled Archuleta as the "one to beat" when the competition was still in the semifinal rounds, it became clear Cook was a force to be reckoned with as the season continued.

Cowell and fellow judge Randy Jackson went on the record as foreseeing an Archuleta vs. Cook finale when there were still eight finalists remaining and Cowell subsequently reiterated that claim when there were only four finalists remaining.

Cowell then predicted Cook would win the Idol crown during a Tuesday appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, however during that night's live performance episode he awarded all three rounds to Archuleta.

Jonas Brothers, David Archuleta One Republic Apologize Idol

"Tonight, I think we've witnessed one of the great finals," said Cowell at the conclusion of Tuesday night's broadcast. "In my opinion [Archuleta], you came out here tonight to win. What we have witnessed is a knockout."

But right before Seacrest revealed the results at the conclusion of last night's bloated finale, Cowell backed off his strong words from Tuesday.

"I went back home to watch it and it wasn't quite as clear-cut as we called it," he said. "[Cook], I will take this opportunity to apologize because I think I was verging on disrespectful with you and I don't think you deserve that. The thing I like about the both of you is you're triers. You've both given it your best, you're both very nice people, and for the first time ever, I don't really care who wins. I think you've both done terrific."

All of Idol's Top 12 seventh-season finalists participated in the finale, with the Top 6 males performing a medley with Bryan Adams and the Top 6 females performing a medley with Donna Summer.

The filler-filled broadcast also included a a video montage of the seventh-season Ford music video clips; Archuleta and Cook performing a duet; third-place finisher Syesha Mercado performing with Seal; fourth-place finisher Jason Castro singing "Hallelujah;" fifth-place finisher Brooke White performing with Graham Nash; and sixth-place finisher Carly Smithson and eighth-place finisher Michael Johns singing a duet.

Viewers also saw Archuleta and Cook each receive a new Ford Escape Hybrid; Jimmy Kimmel deliver a roast-style seventh-season review; Cook perform with ZZ Top; Archuleta perform with OneRepublic; live updates with Cook fans in Kansas City, MO and Archuleta aficionados in Salt Lake City, UT; Sparks sing "One Step at a Time; Underwood sing "Last Name;" live performances by both the Jonas Brothers and George Michael; and a live performance of Renaldo Lapuz singing "We're Brothers Forever," a tune he wrote and originally sang during his Dallas audition (mercifully there wasn't a 3rd Annual Golden Idols).

Thanks to the wonder of technology, Hollywood stars Jack Black, Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. also performed as The Pips with Gladys Knight during a 1972 performance of "Midnight Train to Georgia."

Jordin Sparks and Carrie Underwood American Idol Finale

Seacrest also put Tuesday night's vote total into perspective, stating that if "every single person" in Canada, Spain, Ireland and Australia had voted, it still wouldn't have matched the "97 and a half million" home viewer vote total.

"You didn't just break the record for the show, you smashed it by over 23 million," said Seacrest at the beginning of the broadcast.

The finale broadcast concluded with Cook singing "The Time of My Life," which was written by Regie Hamm and won Idol's seventh-season songwriting competition.

Zack & Stephanie Win Paradise Hotel 2’s ‘Grand Prize’

2008-05-22T23:31:00.003+03:00

After several weeks, several new guests and several twists and turns, Paradise Hotel 2 finally comes to a close. Tonight the final two couples of TD/Ryan and Stephanie/Zack faced off against the seven judges of Paradise to crown the winner. It all started off with a lengthy recap showing last weeks drama and how all four of those left in the finales were targeted and argued with someone. The next morning Stephanie and TD realized their actions were stupid and once again became friends. It seems this happened throughout the whole season once the hangover wore off.

The seven judges then convened to question the two couples and to see how they should vote. Mike and Krista both targeted TD as they blamed her for their demise the night before. Both got an answer they didn’t expect and that was TD apologizing and basically saying she didn’t push Ryan to vote them out but he agreed with her that was the move to make. James’ comment got a few jaws to drop as he asked Steph if she was “sleeping her way to the top” since she “crushed” with both finalists: Ryan and Zack. The said she didn’t but it just seemed to end up that way. Myrna’s question once again brought up Zack’s mention of why he would be mean to her. He told her it was done to make sure people didn’t believe the two were together. He said they all hated her so he had to hate her to “fit it”, she didn’t like that too much.

Paradise Hotel 2 Finale

The four were then given the chance to say one final statement to all voters. Zack was first and let them all know that he was loyal to everyone he gave his word to and everyone that gave their word was loyal to him. Stephanie was up first and gave a really good reason why people should vote for her and Zack. She let each of them know what she will take back with her and how they changed her since she entered the hotel. TD was next and gave a very tear filled speech as to why she played the game the way she did. She was right as she shouldn’t feel guilty that she is in the finals and that she shouldn’t feel guilty for speaking her mind and I think some of the judges were swayed by this. Ryan was last to go and actually had something to say. He only spoke to Krista and Mike, the two he hurt the most, and let them know he is sorry. He wasn’t asking for their vote but only asking them to forgive him.

That night it was then time to crown the winner and that the judges did. Each were asked to pick the couple they want to see win the grand prize and in a close vote of 4 - 3, Zack and Stephanie were crowned the winners of Paradise Hotel 2. Like the previous season the win came with a twist as TD and Ryan were given the power to crown only one winner between Stephanie and Zack. That winner would receive an envelope containing the prize. Although it seemed they would pick Stephanie, both decided to give Zack the title of winner of Paradise Hotel. He was then shocked with another twist that allowed him to split the money between himself and two others in any amount he chose. He was given $200,000 to either keep or he could split it between one or two other people from the judges and the other final players.

After some deliberation Zack made his chose and decided to split his prize money between both TD and Stephanie. He gave TD $20,000 and then split the remaining between himself and Stephanie evenly. This gave both Stephanie and Zack $90,000 each and also gave them the share in the win. That concludes Paradise Hotel 2 and the drama that came along with it. I was kind of surprised to see Zack win after coming back into the game for a third time and then so generously splitting his money. It was a great run for the show and hopefully it will be back for a third season. If you aren’t done with Paradise Hotel 2 yet you can catch the reunion on Fox Reality. Once I see it I’ll be sure to rehash all that went down!

Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas win 'Dancing with the Stars'

2008-05-22T23:26:00.003+03:00

Kristi Yamaguchi proved Maksim Chmerkovskiy wrong -- a woman can win Dancing with the Stars.

The Olympic gold medalist figure skater and her professional partner Mark Ballas were crowned Dancing with the Stars sixth-season ballroom champions during last night's live finale results show on ABC.

"I love it... This is just the icing on the cake," said Kristi after host Tom Bergeron revealed she was the sixth-season celebrity champion based on the combination of the judges' score shares for the dancers' Monday and Tuesday night performances and the share of home viewer votes cast immediately after Monday night's broadcast.

"I honestly from the bottom of my heart thank all the fans out there and everyone involved with Dancing with the Stars -- from the crew, hair and makeup -- everyone who's made this a dream experience."

Kristi became the first female celebrity to win the Dancing with the Stars title since Kelly Monaco and professional partner Alec Mazo did so during the show's initial Summer 2005 season.

"You did i

Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas win 'Dancing with the Stars

t! You flipped the curse!" exclaimed Tom after revealing the results.

Kristi and Mark took home Dancing with the Stars' mirror ball trophy after 10 weeks of competition, defeating NFL star Jason Taylor and his professional partner Edyta Slwiniska, who finished second, and telenovela actor Cristian de la Fuente and his professional partner Cheryl Burke. Kristi and Mark had been atop the judges leader board throughout most of the competition and never found themselves in the bottom two.

In addition, Kristi is the second Olympic athlete to take home the mirror ball trophy -- following in the footsteps of speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, who won the show's fourth-season title last spring with professional partner Julianne Hough.

The victory represents Mark's first mirror ball trophy. Last fall -- Mark's first season on the show -- he was unexpectedly eliminated from the competition with celebrity partner Sabrina Bryan, who had been considered to be one of the season's frontrunners.

"I want to say thank you to Kristi," said Mark after last night's victory. "Obviously, she's been the most amazing partner."

During Monday night's live performance episode Kristi and Mark received a 30 from the judges for both the cha-cha-cha face-off and their freestyle routine, giving them a perfect combined score of 60 out of 60 possible points.

Usher Performs in Dancing With A Star Finale

The score easily placed them atop the judges leaderboard -- as Jason and Edyta received a 24 for the cha-cha-cha face-off and a 27 for their freestyle routine, giving them a combined judges score of 51 out of 60 and placing them in third for the night.

Kristi and Mark and Jason and Edyta also performed their favorite sixth-season routine during last night's live results show -- with their scores contributing to their final combined judges score total but not being voted on by home viewers who had already voted based on Monday night's performances.

Kristi and Mark performed their Week 6 jive routine, for which they originally received the sixth-season's first perfect 30; while Jason and Edyta performed their Week 7 quickstep, for which they originally received a 29, their highest score of the competition.

However, both couples received perfect 30 scores from the judges for last night's performances, so they had a negligible affect on the competition's ultimate outcome.

Tom then revealed the results and awarded the sixth-season mirror ball trophy to Kristi and Mark, eliminating Jason and Edyta.

"I never, ever thought I would get to this point -- I never thought I would do the show -- and here I am today in the finals," said Jason after he was revealed to be the runner-up. "Kristi is so deserving and like she said, everyone's been so fantastic... Kristi very much deserved it and I had the time of my life."

Similar to last season's finale format, the couple who received the lowest score based on a combination of the judges' scores from Monday night's two routines and home viewer votes cast immediately following the broadcast was eliminated at the beginning of last night's broadcast.

That was Cristian and Cheryl, who had found themselves in between the other two couples on the judges' leaderboard following Monday night's broadcast.

The pair had received 52 out of 60 possible points for their two routines -- a 26 for both the cha-cha-cha face-off and for their freestyle routine. However both performances were hindered by Cristian's ruptured tendon, which he suffered several weeks ago. Despite needing surgery to repair the damage, Cristian ultimately decided to remain in the competition.

"I would of never had the feeling of going to the final after an injury if it wasn't for Cheryl and staying in this competition," said a somber Cristian after his ouster was revealed. "So I'm glad we made that decision."

Last night represented the third time Cheryl had made it to the Dancing with the Stars finale -- but also the first time she waltzed away empty handed, as she captured the show's second-season title with Drew Lachey and the third-season crown with Emmitt Smith.

"She's been the best partner I could have -- a real friend," said Cristian about Cheryl. "Not only a dance partner but a support when I really needed her. That I will never forget."

"Out of all my five seasons I've been on this show, it's not about winning," added Cheryl. "It's the journey you take and I've had one of the best times with Cristian. I love you and I'll miss you and your family so much."

Cristian plans to undergo surgery to repair his ruptured tendon on Friday.

Whitney Thompson wins 'America's Next Top Model,' first full-figured

2008-05-15T19:59:00.002+03:00

Whitney Thompson is the first girl with curves to win America's Next Top Model.

The 20-year-old student from Atlantic Beach, FL became the first full-figured model to win Top Model, as she was crowned the reality competition series' tenth-season champ during last night's finale broadcast on The CW.

"There's definitely times I've looked in the mirror or at other girls and thought that I wasn't like them -- always being judged and thinking, 'Am I different? Is there something wrong with me?'" said Whitney after her victory.

"No. I do feel good about myself and I want other women in America to feel good about themselves. I honestly think that girls will look up to me and say, 'I can do that. I can be that. I don't have to starve. I don't have to have plastic surgery. I can really be like that. I can be on the billboard. I can be on that magazine cover. Why? Because I'm beautiful -- on the inside out.' I have breasts, I have hips, I have a butt -- and I am so proud of those things. I am here and I am me. I'm not going to change myself."

For winning Top Model's tenth season, Whitney claimed the grand prize package of a management deal with Elite Model Management; a $100,000 contract with cosmetics company CoverGirl; and a cover story and six-page fashion spread in an issue of Seventeen magazine.

"It feels amazing to be America's Next Top Model," added Whitney. "This is exactly what I want. This is exactly everything that I ever wanted since I was a little girl."

Anya Kop, a 19-year-old in retail sales from Honolulu, HI, finished second.

"I'm going to go back home and I'm going to cry," said Anya. "I'm proud of myself. I may not be America's Next Top Model, but I have my whole career ahead of me."

Whitney Thompson wins 'America's Next Top Model,' first full

Top Model's tenth-season finale began following the previous judging panel that saw the elimination of Dominique Reighard. The three remaining contestants then received Tyra Mail that contained their lines for an upcoming CoverGirl commercial shoot.

"At least it's in English," said Whitney, referencing a previous tenth-season CoverGirl commercial shoot where the girls had to deliver their lines in Italian.

The next day the girls met Top Model art director Jay Manuel at The Colosseum, where they would film a CoverGirl television commercial and also participate in a photo shoot for a print ad. In addition, Jay told them that the winner would have her CoverGirl photo on a Times Square billboard. Top Model ninth-season winner Saleisha Stowers then met the girls and dispensed some advice as they had their hair and makeup done.

Fatima Siad, a 22-year-old student from Boston, MA, was the first to film her commercial, and she was "excited."

"I know I'm gonna do well," she boasted.

While Jay was "very impressed" Fatima was able to memorize her CoverGirl commercial lines, she was delivering them way too quickly and they weren't making sense.

"Fatima just kept running all the lines together and it just sounded a bit robotic," he opined. "Her looking so perfect coupled with her being robotic made her look a little not human."

Whitney did much better than Fatima, and while Anya had some problems with her lines, Jay thought her "wonderful energy" saved the commercial. The three girls then had their CoverGirl print ads shot by photographer Jim De Yonker.

"I want this so bad," said Fatima after the shoot was complete. "I just feel like I have it. I really feel like America's Next Top Model. I want the judges to see it."

Top Model's penultimate tenth-season panel then commenced, where the girls would be judged by Top Model creator and lead judge Tyra Banks; photographer Nigel; runway expert J. "Ms. J" Alexander; and supermodel Paulina Porizkova.

Tyra thought Whitney was "directable" in her commercial shoot, and Paulina added it had the vibe of a "Miss America competition." As for her photo, Ms. J. thought Whitney looked "very pretty" and Nigel added it had a "vintage" quality to it. Tyra commented the photo was "absolutely stellar."

The judges then watched Fatima's commercial.

"If that was a toothpaste ad, that would be fantastic," commented Nigel, not exactly a glowing review.

Paulina echoed Jay's on-set criticism that Fatima talked too fast. While Nigel thought Fatima looked "stunning" in her photo, Paulina had a problem with the way her eyes were positioned.

Tyra commented Anya's commercial was "the biggest train wreck in the world" but added it was the "best commercial" because of Anya's energy. Paulina agreed that Anya came across as "convincing and honest," and Nigel called her "naturally charming." Tyra thought Anya's photo was "commercial" but still had an "edge" to it.

Before the judges began to deliberate, Tyra revealed that the two finalists would be competing in a runway fashion show while wearing designs handpicked by Donatella Versace. The judges then deliberated.

"Fatima wants this so much that it's taking control of her," commented Nigel.

Paulina thought Fatima made a "wonderful print model."

"I love that [Fatima] has struggled and gone through such cruel things that a lot of us in American could never even imagine or fathom," said Tyra, as Fatima was a victim of genital mutilation. "She stands before us with pride and is not a victim."

The judges then revealed that Anya and Whitney would be the two tenth-season finalists as Fatima was given the boot.

"I feel like I've accomplished so much," said Fatima after her ouster. "I've made history. I'm the first Somali refugee woman to be a part of America's Next Top Model. Hopefully I'll be a role model for a lot of young women, especially East African women. They can look at me and say, 'Wow! Look at her, she went out there. She did her thing.' I feel like I'm born again. I just have to let go of everything that ever happened to me and start all over again. I feel so new, I feel so beautiful, I feel so strong... Trust me, you will not forget about me. You will see this face."

Anya and Whitney then returned to their Roman apartment.

"My entire life, I've grown up with a bunch of mean girls picking on me all the time -- the back-handed compliments, 'Oh my gosh! You don't even look that fat!'" said Whitney, who had an emotional moment during the previous panel. "I've got a tough skin from that, which is the only reason I can stand here and be confident in being a plus-sized model in a house full of little toothpicks."

