Let's blame the CBC

Ok, my attempt to avoid the winner of American Idol lasted all about 12 hours. The show ended at 10pm last night and I found out the winner close to 10am ET (the winner is Jordin Sparks). I blame the CBC. I thought that it would be a safe Web site to visit as the CBC might not care who wins this reality show but no I was wrong. So I could not avoid the winner not matter how hard I tried. It is futile. But I will try again next year and totally avoid everything AI but it is such a media juggernaught and as a follower of pop culture it will be very hard to do as I have come to realize.

The winner is announced.....

for American Idol and I don't know who won, thankfully but unfortunately I know who is in the final two. It was hard to avoid as a pop culture addict because I visit TV Guide.com and EW.com and Canoe.ca/jam everyday that I found out. I know it was a woman named Jordan and a guy named Blake or was it the other way around. That I don't know. But I am going to avoid those sites for a week and hopefully by then the news of the winner won't be listed but I am so tempted to go to them because I want to read about Lost and what happened there. We will see if I can avoid it by using my cookies where I can go directly to the area of the site that I want to.

And I will be truthful with you on whether or not I find out or not. Heck, I even admitted that I knew who the final two are.

Amazing Race All Stars April 29, 2007

The pneultimate episode of the Amazing Race All Stars and I can't wait. We will see if my prediction from last week's blog is right or not. To refresh people's memory I said that Charla and Mirna will be eliminated. As long as the BQs and Danny and Ozzy make it to the final three then I am happy.

Also on TV tonight, at the same time as AR, is Game 3 of Vancouver Canucks vs the Anaheim Ducks, so you will forgive me if this blog isn't as detailed as it can be as I will be flipping over to the game during commercial breaks to check on the score. Go Canucks!!!!

The detour choices were interesting. It was obvious that you would scrub the plane as the care package one did take too much time but the airplane ride looked cool.

So yeah by Beauty Queens are in the top 3. I just need Oswald to find that pilot, get to the landing then get to the pit stop ASAP and at least have a 30 minute cushion.

The roadblock was a bit blah but exciting once they got to the landing area.

Ok so I was wrong. Charla and Mirna are racing for the million. Oh well. But I am so sad that Oswald and Danny are gone. I loved them so but now it's on and I want Dustin and Kandice to win. They play the game so well.

Next is another hour season finale. I am not going to be in town to watch it so I am getting someone to tape it for me and will watch it when I am back in town so I probably won't be writing a blog for it. But, I hope when I watch it that I will see the Beauty Queens crowned the winners of the Amazing Race.

And Go Canucks.

Amazing Race All Stars April 22, 2007

So this promises to be a good episode according to the previews from last week and John Vito and Jill when they were on the Finish Line last week. Looking forward to seeing if this is true. If it goes in my beauty queens and Danny and Ozzy favour then I am down with that.

When I heard two teams got together to yield someone, I never thought it would be the BQs and Danny and Ozzy so who knew when I typed the above it would be just that. And I agree that yield is a tool to be used in the game. You do whatever it takes to win and the yield is what it takes.

But that road block was awesome. So would want to do but if Justin wants to do it, since I already sky dived and zip lined, he can have that adrenaline rush but I would be afraid initially to drop over 600 feet. It is scary since you are relying pretty much on an elastic band to make sure you make it down. Kudos to Charla for doing it.

That noodle detour was so funny the way the teams were bouncing on that bamboo stick. I laughed everytime I saw a team. Now I am worried about Danny and Ozzy that was or could be a bad detour choice as I am not at the end of the episode yet. And Eric and Danielle are catching up but here's hoping that the BQs come in first so that Eric and Danielle still have that 30 minute penalty but we will just have to wait and see.

Those Mini Motes are cute but I can understand that they can be difficult to drive. I am not good a driving a stick so I think we would be like Charla and Mirna.

Phew! Glad that it is another non-elim so that Danny and Ozzy are still in it. And if I were to base what I saw from the teams at the end. I think that Charla and Mirna will be eliminated next week. Why? Because out all the clips of the teams during their interviews, theirs looks like one that was filmed at the Pit Stop in Malaysia and the rest looked like they were at new places. See if I am right.

Until next week!
Like I said as long as Danny and Ozzy/BQs are in it then I am happy.

Getting harder to avoid the American Idol juggernaught

This week when I got my latest issue of my favourite magazine in the world, Entertainment Weekly, on the cover were the contestants for American Idol. Now, whether you believe me or not, when I saw the words American Idol on the cover, I immediately ripped off the cover and tore it into pieces and put it in the recycling bin. I haven't read or will read the accompanying article and when I flip through that issue I just avoid those pages.

Now I think it might be easier to avoid AI now that Sanjaya -it was hard to avoid who this person was no matter how hard I tried -is off the show now. So no more in your face media coverage that would have been if he remained. So now, I will hopefully live blissfully ignorant for the rest of this season.

If you want to test me on the names of contestants, go ahead such as name who sang what song on a certain theme night and I bet you that I won't know or care to know.

What I really care about is the Amazing Race and I hope that Dustin and Kandice or Danny and Oswald win. That is a reality show that I can get behind because despite AI's tremendous success, it has never won the Emmy for Reality Show Competition. Who has one that Emmy the most? Well, it's the Amazing Race!!!!!!!

Amazing Race All Stars April 15, 2007

I am scared for my Beauty Queens. I hate how the editing is making us think that the BQ's are going all this talk about karme biting them. I hope that is not the case because I think that they are playing the game and yielding is part of it. On their original race they yielded 'Bama and it bit them back so let's up it doesn't happen twice.

