If I Can Dream

Simon Fuller, the creator of American Idol, has just introduced to the world his latest creation, If I Can Dream. IICD is a completely Web-based series from Hulu.com featuring five aspiring performers living in Hollywood.

The show is a mix between Big Brother and American Idol, with a little America's Next Top Model mixed in. Viewers can watch the houseguests 24 hours a day at ificandream.com, switching between the more than 50 cameras installed around the house. But unlike most reality shows, this is not a competition. There aren't any judges, and the stars aren't going to get kicked off.

So who are the dreamers?

There's Amanda, Ben, and Kara, who are all aspiring actors, Giglianne, an aspiring model, and Miley Cyrus's ex, Justin Gaston, an aspiring singer/songwriter.

I just finished watching the first episode, "The Road to Hollywood" special, and I have to say I was shocked to find that I actually kinda liked it.

I was expecting the "dreamers" to all be really annoying and full of themselves but I didn't find them to be that way. Granted, it's only been one thirty minute episode so that could change in a heartbeat, but I'm mildly optimistic.

So check out the first episode here:

And head to IfICanDream.com to watch the dreamers 24 hours a day...

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Taylor Swift's Record Label Says We Shouldn't Judge Her Singing

We all saw it: the excruciating performance by Taylor Swift at last week's Grammy Awards... right before she won album of the year. Now, I'm the first to say that people have their off performances. Even the best of the best sound terrible sometimes for whatever reason. But this wasn't the first time Taylor's sounded bad. It was like the 50th time she's sounded bad live. The only difference was that this performance was SO bad that everyone noticed and it couldn't go overlooked.

Now, the head of Taylor Swift's record label is saying that it isn't about the live performance and basically we shouldn't be judging her... I've bolded all of my favorite parts of the article.

Label chief defends Swift's Grammy performance

Feb 4, 7:07 AM (ET)

By CAITLIN R. KING

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The head of Taylor Swift's record label is fired up and ready to defend his superstar from people who are criticizing her Grammy-night performance.

"She is the voice of this generation. She speaks directly to (her fans), and they speak directly back to her," said Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta in a phone interview. "This is not 'American Idol.' This is not a competition of getting up and seeing who can sing the highest note. This is about a true artist and writer and communicator. It's not about that technically perfect performance."

Borchetta first responded to the backlash in The Tennessean. Asked by The Associated Press why he felt the need to defend Swift, he said because the criticism was "just over the top."

"It's that classic thing that critics do of building something up and then wanting to tear it down," he said.

Swift rehearsed her performance and duet with Stevie Nicks two different times at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in front of a crowd of people. Critics were nicer then. Entertainment Weekly wrote of the rehearsal, "The two women's voices complimented each other nicely on the harmonies of 'Rhiannon ...'"

But on Sunday night's Grammy show, Borchetta said Swift had a technical issue that made her worry about her performance. (Attempts to reach The Recording Academy for comment went unanswered.)

"We had a volume problem in the ear. So, she was concerned that she wasn't able to hear everything in the mix," Borchetta said. "That's just part of live TV. ... So you're going to have difficulties on occasion. Unfortunately, on one of the biggest stages, we did have a technical issue. She couldn't hear herself like she had in rehearsal."

----------------

Firstly, I have to say that there is NO way that Taylor Swift is "the voice of this generation," and I don't even have to explain that.

Second, I found it interesting that he brought up that this wasn't American Idol, a show on which Swift herself wouldn't make it past the first round. You would think he wouldn't want to bring that up, especially considering the show is on RIGHT NOW and features performers of a much higher caliber (not all, but many of them).

Then came, "It's not about that technically perfect performance." Hmm... I bet the other performers that night (and really any performer in the world) would beg to differ.

And finally, the classic excuse for bad performances, "She couldn't hear herself."

How come this never happens to good singers? It seems so unfortunate that the only in-ear monitor systems that fail are the ones for people who can't really sing well in the first place... (Remember years ago when O-Town bombed at Miss America? It was the sound system's fault then, too.)

Look, I'm not out to get Taylor Swift. I have her CD; it's good. But if you don't want to be judged for your live performing skills, don't perform live.

Welcome to America. We judge people.