The next day the girls met Seventeen magazine editor-in-chief Ann Shoket for their Seventeen photo shoot, with Nigel serving as the photographer. The winner of Top Model would receive a six-page spread in Seventeen's July issue and also appear on the cover.

Anya and Whitney then arrived for their Roman runway show, where they were met by Jay and Ms. J. Since it was a real runway fashion show, the girls would be walking with other models -- including Saleisha.

With both girls nervous, the show commenced. Both girls executed their first time on the runway fairly flawlessly, however Whitney had her heel get tangled up in her second gown while Anya had a hard time walking in her second gown since it was constricting the movement of her feet. After the show was over, Tyra went backstage and said she was "proud" of both Anya and Whitney.

Top Model's final tenth-season panel then commence.

"You didn't bring it as strong as you could have, you didn't bring it as strong as you should have," commented Ms. J about Anya.

Paulina said "to be fair," Anya's dress was "very narrow" at the bottom. Ms. J wasn't buying it, and said "there was a way to move the body to make it look elegant."

"You're just so stunning on that runway. The camera loves your face, the light loves your face," added Tyra.

Ms. J thought Whitney nailed the runway show right off the bat, while Nigel said he wasn't a big fan of her first outfit.

"That being said, you saved yourself with your second walk," he added.

Tyra said Whitney reminded her of herself on the runway and added she did a "great job," but gave her the slight criticism that she didn't pose at the end of the runway to give photographers a good shot.

In addition, the judges evaluated Anya and Whitney's photos from the previous tenth-season shoots before deliberating their decision.

Whitney was then revealed to be Top Model's tenth-season champ.

"This should not be called plus-size or full-figured," said Paulina. "This should just be called beautiful."

'Bachelor' star Matt Grant proposes to Shayne Lamas, rejects Chelsea

2008-05-14T19:42:00.003+03:00

The Bachelor: London Calling star Matt Grant presented his final rose and a marriage proposal to Shayne Lamas -- and she accepted both during last night's finale broadcast of the ABC reality dating series' twelfth installment.

The 27-year-old British financier awarded his heart to the 22-year-old actress from Malibu, CA instead of Chelsea Wanstrath, a 24-year-old pharmaceutical sales representative from Durango, CO who became the final bachelorette to be rejected by The Bachelor's first-ever international star.

"This is the happiest day of my life," said Shayne at the broadcast's conclusion.

The Bachelor: London Calling's finale began with Matt in London meeting Chelsea before introducing her to his mother Trish, his father Tony, and his brother Simon.

"There hasn't been a straight forward journey for Chelsea and I," said Matt. "I've been questioning whether or not she's really into me."

Chelsea was excited to see Matt and be in London, since if he gave her the final rose she might be relocating there. She said she was "nervous" and "intimidated" to meet the family.

"My relationship with Matt has gotten so much more intense," said Chelsea. "The stakes are really high right now."

Chelsea gushed about Matt over dinner. Simon thought Chelsea was "charming" and "incredibly beautiful," while Trish thought she was "doing a very good selling job."

"But I don't know her well enough to know whether that was genuine or not," added Trish. "She's got to convince me hasn't she? Very difficult situation for her to be in."

'Bachelor' star Matt Grant proposes to Shayne Lamas, rejects

Chelsea explained to Matt's mom she was falling more in love with him every minute but was having a hard time opening up to him.

"It's not something I wanted but it's so hard not to because you're deathly afraid this person is going to break your heart," said Chelsea. "But I need to make myself vulnerable and open."

Trish said she could see Matt and Chelsea have a "very good relationship" and her son acted like himself around her. Matt then talked to his mom about Chelsea, and she told him that Chelsea needed to be more vulnerable.

"I'm not prepared to pick somebody if I'm not sure they're feeling a 100% like I am," Matt told mom.

Chelsea then said goodbye to the family before Matt walked her out.

"It's safe to say that I feel like I could be a part of the Grant family," she said. "Everything went better than I could have ever planned."

The next day Matt met with Shayne, whom he said had an "uphill struggle" since Chelsea did so well the previous day. Matt and Shayne took a double-decker bus tour of London before going to his parents' house.

"The second the bus pulled up, I was nervous," said Shayne. "I am absolutely shaking in my boots, but I'm falling in love with their son, so I have absolutely nothing to hide."

Shayne immediately opined about being unable to go shopping while on the tour.

"When I first saw Shayne I thought, 'Wow, beach blonde hair...'" said Simon. "To be honest, I didn't think she was very 'Matt' at all."

Tony asked Shayne how old she was and she joked she was 12 before giving her real age. She then talked about her career as an actress and how it was tough for Matt to get used to it, and the family seemed to eventually open up.

"I feel like I gave Shayne a really hard time today," said Simon. "But to be fair, she came across really well."

He then told Shayne she "grew" on him during dinner and he was happy she opened up.

"In two days, you could be engaged to be married to him," Simon told her. "Does that freak you out?"

"No," she answered. "It freaks me out knowing that in two days I could lose him."

Trish told Shayne from the moment she met her she felt "at ease" before asking what she's looking for in a husband.

"Matthew's got a very difficult decision," said Trish. "I think he's very, very fond of both Shayne and Chelsea. I don't know which way he's going to go."

Shayne said goodbye to Matt's family.

"I really had a beautiful time meeting them," she said. "It was beyond my expectations. If it's not Matt and I at the end, I'm going to be crushed."

Matt then conversed with his family and said he feels the "most at ease" with Shayne but thought there might be "more passion" with Chelsea.

"My gut instinct was that Shayne was more sincere than Chelsea," said Trish, but Simon disagreed and said he could imagine his brother being more with Chelsea. Dad sided with mom that Shayne was the one for their son.

"What you've got to realize is the final decision is yours," said Mom.

Next it was off to Barbados for a final date with each of the girls before the final Rose Ceremony. Matt took Chelsea on a helicopter ride around the coast of Barbados and they subsequently settled on a sandy beach for a picnic.

"I think you and I leaving this place would have a great future together," Chelsea told him before he held her in the surf and they kissed.

Chelsea wanted to share a piece of her heart with Matt on their last night before the Rose Ceremony, and she gave him a California survival kit that contained items representative of their future together. She explained she gave Matt the "Chelsea brochure" throughout their six weeks together that was metaphorical on two sides -- it showed different sides of her and also took a while to unfold.

"My whole thing is... so I'm falling in love with you. Absolutely, 100%" she told Matt. "But I don't feel like you can truly love somebody unless they have the capacity of loving you back."

"I'm falling in love with you as well," he replied. "You know that."

They then kissed and she urged him not have fun with Shayne the next day.

"Without a doubt I'm falling in love with Chelsea," said Matt. "She's everything I ever wanted. She's incredible, she's absolutely incredible. I hope we can get through this together."

The next day Matt met with Shayne for their final date before the Rose Ceremony. Matt said he has "so much fun" with Shayne and described her as a "monkey" when they cuddle.

"Today is very serious," said Shayne. "I will definitely show my feelings today and why I want to be with him for the rest of my life."

The two then went parasailing and Shayne took time to reflect.

"I want Matt forever. I love him," she said in a confessional. "I'm just ready."

That night she gave him a gift -- photos of her spelling out "I love you" in beach sand. Matt thought the gift was "so sweet" and said it melted his heart.

"I knew that was so hard for her to do," said Matt on the gesture. "How big a jump she has taken. I was really touched."

Matt then told Shayne he's "falling in love" with her, and she said the same about him.

"I haven't made my decision yet," said Matt as he said goodbye to Shayne for the night. "I'm coming out of today completely confused and perplexed at what decision I'm going to make. I never regret, so I know when I do make it, that is it. Now I've got to make it."

The morning of the final Rose Ceremony, Matt looked at some "amazing" Tacori engagement rings and found one he was wowed by.

"I've never been this nervous, I've never been this apprehensive," he said. "I never thought I'd fall in love with two women... I never thought I would so emotionally attached to two people. I'm going to have to say goodbye to one of them at the end, and regardless of what decision I make, somebody is going to get hurt. I just thought to myself who out of these two women can I see as a life-long partner. It was quite clear to me."

The Bachelor: London Calling's final Rose Ceremony then commenced in Barbados, and Chelsea was the first girl to exit the limousine and approach Matt.

"There's still a chance I could get my heart broken," she said. "I'm really, really hoping that Matt chooses me... At the end of all this I would be so thrilled and so honored to have Matt propose to me. I just don't see myself without him. I really don't."

Matt greeted Chelsea with a kiss and explained he never thought he would meet someone like her and he found himself falling for her when they went on the group date to Las Vegas. Since then, he said they got "so close" and "shard some amazing times." But...

"I've come here to find my life-long partner, as I know you have as well," he told her. "And when I think about that long and hard, I'm thinking I can't give you everything that you need. My only buts with you are the fact that it has taken us a long time. It's been a tough journey, and at times, I've felt so much for you. This doesn't take away from the fact that I found myself falling in love with you."

Chelsea cried and said she had no regrets about her experience.

"I just find it so hard to think that I would have fallen for someone unless they were falling for me..." she told Matt.

"I was falling for you," he replied.

"I felt like I got the reassurance and the okay from you to open up. I was genuine about everything I said because it took me longer..." she said. "Know that although it took me a while, I've met everything I've said. I guess I was just too late..."

"At times I thought you were the one. Many times," he said before wishing Chelsea the best and sending her on her way.

"I don't understand!" an increasingly upset Chelsea blurted out to Matt about Shayne. "To me she was the falsest person here!"

"You know what? She isn't," Matt answered sharply. "The individual that I know is fairly different from the individual you know."

Chelsea then said goodbye and was whisked away.

"It's the hardest thing," said Chelsea from the back of the limousine. "You feel like you just admitted to yourself how much you love somebody and want to spend a future with him and my relationships have been let down after let down after let down. It bothers me that I was so sincere and I feel like I was maybe too honest with him... He's a fool. He is a fool."

Matt said the only way he was able to get through rejecting Chelsea was knowing that he had meeting Shayne to look forward to, and he was excited at the prospects of proposing.

"I know that she will always be there for me," he said.

As she prepared to meet Matt, Shayne said she was "nervous and sad and scared and very anxious and a little worried."

"What an amazing way to fall in love, "she said. "Matt holds every single quality that I want in a husband and somebody that I want to spend the rest of my life with. I've given Matt everything I could and if I lose him I would be heartbroken."

Once Shayne arrived, Matt explained he first thought Shayne was "too good to be true" and eventually learned she was there to "find someone for life."

"I know when I look in those beautiful brown eyes that you'd always be there for me," he said. "I hope that you know that I'll always be there for you. I don't have much more to say..."

Matt then got on bended knee.

"Give me your hand," he asked. "Shayne Lamas. I love you..."

"I love you!" she replied.

"I have something for you," he said. "Monkey... Will you marry me?"

"Yes" she answered. "Matt, I love you!"

The two hugged.

"Okay, I have one thing to tell you," said Shayne. "I will marry you under one condition -- that you will never look at another woman for the rest of our lives. Because you have looked at way too many during our relationship."

"I promise you," he said.

Matt then presented Shayne the final rose.

Matt's proposal to Shayne and her acceptance of it marked only the second time in its last six seasons and just the third time in its last nine editions that a The Bachelor edition ended with its bachelor proposing to his final bachelorette.

Parvati Shallow wins 'Survivor: Micronesia,' defeats Amanda Kimmel

2008-05-12T20:19:00.004+03:00

Parvati Shallow was more than just the flirt this time around.

She organized the all-female "Black Widow Brigade" responsible for blindsiding several of the stronger male castaways before winning Survivor: Micronesia Fans vs. Favorites during last night's finale of broadcast of the long-running CBS reality series' sixteenth edition.

The 25-year-old former Survivor: Cook Islands castaway from Los Angeles, CA claimed Survivor: Micronesia's $1 million grand prize during the live portion of last night's finale broadcast from New York City.

"I wasn't going to start playing in the beginning. I was going to fly under the radar and play the flirt and let everyone underestimate me," Parvati said after she was revealed to be the winner. "[But Jonathan Penner] outed me and said, 'This girl's a threat! We've got to get rid of her!' I was like, 'Okay. I've got to start playing.' I got my head in the game and started making moves."

Parvati defeated former Survivor: China castaway Amanda Kimmel by a 5-3 margin during the final Tribal Council jury vote. The finale marked first time since Survivor: Panama, the show's twelfth season, that a Survivor edition had ended with a Final 2 instead of a Final 3.

Parvati Shallow wins 'Survivor: Micronesia,' defeats Amanda

Survivor: Micronesia's finale broadcast began at the Dabu camp with Parvati, Amanda, former Survivor: Panama castaway Cirie Fields and Natalie Bolton celebrating being the show's first ever all-female Final 4, which they were able to achieve by convincing Erik Reichenbach to give-up the Individual Immunity Idol at the previous Tribal Council.

The next morning, the "Black Widow Brigade" continued to bask in the fact that they were able to eliminate all the guys while Natalie was surprised and happy to be the only remaining Fan.

"I definitely made a personal bond and connection with Parvati," added Natalie. "I think Parvati is an ally for me in this game."

The girls then received some Tree Mail, and were unsure if it would be a Reward or Individual Immunity Challenge.

"We're thinking that winning this challenge is pretty much guaranteed Final 3," aid Cirie. "So we have to beat Natalie."

Amanda, Cirie, Natalie and Parvati then arrived for Survivor: Micronesia's sixth Individual Immunity Challenge, and host Jeff Probst explained the rules.

Each castaway would start on a very small perch at the top of a 20-foot pole in the water. Using a bucket with several holes in it, they'd each gather water, which they would then pour into bamboo shoot. As the water filled up the shoot, it would raise a set of keys.

Once the keys were reachable, the castaways had to unhook them, jump in the water and swim to shore -- where they'd each unlock a chest containing 16 individually shaped latter rungs. The first castaway to correctly assemble her ladder and raise her flag would win Individual Immunity.

The challenge commenced and Natalie and Parvati got off to quick starts, as Natalie grabbed an early lead swimming to shore. Both opened their chests just as Amanda and Cirie grabbed their keys and began to swim to shore.

Natalie was the first to begin assembling her ladder but the other girls quickly caught up to her and Amanda eventually started to pull away. She subsequently completed the ladder and raised her flag to win Immunity.

"I made Final 3! I can't believe it," Amanda told the cameras later. "I'm ecstatic. That's twice in a row. This time I played my game so different and I feel so much better about it."

Meanwhile Natalie opined being the "low woman on the totem pole," but vowed to "explore all [her] options" before Tribal Council. She planned to be "calm, cool and collective."

"There's a way to weasel in and communicate with them in a way that may seem reasonable," said Natalie, who planned to appeal to Parvati as a last chance by explaining that Cirie is a bigger jury-vote threat.

Amanda and Parvati discussed who they would vote for, and Amanda thought Natalie "definitely deserved to be here" because she played a better game than Cirie.

"I don't who I'm voting for tonight," said Amanda.

Natalie then told Parvati about Cirie being a bigger jury-vote threat.

"I love Natalie to death and I think she's a lesser threat as far as jury votes than Cirie," said Parvati in a confessional. "Now the time has come where I could switch it up now and then we have our biggest jury threat out of the game."

Cirie was aware she might be booted.

"I could be going home tonight," she said. "They could of made a deal with Natalie."

The four women then arrived for Survivor: Micronesia's fourteenth Tribal Council, and the jury members --Eliza Orlins, Ozzy Lusth, Jason Siska, Alexis Jones, James Clement and Erik -- entered. Natalie gushed how Erik's blindside went down "seamlessly" before Jeff asked what she expected to happen with the impending vote.

"I think at this point the four of us respect each other enough that I don't think that there would be a blindside," said Natalie, a comment that made Jeff and the jury look a bit surprised. "I would pray for a blindside on some levels because now it would actually benefit me better than all the other four."

Amanda and Parvati said they were surprised by Natalie's comment and Jeff asked if they had just been assuming that there would be a Final 3 instead of a Final 2.

"No one here -- I think I can honestly say -- is expecting a Final 2," answered Amanda. "At this point in the game, it would take us for another whirlwind."

"It is nerve-racking to think that it could be a Final 2 because that makes me feel like -- once again -- I'm on the bottom of the alliance," said Cirie. "Which is not a good place to be Jeff."