Flights again seems to be playing a big role again. I really hope that the BQs make it on and get to Hong Kong, a place I've always wanted to visit.

The fast forward was fun and I would totally do it and Ozzy and Danny are entitled to go for it despite them going for the other one with Uchenna and Joyce. The last race David and Mary could have done two fast forwards because of the intersection rule

And if I could have read Chinese maybe lost in translation would have been good but Kung Fu Fighting is the one I would have chosen as it is fun and something you normally could do. If I wanted to be lost in translation I'll just go to Chinatown here in Toronto. But it didn't seem to challenging the kung fu fightening, I thought maybe those fighters would be bugging you as you climb but they didn't seem to bother anybody but it was funny seeing Dustin and Mirna doing karate moves when it was unnecessary.

How cool was that road block? A great way to let off steam and frustration by kicking down doors.

I know this is a non-elimination, so who will get the 30 minute penalty? I think it still will be Eric and Danielle even with the editing. And there should be no more fast forwards so next will be interesting.

So Eric and Danielle are marked for elimination. You never know what is going to happen next week but one thing I am glad is that the BQs didn't come in last so they aren't marked for elimination.

According to next week a yield but what is interesting when they said two surprising teams team up to yield another. Makes you think. We know the BQ's can't use their yield and it wouldn't be a surprise if the other teams gang up to yield the BQs so my guess that it isn't them that get yielded. But we will see because, I hope it isn't them because it puts them out 30 minutes and may get them eliminated if Eric and Danielle catch-up. Damn those producers figuring out a way to giving Eric and Danielle a way to come back!

We are almost near the end!!!!!

Until next week!!! Go Canucks Go!!!!!!!!!

Amazing Race All Stars April 8, 2007

Happy Easter all!!!!

We are down to five teams. And it is so interesting how flights have played a significant role in team placement this year. Charla and Mirna again look like genuises with flights. Uchenna and Joyce took a gamble so we will see if it pays off. I hope it does and I hope that Danny and Ozzy and the Beauty Queens make it too. But there has to be an equalizer somewhere along the race so that the Cousins don't have another huge lead.

So Uchenna and Joyce are going to get eliminated because of that missed flight, which is too bad.

As for the yield, I don't like all the name calling for Dustin and Kandice. It is a game and they had to yield somebody. I am sure Eric and Danielle would have yielded them. Think of being yielded as a compliment,

The detour is interesting. We will see who finishes first before we know which is the better choice. I didn't quite hear how many licorice centres were in the cookies but 600 boxes!!! It is a needle in a haystack task and maybe artistic impression is the better choice.

So artistic impression was the better choice. Despite the yield and what the other teams have said about them, I still love Dustin and Kandice and so glad that they came in #1. I hope they make it to the final three. But my dream final three of Danny and Ozzy, Dustin and Kandice and Uchenna and Joyce may not happen unless it is a non-elimination.

The key to the roadblock and Kandice and Mirna got it right was to get too much. My goodness the people of Kaula Lampur sure love to hold on to their papers. Did you see that one house that Mirna went into? It was almost as tall as me!!!

So Uchenna and Joyce are gone. I am sad but they did win before so it is ok that they went not thrilled just ok. I still want Charla and Mirna to be gone and Eric and Danielle. Between those two, I think I rather have Eric and Danielle in as they are less annoying but Charla and Mirna in the top 3 would be nice as it would be the first time two all-female teams race in the finals (if the Beauty Queens are part of that). Season is getting interesting.

Until Next Week.

Go Canucks Go!!!!!!

My continuning quest to avoid American Idol

So I am trying real hard not to know what is going on in American Idol land. So far, it is becoming difficult because all the sites I love to visit details what is happening on that "talent" show. So I have heard about this contestant called Sanjaya that I assume from what I colleague who watches the show tells me he can't sing. Now I told my co-worker my quest not to know anything about AI so she didn't name names but told me about a contestant who can't sing but is still on the show, so I assume she is talking about Sanjaya since I see that name all over EW.com and TV Guide.com. I still don't know the names of the contestants or what they look like and I hope to keep it that way but it is hard when you have People magazing have them as your cover story, a publiclation I like to flip through in the bookstore so I had to avoid flipping through it while on my break at work the other day. But my beloved Entertainment Weekly already started doing odds on the contestants and I am sure as we get down to the wire, those odds will be revised but I will have to be sure that I avoid that part of the issue. Thank goodness I stopped watching Access Hollywood and those type of shows so at least I won't see any of that.

So it's been about two weeks and so far so good. Only got about a month until AI is all over and we will see how will I do.

Amazing Race All Stars April 1, 2007

Happy April Fools Day! And on this special day we get a 2 hour Amazing Race spectactular.

Live blogging again. So let's see if this episode will be a joke and Charla and Mirna continue to dominate or the stars align again and they get eliminated.

Now that Teri and Ian are gone, I really want Dustin and Kandice and Ozzy and Danny to win. Wouldn't mind Uchenna and Joyce to be part of the top 3. The other teams can go.

Now since it is two hours you know it is a double leg.

Another interesting flight situation. Glad that Dustin and Kandice are free and clear. And seven hours in a travel agency, that is one slow agent!!!!! But it is interesting that the Guidos and Eric and Danielle can't get on the flight that was provided for them but the connection was tight.

