American Idol: Season 7 Ponies.

Thankfully, this season has no Sanjayas or Taylor Hicks. After watching the top 24, here are my predictions (or maybe more of my wishful thinking):

MALES:

Michael Johns - He’s had strong performances throughout the competition so far. I rolled my eyes when he picked “Bohemian Rhapsody” a week ago, but he ended up totally impressing me. The “white, soul singer” should make it to the top five as he’s got the charming Aussie look and the authentic, powerful voice. (youtube - “Bohemian Rhapsody”)

David Archuleta - Okay, I’ll admit it. I’ve got a weird “he’s like eight years younger than me, but he’s totally cute omigosh” thing for him, but I assure you there’s more reasons to keep him around. He’s just 17, having gone through vocal problems, only to come back like nothing happened. His voice sounds quite mature for 17 plus his humbleness and megawatt smile make me want to root for this young’un. (youtube - “Heaven”)

Notable Contestants: David Cook is decent, but a bit too close to Michael Johns and Michael has the edge. We’ll see if he “rocks it out” a bit more. Danny Noriega is a strange one. After his first audition, Paula was astounded that his voice belonged to him because after all, “you know who you are.” I think what she meant is that for a feminine guy (okay, so he’s presumably gay), he’s got a very strong man voice. I second Paula’s sentiments. Although the voice doesn’t fit the body, he should be sticking around for awhile.

FEMALES:

Syesha Mercado - Did anybody catch that she lost her voice but managed to belt out “Chain of Fools” last week? Um, and how adorable was it that she made little posters instead of talking? No doubt, she has the best vocals out of all the contestants. Yes, that’s what I said. (youtube - “Chain of Fools”)

Alaina Whitaker - Randy pointed it out, this is a season full of awesome young’uns. She had one of the best performances in the top 24 and she’s only 16 with no professional voice training??? Plus, she’s got the look. Talent + eye candy = force to be reckoned with. Hopefully, her age and inexperience doesn’t doom her too early. (youtube - “Stronger”)

Notable Contestants: I know, you’re surprised I’m not totally rooting for my fellow Filipina, Ramiele Malubay. She’s good, but there’s something about her that I can’t back up. Kady Malloy started off strong, but I’m not so sure after her top 24 performance. She’s definitely marketable though and it depends largely on if she ends up building up confidence or allowing the judges to remind her that her Britney impersonations are better.

I think there is definitely tough competition with the girls and I’d list more of them, but then I’d end up listing almost all of them. With all the talent learning towards the girls, I’d be super surprised if a girl doesn’t win American Idol. Unless Michael Johns takes it all!

Good riddance, Time Warner Cable!

I just switched over to AT&T’s U-VERSE service this week. Took two weeks for an installer to come out and another two hours for him to get everything setup, but now my home theater is complete (for now.) With over 30 HD channels streaming in, I can finally make use of my new fancy TV. I’ve enjoyed several on demand shows and lots of movies from the movie channels have kept me company. There’s the occasional digital glitch or two, but so far, excusable problems. This is a young service with promises of being better.

Just in time too, I just read this article - Time Warner: Download Too Much and You Might Pay $30 a Movie - which basically says TWC is trying out extra charges to those who use extra bandwidth. With HD content and more music and movie streaming, they are onto something. Milking the cash cow, that’s what. I think it may be too early to try this tactic, but whatever! Tomorrow I return my hardware to TWC and finally bid adieu.

In other TV news:

I’ve been keeping up with The Biggest Loser for the first time. It’s actually pretty inspiring. Instead of taking a nap, I went and worked out after watching this the other day! I am incredibly intimidated by trainer Jillian Michaels and think I would hide if I saw her in real life.

I didn’t understand Gene Simmons’ move on The Celebrity Apprentice. I’ve never seen Donald try and help someone so much. I think Simmons may be “too smart for his britches.” Hard to believe he rocked it with KISS, he’s so serious.

I am very glad Friday Night Lights still has new episodes and has not been canned.

Finally, my mom called me right after American Idol Wednesday night. I was behind fifteen minutes because I was watching it on my DVR (to avoid commercials!) so I didn’t know what she was laughing about. And then I saw. The “Asian man dressed like Elvis” my mom described was actually a “Filipino man dressed like a Simon worshiping angel.” It was very strange. (And admittedly, catchy!) But I did chuckle when Paula Abdul started breaking out the dance moves. Oh Dallas, you disappoint me sometimes.

I am your brother
Your best friend forever
Singing the songs, the music that you like.

We’re brothers ’till the end of time
Together or not, you’re always in my heart
Your hurt, your feelings in you will worry no more.

