"This, However, Is Not The Hidden Immunity Idol"

I love Jeff Probst and the non-chalant way he tosses fake idols in the fire. Sorry, Ozzy. All those hours painting a face on a stick are now burning up in the flames. But, I feel that the experience of it all for Ozzy was more than worth it.

This week on Survivor, the tribes merged and strategy changed. Parvati was very clear that the line between favorites and fans is gone and it is now everybody for themselves. The merge left Eliza out in the cold and desperately seeking anyway to stay in the game. When your sole alliance member is Jason, you know that you've got something to worry about regarding your position in the game. Eliza really didn't have much chance, but at least she left the game memorably and gave a little jab at Ozzy by exposing him for having the real idol. Here are the revised rankings after how strategy played out this week:

9. Ozzy
Yes, I know, it is sad to put Ozzy in last, but I'm really afraid for him. On the previews, it seemed pretty clear that there was talk of getting rid of Ozzy. Ozzy is too powerful and too much of a threat to everybody. The odds are stacked against him. This episode also proved that he has fierce competition when it comes to challenges. So, as soon as he loses, the tribe is going to be anxious to get rid of him. Also, I think him having the idol might actually work against him because it makes him an even bigger threat than he already is. I'm really rooting for him, but I'm a little nervous at the moment.

8. Jason

I put Jason last before this episode, and I still think that he is at the bottom. He made it very clear that he is as out of the loop as Eliza was. He also proved this week that he isn't one of the smartest contestants thats ever been on Survivor. He did show, however, that he can give Ozzy a run for his money when it comes to challenges, but once again this puts a target on his back. Having no alliance and being a challenge threat is a bad combination on Survivor. His days are numbered.

7. Erik

Erik was not featured very much in this episode so he didn't move much in the ranking. It seems the best strategy for him right now is to blend into the background and be loyal when it best serves him. That being said, as a fan in a game dominated by favorites, I don't think that he has much more time in the game. He doesn't seem to have any solid alliance, so things aren't looking great for him.

6. James

James is lucky right now because all of the focus is on Ozzy and how much of a threat he is. This leaves James in the clear at least for a little while. But, I think James is too powerful and too likable for the tribe to keep him around to too long. To win Survivor you have to take with you somebody who is unliked so that you can beat him, as James agreed during tribal council. With this logic, James can't be taken to the finals because he is too liked and too hard to beat. So, I think the remaining contestants are smart enough to get rid of him before he gets too close to the end.

5. Alexis

Alexis is in a pretty good position because she is in an alliance with Parvati. It is a little shaky, though, because Parvati has said she is not positive if she is going to stick with Alexis and Natalie. Also, there is friction between Alexis and Amanda because of their relationships with Ozzy. This may make Amanda try to get rid of Alexis early. But, as it stands, Alexis got outed as a triple threat, and I think she is doing fairly well.

4. Natalie

Natalie is doing a good job of just staying in the background and not doing anything that makes her a target. I think she'll stick around because she is so low on everybody's radar. So, as long as she can continue doing what she is doing, I think she'll be around for a long time.

3. Cirie

Cirie is a smart player and is willing to do whatever she needs to to stick around. She revealed a bit of her strategy in this episode by saying that she is willing to vote for anybody as long as its not her. Cirie seems to have a strong bond with Amanda and that seems to be helping her along, so I think she'll be around for a while.

2. Amanda

Amanda seems to have some measure of control in the group. Only one person seems to have more influence- Parvati. Amanda was upset that Parvati would agree to an alliance without her, and she is upset with Alexis for trying to sneak up on her "boyfriend". So, if Amanda can suck it up and not let emotional connection with Ozzy get the best of her, I think she is going to go far. She is smart to want to get rid of Alexis since Alexis is likable and a motivational speaker- but she needs to think of her end game and how she will get there.

1. Parvati

Parvati is trying hard this time around and it seems like she has the most amount of say in the tribe. She wanted to get rid of Eliza, and so it was done. Parvati is good at wrapping the men around her finger to do her will, and she's good at forming alliances. Her fault is that she is promising too many people different things and is going to end up dissapointing someone, and this might lose her votes in the end.