UPDATE: Kelly Clarkson responds to Scott Borchetta's knocking American Idol.

GO KELLY!!!

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LOST Season 6 Premiere Live Reaction / Recap

This is my live reaction to the season 6 premiere of LOST. Get my reactions AS they're happening on this CRAZY episode! Warning: there are some spoilers in this recap if you haven't seen the episode yet.

Jack, Sawyer, Kate, Sayid, Hurley, and the gang are all back for the final season of ABC's LOST. This is how the first episode went down.

Favorite line of the night: "Nothing's irreversible."

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LOST: Beginning of the END

I'm sitting in religion class right now, trying desperately to stay awake. I attempted to go to sleep early last night, getting in bed before 1am, but my body wasn't aware of this change of schedule and didn't allow me to sleep even a wink until at least 2:30. So today has been rough: lying and deception was painful as I tried to hide the fact that I was dozing right in front of the professor's face. I was just praying he didn't see me nod off and ask me if I was having trouble staying awake. You can't so much lie to your lying and deception teacher. It just isn't smart.

So tonight is finally the premiere of the final season of LOST. I still remember getting hooked on this show when it first aired 6 years ago. Though it is easily my favorite TV show ever now, I must admit that after seeing the initial previews, I thought it would be the most ridiculous show ever and canceled after 3 episodes. I was wrong.

I've found that I'm USUALLY wrong when it comes to whether or not a TV show will be good: that same year (2004) I was at Universal Studios Hollywood on a backlot tour when the guide told us to be quiet because we were passing by an active set for a "new TV show on ABC called Desperate Housewives, starring Lois & Clark's Teri Hatcher." It took me no less than 3 seconds to turn to my mom and sister and say, "Well THAT'S clearly going to be terrible."

And six seasons later, here we are.

Oh, this is good: talking about TV is definitely helping me fight off the zzzs.

I don't know what to expect tonight on LOST. I don't WANT to know what to expect. I didn't even crack open my Entertainment Weekly, as it said "warning: contains spoilers!" and I don't do spoilers.

All I know is that I just want questions to be answered. Duh.

And for some reason, the biggest question that comes to mind for me is: WHY was Libby in the insane asylum with Hurley??? Freaking Michael had to shoot her before we ever found out.

So come on, LOST. Don't let me down.
On a different note: this week must be "Rachel McAdams Week" at the University of Texas. Tomorrow night they're showing "Mean Girls" in the Union and the next night is "Time Traveler's Wife." And that is AOK with me.

PS while I'm on the subject of Ms. McAdams, let me just say: good on ya to her for somehow being able to play so many polarly different parts. I couldn't believe Regina George was the same person who played Allie in The Notebook.

Not that I've even seen The Notebook or anything... No, no, I just heard about it from a friend.

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American Idol Dallas Auditions 2010

The Dallas, TX auditions for American Idol air(ed) January 27, 2010 on FOX, and here's a behind-the-scenes look at the first round auditions that were held at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in July 2009.
The video pretty much sums up everything from round 1.

The one thing I didn't include was that throughout the day, PAs would occasionally bring out small groups of very well dressed and trendy-looking young people and place them throughout the crowd. Camera crews then filmed them "waiting" to audition with the rest of us.

This struck me as a little odd. Whether they were people who had indeed already waited and auditioned or people who had not waited at all, it still made obvious how many portions of the show are staged for the camera.

Over the next few months, more audition rounds were held at the W hotel in Dallas.

(I had to cut out the name in the sign)
I was lucky to attend the final Dallas round to support a friend as they auditioned for Simon, Randy, Kara, and guest judge Joe Jonas. After arriving (as instructed) at 8am, we waited in the hotel while Idol filmed interviews with many of the contestants. The judges were not even scheduled to arrive until 1:30-2 in the afternoon. I noticed that none of the contestants seemed of the "odd" persuasion, which made me think they had scheduled the "good" and "bad" auditions on separate days so as not to tip people off.

This is video of me singing with my friend Maegan Wright, who was featured on the Dallas audition episode of American Idol and got a ticket to Hollywood.