Amanda then interjected and asked Cirie when she began to think she was on the bottom of the alliance.

"From the five -- when I started with you, Ozzy, James and Parvati -- basically it's unspoken that I'm on the bottom," Cirie answered, adding it was "obvious" she was also at the bottom when it came to her alliance with Amanda and Parvati. "Not one person in any alliance has ever said, 'I won't vote for Cirie'... So that clearly places me at the bottom of the alliance. I would be foolish not to think that."

Natalie said she saw the bickering as an "opportunity."

"I'm just letting them duke it out and may the best woman win," she said.

However Amanda and Parvati stuck to their alliance with Cirie and all three women voted for Natalie -- who became the seventeenth castaway eliminated from the competition.

"I have to say that I'm pretty happy with the way I played the game," said Natalie after Jeff snuffed her torch. "I was the last Fan standing, and I feel proud of the group of girls that I finished with. I respect the way that you guys played the game with me and I thank you."

Back at camp, Amanda accused Cirie of trying to make she and Parvati look "awful." Amanda and Cirie continued to argue about Cirie being on the bottom of the alliance, with Amanda mostly upset about Cirie mentioning it in-front of the jury.

"If you were me, what would you feel?" asked Cirie as her voice begin to raise. "And because I said it out loud, you're upset?"

She reiterated she's been at the bottom of "every single alliance" and Amanda continued to insist she didn't understand.

"I can't explain it anymore," said Cirie.

"It makes sense," added Parvati, agreeing with Cirie.

Amanda then "broke down" and cooler heads prevailed as the three girls hugged and apologized.

"I feel like I've been doing this forever," said a tearful Amanda. "Straight from China and I come here and I just can't take it."

Amanda told Parvati and Cirie she "almost lost it" when Jeff mentioned there "might be a Final 2."

"There's no way that it would be a Final 2," assured Parvati, although Cirie wasn't so sure.

"It would just break my heart to find out it would be a Final 2," said Cirie.

The next morning the girls let "Gloria" -- their final chicken -- go in the wild. Instead she immediately made a nest at camp to lay an egg.

They then retrieved some Tree Mail, which informed them they'd be remembering Survivor: Micronesia's 17 previously booted castaways via the game's traditional "Fallen Comrades" journey before going to their final Individual Immunity Challenge -- meaning there would be a Final 2.

"It's like when is it going to end. There's only so much you can take," said Amanda. "I am so tight with these girls. This just sucks completely."

Cirie saw a Final 2 instead of a Final 3 as "almost poetic."

"We've been blindsiding people left and right, and essentially we got blindsided," she added. "We thought we had it made. I guess what goes around comes around."

Once the "Fallen Comrades" journey was complete, the Final 3 met for Survivor: Micronesia's seventh and final Individual Immunity Challenge, where Jeff explained the rules.

Each castaway would have a long, wooden cylinder that had been cut into several pieces. In the center was slot, which would hold a metal ball. On Jeff's go, the castaways would pickup the first pieces and balance the ball. Every five minutes, the castaways would have to add pieces to their cylinder, making it longer and more difficult to hold onto.

The castaway able to keep their metal ball from falling the longest would win Individual Immunity at the impending Tribal Council and decide who would sit next to her in the Final 2.

The challenge commenced and all three castaways easily survived the first two rounds. However Parvati dropped her ball during the third round, which both Cirie and Amanda were able to survive.

The fourth round began -- with Amanda holding her cylinder underhand and Cirie going overhand -- and both survived to make it to the fifth round, which would last until somebody dropped her ball. Cirie lost her concentration, dropped her ball and Amanda claimed Individual Immunity for the second time in a row -- receiving a spot in the Final 2.

Back at the Dabu camp, Amanda called deciding between Cirie and Parvati as the "hardest decision" she's had to make in the game so far. Cirie opined her defeat in the challenge.

"Unfortunately Amanda won. Since Parvati and Amanda are so buddy-buddy, unless something happens, I'm probably going home tonight," she said.

Parvati said she was "fairly confident" Amanda would take her to the Final 2.

"We've had an alliance since Day 1 out here," she said. "We also have a really tight relationship that's developed over the course of this game. So I'm not worried about it, really."

Somewhat stupidly, Parvati then told Amanda she thought Cirie "pissed way more" jury members off than she did -- which placed a seed of doubt in Amanda's mind about taking Parvati. Amanda went to talk with Cirie.

"I feel like your best shot with the jury is taking me over Parvati," Cirie told her. "Every person she's screwed over, I've screwed over. We did everything together. Every blindside we orchestrated together -- most of them I did most of the talking for."

Amanda agreed, but said she was still nervous of having Cirie in the Final 2 since she's one of those people who can "talk their way in or out of anything they want."

"Cirie has pissed a lot of people off on the jury -- probably more than Parvati," said Amanda. "But Cirie is a hell of a speaker. She can convince anyone to do anything. In the final Tribal Council, if she can convince the jury -- that's $1 million. So it's kind of a catch 22. Making this decision tonight is killing me. You kind of have to just go with how you feel, your gut feeling. But I know that this decision could cost me $1 million."

Survivor: Micronesia's penultimate Tribal Council then commenced and the jury entered. Amanda described winning Immunity as a "blessing and a curse" because it gave her a "hard, hard decision." Cirie said she believed it was a difficult decision for Amanda since the three of them had been together since Day 1.

"I honestly don't envy Amanda's position at all right now," added Parvati. "I don't think it's going to be an easy decision."

Amanda said picking between Parvati and Cirie was a "toss-up" and got emotional about the impending choice.

"I feel like either way it's a lose-lose situation for me at this point," said Amanda. "I know that this vote tonight is going to hurt someone's feelings. I'm just having a hard time with that."

Amanda then cast the Tribal Council's lone vote for Cirie, who became the eighteenth castaway eliminated from the competition.

"Here I am again, coming up just short," said Cirie, who finished fourth during Panama. "I tried my hardest. It just wasn't meant to be."

The next morning Amanda and Parvati both expressed excitement about being in the Final 2 and being able to go home that night. They received a breakfast basket and celebrated their accomplishment, which both said was the biggest of their life so far.

"I think it's interesting that me and Parvati are in the end of this game together because we have played completely different games," said Amanda. "I think I have played this game loyal to my alliances, and Parvati pretty much did anything she needed to do to take control. Because of that, a lot of people on the jury don't like her. That could be a benefit for me."

"I really honestly feel so relaxed going into this final Tribal Council," said Parvati. "I feel like I've played a game that's been very true to myself. I don't feel like I could have played this game better. My game was a lot more aggressive than Amanda's game -- it was a lot more cutthroat and more cold blooded. I was playing this to win. I think my strongest point that I an make tonight is standing up and owning that I have been a powerful, controlling player throughout the duration of this game."

Survivor: Micronesia's final Tribal Council then commenced. Jeff explained that Amanda and Parvati would each make an opening statement before each of the eight jury members would have the opportunity to either ask a question or make a statement of their own.

Amanda said she entered the competition wanting to "play a loyal game" and "fight physically, strategically and mentally to the end," and thanked the jury for helping her get to the Final 2.

Parvati said she had a reputation as "the flirt" from Cook Islands and had to "play so much differently" in Micronesia -- which included her being more aggressive and making "bold power plays." She assured the jury "honest answers."

Eliza commended both for playing "great strategic games" but added she had no idea who she'd be voting for. However she said she'd "have a lot of difficulty" giving Parvati the $1 million because she "might just be a mean person." In addition, Eliza accused Amanda of being "superficial."

Jason then asked Amanda if they would have told her about their plan to blindside Ozzy before it happened, would she have warned him.

"Yes," she answered.

Jason then asked Parvati about what some of her "redeeming qualities" were in the game since he saw her as "manipulative." She said she was "very protective" of her alliance with Cirie and Amanda and was loyal to them all the way to the end.

Alexis asked Parvati what makes her a better role model for young girls, and Parvati answered she's "more independent" than Amanda.

"Amanda, I have seen a bunch of Oscar Award-winning performances," said Alexis. "We couldn't help but be laughing when you were crying about sending Cirie home... I think you cried wolf so many times that, what about -- if any -- part of your game has been genuine?"

Amanda answered that crying about booting Cirie was "genuine."

"I didn't come here trying to get sympathy votes. I don't want sympathy votes," she added.

Natalie said both Amanda and Parvati have her "respect" and asked Parvati how being a flirt "resonates in the bedroom." The jury laughed at the odd question, and Natalie explained she was asking if Parvati being a flirt was one of her real-life qualities or something strategic for the game. Parvati said she flirts with both guys and girls at home and often uses it to get what she wants.

"It is an old standby, I'm not going to lie," answered Parvati.

Natalie then accused Amanda of always having a "glazed-over look" on her face and asked if that was a strategy or who she really is a person. Amanda said she's a "strong woman" who "definitely has substance" and came into the game to compete with the guys, which she felt she was able to do.

Erik said he would have been "100%" voting for Amanda and saw her as a "big sister" until she had harsh words for him at the two Tribal Councils leading up to his ouster, which he said left him feeling "totally burned" and "thrown under the bus." He asked her on what basis she had to judge him?

"Everything I said in Tribal Council was honest," she answered. "You were un-loyal to me and you tried to get me voted out and I was hurt. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."

Erik didn't believe the apology and called "too little too late."

James said he felt Amanda already had the jury vote "in the bag" and added he thought Parvati fed him a "bunch of fluff" after Ozzy was blindsided and asked her to be honest.

"There was no chance for me to win this game if I stuck with you and if I stuck with Oz," she answered. "I felt like I had to make that move when I made it. It also gave me a lot of control, and that's what I wanted."

Cirie asked Amanda "why Parveti deserves a $1 million more than I do." Rather than turn the question into an explanation of how she'd deemed Cirie to be the bigger threat, Amanda instead said that Parvati had "played a very aggressive, bold game" and earned her respect by standying by her throughout the entire game. Amanda added while she also respected Cirie, Parvati made "bolder decisions" and was "kind of the powerhouse" in making those decisions happen. Neither response seemed to go over well with either Cirie or the jury.

Parvati then said Cirie played a "pretty brilliant" game that was a little more under the radar than her own. In addition, Parvati said it would have been difficult for either her or Amanda to compete for the jury's vote against Cirie because she has three children.

Ozzy was the last jury member to face Amanda and Parvati. He said he was "hurt" by Parvati's "great move" to blindside him.

"I never in a million years thought that you could do that to me," he said. "You put a price on our friendship. You threw us away like garbage. It hurts. It really does hurt. How can you say you're a role model when you're willing to discard a valuable friendship like that."

Ozzy didn't even give Parvati a chance to talk.

"Honestly the hardest part for me was the fact that you took away 14 days that I could have spent with Amanda," continued Ozzy to Parvati, adding he was never faking his feelings for Amanda.

"I honestly feel like I started to fall in love with you. I'm glad I didn't win Cook Islands so that I could be here and meet you."

The eight jury members then cast their votes, with Parvati winning by the aforementioned margin.

During the subsequent live reunion show, Jeff revealed James had won the "Survivor of the Season" text message/cbs.com vote that allowed home viewers to award $100,000 to one of the season's castaways. James had also won Survivor: China's "Survivor of the Season" $100,000 prize.

In addition, Jeff also confirmed recent online rumors that Survivor's Fall 2008 seventeenth season will be set in Gabon, a west-central African country along the equator that borders Guinea, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo and the Gulf of Guinea.

Jack Chambers wins So You Think You Can Dance Australia

2008-04-29T21:25:00.004+03:00

JACK Chambers hotfooted his way to being crowned Australia's first So You Think You Can Dance winner last night after shining during three months of intense competition.

The Brisbane funk/hip-hop dancer claimed victory over fellow contestant Rhys Bobridge, Kate Wormald and Demi Sorono to secure the title of Australia's favourite dancer at CarriageWorks in Redfern.

Jack Chambers wins So You Think You Can Dance Australia

"I just want to say thank you very much. I'm so glad that dance ... has been put on the map and I have guys coming up to me in the street saying they are taking dancing lessons, which is amazing," the 19-year-old said.

He pocketed $200,000 in prize money and tuition at Hollywood's top dance studio.

As host Natalie Bassingthwaighte read out the verdict, judges Bonnie Lythgoe, Jason Coleman and Matt Lee punched their fists in the air with delight.

The energetic two-hour finale featured performances by British singer Leona Lewis and dance troupe Tap Dogs.

The final four contestants, Chambers and Bobridge along with Demi Sorono and Kate Wormald, were slowly whittled down to two over the course of the show.

Funky Sorono was the first contestant to leave, followed by Wormald, with the final two Bobridge and Chambers.

Chambers and Bobridge thrilled the audience with a jazz-jive style routine before the winner was announced.

Chambers had been the frontrunner to win but said he was so privileged just to be part of the show and thanked his fans.

"It's such a cliche but we have grown so much,'' Bobridge told the crowd.

The Channel 10 program showed the remaining top 20 contestants return to perform with numbers from the final 10 and final four as well.

Wormald, who has shown amazing technical ability over the course of the show, was praised by judge Jason Coleman, while Sorono was commended for her beautiful nature.

"Kate is and was and probably will remain the best female dancer in this competition,'' Mr Coleman said.

Earlier, Mr Coleman joined fellow judges Bonnie Lythgoe and Lee for the opening high energy number to Rihanna's Don't Stop the Music.

Mr Coleman said it had been years since he had a dance but said "it was just brilliant''.

Meanwhile, the UK's Lythgoe thanked Australians for opening their hearts and letting her into their homes.

Favourite performances from the show were given another run in front of the screaming crowd, including Henry and Vanessa's African Samba, Laura and Anthony's disco inspired 70s theme, Wormald and Hilton's foxtrot and Kassy and Graham's contemporary routine.

'The Pussycat Dolls Presents: Girlicious' Winners Selected

2008-04-29T21:21:00.003+03:00

Four contestants; Natalie, Nichole, Tiffanie and Chrystina are made the new girl band alongwith the premiere of their music video.

Four winners of The Pussycat Dolls Presents: Girlicious have been selected, they are Natalie, Nichole, Tiffanie and Chrystina. The four girls were officially announced as the new group after contestant Charlye was eliminated by the panel of judges that includes Ron Fair, Lil' Kim, and Pussycat Dolls' creator, Robin Antin.

The Wednesday, April 23 episode that was broadcast on The CW saw an episode called "You Are Girlicious" where the top five were required to harmoniously sang as a five-piece as well as solo. Charlye who performed Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" sadly did not impress the judge enough to make her stay in the competition.

Along with the announcement of the winners, came a music video for the song "Like Me". The clip that was premiered on Yahoo! shows the girls energetically dancing and singing in a boxing ring with sexy costumes, in the trademark of Pussycat Dolls.

Girlicious will release an album this year with reports saying that it will come in June. "Like Me" the single has been available on iTunes while the video and another one called "Stupid Sh**" can be found on their official site.

Pussycat Presents Girlicious Group Members Revealed

"The Pussycat Dolls Presents: Girlicious" was brought up as the spin off to "The Pussycat Dolls: the Search for the Next Doll" that ran down last year. Asia Nitollano was crowned as the seventh member of the troupe but she backed out to pursue solo career.

Adam Jasinski wins 'Big Brother 9,' beats Ryan Quicksall via 6-1 vote

2008-04-28T18:10:00.002+03:00

Adam Jasiniski was crowned Big Brother's ninth-season winner during last night's live finale broadcast of the CBS reality show.

The 29-year-old public relations manager from Del Ray Beach, FL took home Big Brother 9's $500,000 grand prize on Day 81 by a 6 to 1 jury vote.

"I'll give to the United Autism Foundation -- $100,000 -- and help these children with an after-school program," said Adam when host Julie Chen asked what his plans were for the money.

Ryan Quicksall, a 27-year-old college student from Columbus, OH, was the runner-up and claimed $50,000.

Big Brother 9 jury members Matt McDonald, Natalie Cunial, Sharon Obermueller, Sheila Kennedy, Chelsia Hart and James Zinkand all voted for Adam, while Joshuah Welch was the only person to vote for Ryan.

"I love you guys man, so much. All of you guys," said Adam after Julie revealed all the jury votes. "Thank you so much for helping me be here."