The detour. I would have chosen "Perfect Pitch" because as a piano player I know that I could do this task and Dustin and Kandice did it very well. I think it helped that Dustin had that background. And do think that just before commercials, Charla and Mirna had it but it looks like they are going to switch up with Danny and Ozzy. It is all about not pulling too tight at to not break the string,

And I was wrong, it wasn't a double leg. Once the clue said check in at the pit stop and saw the the greeter then you know it wasn't but it might still be as the second hour could kick off the double leg.

Glad that Dustin and Kandice came in number one. They are my team that I want to win. I really just hope that it isn't a non-elimination. I am ready for the Guidos or Eric and Danielle to go. For the CTV contest, I guessed that they would come in first and I was right but does that mean they have to come in first for the next hour in order for me to win?

Uchenna and Joyce came in third despite their flight problems and I think it is weird to have one team start the next leg while two teams haven't finished the previous one. I am curious to see if it is an elimination or not.

It is incredible that the teams are so spread out. I mean the Beauty Queens are starting the leg at 10:54pm and I guess this is where the Guidos and Eric and Danielle are at.

But I think it is going to be a sobering experience going to Aushwitz. I felt quite emotional when I visited the National Holocaust Musuem in Washington, DC. It will be sad indeed to actually visit a site of such human horror.

Now back to the race. With the bus leaving at 1pm, this gives Ozzy and Danny, Uchenna and Joyce and Charla and Mirna to catch-up.

So it was a non-elimination. It actually pisses me off that it is. I want the Guidos gone. I never liked them in AR1. We will see if they can catch up and not get elminated. There has to be an equalizer somewhere that will make this all moot.

The moment at Aushwitz was emotional. I really cried, Glad that they didn't make them search for clues there.

But now the Intersection, as my brother said bloody brilliant. It is, but sucks for Dustin and Kandice the team I am rooting for the most. We will see who they end up teaming up with. Let's hope that it's not Joe and Bill. But glad that The Guidos aren't get Fast Forward. The Fast Forward looks straightforward.

So happy that Danny and Ozzy and Uchenna and Joyce came in number one. They are such great teams that have fun and work well together.

Now the detour. Too bad that the Beauty Queens are stuck with Charla and Mirna but they had too. And it is a good thing they chose "Eat It" which was what I would have chosen. Even though I have recently attempted to be a vegetarian for my health, I would be willing to eat meat and damn my cholesterol for a million dollars. I can eat two feet of sausage. I am that hungry. Plus, Kandice did a sausage road block in AR10 so this was perfect for them. Here is really hoping that the Guidos are so lost with Eric and Danielle that my Beauty Queens don't get eliminated.

Bad break that Charla had a hard time eating the meat while the others had no problem but I really want Charla and Mirna gone. Her shrieking is getting on my nerves. I rather have them gone than the Guidos because I will say it, at least they are not as annoying and actually I'll admit they are better here than they were in AR1.

But glad Dustin and Kandice broke free and are so far in third. Hope that holds up.

Yeah, Dustin and Kandice came in third and it was a cool road block to be in a suit of armour. But darn it to heck that shrieky McSkriekerson Mirna is still in it. When are they going to go away? The Guidos are gone, which is good. Next has to be Eric and Danielle or Charla and Mirna. Then I am happy with the Top 3. There will be an equializer next week that will bunch them up.

American Idol

Now, I haven't seen a full season of American Idol since season 3. You know the one. The one were Fantasia won but more importantly featured future Best Supporting Actress winner Jennifer Hudson.

Even though I haven't watched a whole season of AI like I have watched all full seasons of the Amazing Race and Survivor, I still have managed to find out who has won in all subsequent seasons and their runners-up. So Season 4 we had Carrie Underwood besting rocker Bo Bice and Season 5 had Soul Patrol Taylor Hicks who beat Katherine McPhee.

But my problem with American Idol is that I don't think it really makes someone the music star it is supposed to. Except for Kelly Clarkson, who I think rocks, no winner has been the success that AI is supposed to bring the in world of pop. I stress that because Kelly Clarkson truly is an American Idol in the genre that the show is supposed to bring success. But have you heard from Ruben Studdard since he was the second winner? No, and because he was an R&B artist and not a "pop star." Same goes for Fantasia and it is country for Carrie Underwood that it almost seemed like she won Nashville Star and not American Idol and I don't exactly know the genre for Taylor Hicks but considering his moniker during his season was "Soul Patrol" one can assume it's soul music. I will grant that it gets all these young musicians a start.

And don't get me started on Canadian Idol. That is just a waste of summer air time. Not a single one of the winners have maintained longevity since winning. Ryan Malcom. where is he now? Same with Kalan Porter and Melissa O'Neil and the same fate will befall Eva Avila. So I too will avoid Canadian Idol like the plague.

Now to my point about this current season of AI. I am making a point to avoid all press about it. I don't want to know and I don't even know any of the names of the people in the top 12. Ok, I lie, I know some names and I was flipping through my Entertainment Weekly last night and came across the name something Doolittle and Chris Sligh. But my point is that this show is such a media juggernaught, I want to see if I can avoid knowing who got eliminated each week and who will be the winner and I don't even want to know what the contestants look like. So far, I have been able to avoid names and faces. I have heard one of the first people voted out on Regis and Kelly before I made this vow but now I can't even remember her name.

Wish me luck on that because a pop culture addict like me cannot avoid reading/hearing about American Idol.

Amazing Race All Stars March 25, 2007

Live blogging the episode again.