All-nighter recap.

I have successfully transitioned from normal people hours to strange night shift hours. I’m not sure if I should consider it a success, considering there’s no specific reason why I switched my sleeping schedule around. I slept all day Sunday, then decided to really start my day by going to church at 7pm.

Flat Matt brought it and spoke on unfulfillment, the seemingly unattainable goals and expectations we have out of life. He explained the three ways to respond to “life’s disappointments”: blaming other people, things, or events, blaming self, and giving up. We dug into Romans 5:12-17, tracing death, sin, and the cause of this “need for perfection, wholeness” back to Adam and the fall. Although we each have individualized sins, our major sin was inherited and imparted to us in the womb. But, we have been gifted righteousness and grace through Jesus Christ. The resolution to the sermon didn’t make sense in my head, but I have a feeling that’s a summation of my spiritual conflicts as of late.

I spent my “afternoon” eating Panda Express and watching Ugly Betty. I picked up disc one yesterday and had to rent disc two tonight. I had never watched the show before, but having Blockbuster Online, I tend to rent random things such as this. This show has a lot of heart. It’s refreshing to have the heroine be a physically unattractive girl with awkward traits, but with such honesty and integrity. It’s goofy, but worth watching.

I spent the rest of the night attempting to write, redesigning the blog, and notably, checking out the Q&A session from Mars Hill’s first part to their newest series, Religion Saves and Nine Other Misconceptions.

I listened to half of the sermon the other day which was interesting, but if you want the on-the-fly, honest, graphic questions and answers, watch as Pastor Mark Driscoll answers questions texted to him after their last service. This is a church that is unashamed to talk about the “dirty things,” which “dirty” or not, should not be ignored. It’s not for kiddos or the faint of heart, so if you’re neither, check out the Q&A session here.

AT&T is coming to setup their U-Verse stuff between 8am and 10am today (which is in twenty minutes!) I am quite stoked to get rid of Time Warner, especially after the one month I had no service. Maybe I should take a nap before they get here.

Mullet, mullet everywhere, but not one on my head!

I totally forgot the Survivor Finale was tonight. Luckily, JB called me a few minutes beforehand and invited me over … I think mainly because her and D wanted to see my face in the off chance that Denise would win.

But Denise did not win although she made me nervous holding those china plates for so long. When she started making a deal with Amanda, I knew she was giving up her chance at the million. Amanda said, “No dice!” because duh, Denise had nothing to offer Amanda. Probst then reminded everyone to pull out all their stops because they are so close to winning one miiiillion dollars.

And Denise tried playing all the cards she had and she only had the “tiny violin” card. She gave her sob story to everyone which either showed everyone how much of a threat she was or how much “she sucks at life.” By the way, negative million points to Courtney who said that about Denise on national TV, but I guess when it came down to it, she was the most open and honest player after all.

Short of the long, Denise did not end up in the final three and there was much rejoicing on my part.

Although I was rooting for Amanda since I thought she played a pretty clean and strategic game, I knew that Todd the schemer would win. That “slippery little sucker” backstabbed and finagled his way through the game and it really was his closing statements that won back the hearts of everyone on the jury. Amanda just bumbled over everything, throwing away all the hard work she had done the past few days. Sad. She even got less votes than broomstick Courtney who rode their coattails in. It was her “winsome” personality that gave her more votes. “Jeff Probst called me fat!”

I was amused when Probst asked the question all inquiring minds would like to know: Why does Denise have a mullet? For the love of her lunch lady job she kept it short in the front (which she ended up losing) and she kept it long for her husband because he likes it long and all feminine-like. Last time I checked mullets didn’t exactly define femininity, but oh well! Todd’s did as he wore some sort of modern day faux hawk mullet, complete with vest action, as if we forgot that he was pegged as the gay Mormon flight attendant.

Welp, the end of another season and the end of one of the craziest bets I’ve made.

Wide awake.

The past week or so has been interesting, no doubt. Dress shopping with Mandy, celebrated D’s birthday, hit up a Stars game for Hambone’s birthday, made my first gingerbread house with JB and currently awaiting for my new TV to arrive.

Throughout all the festivities, my mind has been all over the place. Most of the thoughts have been self-centered thoughts which is probably why I feel a bit unstable. No solid foundation. “The valley? Again? When is the last time I’ve hit a mountain peak?” I can feel growth, but I know it is stunted. I’m being very vague, but that’s how I feel at the moment.

But I just wanted to update for the sake of updating. Probably the most exciting news to you is that Denise is in the final four of Survivor. Guess we’ll find out Sunday night if I’ll have to sport a mullet sometime soon.