Big Brother 9's finale broadcast began with Sheila arriving at the jury house following her eviction on Day 77.

Adam Jasinski wins Big Brother 9

"Adam basically did what he normally does and he..." said Sheila to the six other jury members.

"... He screwed you over," said Matt, finishing her sentence.

"Yeah," quickly agreed Sheila. "He dropped the ball on the third [round of the final Head of Household] competition. He basically gave it up so Ryan would do his dirty work."

Sheila said Adam seemed arrogant and pledged her allegiance to Ryan over Adam while the other jury members debated who they thought was the most deserving out of the Final 2.

After their discussion, the still-sequestered jurors questioned Adam and Ryan via satellite, with Matt asking each what they'd do with the $500,000.

Adam stated his desire to start an after school program for kids and added he'd also "love to start a business" before reiterating he wanted to "help children, change lives." Ryan said he would help out his mom by doing something nice for her while adding he'd also like to do something nice for himself and his girlfriend -- previously evicted houseguest Jen Diturno.

Sharon then asked why Ryan chose not to take her to the Final 3 even though they were in a secret alliance. In addition, Sharon also mentioned Ryan and Adam's post-eviction eye contact that had revealed her eviction was part of a plan they had.

Ryan described Sharon as "very loyal" and said he "did not want her out of house" and "fought for her all week" until the "last second" when Adam had a "gut feeling" about taking Sheila to the Final 3 instead.

"I was not gunning to get you out one bit," said Ryan to Sharon. "I wanted you to stay. I didn't want you out of the house."

Chelsia seemed disgusted that Ryan would use any of the prize money on Jen -- especially after she had accused him of being a "racist" when the couple had been on the chopping block against one another. Ryan reiterated his stance at the time -- that he's "not a racist at all" -- but added he also "loves Jen to death."

"I was not happy," said Ryan about the comment. "I still love the girl, and I want to be with her the rest of my life."

Chelsia called that the "wrong answer."

Joshuah then accused Adam of letting Ryan do all of his "dirty work" in the competition, but Adam disagreed and said he had a "well-balanced" game that consisted of "physical, mental, and emotional" aspects. While Adam also admitted to throwing the first round of the three-part final HoH competition, he refuted Sheila's claim that he threw the third.

"I gave my best shot and lost fairly to Ryan," assured Adam.

After Joshuah warned Adam about screaming excitedly at the jury members instead of talking to them with respect, James asked Adam why he deserved to be in the Final 3.

Adam described being saddled with Sheila -- his former "perfect-match" partner -- as a "bum deal" since Day 1. However he added he took a bad situation and did the best he could with it, competing as a "straight shooter" in the house who also minimized risks. Still, he said he "brought [Sheila] a long way in this game."

Natalie asked Adam and Ryan why they ultimately decided against keeping her around.

"You've got to respect the wishes of HoH," answered Adam, referring to Sheila, who as HoH that week was responsible for breaking a 1 to 1 eviction vote tie.

Sheila commented how she was being "thrown under the bus" by Adam's response. Ryan didn't do much better with his answer, offering more of an apology and calling it "one of the hardest decisions" he had to make.

Sheila then refuted Adam's claim that he carried her through the competition and asked Adam why he had "lied to her face" about guaranteeing her a spot in the Final 2.

"We carried each other equally through this game. I had to make certain deals and do certain things to keep me in the Final 3 -- to give you and I a better shot at getting there Sheila," Adam said before reiterating he didn't throw the third round of the final HoH competition.

"I'm sorry you're not sitting next to me here, but we both -- together -- got as far as we could have gotten," continued Adam, adding he felt "obligated" to "carry" Sheila during the competition.

"Adam, you did not carry me at the end of this game," answered Sheila. "I don't want you to take all the credit."

Adam reminded Sheila that they were the final remaining "perfect-match" couple -- and made-up two-thirds of the Final 3 no less. For yet another time, Adam assured Sheila he did not throw the third round of the final HoH competition.

"I don't care what anybody believes in that jury house," he said.

In addition to the Final 2 and seven jury house members, previously eliminated Big Brother 9 houseguests Jacob Heald, Parker Somerville, Jen, Alex Coladonato, Amanda Hansen, and Allison Nichols were also at the live finale. Neil Garcia -- the first American Big Brother contestant to ever voluntarily leave the competition -- was not in attendance.

Before the jury cast their votes, Julie asked Jen how she felt about Ryan's former "perfect-match" partner Allison.

"I don't care for her," Jen answered bluntly. "She definitely thought she was a better match for my boyfriend than I was. She told him that several times after I was out of the house. She asked Ryan several times what he saw in me and how he could be with somebody like me."

"I think that Jen and Ryan have a great relationship. I really have no hard feelings towards Jen... I saw a side of Jen that I didn't care for in the house," answered Allison, who accused Jen of "trying to sabotage Ryan's reputation," which is "not exactly the acts you would do if you loved somebody."

Also during last night's broadcast, home viewers were allowed to vote via CBS' website for their favorite jury member, with the winner receiving $25,000. James had the most votes and claimed the money while Sheila finished second.

Big Brother's tenth season is scheduled to premiere Sunday, July 13 at 8PM ET/PT, with Tuesday night episodes airing at 9PM ET/PT beginning July 15 and Wednesday night episodes airing at 8PM ET/PT beginning the next night and serving as the live eviction show.

Leona Lewis Performed on American Idol

2008-04-24T22:41:00.003+03:00

Leona Lewis made a performance for the first time on American Idol stage and for the umpteenth time in front of Simon Cowell. The winner of British reality show X Factor, that also sees Cowell as the judge, sang her #1 hit "Bleeding Love" on the result show on Wednesday, April 23.

While Lewis celebrated her performance, contestant Carly Smithson was cut off the show after receiving the lowest amount of vote on the Andrew Lloyd Webber week. On Tuesday, the Irish singer who lost her chance in the show's season 5 due to visa problem, performed "Jesus Superstar" and even got praised by the acid-tongue Cowell. She was put on the bottom two along with Syesha Mercado who managed to get into the top five along with David Archuleta, David Cook, Brooke White and Jason Castro.

Along with the result show, there was a screening of a message from the U.S. President, George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush who thanked viewers for the donations made during "Idol Gives Back" episode. The special event managed to raise $22 million dollars that will go to six charity organizations.

American Idol 7 Leona Lewis Bleeding Love

Contractor Stephen Paletta wins 'Oprah's Big Give'

2008-04-24T22:35:00.003+03:00

Stephen Paletta was revealed to be Oprah's Big Give's winner during last night's finale broadcast of the ABC reality competition series.

The 43-year-old real-estate developer from Bedford, NY claimed the show's $1 million grand prize -- $500,000 to keep for himself and $500,000 to use for additional gives to others.

"I'm in shock," said Stephen after his victory. "It was such an incredible honor and privilege to be part of this show and to be chosen as the biggest giver with all of these wonderful people."

Stephen defeated Cameron Johnson, a 22-year-old entrepreneur and dot-com millionaire from Roanoke, VA, and Brandi Milloy, a 23-year-old pageant queen from Chicago, IL, to take home the Oprah's Big Give title.

"Cameron and Brandi made it so tough," said Oprah's Big Give judge Jamie Oliver after Stephen was named the winner. "We couldn't just base it on this task alone -- we had to dig back over the weeks. I know that regardless of this show, you're going to go on and do such wonderful things in the future."

Stephen Paletta wins Oprah's Big Give

Oprah's Big Give's finale began with the three finalists meeting Oprah Winfrey at Chicago's Union Station, where she explained the rules of their final mission, dubbed "The Shirt off Your Back."

The three would work as a team and have 48 hours with no seed money to give in Oprah's hometown. While they'd be working as a team, each finalist would be judged individually when they faced the judges for the last time.

The final mission commenced and each of the finalists wanted to step up. Stephen called his friend Bob Muzikowski -- the founder of Chicago Hope Academy -- and the three finalists arrived at the preparatory school. Bob told them the school needed an athletic field, with a cost of $100,000.

"Stephen looked through his Rolodex, called an old friend and kind of forced this school upon us," said Brandi.

Stressed out, Brandi suggested helping Shriners Hospital for Children as the three began to brainstorm. She and Cameron suggested having every Miss Illinois titleholder perform, however Stephen was not impressed.

"The reality is, you've got to think a little bit bigger. This is the biggest challenge we have," said Stephen. "If worse come to worst, let's set that up as a fallback. But to tell me that's what you want to do as the biggest give, it's a little bit insulting. It's kind of like, 'Guys! We have to do better than that."

With only 40 hours left they still had no concrete ideas and continued to banter about suggestions, but time continued to pass with nothing planned.

"I am so stressed out right now. This is the Big Give finale and we have no ideas," opined Brandi. "Zero. Zilch. I just want to get out of here."

Jamie than arrived for an update and didn't like what he heard.

"To be honest, you ain't got nothing now -- nothing very interesting," Jamie told them. "[Cameron's] entrepreneurial. [Brandi's] incredible with people. [Stephen's] kind of a bit of everything. So split the group into those attributes. Don't overcomplicate. You have 36 hours. Be realistic and over deliver. Don't go for something too big and underdeliver. You'll look like bloody idiots."

They took his advice and decided to back Stephen's idea to help Chicago Hope Academy. Cameron called in some money from friends and also got in touch with Blue Man Productions, which offered to donate $100,000 to the school and a performance by Blue Man Group.

Cameron and Brandi weren't happy Stephen told the Chicago Hope Academy kids about the Blue Man Group performance because he didn't have any hand in planning it. Brandi described it as "selfish."

Prior to serving the Chicago Hope Academy kids a special luncheon, Cameron and Brandi instead traveled to Shriners Hospital for Children. Stephen secured $60,000 for the academy while Brandi convinced Anthony Reyes, a local chef, to donate a free cooking class to the kids at Shriners.

Stephen served lunch at the Chicago Hope Academy -- by himself -- before the Blue Man Group performance commenced. Once at the theater, Phil Stanton, one of the Blue Man Group founders who donated the $100,000, wanted to meet Cameron. Alas, Cameron was stuck in traffic with Brandi and said he might be late.

"This is the big reveal. This is what we're giving the Chicago Hope Academy, and you guys don't even have the decency to be there when we show up?" said Stephen after Brandi suggested he start the show without them. "Blue Man Productions is donating over $100,000 plus the show. You've got to show these people respect and show up on time. It's an embarrassment to me, and it's an embarrassment to Oprah's Big Give."

The Blue Man Group performed with Oprah's Big Give's three judges -- Jamie; NFL star Tony Gonzalez; and philanthropist Malaak Compton-Rock, who is comedian Chris Rock's wife -- all in attendance.

After the show, the donations were revealed and included $110,000 to put toward baseball fields; $50,000 to go toward music and arts programs; 15 brand new guitars; and a Baldwin upright piano.

"It's unbelievable that they put that together in 48 hours," said Bob. "We had no idea they were coming, and to help us like that is just beyond anything we dreamed of."

The finalists then went to Shriners, where Anthony gave his cooking lesson while Cameron and Stephen left to spend an extra $10,000 that Cameron raised on toys for the hospital's kids.

The three finalists then returned to Oprah's Big Give headquarters, where they were met by the seven previously eliminated contestants -- Angelo Adams; Olusegun "Sheg" Aranmolate; Rachael Hollingsworth; Eric Klein; Kim Prentiss; Marlene Snipes; and Carlana Stone.

Cameron, Brandi and Stephen also received their final remarks from the three judges.

Before the winner was revealed, actress Jennifer Aniston dropped by with a surprise -- the winner would be receiving $1 million; the other two finalists would receive $100,000 each; and the seven previously eliminated contestants would each receive $30,000.

Stephen was then revealed to be the winner.

Leona Lewis' Spirit Album Tops US Chart

2008-04-19T10:40:00.004+03:00

Leona’s debut album Spirit has gone straight in at the top of the American album charts! Not only is she first British female to achieve such an amazing feat, but she is the first British artist in history to debut at number one!

Selling a massive 204,841 copies in one week, Sprit outsold the number two (Troubadour by Straight George) and three (Sunset Man by Otto James) albums by an impressive 88,256.

This phenomenal result comes just two weeks after her first single ‘Bleeding Love’ went in at number one, making her the first British female vocalist to take the number one single spot in an almighty 21 years.

Having dropped a few places last week, ‘Bleeding Love’ returned to the number one spot this week which means that Leona has done the unthinkable and bagged a double whammy of chart topping success in the States; a notoriously hard market to crack.

Simon Cowell has commented, ‘What Leona has achieved is simply incredible. This is the hardest market to crack and for her debut album to go in at number 1 is unbelievable.’

Other record-breaking news:

· Leona Lewis’ triumph marks the first time in music history that any album by a British female artist has entered at Number One on the Billboard Top 200.

· Spirit (J Records/SyCo Music) marks the first time ever that any British artist, male or female, has entered the US chart at Number One with a debut album.

· Spirit is the biggest-selling debut for a first album by a female artist since Carrie Underwood’s Some Hearts in 2005—and it scored the biggest digital album sales week ever for a new artist, male or female.

Related Stores:
Leona Tops the US Single Chart
Leona Winning the X-Factor

American Idol: Idol Gives Back 2008

2008-04-12T21:36:00.003+03:00

Well, this is what you've all been waiting for, right? What's that? Finale? Yeah, I guess that'll be cool, too. But if you've listened to Ryan all season then you know TONIGHT is really what it's all about! If you're looking to find out who got eliminated by vote last night you're going to have to wait until tomorrow. But if you're looking for two-and-a-half hours of entertainment chock full of celebrities and song and charity, then you're looking for "Idol Gives Back."

Last year's inaugural edition was very good, and Kristin's report of the Idol Gives Back taping from this past Sunday was also very positive. We don't have any pesky (non) eliminations to deal with like last year, so just kick back, donate and enjoy. And, if you want, join us online and chat about it in real-time with other giving Idol fans.

"If AIDS got half ... half of the attention the media gives to celebrity dramas, this issue would be well on its way to being solved. So I want to ask you, shall we be the generation that says no more injustice to the poor. Shall we commit to eradicating AIDS, extreme poverty and more. Or shall we continue to allow ourselves no voice in the world our children will inherit." --Alicia Keys

Tonight's show was a hybrid of new material interspersed with the recorded segments from this past Sunday. But in true Idol tradition, they pretended that all were happening at the same time. They set up the Top 12 on stage with laptops to take live calls from donors during the show; a nice touch. Even Ryan bantered with a few of the callers live throughout the show.

One of the things I learned from the night is that there are just so many different places in the world in need for so many different reasons. How can there still be so many problems in a world were there are people with billions of dollars, nations with health care for everyone and all the medical technology we've uncovered? If the peoples of the world would just stop and care enough about everyone we share a planet with, couldn't we make so many of these things go away?

Even if Idol Gives Back doesn't raise the level of money they're shooting for, $100 million, at least they're doing a tremendous thing in raising awareness for the various causes spotlighted. The weird thing for me now is that by removing the Results portion of the show, like they had last year, it no longer feels like an episode of American Idol at all. Now it truly is just a charity special, so it became sort of an odd fit for the series. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great thing for a show of this magnitude to do, it's just a weird thing now to air a special completely unrelated episode between the performance of the Top 8 and the elimination of one of them. But maybe that's just me.

There was a ton going on in the show, starting off with that great So You Think You Can Dance piece with the Top 8 singing Rhianna's "Please Don't Stop the Music." And if I'm not mistaken, that was SYTYCD contestant Hok's entire dance crew there toward the end.

American Idol: Idol Gives Back 2008 Finalists Performances

CELEBRITY APPEARANCES

The show was filled with celebrity appearances, some introducing video segments and live performances, while still others got more actively involved in the various charities and causes promoted throughout the night. California first lady Maria Shriver opened the show surrounded by more than a hundred volunteers at various organizations in California. Shriver was there to encourage you to find a way to volunteer in your community

Ben Stiller introduced a Jennifer Connolly dramatization where she served water from a lake to kids. 1.1 billion people don't have access to clean drinking water was the message. It was a nice piece and effectively sold its message, but as it was the only dramatization of its kind, it was a little weird comparatively on the night

Paula Abdul & Randy Jackson came out to talk about childhood obesity in America. They went to Goshen School, less than 200 miles from the Idol stage, but in a community mired in poverty. The per capita income is less than $9,000 per year. The community has no resources to make safe places for kids to play, and due to gang violence and fear, most just stay at home. Save the Children runs a promotion where kids can come, get homework help and most importantly be kids.