Well, it looks like Charla and Mirna are genuises with the flights. We just have to wait and see if there is an equilizer. As for the rest of the teams, who knew that Dar es Saleem (sorry if this is the wrong spelling) is very popular destination! But glad that Dustin and Kandace and Ozzy and Danny got on. Pissed that Teri and Ian didn't. Don't quite understand why Eric and Danielle were given tickets when they were supposed to but as I am indifferent towards that team we will see if this will help Uchenna and Joyce not get eliminated and not get Teri and Ian eliminated.

So Teri and Ian and the Guidos still didn't make the next day fight. They can't get a break. I really need tTeri and Ian to make it and not come in last. But the ferry ride looked lovely.

The detour was an interesting choice. My initial thought was to do the logs as it was just two logs and you could find people to tell you where the shipyard was. My thought with the puzzle was that the pieces could go in any direction but after looking at people do the puzzle it was obvious that each piece went only in one way so the puzzle was the way to go.

And I like any challenge where you can use a weapon and since I did some archery in the past and even got a bullseye in one my archery things, I would love to do this road block.

And I thought it was so funny that Charla and Mirna had no idea that they won a boat, too funny. I never thought that they would come in #1 again but they lucked out with the flights. glad that Ozzy and Danny came in second and soon will see Dustin and Kandice check-in. Just got to see if Uchenna and Joyce gets eliminated or the Guidos or Teri and Ian

I know editing likes to play tricks on you but I was so hoping that Teri and Ian could pull it off but yet I knew that was not the case.

I really wished that Teri and Ian weren't eliminited. I grew to admire them so much during AR3 (their season where they came in 2nd) so I really wanted them to win but as I said before the team I am really rooting for is Dustin and Kandice, I want them to win because an all-female team has never won and I want them to win but wouldn't mind that Ozzy and Danny win too.

Glad that there also wasn't a fast forward to help Uchenna and Joyce and because of the whole flight situation the 30 minute penalty didn't hurt them at all.

Next week is 2 hours and it looks like Splitsville for Eric and Danielle and how cool is it to waer a suite of armor, wonder where that is, England maybe? It is about time that they get out of hot climates into cold ones.

Well, looking forward to next week and it is April Fool's

Cheers.

Amazing Race All Stars March 18, 2007

The first race without any of the racers having to worry about Romber. Let's see what happens when no one has to worry about what is happening to the two reality show whores!

Just a brief mention of Romber, which is fine. At this moment of the race, I am not too worried for my Ozzy and Danny. They may be in last place trying to find their clue in the snow but I think an equilazer is on its way. And it was stupid of the blondes to miss their avalanche gear. They really have to play better.

What a interesting road block. The rats were huge but cute and their purpose was interesting. Who knew that rats could be trained to sniff out landmines. For my team, it really doesn't matter who does it, it all comes down to whether or not you like rats or not. And since I thought they were cute, I guess I would have done it.

The detour pamper or porter. If the racers knew that men would be successful in the pampering then they would have gone for it. It would seem obvious to for porter but my gut told me to go for pamper because of the fact that you have to fill 10 bags of coal, which not only it looked like it hurt to fill but had to sew up all ten bags then take one, it just made more sense to do pamper.

And I can't believe that Charla and Mirna were number one. But glad the teams that I love the most came in 2,3 and 4: Dustin and Kandice, Teri and Ian, and Ozzy and Danny.

Glad that Uchenna and Joyce were not eliminated but are marked for elimination for the next leg. But I have this feeling that there is going to be a fast forward on it. But the previews would indicate that there is none or that another team took it to stick it to them.

Until next week

Amazing Race All Stars March 11, 2007

Sorry for not blogging last week. I was tired from live blogging the Oscars the week before!!!

If there is one thing that I am sure of over the last two episodes is that I am so over Charla and Mirna. I liked them in season 5 but this season they are so shrilly, whiny and annoying and put on some fake accent while in a pressure situation.

I want them out soon and I hate to say it but I don't think they will win it all because of Charla. She is a detriment to her team because of her size. Mirna was right in saying that she does all the work but I don't feel sorry for them one bit. The way they appear on TV is just annoying to me.

So when I saw the detour, my gut told me to go for navigate it. It was the right choice as teams struggled with "Sign it"and it is spelled "Philipines" Rob not "Phillipeans"

I am live blogging as I see this episode so we are at the road block, which anyone can do no matter who is on the team and I love that other teams from their season wrote them a letter, it gives us a chance to "hear" from them

Since the previews promised that this was going to be a finish that we will all be talking about I have a feeling that at 8:47pm that Rob and Amber will be eliminated, this is not knowing anything no spoilers or anything, If any other team but them got eliminated it would be whatever but I just got this feeling. Let's see if I am right.

As long as Dustin and Kandice don't get eliminated I am happy since Teri and Ian and Ozzy and Danny have already clocked in.

8:57pm Ding dong Rob and Amber are gone!!! Yeah!!!! I would've have been pissed if it was a non-elimination round but it wasn't so yeah. I was right

Next week should be interesting now that the main competition is gone so let the real race begin.

Cheers

Live Blogging the Academy Awards February 25th, 2007

Hey there folks. It's Oscar time and I can't wait to win my Oscar pool with my brother. Because I love movies, the Academy Awards are like my Super Bowl. I watch it now with pizza and booze. My friend Lynette back home always hosted a kick-ass Oscar party with an awesome spread but alas, I am in TO and she's in Victoria and I miss those parties. Anyways.....