So, things didn't change much in my mind. I still think that girls are going to form up together and kick off the guys. Tune in next week to see who the next fallen Survivor is and how the rankings change.

Shocking, Devastating Elimination

I am outraged! Why, America, why?

As seen on my rankings at the beginning of this blog, I put Michael as having the third best chances of winning American Idol. Boy, was I wrong on that. Not only that, but Michael was my second favorite of the whole competition, so I'm down to only one true favorite- David Cook. So, looking on the bright side, I guess I can be happy that most of Michael's votes will now go to David Cook and may give him a better shot.

Michael was a promising contestant right from his initial audition. He proved himself as a star during his Hollywood week performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody". Unfortunately he did not match the elevated expectations in the weeks to come and went through a string of average performances. But, Michael made a statement when he went back to his Queen roots and sang, "We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions". Michael was showing the world that he was in the competition to win it. Then, he gave his best and most soulful performance during country week with "It's All Wrong, But It's Alright". This week, "Dream On" was not his best performance, I'll agree, but it was by no means the worst and still showed that he could rock. I think he was robbed. Re-count anyone?

But, alas, I must move on as I have on sad days on past American Idol shows. Michael will be missed and should have lasted at least a couple more weeks. But, I'm sure he'll have a fulfilling career anyways, and I look forward to seeing what kind of album he comes out with. All I have to say is, "It's All Wrong, But Its NOT Alright". He will continue to rock the world and show that he is a true champion.

Survivor Micronesia: The Players So Far...

Along with my tradition of recapping the American Idol performances and ranking them, I will also give my thoughts about Survivor from week to week and give my ranking on how I feel the players are doing in regards to outwitting, outplaying, and outlasting their fellow tribe-mates. So here are the players as I see them going into the merge on tonight's episode:

10. Jason
I think Jason is in real trouble. He doesn't seem to be extremely well-liked by his tribe and he doesn't seem to be one of the smartest contestants to play the game since he believes he has the hidden immunity idol. He does do well in challenges, but with the merge, he will just be overshadowed by the giants that are Ozzy and James. I don't think Jason will be with us too much longer. The odds are against him this season. He is a fan and a guy, two minorities in this season.

9. Eliza
Eliza seems to just simply be the victim of bad luck in this game. She has the worst position amongst the favorites since she is the only surviving member of the aliance that failed on the favorite tribe. She is smart, though, and I could see her working her butt off to try to improve her place in the tribe. But, for the time being, I just can't see how she will survive too much longer.


8. Erik
Erik impressed me last week by avoiding an elimination that seemed to be a sure thing. He showed that he is a good strategist by turning the tribe on Ami in order to stick around. He also has formed a bond with Ozzy that may allow him to survive with the favorites as a swing vote of sorts. I fear that after his use has worn out he'll be out of the game, though.



7. James
I love James, he is a great player and a lot of fun for everyone to be around. But, he has a couple things working against him. One is the fact that he is such a big threat to win challenges after the merge. He also is so likable that if he makes it to the final three, he is guaranteed to win (except maybe against Ozzy). So, that puts a huge target on his back. I also suspect the girls are going to bond together and throw off the big strong guys.


6. Ozzy
I feel that Ozzy and James are in very much the same position in the game. I put Ozzy up a spot though because he does have the hidden immunity idol which could give him another couple of days. Also, Ozzy is more diverse in his challenge ability and he is the true threat of being able to win challenges consistently. I really am rooting for Ozzy, but I think he has a tough road ahead if he wants to make it to the finals.


5. Natalie
I don't know really anything about Natalie, but I think she made a smart move by forming an alliance with Parvati. I believe that Parvati will use Natalie and Alexis to make it to the finals. But, I also see Parvati disposing of them if she can get Cirie and Amanda on her side. Then three favorites are going up against each other in the end, which is how the favorites want it. Natalie hasn't really made an impact to me to know how she fits in the game.