Jimmy Kimmel came on to introduce Simon Cowell's video segment, and did so in the fashion of a celebrity roast. There are over 50 million people without necessary health insurance, 15 million of which are children. He hooked up with the Children's Health Fund, a van of roving health care that brings needed assistance to families without insurance. We meet a family where the mother has lupus, the daughter has rheumatoid arthritis and the son is just recently out of a wheelchair. This poor family has lost their home already due to medical costs. Honestly, this is an area of this country that I am unable to fathom, how we disenfranchise so many people in a first world nation that thinks itself the leader of the free world from affordable health care.

Miley Cyrus and her dad Billy Ray Cyrus went back to Clay County in Kentucky, where Billy Ray hails from. Fifty percent of the children in this region live below the poverty line. The Cyrus' met a family living in horrific living conditions. There is a Save the Children after-school program there that is helping kids learn at appropriate levels. The program even delivers books to families that could never afford them.

Eli & Peyton Manning came on to talk about how the communities of their hometown New Orleans and the surrounding region are still struggling with the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina three years later. We learned about the very real horrors that the children of the area were subjected to. The Mannings went to a community center to talk and play with some of the kids in the area.

Reese Witherspoon came on to spotlight The Children's Defense Fund, which focuses on education for children. Reese went to an impoverished region of New Orleans where she met a single mom raising her thirteen-year old daughter. She told a story about a four-year old who shot himself. Could that possibly be suicide? Surely it was an accident. How could a four-year old want to die so badly? Freedom School is an after-school program that's available there and keeps the daughter out of trouble and helps her become a better person. It's one thing to see suffering in Africa, and yes it's horrible, but when you hear the statistics of how many children are suffering right now here in America it just breaks your heart.

David Spade introduced Brad Pitt's efforts in New Orleans to find homes for familes who lost theirs. 275,000 homes were lost in Katrina. Over 200,000 people remain displaced from their homes even now. Even former President Bill Clinton helped Make It Right, an organization that helps build affordable homes for the people. I'm not sure why he got a standing ovation when he hit the stage. I liked when his mic fell and the woman who came out said "I just needed a reason to touch him," while fixing it. Ad lib humor better than Ryan usually manages.

Brad Pitt introduced Daughtry's trip to Uganda, Africa. This journey was presented in the form of a music video for Daughtry's single, "What About Now?" filmed in Africa. He performed it for a huge crowd of kids and invited them to sing the chorus with him. He went in affiliation with One.org, a unity of charities to enhance the good they can do. Ryan told us Bono would tell us more about that tomorrow night.

Bono traveled to Africa to meet children and people ravaged by AIDS. We met Sophia, a 14-year old girl suffering with AIDS, and our funds keep her in the medicines she needs. I couldn't help but wonder if Sophia could understand him when he talked to her, but nevertheless it is inspiring. Esophea (sp?) volunteers her time and efforts to help so many in her community after losing three of her own children to HIV. Keep a Child Alive is a global organization that deals with AIDS in Africa. Later, Dane Cook introduced a portion of Alica Keys' African journey with this group, the entire video of which is available for download at AmericanIdol.com.

Bono's second report of the night was about the children and people of Africa striving to remember those they've lost to AIDS. It also served as an introduction to Annie Lennox's journeys in Africa where she too finds so many people who've lost everyone they've known and loved to AIDS. She found a group of brothers, all children 15 and under. The eldest now is the caretaker for the family. Annie took them to be tested and all were negative. And these losses could be preventable as most who die from AIDS do so from lack of diagnosis and available treatment. After the video, she came on stage to perform and play piano.

Sarah Silverman did what she does and you either like her or you don't before getting into her bit on malaria and introducing Forest Whitaker's video. He went with his wife to a community ravaged by this disease. Malaria takes more lives in Africa than anything else. They met Maria who suffered from a severe case of malaria. A thing as simple as a ten dollar mosquito net could have prevented this illness. So many families don't even have access to the facilities that saved Maria's life.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown followed up on Forest's bit by announcing that the UK will pay for 20 million more malaria nets for Africa and will urge other world leaders to do the same. That's $200 million donated by the UK to this worthy cause. Now we've got a lot more people in the US than they do in the UK, so if we can't match that donation we're going to look pretty damned cheap, people.

Robin Williams was introduced as the winner of the latest Russian Idol. I'm sorry but this was a pretty stupid bit for me. Robin was pitchy in places and it went on forever and ever. After bantering with Ryan a bit he stood in front of Randy, Paula and Simon to "audition" for them. He sang a horrible "My Way" Russian mess and then got "critiqued" by the panel. Why did this get an entire segment?

There were tons of other celebrity recordings interspersed throughout the show by Jimmy Johnson, George Lopez (who gave his promotion in Spanish--a very cool move), Kylie Minogue (who did hers in the Queen's English so that British people could understand the message, too), Kobe Bryant, Triple H, Mary Murphy (who said she would scream as she does on So You Think You Can Danceuntil someone donated), Nigel Lythgoe (who begged us to give so Mary would stop screaming), The Jonas Brothers, Julianne Moore (who should have taken the time to learn her lines, or at least gotten her teleprompters closer to the camera), John Cena, Adam Sandler (whose bulldog donated), David and Victoria Beckham, Kiefer Sutherland, Celine Dion, Whoopi Goldberg, Ellen DeGeneres (though I would have much rather had her do the co-hosting she was supposed to), Keith Urban, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale, Rob Schneider and Tyra Banks

LIVE PERFORMANCES

Snoop Dogg w/ Charlie Wilson and the Youth Football League of LA - "Can't Say Goodbye"
You gotta give props to Snoop for having his logo and name crested onto his mic. I don't think I've ever seen a mic with bling before, so mad props to one of the original "dawgs" of modern rap.

Teri Hatcher w/ "Band from TV" - "Before He Cheats"
This was introduced in a cheesy clip of Carrie Underwood getting plumbing help in her dressing room by James Denton from Desperate Housewives. That was enough to get Teri Hatcher jealous. "If you're going to steal my man, I'm going to steal your song." I liked the "Band from TV" schtick as I recognized James Denton behind her on guitar, Jesse Spencer (Chase from House) on violin and, Greg Grunberg (Parkman from Heroes) on drums. Teri, however, was not good on vocals. t the end, Carrie herself came onto the stage to give the charity numbers.

Miley Cyrus - "Good and Broken"
Billy Crystal came on to introduce and make a dream come true for a talented newcomer who dreamed of singing on the Idol stage, and then mispronounced Miley Cyrus' name. They had a cute enough dialogue back-and-forth where Crystal tried to offer her career advice and she showed him up with her recent success. The only connection they had was that he was the voice of Mike on Monsters, Inc. When she corrected him on pronouncing her name, he got star-struck realizing who she was. She sang well enough, but there's something funny about seeing her throw her hair and body around like a rock star up there. Admittedly, I've never paid a few thousand dollars to go to one of her actual concerts, so maybe she does this there and it's amazing. I wonder if Hannah Montana was jealous that Miley was invited to be on the show and she wasn't.

Fergie w/ John Legend - "Finally"
Heart w/ Fergie - "Barracuda"
Fergie hit us with an Idolpower note during her performance. Maybe the stage brings those out of singers. Her performance served as an introduction to Heart who performed "Barracuda." Ann Wilson may be heavier than we've ever seen her, but she still sounds absolutely amazing. Fergie came back out and sang with Ann on the track, and gave every bit as much as Ann on the song. How many times have we heard Idol wannabes butcher Heart, and here's Fergie almost perfectly nailing the required vocal intensity and prowess of the song. Fergie wore the tight leather pants that the Wilsons don't wear anymore (thank goodness) and even did two one-handed forward cartwheel.

Annie Lennox - "Many Rivers to Cross"
What can you say? Annie is a legend and is just as amazing a vocalist and performer now as she's ever been in her amazing career.

Carrie Underwood - "Praying for Time"
It's a shame that Carrie couldn't get her dress from the dry cleaners in time. If only she could have she wouldn't have had to wrap the drapes from her dressing room around herself. Carrie again proves why she was versatile enough to win American Idol. Even though she's a country singer, just as she was able to nail Heart on her season, she effortlessly takes on George Michael, himself an amazing vocalist. Can I say that I liked Carrie more with a bit of meat on her bones. Celebrities are too skinny! And why couldn't she get up, did she forget to take out the curtain rods?

American Idol: Idol Gives Back 2008 Carrie Mariah Daughtry

Gloria Estafan w/ Sheila E. - "Get On Your Feet"
I'm not sure how she did it, maybe she drinks Dick Clark's blood, but Gloria Estafan is virtually ageless. She hasn't lost a bit of her voice either, and her performance featured another welcome return of those SYTYCD dancers.

American Idol 2008 Top 8 - "Seasons of Love"
This was one of the better group performances of the season for the Idol contestants, and I think it has more to do with the lack of awful choreagraphy than anything else. Wow, they're so much better to listen to when they're not being forced to do bad "boy band" routines across the stage. Take notes, Idol folks.

Miley Cyrus - "See You Again"
Miley came out again with a high-octane performance. I'll give the girl credit that she knows how to put on an entertaining show at fifteen years old. But is she a rock star? Certainly fans seem to react to her like she is, so maybe I'm just too old for her. I did like the dancers in boxes background thing she did. But why did Miley get two performances and a video segment? Is FOX courting her for a show on their network?

Mariah Carey - "Fly Like a Bird"
With our own Randy Jackson on bass behind her, word has it that Mariah is next week's celebrity mentor. Mariah is just amazing, and that didn't change tonight as she closed out the show. If they're going to do Mariah's songs, then this could be the most challenging week ever in Idol coming up.

Top 8 - "Shout to the Lord"
To wrap up the show, the Top 8 put on their purest white garb for this number, though why Syesha translated that to mean white shorts I'm not sure. I'm also not sure why the SYTYCD kids were back with the choir. They're not singers. It was overall a nice performance and a nice show, though again it no longer fits quite right as just another episode in the middle of the season. Maybe it should be a special after the finale. They could air it that next Saturday or Sunday, like a Pro Bowl and bring back all of the Top 24.

Holly Kiser Wins Make Me a Supermodel Season 1

2008-04-07T17:29:00.006+03:00

It’s 3 guys against one girl in the finale of the reality series “Make Me A Supermodel” and guess what? Girl power rules as 21 year old Holly Kiser bested all the contestants to become the next supermodel.
Holly grew up on top of a mountain in the heart of Appalachia in a very strict and traditional family. She has overcome many hurdles in her life, including suffering third degree burns on her face after graduating high school, but she credits her ability to overcome these struggles to her faith. She now lives with her fianc� in Miami and is struggling to jump-start her modeling career. She describes herself as sassy, outspoken and quick witted. In her spare time, she enjoys running and spending time at church.

Holly wins the photoshoot and catwalk challenges in 3 episodes and she’s been in the bottom 3 only once. Ronnie and Ben, or “Bronnie” as what their fans call them, have been in the bottom 3 for a number of times but because the televiewers enjoy the “relationship” that they share during the competition, they made it to the final 4. Ben is a prison guard, married, while Ronnie is a gay man. Joining Ben, Ronnie and Holly in the final 4 was Perry, the one who was perceived by the judges as “cocky” but was able to redeem himself in the end.

See Holly's photo gallery here:

Holly Kiser Wins Make Me A Supermodel

Leona Lewis tops Billboard Hot 100

2008-03-28T16:08:00.002+02:00

Leona Lewis has become the first UK female solo artist in more than 20 years to top Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

Her single Bleeding Love, which is released through Syco/J Records in the US, has climbed 8-1 on the newly-announced chart to make it only the second single by a British act in the last decade to lead the countdown.

Bleeding Love’s chart-topping triumph follows Lewis last week performing the song on Oprah Winfrey’s hugely-influential TV show in the States. Lewis was introduced by Syco founder and X Factor/American Idol judge Simon Cowell on the programme where Winfrey also interviewed her.

The last UK act to top the Hot 100 was James Blunt whose You’re Beautiful spent a week at number one in March 2006. However, the clock has to be turned back to June 1987 when the last UK female solo artist reached number one on the chart. That was Kim Wilde with her cover of the Holland-Dozier-Holland evergreen You Keep Me Hangin’ On.

Watch the video as Simon Cowell talks about his protege's success.

Lewis, who appeared on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Monday night, is due to return to the States around the release there of her debut album Spirit on April 8.

Watch Leona perform in Oprah show.

Leona's Official Website: http://www.leonalewismusic.co.uk/international

Piers Morgan Wins The Celebrity Apprentice

2008-03-28T11:59:00.004+02:00

Los Angeles - In the end, evil bested good on Celebrity Apprentice .

At least that's how Donald Trump chose to spin the finale showdown Thursday between country singer Trace Atkins and British tabloid editor turned America's Next Got Talent judge Piers Morgan.

During a live two-hour finale, about half of which was devoted to the charity gala the finalists presided over, with the final segment reserved for clips and more boardroom bickering, Trump picked the brash, outspoken Brit to be the Celebrity Apprentice.

This season the winner couldn't really be Trump's apprentice, of course, considering Morgan already has a job and the point of this inaugural edition of the Mark Burnett-produced competition show, its seventh cycle overall, was to raise money for the stars' respective charities.

The biggest beneficiaries of this 13-week experiment were Morgan's cause célèbre, the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which raises money for the families of U.S. troops killed or severely injured while serving their country, and the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, Atkins' pet charity since his 6-year-old daughter was diagnosed with multiple life-threatening allergies.

Piers Morgan Wins The Celebrity Apprentice

More than $1 million was raised through the various tasks the 14 B-listers (and Omarosa, whose list usually includes four letters) were asked to perform, ranging from peddling tickets to Broadway musicals to dressing windows to showcase Vera Wang mattresses.

For philanthropy's sake, it was lucky that most of the tasks turned into three or four-person games of "whose rolodex is the beefiest?"

And more often than not, it was Morgan who came through with the big donors, like Virgin mogul Richard Branson, who cut a check for $10,000 during the Broadway task, and Talent executive producer (etc.) Simon Cowell, who during the final challenge bid $100,000 for a shopping date with Ivanka Trump.

So it didn't matter that four out of five moralists—not to mention most of his fellow contestants—would have sent Morgan packing, preferring Atkins' quiet confidence and gracious demeanor.

"This would have been a much shorter boardroom if you had a better bedside manner," Ivanka Trump informed the former Daily Mirror honcho before he was named the winner.

"You don't know about my bedside manner!" quipped the cheeky father of three, who took a decidedly war-like approach to each task, rooting out and destroying weak links with undisguised pleasure—particularly when he laid waste to Omarosa in week 10.

All of which made for a much-needed injection of oomph into the tired Apprentice format that was reflected in the Nielsen ratings. This season averaged 9.2 million viewers per week as opposed to season six's 7.4 million, when a plain-old defense attorney was the last one standing.

"Surprise" appearances by celebs such as Alec and Billy Baldwin (Stephen's bros), David Hyde Pierce (Taxi star Marilu Henner's New York theater pal), Bob Saget (just hanging out?) and porn star Jenna Jameson (Ultimate Fighting champ Tito Ortiz's girlfriend) probably helped, although it's interesting to note that the guests tended to be of a higher star caliber than the friends or family members they were helping out.

Trump also threw in another $250,000 for the Intrepid fund, and NYC-based brokerage house Cantor Fitzgerald promised to match up to $250,000 the amount raised from viewers' text-in donations.

Cantor Fitzgerald, the firm that on 9-11 lost more than 700 employees who were working in the North Tower of the World Trade Center, also made a strong showing during Thursday's finale, with one of the partners bidding $100,000 apiece to have tea with the Duchess of York, Sarah (the original "Fergie) Ferguson, and spend an evening with Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, both lots benefiting Morgan's effort.

Considering it was all about the dollar bills y'all on this go-round, Atkins probably didn't stand a chance, even though he maintained his southern-gentleman stature throughout, was on multiple winning teams (although 0-2 as project manager, while Morgan was 2-1) and patiently babysat the Backstreet Boys during the final task.