One thing I found really interesting was that before auditions began, a producer (Ron from the video) talked with everybody and instructed the singers to not be afraid to talk back to the judges if they disagreed and even if Simon said to stop singing, to keep on singing or sing another song if you felt you weren't given a fair chance.

This may explain why all those "crazy" people on the show continue to sing even when they aren't asked to (but they end up looking like idiots).

The way it worked was that the auditioner would go up stairs (the auditions took place at the Ghost Bar at the top of the W hotel in downtown Dallas), the family would wait by the door, and after the audition was finished and they were headed back down, Ryan Seacrest would join the family for a few seconds before the big "I'm going to Hollywood!" or not moment.

Though I'm not positive, based on the demeanor of the crew, it seemed like most of the time they knew whether or not someone would be going to Hollywood before the audition even occured. There were only a few people that did NOT get golden tickets to Hollywood on this day, which further backed up my assumption that this was the day of good singers.

So all in all it was an interesting experience. I certainly knew that much of the auditions were staged and planned in advance, but it was a little magic-ruining to see it happen right before my eyes.

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Sundae Sunday State Parks!

So this week's Sundae Sunday #50 focused on my dear friend, Candice Woods. Candice is currently in the national tour of Legally Blonde playing the role of Pilar (Elle's best friend).

Candice is so incredibly talented; she was cast in the Broadway production of Hairspray while we were still in high school! I'm so glad to know her, and you will definitely get a kick out of getting to know her in this video.
Coming up next week on Sundae Sunday, you'll get to see a trip I took to two Texas state parks with my friend, Cassie.

Here's a little photo preview of that!

Pedernales Falls:

Cassie's Always Wanted to be Like Ariel:

We somehow make our way up the enormous Enchanted Rock:

That's all coming up this weekend so be sure to check it out at YouTube.com/ajruck

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Cougar Town Quotes (1/21/10)

Last night's episode of ABC's Cougar Town starring Courtney Cox was chock full of funny quotes I thought deserved sharing.

Here we go (S.1. Ep. 13: Stop Dragging My Heart Around):

After Jules' husband Bobby is told he needs to move his boat (that he lives in):
Bobby: It's times like this I wish I owned my own parking lot.
Jules: Really? That's what you wish for?

As Jules' son Travis is going out for the night:
Jules: Be home by midnight, and don't forget our rule: do not wake me up when you get home.
Travis: Solid parenting, as always.
Jules: I'm a better mom with sleep...

Climbing into Bobby's boat:
Jules: You have any of that pink wine?
Bobby: I got white wine.
Jules: Well, mix in some Kool-Aid and make it pink. I've still got some white trash in me.

Laurie: It doesn't matter anyway, Grayson. Any chance you had with her is gone after the way you defiled me last night.
Grayson: Defiled you?
Laurie: That's... not a good thing?
Grayson: That... No!
Laurie: I've been using that word wrong, like, forever!

Bobby: Something stinks and I can't find it. I'm worried it's in my nostrils. Will you smell the inside of my nose and tell me if it stinks?
Grayson: At any point in your life have you ever said to yourself, "Hey, here's a thought I shouldn't verbalize"?

Next two quotes embedded below!

Jules telling frequent songwriter Grayson an idea she has on the phone:
Grayson: No Jules, I don't think 'Sex with the Ex' would be a great song... (hangs up)
Jules (to Ellie): That was odd, and he is wrong. That would be an AMAZING song. Hey, you wanna jam out some lyrics?
Ellie: What is with this stupid neighborhood and the song writing??

Laurie: Hey, so, I did what I always do when I have a big dilemma: I thought it out while I got a tattoo.
Grayson: A Chinese character! That's so creative! How did you think of that? What does it mean?
Laurie: I thought it was the symbol for 'strength,' but it turns out it just means food. That's OK, though. I like food.

After coming up with a brilliant idea:
Jules: I'm gonna write a book! And they're gonna put me on Oprah!
Ellie: Oprah's retiring in like a year.
Jules: Oh ya, and she's never gonna be on television again!

Laurie (outbursts in the middle of a conversation): It was raining! And REO Speedwagon rocks so hard!
Jules: What are you talking about?
Laurie: ...What?
Ellie (pointing at Laurie): Just do what I do and treat it like white noise.


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