4. Alexis
There really isn't a good reason I put Alexis ahead of Natalie. I think Alexis might be better at challenges and she seems more sociable. But, she is another character this season that hasn't been shown all that much.






3. Cirie
I'm slowly learning that Cirie is one of the smartest people to ever play Survivor. She is making some great moves in this game, and I think she has a shot at making the finals if she sticks with the favorites- especially the "favorites" women. Cirie is not a threat at winning challenges and she is fun to be around, which may lead the women to keeping her around longer.



2. Amanda
It's hard to believe that I'm putting Amanda so high up in the ranking. Amanda was close to winning Survivor last season, and I think she once again has put herself in a good spot. She seems to have quite a bond with Cirie and with Parvati and if she can stick close to them and not let emotional connection to Ozzy get in her way, she could go all the way.



1. Parvati
Parvati is playing to win this time around (not that she didn't before). She is making some smart moves and is showing that she isn't willing to back stab anyone (even James) to get to the finals. I think this attitude will help her get beyond any connections she has and will allow her to have a clear mind to make it far. I'm not a huge Parvati fan, but I respect how shes played the game so far.



So, there are my initial rankings for this season! I'm sure this will change radically as time goes on since Survivor is such an unpredictable game. What I see happening (as I discussed above) is that when they merge Parvati will grab Amanda and try to convince her that they should stick with Natalie and Alexis and get rid of the strong guys since they are such a threat to win the game if they make it to the finals. Amanda will convince Parvati to bring in Cirie so they have a 3-2 advantage aganist Natalie and Alexis when it comes down to 5. This is pure speculation and simply what I would do if I were Parvati and Amanda. So, make sure to watch the episode and I'll recap it tomorrow to see how close or far I was from what really happens.

Jason Castro, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"

Here is a video of what I consider the best performance of the night on American Idol last night:

"Inspiration Week" Less Than Inspired

To be honest, I must admit that the contestants for the most part didn't match my expectations. Maybe I'm expecting a little too much, but I hope for better amongst the best set of idol contestants in the history of the show. This week was "inspirational week" in honor of the mighty "Idol Gives Back" that takes place for a lengthy 2 and a half hours tonight. So, we must wait an extra day for the results, but that won't keep me from weighing in on where I think the contestants stand and how their performances rank last night.

8. Carly Smithson, "The Show Must Go On"
Award: Biggest Fall From Frontrunner Status Award
At the outset of the top 24 Carly was being promoted as the one to beat this season. Now she is barely hanging on. How did this happen? I think that Carly simply can't make an impression on the judges or the audience at large. She hasn't shown the world who she is as an artist, and so nobody is able to connect with her. This performance vocally was by no means the worst, but it is not special by any means. Simon was right, she seemed angry and almost seemed to fall apart towards the end. I felt that she strained too much to reach certain notes or make certain vocal runs work. It seems like Carly feels she has to pull all her vocal tricks from her magic hat just to stick around another week. It is a shame, but I think she may be the one to fall this week.

7. Syesha Mercado, "I Believe"
Award: Bad Song Choice Award
Syesha, Syesha, Syesha. I think Syesha is an awesome singer and has potential, but this is another week where she has made the wrong choice in choosing her song. Syesha tried to tackle a Whitney Houston classic last week, and this week she chooses to attempt the definitive performance from Idol Winner Fantasia Barrino that ultimately led her to victory. Fantasia has this amazing ability to emotionally connect to her songs and convey that connection to the audience. Unfortunately Syesha does not have this talent, so she loses in a comparison to Fantasia. It is unfair in many ways to always compare the singer to the original performer of the song, but in the case of "I Believe" it is a remarkable case that can't be left out of the minds of avid American Idol fans. So, "I Believe" that Syesha is in trouble again this week and will land in the bottom three, but will be spared. Hopefully she'll learn from this two-time mistake and choose a song that doesn't lend itself to comparison to the original artist.