The "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" singer looked downright stunned when Nick Carter asked for wheatgrass juice for their dressing room—although not as mortified as when Morgan, reacting to Omarosa's absurd assertion that he was gay, walked back into the boardroom and kissed Atkins on the cheek, calling him a "beautiful cowboy."

He really did not get that one. ("Brokeback boardroom," boxer Lennox Lewis astutely called it.)

And in the end Morgan just made more money, which is what Trump is all about. That and gold. And pink ties.

But, then again, if this is actually "the toughest thing [he] has had to do in a long time," as Trump always claims it is when it comes time to fire "two terrific people," then who's really the big winner here?

American Idol eliminates Chikezie Eze, reveals Top 9 finalists

2008-03-28T11:56:00.002+02:00

Chikezie Eze was revealed to be the third finalist eliminated from American Idol's seventh season during last night's live results show broadcast on Fox.

The 22-year-old from Inglewood, CA was ousted from Idol's seventh season after host Ryan Seacrest said "over 30 million" home viewer votes -- "the highest this season for a single show" -- were cast immediately following Tuesday night's live performance episode broadcast that saw the Top 10 finalists perform songs from the year they were born.

"I'm just really proud to be here. I feel really blessed," Eze said during a video montage of his Idol journey. "It's been an amazing ride."

Eze sang "If Only for One Night" by Luther Vandross during Tuesday night's performance episode. Judge Randy Jackson said he "didn't love it" and criticized it for not being "that vibey Chikezie that I love with all that energy" and instead "just kind of boring." Paula Abdul disagreed with Jackson and said Eze did a "great job."

"Chikezie I think you sang it well. Having said that, I thought the performance actually was very cheesy," commented Simon Cowell. "It's that you have to show originality. I didn't see anything original other than somebody trying to copy the original. I don't think that's what you should be doing. I miss your personality now."

Prior to Eze's elimination, Syesha Mercado, a 21-year-old from Sarasota, FL who currently resides in Miami, FL, and Jason Castro, a 20-year-old from Rockwall, TX, were revealed to be the other members of this week's bottom three vote-getters.

Castro was the last finalist to learn he was among the bottom three.

"I knew it. I knew it because I've never been [called] this late. I was like, 'It's going to be a big shocker!'" said Castro. "I've been thinking about it since last night. I just had this feeling. I've just been thinking about it so much. I was freaked out about it all day today. That's okay... I was ready for it."

Seacrest than revealed Castro was safe, leaving it down to Eze and Mercado.

"Let me tell you why you're here Chikezie -- because you chose the wrong song last night," said Cowell. "It wasn't original. Same with Jason. Don't underestimate how smart the public are who watch this show."

"But that doesn't hold true for Syesha I don't believe," said Abdul.

"No, Syesha... I don't know. [Home viewers] just didn't quite get it, because you were brilliant last night," agreed Randy.

"I don't think she was brilliant," said Cowell. "I didn't like the song."

Seacrest then revealed Eze was ousted.

Former Idol second-season third-place finisher Kimberley Locke also performed "Fall" -- a current single from her second album "Based on a True Story."

In addition, Seacrest mentioned Apple's Idol sponsorship prior to a video segment about the contestants recording their weekly song that is available on iTunes. However unlike other content sold via the store, where shows and musical tracks are ranked by popularity, Idol's iTunes site does not release any sales information.

"We can't allow these downloads to actually chart because it would affect the competition," explained Seacrest before boasting, "but if we did, they'd probably take up the Top 5 positions on iTunes."

Idol's Top 9 seventh-season finalists -- Brooke White, Carly Smithson, David Archuleta, David Cook, Michael Johns, Ramiele Malubay, Kristy Lee Cook, Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado -- will all take the stage and perform during next week's live one-hour performance episode broadcast beginnning Tuesday at 8PM ET/PT. Country singer Dolly Parton will serve as the mentor.

On Wednesday beginning at 9PM ET/PT, another finalist will be eliminated from the competition based on home viewer votes, revealing the season's Top 8 finalists.

American Idol's Top 10 seventh-season finalists take to the stage

2008-03-26T18:50:00.003+02:00

American Idol's Top 10 seventh-season finalists took the stage during last night's live performance episode broadcast, with each singing a song from the year they were born.

Some of the early frontrunners took another step backward; a new dark horse emerged among the females; one of the original favorites delivered his best performance of the competition so far; and a new finalist cemented his standing as the one to beat.

The following is Reality TV World's recap of the performance broadcast in the order which the Top 10 finalists sang. Also included are comments from each of the three judges -- Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell -- as well as additional information about each performance.

On Wednesday night beginning at 9PM ET/PT, one finalist will be eliminated based on home viewer votes cast immediately following last night's broadcast, revealing the seventh-season's Top 9 finalists. In addition, former Idol second-season third-place finisher Kimberley Locke will perform.

Ramiele Malubay, a 20-year-old from Miramar, FL

American Idol Season 7 Ramiele Malubay Top 10

Song: "Alone" by Heart
Randy said: "Alright, so I hear you're a little under the weather like me, but still it wasn't the right song choice for you for me. It was a little too big of a song for me for you to sing. (boos) I remember... Who did it before? [Carly Smithson] did it before. It's not quite your kind of thing. It was a little pitchy all over the place. It wasn't a good luck for me."
Paula said: "I'm really glad that America's heard you sing and how big your voice is. People don't know you barely have a voice right now, and I think that you... It's not about picking it because I'm sure you picked it healthy. However I still give you a tremendous amount of credit and you're brave to do what you did. because you're really sick, and I know that. I hope you stay through and keep going because you're a very big talent in a little, small body."
Simon said: "I don't think it was as bad as Randy said. (cheers) The first part of the song was okay, maybe it's because you're not feeling well in the middle it all got a bit shrieky and shouty. The truth is Ramiele, after what you sang last week -- which I thought was appalling and you managed to survive -- than you're going to get through again this week on that performance. No question about it."
Additional Info: Ramiele was born September 6, 1987 in Saudi Arabia. She said she "liked to get into a lot of trouble" as a little kid... Ramiele said she "stepped it up" this week because she feels "lucky" to have made the Top 10... Idol host Ryan Seacrest asked if Ramiele had the flu, and she said no, her voice just went "bye-bye" earlier in the week. Randy defended his criticism. "When Simon listens to it back at home he'll find that the pitch was all over the place."

Jason Castro, a 20-year-old from Rockwall, TX

Song: "Fragile" by Sting
Randy said: "Dude I love that song. That's one of my favorite songs. That's a very good choice of song. I don't know if you did anything different with it vocally, but I liked the little Spanish touch and the whole thing. I thought it was alright -- it was very nice and pleasant. I don't know if it did anything for me vocally. I'm still waiting to see that jump-out vocal performance, but it was nice. It was nice."
Paula said: "I think you're staying true to who you are, and those are the songs that are your niche. I love Sting, and that's a beautiful song. I agree, I don't think that we saw anything different that makes us go, 'Wow! Jason did something different we either love or we don't like.' So you're kind of playing it a little safe in your zone, but that's who you are."
Simon said: "Jason, I think you've had two bad weeks. (boos) I think it's time that you start taking this a little bit more seriously. That was the equivalent of someone busking outside of a subway station. (boos) It was. The way that you played the guitar on the track was clumsy. Everything about it was too laid back -- too much in your own world. You are somebody Jason -- as you proved when you sang 'Hallelujah' -- who potentially may be even a winner. But you're not going to win if you keep doing that week after week. I'm telling you. Sorry."
Additional Info: Jason was born March 25, 1987, meaning last night was his 21st birthday... When he was little, Jason said he was "a lot smaller, pudgier, cuter" and always received compliments on his eyes... Jason played the guitar during his performance... Ryan asked Jason if he was taking it seriously. "Yeah," answered Jason. "I too felt my playing was probably a little sloppy. I could have spent a little more time practicing if I'm going to do this."

Syesha Mercado, a 21-year-old from Sarasota, FL who currently resides in Miami, FL

Song: "If I Were Your Woman" by Stephanie Mills
Randy said: "You know this is great. This is a good moment for you for me. I think this is the best I've ever heard you sing, including when you auditioned. (cheers) I think this is the best you ever sounded to us. I think it was stellar. I think it was unbelievable. I'm shocked. I'm loving it. Yes! Yes! We've got another competitor in the competition... Blazing hot!"
Paula said: "What's great about this performance Syesha is that this is going to be the moment that everybody remembers where Syesha flipped it and became the dark horse who's going to sail on through. (cheers) Everything about it, your upper register, your lower. Everything was pitch perfect. It was your most brilliant."
Simon said: "Syesha it was definitely the best so far, but we're only three in. I don't think the end part of the song was as good as Randy thought actually. I think there is a limit on your vocal, and I think that song stretched it. I do."
Additional Info: Syesha was born January 2, 1987. She said she was a "big cry baby" as a child... As a youth, Syesha said she was part of an acrobatic dance team, complete with "corny looking costumes"... Following Simon's comments, Paula said she disagreed. "That's why there's three of us on the panel," retorted Simon.

Chikezie Eze, a 22-year-old from Inglewood, CA

Song: "If Only for One Night" by Luther Vandross
Randy said: "For me it's interesting, you following Syesha with that other oldie-but-goodie jam. Not that I like making comparisons, but for her, she moved it around. She made it at least younger feeling. This went back to a very old-school kind of just... I don't know man. I didn't love it for you. I didn't love this for you. (boos) It's very old-school. It wasn't hip and cool. It wasn't that vibey Chikezie that I love with all that energy. It was just kind of boring for me."
Paula said: "I disagree Randy. (cheers) You are throwback -- that's what we say all the time -- but it's a good throwback. I do think that by you upping the tempo... I think you did a great job. I think you did amazing with the textures of your vocals. You're a great, great singer."
Simon said: "Chikezie I think you sang it well. Having said that, I thought the performance actually was very cheesy. (boos) You know, all the putting your hand to the audience. ['But that's who I'm singing for,' replied Chikezie.] It's not. I'm going to pick you up on that. You're not singing it for them -- you're singing it for yourself along with everybody else. Come on. It's true... It's that you have to show originality. I didn't see anything original other than somebody trying to copy the original. I don't think that's what you should be doing. I miss your personality now."
Additional Info: Chikezie was born September 11, 1985. He grew-up in a household with Nigerian parents and listed to lots of cultural music as a kid... Chikezie said song selection this week was "pretty crazy" since he was "torn apart" following the first ballad he sang. However he said he decided to "follow his heart" and picked a song that "resonates really deeply within me"... Randy agreed with Simon's criticism of Chikezie.

Brooke White, a 24-year-old from Mesa, AZ who currently resides in Van Nuys, CA

Song: "Every Breath You Take" by The Police
Randy said: "Very interesting song choice. Great song. I thought the front part of it was pretty good. I like that you started and then you go, 'Wait a minute. This is not right.' I loved that -- lot of good professionalism there. But when you got to like the bridge, I did not like the arrangement with the band coming in. I was waiting for something else with it to happen. I almost would have loved it if you would have stayed without the band and made it more interesting on your own. It was just okay for me. It was alright. It was alright."
Paula said: "I enjoyed this performance so much more than last week's. What's great... This is the great thing. This season we really wanted... We've always wanted contestants who are unique and have their own niche. You do. I can hear your voice -- one note -- and know it's you Brooke. That's a great thing, and I think you're consistent."
Simon said: "Brooke, I'm going to agree with Randy. If you would have stayed with you on the piano, that would have sounded much more cool. The minute it picked up tempo and the band joined in it made it very old-fashioned. Definitely good enough to keep you in for another week, (cheers) but you've just got to work this out. I thought -- as Randy said -- the first half when it started, even with the mistake, it was fantastic. Better than last week."
Additional Info: Brooke was born June 2, 1983 and is the oldest of four children... Brooke said she still remembers the day she received her great-grandmother's piano and immediately took to it, learning to play by ear... Brooke played the piano during her performance... Brooke started the song incorrectly and stopped before restarting. Ryan called it a "brave move." "Generally you shouldn't do that," said Brooke. However the judges said the move reflected Brooke's personality.

Michael Johns, a 29-year-old from Los Angeles, CA

American Idol Season 7 Michael John Top 10

Song: "We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions" by Queen
Randy said: "Finally -- finally -- you believe in yourself and you use that big old voice you've got. (cheers) That was the best performance for me since you've been on the show."
Paula said: "Anytime that anyone of us ever said you haven't found your right song, well we can all shut our mouths on this one. (cheers) This was your moment -- your shining moment -- and I'm so proud of you... You were probably dying knowing that you could [sing this song from the year he was born]. It was fantastic."
Simon said: "Michael this is the first time with you I saw star potential. (cheers) Tonight you just got it right. You look like a front-person. You were confident. You performed well. For me, it's the only memorable performance of the night so far."
Additional Info: Michael was born October 20, 1978 in Perth, Australia... Ever since he was a kid, he said he was "competitive" in everything from sports to playing cards with his sister... Michael said he thought he'd be a professional tennis player until he turned 15, which is when he found music... Randy had to wait a few moments before he could deliver his comments due to the screams and cheers from the studio audience.

Carly Smithson, a 24-year-old from San Diego, CA

American Idol Season 7 Carly Smithson Top 10

Song: "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler
Randy said: "Very interesting song choice for me. I didn't love it -- I liked it -- I didn't love it. (boos) I didn't like the note at the end, it went a little sharp. I think that wasn't quite the right song for you. It was just okay for me."
Paula said: "I don't know how you can say that. She picked this song from the year she was born that inspired her. [Randy commented he just didn't like the whole 'rock thing,' which brought boos from the audience.] Carly, what I so admire about you is you could probably take every song that I'm not crazy about and make me a believer and make me go buy it, and that's the truth. I love what you did at the end, because that shows me that you're willing to get out there and just go and stretch yourself into areas that you haven't showed us. ['That run at the end was not in-tune though Paula,' commented Randy.] Ugh... Carly, you could do no wrong tonight."
Simon said: "Carly, something didn't quite work. I think it was because you were so tense and almost uptight during the performance, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I was going to enjoy it. There were parts of the song you sang very well. But I'm kind of again with Randy on this -- something didn't quite work there. I think you've just got to lighten up a little bit."
Additional Info: Carly was born September 12, 1983 in Ireland... Carly said while her mom was on the way to the hospital in labor, a Carly Simon song was on the radio, so she decided to name her daughter after the singer/songwriter... She said she had very curly hair as a kid... Carly's mom commented she never had any doubts her daughter would grow-up to be an entertainer... Carly's husband and her friends were in the studio audience... Following the judges' comments, Ryan asked Carly if she was tense. "I went to the bathroom before and I ran out," she answered with a laugh. "I had fun. I love that song, so..." Never one to miss an opportunity, Ryan asked Carly, "Did you flush?"

David Archuleta, a 17-year-old from Murray, UT

Song: "You're the Voice" by David Foster and Jeff Pescetto
Randy said: "It was a strange song choice for me. But guess what man? It proves once again that if you can sing, you can sing whatever. (cheers) So David's got mad skills. Very nice, very nice, very nice. I don't know the song, but very nice."
Paula said: "I think all of us were trying to figure that out... [Simon interjected it was first released by Australian singer John Farnham.] You couldn't have picked an American composer? (laughs) I'm just kidding. David, you could sing the phone book and we'd fall in love with that too. (cheers)"
Simon said: "David, you know, you sang it well in parts. But I'm going to be honest with you, and this is not going to make me very popular. I actually didn't like the performance at all. (boos) I thought it was actually reminiscent of a theme-park performance. (boos) I did. It's one of those ghastly songs you sing when you've got animated creatures with you and everyone joins in together. That's what it reminds me of. I don't think that is you at all. I'd be amazed if you chose the song yourself, because it's not you."
Additional Info: David was born December 28, 1990 and is really close to his oldest sister, whom he described as his "partner in crime"... David said he frequently danced as a child, which was "kind of embarrassing" but "fun"... Since he's participating in Idol, David hasn't been attending his high school and has instead been being tutored. Ryan asked if he's missed anything. "I've missed a few dances. I might miss prom," he answered, which brought a round of, "Aww" from the studio audience. Ryan asked if David had anybody in mind he wanted to take, and David was hesitant to answer since he was unsure if he could go. "Is it somebody that's here in the studio?" persisted Ryan. "Maybe close to your father?" The Idol cameras then caught a girl sitting in the audience next to David's dad, presumably the young lady Ryan was referencing.