8:27pm: The road to the Oscar's just finished up. It's almost time for the big show. I am really hoping it doesn't go beyond 12:15am. If all goes well, it's supposed to end at 11:30pm. The reason why I want it to end before 12:15am is that I need to finish my taping of the new Marple mystery on CBC time shifting, This Marple mystery features Ruth Wilson. the wonderful actress that recently played Jane Eyre, in my favourite adaption of the story.

8:30pm: Here we go it's show time. It starts with a video about the nominees. Intereting but it doesn't really make sense. Okay maybe not so interesting, already I am feeling it is running too long. Where is Ellen?

8:34pm: I think we are getting somewhere, there is applause so maybe this is the end. Yes it is. Now they are showcasing the nominees. Ok, enough get to the show already.

8:36pm: Finally Ellen!!! No funny entrance, keeping it nice and simple. Nice! Applause should be had for the most international Oscars ever. Kudos. But so far Ellen not so funny.

8:39pm: I know its her schitk bur ramblings is a little annoying. If she was a bit funnier, it might be ok.

8:41pm Jennifer Hudson got rid of that spaceman jacket that was part of her dress. She said an Al Gore joke, thunderous applause ensues. Leo goes red. Steve Carrell perplexed at the diversity joke.

8:44pm: Ellen's celebration of the nominees. I think a little lame, please get to the first award, I like to know if I am going to kick my brother's ass not only in our family hockey's pool but the Oscar pool as well.

8:45pm: The first award, art direction -one of the six awards that bro and I differed. I do love Nicole Kidman's red dress and 007 is lovely too. The Winner is: Pan's Labyrinth. Score one for me!!!!!!!! Brother guessed Dreamgirls.

8:48pm: The scientific awards at this point. It's never this early but good to get it over with. You would think that Maggie Gyllenhall could sell her lines better.

8:49pm: Strange. People cartwheeling to form the Oscar statue

8:53pm: Will Ferell, guaranteed laughs. Singing about a comedian at the Oscar's. Jack Black!!! John C. Reilly now, singing about being in both Boogie and Talledega Nights. I am not exactly sure where this number is going. Like the line "Helen Mirren and the Oscar's coming home with me" and Jack Black saying Tivo that.

8:57pm: Make-up: doesn't matter who wins here. Bro and I chose the same. The Winner: Pan's Labyrinth. Take a swig of your drink Vanessa (every time I get a category right, I take a swig from my drink!)

8:59pm: Abigail Breslin and Jadyn Smith, my guess animated short film they are presenting. They are so cute together. Again bro and I gussed the same: The Little Match Girl. The Winner: The Danish Poet. We got that wrong but a Canadian won as it was a National Film Board movie, so I don't mind getting this one wrong. I thought about picking that but went with what Entertainment Weekly chose.

9:03pm: Live action short. Another category where me and bro differed. The Winner: West Bank Story. We both got that wrong, I guessed: Helmer and Son, he guessed Eramos Pocos. But those two kids are so cute.

Can we get to a major category please?

9:06pm: I like how they are presenting the best picture nominees, much better than having an actor read off the teleprompter about the film then show a clip, rather hear from the film makers or cast about it.

9:11pm: What?!?@!! Bill Conte is not conducting the Oscar orchestra!!!! The sound effects choir, interesting again but why? I want a major award darn it!!!! Are all those people really making those noises and if so they look stupid doing so. I don't get it.

9:13pm: Steve Carrell and Greg Kinnear. Sound Editing. Another category where Justin and I guessed the same: Pirates of the Caribbean. The Winner: Letters From Iwo Jima.

At the 9:16pm mark I am winning by one category. But don't get too excited. We pretty much guessed wrong on categories that we predicted the same and the other one that we predicted right, we picked the same film.

9:17pm James McAvoy, saw him on the Red Carpet and love his Scottish accent. It is so damn sexy. Category is Sound Mixing, Justin and I guessed Dreamgirls. The Winner: Dreamgirls.

9:20pm: A major award. The lovely Rachel Weisz and Justin's twin, she was born on the same day as him. We differed on Supporting Actor. He: Alan Arkin. Me: Eddie Murphy. The Winner: Alan Arkin. We are tied!!!

9:26pm: Great interperative dance of the nominated movies, just what we need! but it is actually interesting.

9:29pm: So far I am not impressed with Ellen. I had high hopes for her but so far disappointing.

9:30pm The first nominated song. Randy Newman again singing a song from a Pixar film. I think he should have won for the Toy Story 2 song: When She Loved Me, sung by Sarah McLaughlin and not for that Monster Inc. song. Anyways, Randy Newman is a great score composer and loved his score to Pleasantville in which the Notebook trailer sampled some of it.

9:31pm: Here is really hoping that the show ends on time. I really want to know who did it on that Marple mystery!!

The song was ok, a little sedate for me at least Randy Newman didn't sing. Now Melissa Etheridge singing her song from an Inconvenient Truth. I like Melissa Etheridge, love the rawness of her voice. Song is nice, she might win but I think that a Dreamgirls song will win but which one. The award show seems to clipping along at an interesting pace.

9:35pm: Leo and Gore. Interesting pair. He didn't announce whether or not to run for President. What do they mean that Oscar's have gone green? Oh! they are explaining it now. Funny, it looked like he was about to announce his intentions but the orchestra played him off. Nice.