6. David Cook, "Innocent"
Award: Biggest Dissapointment of the Night Award
David Cook really dissapointed me last night. This is because I expect so much better from David C. He has consistently delivered since the beginning of the competition and his performances are always ones that I look most forward to. Unfortunately, this was not his night, and he gave a performance that was all over the place and never seemed to work. I'm not sure if I agree with Simon's arrogant comment, but I do think that David C. didn't infuse his uniqueness into this performance. This could have been any generic rock singer, and David C. is a lot better than that. Luckily, his past performances should be enough to keep him safe this week. I wouldn't be surprised at a shocker of him being in the bottom three, but there is no way he'll get voted off. I really hope he is back to form next week.

5. Brooke White, "You've Got a Friend"
Award: The Most Predictable Award
I love Brooke and think that she offers something truly special to the competiton this year. That being said, the best word I can come up with to describe her performance is "bland". There wasn't much substance to it. I think Simon said it best when he described it as "pleasant". I think it was bad for her to go last because the public expects the last performance to be great, and this wasn't. Brooke seems to have a very narrow comfort zone in regards to song choice, and it is started to make her performances predictable and dare I say, boring. But, I still think Brooke has it in her. I think the bottom three scare last week will be enough for fans to keep her out of it this week. Only time will tell.

4. Kristi Lee Cook, "Anyway"
Award: Third Smart Move Award
It physically hurts me to put my least favorite idol contestant this high up in the ranking. But, I have to give her credit for making another incredibly smart move that I'm positive will keep her in the competiton another week. First she picked an American Anthem that everybody loves and made it impossible for America to vote her off. Then she stayed within her comfort level on a theme night right up her ally. Now, she has picked a song that perfectly suits her and sang it well. I guess I've underestimated her. I don't know what else to say. She has picked the right genre to stick too, Country, and I think it might take her farther in this competition than I previously realized. Good job, Kristi.

3. Michael Johns, "Dream On"
Award: He Can Really Rock Award
I am really becoming a fan of Michael Johns and I think this was his third great performance in a row. The judges didn't seem as enthused as me, but I still think he picked a great song and sang the heck out of it. The only critique I have about this is that he is perpetuating the idea that he is a rock singer wannabe. The judges are very picky when it comes to Michael and seem determined to give him praise only when he sings a blues-soul type song. I do think this may be smart to separate himself from David Cook, but at the same time I really do think that he can rock. I'm excited to see Michael continually rise up to the occasion and become the true frontrunner he deserves to be.

2. David Archuleta, "Angels"
Award: Consistency Award
David Archuleta did another great job this week. I don't agree with the judges in saying this was his best performance of the whole show, but David did what he does best. David has a pure sound to his voice that is very appealing and I am confident that he'll be in the finals. I can't think of much more to say except that once again he was great and I hope that he continues to be great. Maybe my lack of things to say is telling of what I think of David. I agree that he is an incredible singer and has the best voice of the competition, but there isn't that distinct, unique quality about him that makes him special to me. I think David Cook definitely has it, and Michael Johns is starting to have it, but something is missing from David Archuleta. Maybe I'm overthinking things. Anyways, bottom line is that David Archuleta has an amazing voice and he didn't dissapoint last night.

1. Jason Castro, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"
Award: WOW That was incredible! Award
Jason Castro last night really impressed me. I was really worried about Jason's place in this competition, but all worries melted away when he gave a pure, inspired version of this classic song. Jason is definitely unique in this competition in a wonderful way. In all of my watching of American Idol I can't recall anyone who is even remotely like him. I think Jason will be a star after this season regardless of what position he finishes in, and I will definitely buy his album. I think this performance proved that you don't have to do vocal gymnastics to give a solid performance. All you have to do is convey the beauty and feeling of the song you are singing, and sometimes simplicity is the best approach. I am really rooting for Jason this season, and he may have an honest chance at the top if he can keep bringing it like this.

So, I was a little uninspired after American Idol last night, but in retrospect there were moments of brilliance. I think the person going home Thursday night will be one of the women. And, my best guess at this moment is Carly, which is truly unfortunate because I considered her to have the best shot at the crown on the women's side. I might have to switch that position to Brooke. This season sure is interesting!