Kristy Lee Cook, a 24-year-old from Selma, OR

Song: "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood
Randy said: "Great song choice. I love that song. Other than some little pitchy spots in the middle, I thought it was a very nice performance from you. (cheers)"
Paula said: "A very poignant and respectful song. It was a good choice -- a very good choice for you. To me, I've seen better performances from you. But your voice is sounding much stronger. Watch the pitch problems. But you're growing."
Simon said: "Kristy, your best performance by a mile I think. (cheers) I have to say that was the most clever song choice I have heard in years. I've got to tell you -- and I believe I'm right in saying it -- Lee Greenwood wrote that song. Brilliant writer. Brilliant song. I thought it overall was a good performance and that's going to keep you in the competition."
Additional Info: Kristy was born January 18, 1984 and said her parents always say she "came out smiling"... As a youth, Kristy said she was signing all the time, which she said got on her parent's nerves... Kristy pumped her fist and jumped around following Simon's comments.

David Cook, a 25-year-old from Blue Spings, MO who currently resides in Tulsa, OK

American Idol Season 7 David Cook Top 10

Song: "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson
Randy said: "I've got to say, you're probably the most original -- the most bold -- contestant we've ever had. That performance right there tonight on that joint you just did? Dude, you might be the one to win the whole lot! (cheers) That was hot! Blazing, molten hot!"
Paula said: "I was blown away. I can't sit down. I've got to tell you how smart you are, how brave you are and how willing you are to stretch the boundaries. You do it right to the edge without going over. I think you're brilliant."
Simon said: "David that was brave. It could have either been insane or amazing, and I have to tell you it was amazing. (cheers)"
Additional Info: David was born December 20, 1982... When he was a kid, David thought he had a "massive skull" and thought he looked like a comic book villain... He received his first guitar when he was 2-years-old... Ryan introduced David from a spot in the audience surrounded by female fans. A sign close by read, "Seacrest is sexy"... Paula delivered her comments on her feet... The studio audience once again went absolutely crazy after the judges' comments.

Project Catwalk 2008 Winner Jasper Garvida

2008-03-22T07:12:00.003+02:00

Jasper Garvida is announced as the winner of this year’s Project Catwalk

After a nail-biting ten weeks, we can proudly reveal that Jasper Garvida is Project Catwalk’s winning designer. The announcement was made in the season’s finale of Project Catwalk, which was broadcasted last night, 19th March, Sky One 9pm.

In the final episode of the series, Project Catwalk’s Jasper Garvida, Viv Whelan and Chelsey Oliver, carried out their last and most challenging assignment of the season, after 9 tough weeks of bitching and stitching.

The 3 remaining contestants had to each create a 12 piece women’s wear collection inspired by an inspirational visit or destination, to be presented on the catwalk as part of On I Off London Fashion Show, during London Fashion Week.

Each of the three finalists were given £5000 to purchase all of the necessary materials including fabric, accessories and any additional labour for specialist elements of their garments. Furthermore, each contestant was taken to the place of their choice which they found would inspire their collection. This place, its architecture, atmosphere, colours, and history needed to be in some, or all of those ways, inspirational for their final collection.

Project Catwalk 2008 Winner Jasper Garvida

The judges faced a very tough decision, but Jasper Garvida’s talent, meticulous detail and passion shined through in his collection, making him Project Catwalk’s triumphant designer.

Kelly Osbourne, presenter of Project Catwalk said, "This year we’ve had some incredibly talented contestants which made our decision very difficult, but Jasper’s talent and passion for design has stood out throughout the competition and his final collection was dazzling. I really do think that we have found the UK’s next biggest designer."

Jasper Garvida has won every fashion designer’s dream -- An exclusive deal with online style boutique Oli -- leader in new media fashion, a £25,000 cash prize to the winner courtesy of Oli, as well as a spread in the world renowned iconic fashion magazine covering top designers and trends, Grazia.

American Idol cuts Amanda Overmyer, reveals Top 10 finalists

2008-03-20T12:22:00.002+02:00

Amanda Overmyer was revealed to be the second finalist eliminated from American Idol's seventh season during last night's live results show broadcast on Fox.

The 23-year-old from Mulberry, IN was ousted from Idol's seventh season based on home viewer votes cast immediately following Tuesday night's live performance episode broadcast that saw the Top 11 finalists perform songs from the John Lennon/Paul McCartney songbook.

"It's been a run," said Overmyer after her elimination. "I'm not going to go on the tour, but No. 11 out of all them people is more than I could have ever expected."

Overmyer sang "Back in the USSR" during Tuesday night's performance episode. Idol judge Randy Jackson had felt there were a "couple of issues with it," including that it was "just a little pitchy in the beginning," but thought it was "good" overall.

While fellow judge Paula Abdul complimented Overmyer's "authentic" style, she also agreed with Jackson about the pitch being off and added Overmyer was ahead of the beat at times.

"Amanda it was what it was. It was predictable. It was a bit of a mess in parts," said Simon Cowell, not mincing words. "It's just the same thing week after week after week, and I think Paula -- to a point -- is right, I think you've got at least one week do... something which is a bit of a surprise. Otherwise, you are in danger of becoming actually a bit boring."

Prior to Overmyer's elimination, Carly Smithson, a 24-year-old from San Diego, CA, and Kristy Lee Cook, a 24-year-old from Selma, OR, were revealed to be the other members of this week's bottom three vote-getters.

When host Ryan Seacrest revealed Smithson -- who sang "Blackbird" on Tuesday night -- was the first member of this week's bottom three, it brought boos from the studio audience.

"America definitely got it wrong," said Abdul.

"Got it wrong man," agreed Jackson. "It was a tough song to sing. It wasn't the smartest choice. It was a tough song to sing. It didn't let you show your power. But she's one of the best singers in the whole thing, dawg."

Former Idol fifth-season finalist Kellie Pickler -- whom Seacrest commented has "grown in so many ways since leaving us" -- also performed her single "Red High Heels" during the results show broadcast.

In addition, Seacrest revealed Idol's seventh-season music mentors will be country star Dolly Parton; singer Mariah Carey; musical composer and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? creator Andrew Lloyd Webber; and singer Neil Diamond. He also announced the launch of the songwriting contest that will find the song that will serve as Idol's seventh-season winner's first single. Entries can be submitted until March 31 and addition details are available via Idol's website.

Idol's Top 10 seventh-season finalists -- Brooke White, David Archuleta, David Cook, Michael Johns, Jason Castro, Ramiele Malubay, Syesha Mercado, Chikezie Eze, Carly Smithson and Kristy Lee Cook -- will all take the stage and perform during next week's live 90-minute performance episode broadcast on Tuesday at 8PM ET/PT.

On Wednesday beginning at 9PM ET/PT, another finalist will be eliminated from the competition based on home viewer votes, revealing the season's Top 9 finalists.

American Idol's Top 11 seventh-season finalists take to the stage

2008-03-20T12:12:00.003+02:00

American Idol's Top 11 seventh-season finalists took the stage during last night's live performance episode broadcast, singing songs from the John Lennon/Paul McCartney songbook.

Despite choosing tunes from the famed songbook for the second week in a row, the majority of the finalists couldn't recreate their memorable performances from last week -- however the seventh-season's early frontrunner did return to original form.

The following is Reality TV World's recap of the performance broadcast in the order which the Top 11 finalists sang. Also included are comments from each of the three judges -- Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell -- as well as additional information about each performance.

On Wednesday night beginning at 9PM ET/PT, one finalist will be eliminated based on home viewer votes cast immediately following last night's broadcast, revealing the seventh-season's Top 11 finalists. In addition, former Idol fifth-season finalist Kellie Pickler will perform her single "Red High Heels."

Amanda Overmyer, a 23-year-old from Mulberry, IN

Song: "Back in the USSR"
Randy said: "Alright Amanda. Paula and I were sitting here, we were saying that was the perfect song choice for you. I did have couple issues with it. When you started it -- you've got that bluesy thing, it revolves around four or five notes all the time -- but it was just a little pitchy in the beginning. By the middle of the song, I think you started feeling the crowd and the energy and you picked it up and it was really cool at the end. But just watch the pitches. So for me, I've got to give you a seven out of 10 for that one. But it was good!"
Paula said: "It was a little sketchy at first because I also felt besides the pitch that you weren't hearing the timing... You were just a little ahead of the beat. But when you connect you are quintessential, authentic, who you are. That is something that we look for in this competition -- being unique. You don't have to be different from who you are. I'd love to see you do a vulnerable ballad at one point, but I love you and I think that you're going to continue keep going up."
Simon said: "Amanda it was what it was. It was predictable. It was a bit of a mess in parts. (boos) It's just the same thing week after week after week, and I think Paula -- to a point -- is right, I think you've got at least one week do what [David Cook] did a couple weeks ago with the Lionel Richie song and actually do something which is a bit of a surprise. Otherwise, you are in danger of becoming actually a bit boring."
Additional Info: Randy was caught yawning as host Ryan Seacrest introduced him at the beginning of the broadcast... A sign in the studio audience read, "Simon is Sexy," which prompted Ryan to comment, "I see you're holding sign-making class at your house again," to Simon... All of the contestants discussed their most memorable moment so far, and Amanda said it was performing on the "big stage." "It's a hell of a lot better than the flatbed trucks I used to play on," she said... Amanda said she chose the song because it's "very upbeat" and will "put my little Southern rock kick on it"... After Simon's comments, Amanda said she thinks "ballads are boring" and further defended herself. "I figure I have a minute-and-a-half to show America what they would see if they came to my show ands bought a ticket to see me. I've got a minute-and-a-half a week, so that's what I'm doing. I want people to come and say, "Hey, that chick looks like fun, I want to go see that show." The studio audience cheered, and Simon countered. "Amanda, your tickets aren't on sale yet. So we might be jumping the gun a little bit here."

Kristy Lee Cook, a 24-year-old from Selma, OR

Song: "Hey You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"
Randy said: "That was one of my favorite Beatles songs right there, I love that song. It was an interesting arrangement. At the end when you hit the high note, I was like, 'Yeah!' The whole song should have been a little more emotional from you, and you could have gone there quicker and sooner, because it felt a little boring and really safe. I'm not even sure the melody and the chorus you were singing right."
Paula said: "You did some choices on the melody, and sometimes with songs it's safer to just stick to the melody. I've got to tell you though, this is the best you've ever looked. You look gorgeous tonight. (cheers) It was a little safe. It was good. I agree with Randy on the high notes. If you could just take those liberties a little more, it will be a little more interesting."
Simon said: "Kristy I think you need something like hypnosis or something. The problem is you're not a good performer. The last two seconds were okay (boos)... Oh be quiet! It's like musical wallpaper so much as you notice it, but you can't remember it. That's what you're doing week after week. You're making no impact, apart from when you were terrible last week. You were better this week, I will grant you that."
Additional Info: Kristy keeps a couple of small photos albums with her and flips through them at night, and one of the pictures includes a horse making a funny face. Kristy explained she had just sprayed it with vinegar to keep the flies off. "Paula that's the trick -- vinegar," said Ryan, referring to Simon... Kristy said she's always "the last man standing" during results shows. "That's a lot of stress... It's really scary," she said... Kristy said she heard the song for the first time this week and basically picked it because of its title. "I'm just going to stand up there and sing with my heart and hopefully America will like it."... Kristy said the Beatles are new to her so she just tried to "have fun with it." "Hopefully I'm here next week because I can blow you out of your socks and you know it!" she said, a comment that brought laughter from the judges and Ryan. "It's hot, turn on the air," said Ryan. "It is hot!" agreed Kristy.

David Archuleta, a 17-year-old from Murray, UT

American Idol Season 7 David Archuleta Top 11

Song: "The Long and Winding Road"
Randy said: "They're right to clap because David Archuleta's brought the hotness back to his game tonight with that right there! (cheers) One thing, let me give you one piece of advice... That's the kind of song where you could have sung a couple runs and gotten by with it. So you played it a little safe -- it was still brilliant -- but I'm saying, take the liberties on joints like that. Very nice though man, very nice."
Paula said: "This probably for me is the most exciting and wonderful performance because the purity of who you are and what your sound is is very identifiable, and the fact that you can rise above adversity, come back strong -- that challenge doesn't build character, it reveals your character. You're wonderful."
Simon said: "David, last week was a complete mess. This week I thought you were amazing. (cheers) Absolutely you made my point -- what I was trying to say on the previous contestant, which is that it's so important that you sell a song and that you remember a performance. That was a master class."
Additional Info: David said he's had "amazing" moments like singing "Imagine," and "not so good moments," like forgetting his lyrics last week. "You just have to concentrate on the positive side of everything," he said in moving past his flub. "Hopefully I'll remember all my words tonight. It doesn't look to good when you don't."... David's dad was in the audience applauding his son following the performance... After the judges comments, a group of girls in the front of the audience yelled, "We love you David!"... David said a song like "The Long and Winding Road" is the kind that people can "connect" with him the most.

Michael Johns, a 29-year-old from Los Angeles, CA

Song: "A Day in the Life"
Randy said: "Michael, you know what's cool? You just looked at me, you know already what I'm kind of going to say right? It wasn't one of your best performances, and I'll tell you there were a bunch of things with it. I still don't think you've chosen the right song. These Beatles songs are amazing -- I don't know if that was the right Beatles song for you. The thing is, you've got to remember dude you've got that big old voice -- we saw it when we first auditioned you. You of anybody up here can just sing and let your voice do its thing, but you haven't found that vehicle to do that yet. So wasn't one of your good ones baby."
Paula said: "I was able to catch a little sound from the dress rehearsal and you were pretty phenomenal then. I don't know if it's because you guys are working with monitors in your ears right now and a lot of you may not be used to it. It's something that takes a lot getting used to, and I know you're just experiencing that. You lose a connection a little bit with the audience because you're worried about how you're sounding too. So it's a balance. I don't know. It's a big stage."
Simon said: "I don't think that makes any difference whatsoever because the long and short of it was that it was a mess. (boos) It was. It was. You didn't hit the right notes, the song went all over the place, it was a very complicated song. It doesn't work as a minute-and-a-half Michael. I've got to tell you, you have got to start sorting yourself out now. If you want to do well in this competition, you have got to nail the song like David did before you. That was not good enough. Sorry."
Additional Info: Michael said his most memorable moment so far was singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" during the Hollywood Round because it was a "pretty risky thing" but he was "proud" of the rendition... Like last week, Michael once again gushed about the Beatles. He said "A Day in the Life" is one of his favorite Beatles songs, but difficult for Idol since it's such a long song and needed to be compressed... After the judges comments, Ryan revealed Michael wasn't wearing ear monitors. "This is very embarrassing," said Simon. Paula tried to defend herself. "Now there's no excuse and you are a phenomenal performer and you've got to raise your game."... Michael said he dedicated the song to a friend who passed away last year.

Brooke White, a 24-year-old from Mesa, AZ who currently resides in Van Nuys, CA

Song: "Here Comes the Sun"
Randy said: "That performance was really awkward for me for the first time for you. Even when you came over and did the, 'Woo!' I don't know. ('I shouldn't of done that, I agree with you,' answered Brooke.) You know what, you made a great point right there. You know what it was for me, that's what the whole meaning of the thing was -- you were never really connected to that song for me. You were kind of moving awkward, dancing... It never quite gelled together for me. It was not hot for me."
Paula said: "What was hot for me was you can't help but smile when you watch you and when you look at you sing. (cheers) I love the yellow for the sun. What it did show is that you have really good low tone to your voice. Those low notes showed a different side to you and a different color other than yellow. I think that it could have been a little more challenging and you could have not played it as safe. But Brooke, you're a lovable girl."
Simon said: "I just knew Brooke when you were choosing that song that you'd be dressed in yellow and the lighting would be yellow. I thought the performance was terrible. (boos) From the horrible dancing to the absolutely lack of conviction, it was wet, it was forgettable... But Brooke, that's what it's all about, song choice. There's a vast difference between 'Let It Be' and 'Here Comes the Sun.'"
Additional Info: Brooke visited her family at home this weekend because relatives from Nova Scotia were in town, including her 5-week-old niece...Brooke's husband was in the studio audience... Brooke was "a little overwhelmed" about doing the Beatles again because she did so well with "Let It Be" last week. "The moment was bigger than me," she said of the performance... She chose "Here Comes the Sun" because it's "very well written" and the melody is "incredible."... "You guys have been really nice to me, so it's okay," said Brooke after the harsh comments from Simon, calling the criticism "inevitable." "I tried something," she added. "If I get to remain, I'm returning to what I feel I do better. I have a plan."