9:42pm: Best Animated movie. Justin and I both guessed Cars. The Winner: Happy Feet. I thought about it but again listened to EW. This is awful, out of the eight categories announced I only got two right so far but the same can be said for Justin.

9:49pm: Adapted Screenplay. We both guessed The Departed. Loved Helen Mirren reading the screen directions, she somehow brought class to Borat. The Winner: The Departed. Three right and a swig.

9:55pm The first real laugh of the night courtesy of Tom Hanks. Wasn't paying attention of that Chris guy backstage until he was awkwardly in the way of Tom, Helen Mirren and the winner of the Adapted Screenplay award. But then he said something about fun and Tom chirped in.

9:59pm Best Costume, we both guessed Marie Antoinette. What the heck is Meryl Streep wearing, it looks like is going to some hippie party afterwards but did like her deadpan look. Presenting the costumes on stage, interesting. Cute dog. The Winner: Marie Antoinette and it is true everything does sound great with a British or Scottish accent. Sigh! James McAvoy!!!

10:05pm: We are at the humanitarian award, a nice award but it interupts the award show. I hope her speech is short.

10:11pm: Getting Steven Spielberg to take hers and Clint's photos was funny.

10:12pm: Best Cinematography presented by Apple's and Moses mom. Our guesses were Children of Men. The Winner: Pan's Labyrinth. Damn you EW, love you but damn you!!!

10:20pm: I think Naomi Watts' dress is awful, don't like those sleeves. Best Visual Effect, Justin and I both guessed Pirates of the Caribbean. The Winner: Pirates of The Caribbean. I think we are still tied, yes we are tied.

10:23pm: Has to be Best Foreign Language film but alas it is a look at 50 years of Best Foreign Language film. What is with my screen cutting off half of these titles. I need to get a flat widescreen TV.

10:30pm Now are we getting to the Foreign Language pick. My pick: The Lives of Other. Justin's: Pan's Labyrinth. I took a gamble on this category and this will break our tie. The Winner: The Lives of Others. Score one for me. I wouldn't have minded that Water won, would love to have another Canadian film win an Oscar. 7 out of 13 right so far out of Justin's 6 out of 13.

10:33pm: Pretty impressive the Snakes on a Plane. Now finally George Clooney to present Best Supporting Actress. We both guessed Jennifer Hudson. The Winner: Jennifer Hudson!!!!! Great for her, what an increndible story she has. American Idol reject to Oscar winner. She is officially the most succesful person from that show.

14 categories down, ten to go and about an hour and 25 minutes before where I left off of the Marple mystery comes on.

10:42pm: The documentary short. Me: The Blood of Yingzhou District Justin: Two Hands. The Winner: The Blood Of Yingzhou District. That was a wild card pick on my behalf. I was going to listen to EW but changed my mind after reading all the descriptions of the short and felt that this was a meatier Oscar-type documentary.

10:45pm Jerry Seinfeld presenting Best Documentary Feature. Justin and I both guessed Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth. Get to the damn award Seinfeld, I want to see my Marple mystery conclude. The Winner: An Inconvenient Truth.

10:50pm The Honorary Oscar to a film composer. Gotta love that. Ennio Morricone. I don't think I have any of his scores but he has done memeroable scores for such films as The Good, the Bad and The Ugly and the Mission. Movie scores are one of the music genres that I love. I have about a hundred movie score soundtracks. John Williams and Patrick Doyle I count as among my favourite composers. My Ipod is filled with their scores.

I love how they are letting his scores tell the tale of his career. There is always something so emotional when hearing a great score, I love it when it tugs at your heartstrings and makes you feel certain emotions. Example: Rob Lane's recent score to Jane Eyre made me feel passion and love. I do have one of Ennio's score: I have Hamlet, the Mel Gibson version. Now Celine Dion is singing a song, I can only guessed composed by Ennio. I know a lot of people don't like her but I do. I think she is a great performer plus we haven't seen her at the Oscar's for a while. And besides the song is lovely. Give the man a standing ovation. Movies are never the same without the music.

11:03pm Come on Oscars, you've got 1 hour and 12 minutes to end before the Marple mystery. I think I am going to eat a Kit Kat and an Aero Bar right now, the new thin ones that are only 80 calories.

11:06pm. Best Original score. Always my category. Our picks: The Queen, Alexandre Desplat. The Winner: Babel. That guy won last year for Brokeback Mountain. This is one of my worst years in trying to predict the Oscars. It doesn't help that I haven't seen that many of the nominated movies. At least I am #1 in my hockey pool.

11:10pm love the speed-up version of the usually boring Academy president speech. But so far this is a ho-hum telecast. So far nothing that matched the smear Best Actress campaign from last year.

11:11pm: Peter Parker and Mary-Jane doing Original screenplay. We both picked: Little Miss Sunshine. The Winner: Little Miss Sunshine

11:20pm That was a stupid hi-def joke about J-Lo. Jennifer Hudson performing "I love you, I do" a great song from Dreamgirls. Beyonce singing Listen, which Justin and I think is going to win. Interesting that Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce are dueting as it is not the case in the film on both the songs so far. And why do I feel that their boobs are going to fall out. Keith Robinson is singing Eddie Murphy's part of Patience and is dueting with Anika Noni Rose and the other Dreamgirls on this one, as believe it is done in the film but I don't remember. That was nice but then again I love musicals.

11:27pm: John Travolta and Queen Latifah, soon to be seen in Hairspray, to present the Best Song award. The Winner: Melissa Etheridge for An Inconvenient Truth. I did say it might win after listening to her song.