Perfect 10 Series: Moon Safari- [blomljud]

The perfect 10 series is an opportunity for me to discuss albums that I consider to be a perfect 10 on the 1-10 scale. These are albums that touch me deeply down to my very soul. I figured it would be appropriate to discuss an album that has been on constant rotation in my CD player recently. This album is "blomljud" and it is a fantastic album from the progressive rock band, Moon Safari. This is Moon Safari's second album, their first is "A Doorway to Summer" (which may be featured in a future edition of this series). Moon Safari are so special because of their blending of classic progressive elements and superb harmonies that melt my soul. The album begins with an incredible acapella piece where all the band member's voices come together in a sublime way. Then the album kicks off with "Methuselah's Children" which is an amazing piece that showcases everything this band is about. There is more power to this album than their debut, and I think it works fantastically. The band is also able to include their incredible heart-melting harmonies in all their songs.

I love "Yasgur's Farm", which starts out the second disc. It is a great showcase for the guitar as there is a lot of solo-ing in the middle, which leads to another fantastic harmony section. I can't express the pure beauty of the epic piece "The Other Half of the Sky" which is over thirty minutes long. This piece starts off with a beautiful acoustic section and moves into a more powerful driving rhythm. What I love about this band is their blending of softer acoustic moments to full blown powerful progressive rock. Moon Safari have created a special album here that is a perfect way to make the transition from Winter to Spring. This album personifies Spring by being truly uplifting and happy. I can't listen to this album without getting a big smile on my face. This is the music of my soul and really connects with me in a deep and profound way. I am thankful for Moon Safari for creating such a special album, and hope that others will discover this amazing band.

The Smartest Group of American Idol Contestants

I must admit that I'm a rabid fan of American Idol, and this season is no exception. In fact, I consider this year to contain the best contestants the show has ever had. From this point on, I will include a weekly recap and ranking of the American Idol Performances each week. This will be my opportunity to rank the idols based on how I feel their position is on the show at this point along with an explanation on how they have made smart choices thus far in the competition.

8. Kristi Lee Cook

Kristi is definitely my least favorite contestant left, but I have to give her props for making some smart decisions in this competition. I think she is smart for taking Simon's advice to become the country artist of the season. This has allowed her to occupy a niche that none of the other contestants fill, making her recieve some votes from fans of American Idol that are big on country. The smartest decision so far, though, from Kristi is choosing to sing the American anthem, "God Bless the U.S.A.". It is hard to find an American that doesn't like this song, and she did sing it well. This allowed her to survive not just one, but two more weeks in the competition since the following week was country week. I think she has to do something really phenomenal in order to stay around much longer, but I do think she is a smart contestant just for the mere fact that she is in the top 8 when everyone predicted her to be gone 12th.

7. Syesha Mercado

I really like Syesha, but she doesn't seem to have connected with the public quite on the same level as the top 6 contestants. That said, there is a lot to be admired for coming on American Idol and just singing your heart out, and I think Syesha has done that. I think she has an amazing set of pipes that has impressed me (usually moreso than the judges) since the beginning of the Top 24. Syesha has made some song choice mistakes- the biggest being filling the tall order of singing a popular Whitney Houston ballad this past week, but I think she is sincere and does a great job. I just don't think it'll be enough to get her beyond a few more weeks in the competition unless she can pull something spectacular.

6. Jason Castro

It pains me to put Jason this low, but I am starting to realize that he is not quite up to par with the heavy hitters this season. Jason has made some smart moves this season. He made quite an impact the first week of the top 24 without getting any face time during auditions and Hollywood week. He also made a very smart choice with giving arguably one of the best performances of the season with "Hallelujah". The problem with that, though, is that he hasn't been able to quite exceed or even match the beauty of that performance. He may be a victim of setting the bar too high too early. But, I do believe that Jason is one of the most unique contestants and definitely has a certain style. I really look forward to what he will do in the future, but I fear he won't be with us long on the American Idol stage without another "Hallelujah" performance.