David Cook, a 25-year-old from Blue Spings, MO who currently resides in Tulsa, OK

Song: "Day Tripper"
Randy said: "You know what this is like? You know why I love seeing you every week? You keep it interesting. It's like going to another sing at a David Cook concert. You've got your Eddie Van Halen amp, you've got your Les Paul [guitar], you're throwing picks out into the crowd, you've got the voice-box solo. I don't know if it's your best performance but it's another solid look for David Cook. I loved it."
Paula said: "There's really not much else anyone can say because you're ready to go sell records. You chose using the voice box in a very cool way. I think you probably could have... You could probably get a Geico commercial now. Geico commercials are next."
Simon said: "David I don't think that was as good as you thought it was actually. (laughing) Seriously, you looked a bit smug throughout and I thought [voice box] in the middle was just stupid. (boos) Just an opinion! You've lost your element of surprise a little bit. I think last week you were terrific, you know I was a big fan of you when you did the Lionel Richie song. This again was a bit predicable and I didn't like that version."
Additional Info: David said his most memorable moment so far came last Tuesday when he sand "Eleanor Rigby" because it was the "epitome of what he wanted to do" as a rock performer, plus the judges liked it... David performed "Day Tripper" with a guitar and voice box, using the White Snake version of the song with a "rock/funk vibe"... After his performance, David said he only learned how to use the voice box this week... Paula's Geico comments were a reference to a commercial for the insurance company in which Peter Frampton uses a voice box... Ryan almost knocked David to the ground with the microphone after the judges comments. David then gave Ryan a demonstration on the voice box, and the crowd implored the Idol host to try it. "We don't have time for that," he said.

Carly Smithson, a 24-year-old from San Diego, CA

American Idol Season 7 Carly Smithson Top 11

Song: "Blackbird"
Randy said: "Yo, another great performance for Carly Smithson. Very nice, very controlled, very emotive. I love that. Very heavy cooliosis factor Paula, cooliosis right there."
Paula said: "Is that a new word? You have an amazing tone to your voice. The inflections that you do throughout the song, the choices that you make, the arrangement was beautiful. I love this season so much because all of you are challenging each other to be greater at what you do... You stand right in there with a capital 'F' for 'fantastic.'"
Simon said: "So Beatles songs -- Week 2 -- and you choose a song about a blackbird. I don't think that was a very smart thing to do. I thought the song was indulgent, I didn't like the song at all."
Additional Info: Paula said Simon had whispered in her ear that "Blackbird" originated as a song called "Sparrow" and "the sparrow fell from the tree into a pile of oil." "I don't know what she's talking about," said Simon... Carly said her most memorable moment was last Tuesday when Simon compared her to Kelly Clarkson's Top 12 performance, a similar comment to the one he made during her first Idol audition during Season 5... Carly said her brother used to sing "Blackbird" growing up, so it was one of the first songs she tried to learn. "I haven't done that kind of soft, ballad song yet, so hopefully 'Blackbird' will be a good choice," she said... After Simon's comments, Carly explained the song choice. "Blackbird, fly, broken wing -- I just like we've all been trying to break into this industry for so long. You get beaten down so hard that you feel broken, for me, it's like blackbird fly. I know that's corny, but I was very afraid to come audition for this show. Now I'm here and I'm so happy." Simon said the comment made him feel "uncomfortable." "I now think that you're all broken birds. That's what you're saying to me. Well you're now free."... As Ryan was saying Carly's call-in number, she showed that she had the number "7" tattooed on her knuckle. "It's permanent and I got it this week," she said. "It's Season 7. The biggest things for me are my marriage and American Idol right now."

Jason Castro, a 20-year-old from Rockwall, TX

Song: "Michelle"
Randy said: "Alright, good choice 'Michelle.' I mean I love the song, it was a little interesting for me for you because it was very subdued by you this time. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know if I really, really got it. It was just all right for me man. I didn't feel like you were really connected with it that much either."
Paula said: "Jason you have a very distinct charm about you and that's why a lot of these girls are falling in love with you. (cheers) I feel like you get a little disconnected when you're away from your guitar, and I feel that gets a little uncomfortable for me. It's an intimate song that became more like a polka almost -- it was very sing-song. It was a little awkward for me. I think that you've got to work a little bit on that. It just didn't connect with the audience."
Simon said: "This is a very weird show tonight. I'm not sure it was such a good idea doing Beatles again because we have such a great memory from last week and this is all getting a bit strange. Where you're lucky is that this is a TV show and not a radio show. You're face sold that. (cheers) As Paula said, what you have Jason -- and I like you a lot -- is that you're very charming. You're not obnoxious. (cheers) There's a whole kind of goofiness that makes it work, because if I was just listening to that French/English version of the song on the radio, it would be off."
Additional Info: Jason said his most memorable moment came when he sang "Hallelujah" but remembers it most for flubbing the final note. However the performance was praised by the judges... Jason said "Michelle" is "dynamic" but added the song is a "challenge" because he's never spoken French before... "This week just kind of came really fast. I didn't have a lot of time," said Jason after Randy's comments... "It could be Beatles night every night. They just need to sing these songs like there's no tomorrow!" said Randy after Simon's comments.

Syesha Mercado, a 21-year-old from Sarasota, FL who currently resides in Miami, FL

American Idol Season 7 Syesha Mercado Top 11

Song: "Yesterday"
Randy said: "So you took some liberties, you worked on the melody, changed some things around a little bit. In my estimation, very, very, very good performance tonight." (cheers)
Paula said: "It's great to see how you change and how you let yourself be very vulnerable... I have to tell you, that vulnerability is really where you need to be because that sets you apart from everyone else. The only thing I would work on is connecting more with your eyes and looking at the audience. Other than that, you've got a beautiful voice."
Simon said: "Syesha I thought that was probably your best performance so far. (cheers) It wasn't incredible, but you chose the best song. You chose the song actually Brooke should have sung. But I like the kind of Eva Cassidy-type arrangement. Actually I thought you sold the song very, very well. I think that song and that performance should keep you in the competition."
Additional Info: Last night's performance episode was the first time Syesha's parents were in the Idol studio audience... Syesha said being in the bottom three for the Top 12 was memorable, but said it "happened for a good reason" because it provided her "inspiration" and a "kick in the butt"... Syesha performed a Beatles medley in middle school, and "Yesterday" was one of the songs that touched her... Syesha was accompanied on stage by an acoustic guitar.

Chikezie Eze, a 22-year-old from Inglewood, CA

Song: "I've Just Seen a Face"
Randy said: "So there were some good parts for me and some bad parts for me. It sounded like it could make a good country song, I liked it when it went to the fast part. The slow part I didn't quite get. But the fast part, you need that up tempo stuff to use all that energy you've got. So I like that. Harmonica was a very weird, strange arrangement, but hey it could be a good country song. I don't know. It was strange for me."
Paula said: "You know Randy I disagree. I think that you're showing who you are and the depth and the scope of your vocals. I think that when you sing a ballad, it is so pure, on pitch, beautiful. Then you show a whole different side of you in a minute and 30 seconds. I get a whole scope of who you are, and I love it. (cheers) You did it again! Two weeks in a row, I love it."
Simon said: "I thought it started off okay, and then you played the harmonica, which was literally atrocious. (boos) Then it turns into 'Achy Breaky Heart' at the end... All this nonsense with Paula saying, 'This is the artist you should be.'... It was like a lot of different artists, I don't know what that was all about, it wasn't as good as last week. I actually thought it was gimmicky."
Additional Info: Prior to Chikezie's performance, Ryan shamelessly used an elderly man in the studio audience to plug Idol's Apple sponsorship... Chikezie said his most memorable moment came the first night of the Hollywood Round when he received compliments from all three judges... Chikezie was excited to revisit the Beatles and said John Lennon was his favorite since he's an "imaginative" songwriter... Chikezie played the harmonica during his performance. "I know a lot of people have been playing instruments this season and I haven't done it myself," he said. "So I figure I'll go out and pick one up -- I have no idea how to play it yet -- so don't harp on me for it."

Ramiele Malubay, a 20-year-old from Miramar, FL

American Idol Season 7 Ramiele Malubay Top 11

Song: "I Should Have Known Better"
Randy said: "Alright so I wasn't jumping up and down, but I liked it. What I loved about this performance for you is you showed that confidence that I know is in there. It was kind of a happy-go-lucky kind of a joint, but it was alright. You did your thing. It was alright. it was alright."
Paula said: "Definitely better than last week, and even though last week you don't feel was good and you thought you bored us, there's something about your voice when you sing ballads that allows you to really show your range. I want very much for you to get back into that zone when you sing the... and show what you got. Now's the time to just pick the right song."
Simon said: "It sounded like Chikezie was on harmonica. (boos) Honestly, the problem was that I like you a lot. I think you've got a fantastic personality, you're lots of fun. The track sounded terrible. It sounded very amateurish, the whole thing. But you are in a boat along with a lot of other people tonight, which was you chose really mediocre songs that didn't show the best of your ability. So it is what it is."
Additional Info: Ramiele said one of the best things about Idol is making a bunch of new friends who are going through the same experience as her... She called Brooke "the mom of the apartment" and David Cook the "big brother." "It's like a really big family," she said. "It's nice to have people that kind of take care of you away from home."... Since she bored the judges last week, Ramiele said she chose an up tempo song this week... Ramiele said she tries to pick the right song, it just didn't work.

Sport Relief: Leona Lewis diary tells of heartbreak at African aids orphans

2008-03-17T23:10:00.002+02:00

Leona Lewis is the girl with the world at her feet, multi-million pound deals and a future as one of our brightest singers.

But the 22-year-old X Factor beauty tells today how a heartbreaking visit to Johannesburg in South Africa with Sport Relief has changed her life.

Her new double A-side Footprints in the Sand/Better in Time is the official Sport Relief single.

And now she has seen for herself the devastation HIV and Aids wreaks on families, meeting starving orphans in filthy houses and talked to young domestic and sexual abuse victims.
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Leona kept this heart-rending diary of her three-day trip to the continent where 11 million children have been orphaned by Aids and where 4,500 people die each day because of the disease...

Leona Lewis Sports Relief 2008 Performances

DAY ONE

Morning: We drove to a township where I visited Lethi Themba, a project caring for people infected and affected by HIV and Aids.

I'd prepared myself for an emotional time but when I arrived I was met by a sea of beaming faces of children dancing and singing to us. Seeing their joy but knowing the sadness and tragedy they face was overwhelming.

Lorraine, who is one of the carers, introduced me to children happily playing.

Immediately they were holding my hand and sitting on my lap and soon we were all hugging, singing and dancing together. They were so joyous and beautiful.

Knowing they were all orphans having lost one or both parents to Aids just about broke my heart.

The surrounding roads are dusty and dirty and the housing is abysmal - no windows, and drainpipes on the street leaking murky water. The conditions were far worse than I'd imagined. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

I stayed, playing and laughing with these wonderful children.

They taught me African nursery rhymes - one was about Aids.

Of course, it's so important to raise awareness of the dangers but it was so sad to see such small children singing about something so serious.

Afternoon: I was invited to one of the children's homes. I took a package of food and gave it to the grandmother. It contained a bit of rice and a small amount of meat. Barely enough for one, never mind this family of five.

Gran welcomed me into the tiny house like I was one of the family.

It had three rooms, no inside toilet or anywhere to wash. It was total poverty.

The brothers and sisters had lost their mum to Aids a year before and were being looked after by their gran. I started to cry as she told me about the family's day-to-day struggle.

Tears rolled down her cheeks too.

There was something utterly devastating about an old lady breaking down like that.

She told me how she desperately missed her daughter.

The death has torn the family apart. And gran told me they sometimes go for days without food. She held my hand and said: "If it wasn't for the centre, we wouldn't eat today."

It was an emotional moment. And that poor woman always makes sure the children eat before her. If there isn't enough left, she goes hungry.

There was so much suffering yet so much courage. As well as being moved I was also inspired.

And if it wasn't for the fundraising of Sport Relief, many families would not survive.

Carers give skills, time and unconditional love to children and families devastated by this disease.

I hope people back home help in any way they can. It could be the difference between life and death for a lot of people.

DAY TWO

Morning: I visited Tembise township, which has a centre where disadvantaged children can learn journalism skills.

I did a radio interview with two eight-year-old DJs. The set-up was good, with mics and computers. They were very articulate and spoke more than two languages.

They'd done their research on me and asked some great questions: What was it like to release an album? How did it feel to be number one? Why was I a vegetarian? And what is Simon Cowell really like?

That made me giggle!

This project shows with programmes like these, children's growth is unlimited and could take them into careers that they'd never have had prospects in.

Afternoon: I met a young girl called Nandipha. She was 13 and invited me to her home - in a tiny garage. I also met her grandmother who had recently lost her daughter, Nandipha's mother. She had lost two other daughters to Aids too.

It broke my heart as I walked round the tiny room with no lights and one small bed shared by the grandmother and four children.

They too often go without food and again there was no bathroom or toilet. The roof was leaking and the electrical wires were exposed.

I can't believe people are forced to live like this, it's not right.

Later I visited a settlement in the most horrendous conditions.

I don't think I was quite prepared for what was to come.

I met Anette, who is working with lawyers to establish clean and safe living conditions for the community of 900 people, who all live in appalling, unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

I met the village elder who showed me around. As I walked, the people came out of huts with roofs of plastic held down with rocks. Small children crawled along a rubbish and glass covered dirt floor.

Their clothes were filthy and full of holes. I felt ill with sadness.

No running water in a community of 900 people. Disease, dehydration, depression. We need to support these people.

DAY THREE

Morning: We were invited to watch a girls' football match in a small township near Johannesburg - and they all played with skill, athleticism and stamina despite the heat.

I spoke to Kona, founder of the football team programme, Happy Hearts. She said all its children and young adults are from households suffering domestic violence.

And she said many of the girls had been raped. I was stunned.

These poor, poor girls had suffered traumas so awful I can't even begin to think about it.

But, through the project, which also provides counselling, they had found some joy in their lives.

Kona set it up after her sister was raped and killed 10 years ago. Everything is done in her memory and Kona is determined to help other women.

I found her extraordinary.

The project is a great example of how Sport Relief uses sport to help people in desperate situations and to shatter taboos of issues such as domestic violence, HIV and Aids.

I've only been here a short time but it has been a life-changing experience. Seeing what these brave, humble, remarkable people have to endure on a daily basis has put a lot of things in perspective for me.

We have everything. They have nothing. I feel so moved and so saddened but also hopeful that we can all help in some way.

Suzanne Shaw wins 'Dancing On Ice 2008'

2008-03-17T23:00:00.002+02:00

Former Hear'Say singer Suzanne Shaw has won Dancing On Ice.

Shaw beat fellow contestants Zaraah Abrahams and Chris Fountain to take the third series crown.

Shaw and partner Matt Evers danced to 'Time to Say Goodbye' and Madonna's 'Music' before receiving a clean sweep of sixes from the judges, the first in the show's history. Her performance brought judge Karen Barber and host Holly Willoughby to tears.

Ex-Coronation Street star Zaraah Abrahams was the first contestant to be voted off by the public.

"We've had the best time. I can't even explain how amazing tonight has been. Thank you to everyone for being so amazing," Zaraah said.

Favourite Chris Fountain had no complaints about Shaw's victory, saying: "I don't mind. I've got to the final. I want to thank my mum and everyone. I want to thank my coach and everyone."

Shaw admitted she will miss dancing with partner Matt, adding: "I have loved every single second of this show. I want to thank Torvill and Dean and everyone on and off the ice."

Dancing on Ice Susan Shaw Final Night Performances

After seeing Shaw dance to Madonna's 'Music', judge Jason Gardiner praised the Popstars winner, saying: "You are the total package and gave a champion performance. Unbelievable."