So we still have Film Editing, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Picture. Five categories and 45 minutes to do it before my Marple mystery. And I've had enough about the promos of "On the lot"

11:36pm and the Oscars are already over by six minutes. Did they really think it was going to be only 3 hours? Yeah right. Get back to the awards already. I know Hollywood love to honours themselves but come on.

11:40pm Kate Winslet. Love her. Born 20 days before me. Best Film Editing. Me: Babel Justin: United 93. The Winner: The Departed

11:44pm: Jodie Foster I bet is doing the in memorium. I am right.

I have a solution to my Marple mystery problem, I have my mini TV that I will use to continue on watching the Oscars while taping the remaining of my Marple mystery!!!!!

11:50pm So far I still got only 10 right. This is really bad prognasticating on my part. But I now know that I won because even if I lose on Best Picture, I still got one more right than Justin!!!!!!

11:52pm: Phillip Seymour Hoffman presenting Best Actress. We both said Helen Mirren. The Winner: Helen Mirren. She better have won, I mean she won every single award. How awesome is she, great speech, eloquent and beautiful.

11:57pm This backstage guy is awful, just oozes cheese that is just rank!

12:01am: Reese Whitherspoon for Best Actor. We both said Forest Whitaker. The Winner: Forest Whitaker. For a great actor, Forest is a quiet man in real life. Sorry Peter O'Toole, my guess is the honorary Oscar is all you will get. And Ryan Gosling, you are one hot man!!!!

12:06am: Spielberg, Coppola and George Lucas presenting Best Director, nice touch to have these three directors present. Funny. Our picks: Martin Scorcese. The Winner: Martin Scorcese. Finally!!!!!

12:12pm Best Picture. My pick: Babel Justin: The Departed. Sorry no pithy comments it's getting late in the evening. The Winner: The Departed. That's all folks. The telecast itself was blah. But I won the Oscar Pool by one. Me: 14 Justin: 13. Another close one, like last year but I won the bet.

Until next year folks. Now back to my Marple mystery.

Amazing Race: All Stars February 18th

Happy Chinese New Year all in this year of the pig.

And what a way to start the new year with the Amazing Race: All Stars. When I heard there was going to be an All Star edition, I was excited looking forward to seeing what teams are going to be in it from its over 10 seasons. The one team I was looking forward to was the Bowling Moms. I was really disappointed to learn that they didn't make the cut.

But here are the teams that I am rooting for that did make the cut:
1. Dustin and Kandace: The strongest and most competitive all-female team I've ever seen on the race
2. Oswald and Danny: Loved them in season 2
3. Teri and Ian: Book it Teri! Loved them in Season 3
4. Kevin and Drew: Best part of season 1
5. Uchenna and Joyce. Good karma should still be on their side
6. Charla and Mirna: Still rooting for Charla, want her to succeed

Teams I am not rooting for: Rob and Amber -can't stand them., Their 15 minutes of fame should be over by now.
Joe and Bill: Never liked team Guido and still don't

The other teams I am indifferent towards.

So of course Romber would come in first. Typical. But glad that Ozzy and Danny came in second followed by Teri and Ian and sorry Justin, Ian didn't say book it!

Glad that my beauty queens came in sixth and got a little worried for Charla and Mirna but glad they tied for 8th with Kentucky, who I predicted would come in last because of their lies to the Beauty Queens thought karma would bite them in the butt.

Was really worried for Kevin and Drew but so happy that they overcame injury and a flat tire to come in 2nd to last.

As for John Vito and Jill, was indifferent towards them but a little sad to see them go because I kinda wanted to see if they did get back together, guess I'll find out when i watch the Finish Line tomorrow. But, it was their fault for driving to the wrong entrance. You know when Phil emphasizes something it is going to bite one or two teams as it did JV and Jill and the cousins.

As for the tasks, of course you do wrangle it, you got the guys to wrangle the horse for you. Never chose a needle in a haystack clue, what made Romber think it was better is beyond me. Maybe that can be their downfall chosing wrong detours.

It may look like next week the Intersection comes back as it does look like the cousins have to work with the Beauty Queens.

The race is just getting started and more excitement is bound to happen. As long as my top 6 teams are still in the running, I will be happy.

Until next week.

Masterpiece Theatre - Jane Eyre, Part Two

There are five scenes that I look forward to the most when it comes to any version of Jane Eyre:

1. The fire rescue scene


2. The proposal scene


3. The courtship scenes post proposal


4. Rochester's pleas for Jane to stay after the aborted wedding


5. Their reunion

Four out of the five appeared in part two of Masterpiece Theatre's wonderful version of Jane Eyre.

Out of all the versions that I've seen (and I've seen eight of them) this one has hit all the parts I love best exactly right.

Of course my thoughts on the fire scene was said previously but if not I loved that part. The way it was shot in shadows with those two so close together that you felt their chemistry and you wanted them to kiss and the scene afterwards where Jane believed that Mr. Rochester might actually return her feelings for him.

And you know he did in the proposal scene. Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens were wonderful in that scene: painful, emotional and passionate.

My absolutely favourite scene in this production was the morning after the proposal and credit goes to Wilson for making it such a wonderful scene. It is the scene where Jane is lying on her bed with the sunlight softly illuminating her face as thoughts were on the night before. She rises takes a look at her face in the mirror, she touches it and her mouth scarcely believing what has transpired and then she spins around like a schoolgirl in happiness before she plops back down on her bed. That scene was so beautiful and punctuated by an emotional score by Rob Lane -I wish a soundtrack would come out for this production.