5. Brooke White

I love Brooke for a lot of the same reason I love Jason Castro. She is a brilliant performer and is refreshingly unique in this competition. I love her sincerity and her ability to connect emotionally with the songs she performs. I think she made quite a smart move in the competition by giving remarkably consistent performances in the top 24, and capping it off with her top 12 performance of "Let It Be". I really am rooting for Brooke, but I feel she'll fall short of the upper tier due to sheer lack of vocal prowess. But, what she lacks in virtuosity she makes up in originality, but I don't know if that can take her all the way in a singing competition. I really hope it can.

4. Carly Smithson

If there is such a thing as a front runner for the girls, Carly is it. She has been lauded since the beginning as one of the contenders for the title of American Idol, Season 7. Unfortunately for her, this is a season for the boys. But, I can't deny that she has one heck of a voice. I was really impressed with her last performance during Country Week (even though the judges weren't as impressed). I think she has made some song choice errors and will need to start picking the right songs to fulfill her potential in the competition. I also think she needs to showcase her personality a bit more because that is the main reason I haven't become a true fan- I just can't connect with her. But, Carly is a great singer and will hopefully raise her game to make this season truly interesting and give the girls a fighting chance this season.

THE BIG THREE: I think the winner of American Idol 7 will be one of these three guys.

3. Michael Johns

Going into the top 24, I was most excited to follow the progress of Michael Johns, but was very dissapointed with him. He seemed to give consistently lack luster performances and never seemed to pick the right song. But, that all changed when he triumphantly sang "We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions". This seemed to be his statement that he is in this competition to win. This position was solidified during Country week when he gave another stellar performance (my personal favorite of the night). He has gone from being one of the next to be voted off to a front runner. If he can consistantly deliver like he has the past two weeks, he honestly has a shot at winning the whole thing.

2. David Archuleta

If you had asked me who the front runner was at the beginning of the top 12, I would have laughed and said it was David Archuleta by far. But, the past few weeks have shown that this golden boy does have weaknesses. He proved this through a very "forgettable" performance of "We Can Work It Out" during the top 12 week. Since then, he has been struggling just to regain his top position. But, I still think his chances of winning are great. He showed the world that he was a true contender with an incredible performance of "Imagine" (one of my favorite American Idol performances ever). David has a lot of young females voting for him and that will truly help him as he makes his way to the finals. He does need to re-prove that he does indeed have vocal skill to pull off amazing performances week to week. Regardless, I would be shocked to not see David Archuleta in the finals.

1. David Cook

Who would have predicted that this messy rocker would become a front-runner? David Cook, for me, is the epitome of what a true idol contestant should be. He is the perfect blend of an incredible singer, a great performer, and a unique artist. He has created a niche for himself as this years rocker, and I only think that will work to his favor (especially in garnering votes from angry fans who still feel that Daughtry should have won it all in season 5). He has made great song choices consistently since the beginning, and has introduced the world to some truly unique versions of some classic songs. His performance of "Billie Jean" will go down in American Idol history as one of the best performances ever. I am truly rooting for David Cook because he has the whole package. David Archuleta has an incredible voice, but doesn't seem to be the artist that David Cook is. Jason Castro and Brooke White are the opposite case: they are unique artists that have good, but not great, voices. I truly hope America gets it right this year and crowns its first "true" rocker.

And there you have it. This is basically the standings of the American Idol contestants as I see it. Keep coming back week to week to see how this changes with each performance week. I must say that this is truly my favorite season of American Idol and I can't wait to see how it all comes down.

Welcome To Progressive Entertainment!

I figured that the best first post I can write is an introductory paragraph about the purposes of this blog. Mainly I will discuss all of the developments within the media that I am a fan of. This mainly involves Television shows such as "American Idol", "Survivor", "Lost" and "Heroes". Progressive Rock music by bands such as "Neal Morse", "Spock's Beard", "Dream Theater" and "The Flower Kings" and various books and movies that catch my interest. This will be a way for me to express my feelings about the things that give me most joy. So, enjoy this blog! I hope the posts aren't too random for you and that there is something you can enjoy in it. Thanks for reading!