Now I come to screenwriter Sandy Welch. What she has done to this version is miraculous, bringing passion to this tale that has been sorely lacking in past versions.

Her best job came tonight during the St. John scenes which are usually slow and boring. The reader and audience are just waiting for Jane to hear Rochester's voice across the moors and reunite with him.

In all other versions I have seen, Rochester's pleas for Jane to stay are usually before the St.John bits but what Welch has done is mix those scenes in with her time with the Rivers making that part of the production way more interesting. The scenes with Rochester and Jane, while not exactly following the book, were sizzling. I love those scenes. You see both their despondence and their passion for one another. Stephens was magnificent in these scenes the passion and desperation in his voice and the way he touched and kissed Jane would have convinced me to stay or in his words would have "tempted me in a life of sin."

As for St. John, Andrew Buchan has been one of the better ones I have seen in recent versions. He is handsome but a cold fish as he was written unlike the St. John's of 1996, 1997 and the musical.

The final scene where Jane and Rochester have married were a nice glimpse into their married life and you get to see the full transformation of their characters. Jane, who started the story with no family or love has finally found love and a family. Rochester, who throughout was brooding and unhappy at life, is joyously happy with his life.

I read in the production diary that the man paiting their portrait was the same man who did the Reed's portrait. A nice connecting piece there but too bad you didn't see his face.

Four final words to close my thoughts on this: Best. Jane. Eyre. Ever.

Movie review -The Queen

It is hard to believe that this August will mark 10 years since the unexpected and tragic death of Princess Diana, the Princess of Wales. It is one of those moments in history where you remember where you were when you heard the news. And while watching The Queen, the docudrama the recreates the behind the scenes drama of how the Royal Family dealt with the tragedy, brought back all of the memories of the summer of 1997.

The most amazing thing about this film is the exquisite and amazing performance of Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II. She brings humanity to the role of the only monarch I have ever known and someone I consider sometime stoic but emotionally unattached when I see her appearances at Christmas. She makes Queen Elizabeth a person like you and I and not some monarch just sitting on her throne waited hand and foot. She drives a Range Rover! (albeit not wearing a seat belt).

I don't know how true it was in real life but it was fascinating to see the Queen's struggle on how to deal with it and it almost seemed as if she was being bullied into doing what was ultimately the right thing to do by the British people and Tony Blair (Michael Sheen in his second go around playing the Labour PM after TV's The Deal). I really did feel sorry for her but at the same time you wanted to yell at her to get off her high horse and do something.

We all know now that she did misjudge on how the public wanted her to address the people and I really got teary eyed as Stephen Frears used a mixture of archival and re-enactments of how the people reacted to Diana's death. I remember feeling what the people felt at the time but not necessarily about how the Queen should have reacted.

Sheen is also a revelation as Blair. He was amazing and should have been nominated for some sort of acting award. There is a scene towards the end of the Queen where after all the frenzy surrounding Diana's death and funeral had passed, they meet again (very similar to their first meeting earlier in the film when Blair first got elected) and discuss how the Queen's reputation was damaged by the way she handled things while Blair's popularity soared. Blair countered that the Queen saved her rep by addressing the people on the eve of Diana's funeral but she added that Blair may soon feel what it was like to have one's reputation damaged. This was excellent foreshadowing how Blair's rep was damaged by joining forces with President Bush to invade Iraq to find no existent weapons of mass destruction.

When the lights came up, I thought that the Queen was one of the most amazing fillms I have seen in a while. The performances were excellent and the screenplay by Peter Morgan was well written.

Come Oscar time I know that Helen Mirren is the one to beat. She embodied the Queen not only physically but emotionally as well. This is her third time playing a monarch after Queen Charlotte in the Madness of King George (her first Oscar nomination) and Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth I and you know what they say third time is the charm.

Oscar Nominations are out

This morning I got up to watch the Oscar nominations. There were many surprises about what movies were left out of certain categories and some surprises at who were nominated.

The first surprise was Dreamgirls being shut out of Best Picture and Best Director despite winning the Golden Globe and racking up eight Oscar nods (three alone in Best Song). I saw the movie over the weekend and I thought I was watching a potential Best Picture nominee (I try to watch all the Best Picture nominees before the ceremony so that I can make my predictions better). But I was happy to see that Jennifer Hudson, who was amazing in the film, and Eddie Murphy, also great, get nominated.

A welcome surprise was the nominations for Canadian Ryan Gosling. I am happy for him and sure goes a long way from his days on Breaker High! And I am happy to see that Abigail Breslin got nominated for Little Miss Sunshine and the film got nominated for Best Picture too! (Guess what I am renting this weekend!)

So the Best Picture race is this: Babel, The Departed, Letters from Iwo Jima, Little Miss Sunshine and The Queen. I didn't know what I was going to this Saturday but now I know, I am going to watch The Queen.

An interesting race and from the looks of it no clear front runner. If I were to bet money on it (but won't) I think it is going to be Babel (and that is only because it won the Golden Globe -but then so did Brokeback Mountain last year) So what do I know.

But I am willing to bet money (but I won't) that these three people will win the Oscar in their respective categories: Helen Mirren, Forrest Whittaker and Jennifer Hudson.

Looking forward to February 25th as the Oscar's is my Super Bowl.

Cheers!

Masterpiece Theatre - Jane Eyre, Part One

Words cannot describe how much I love this story. It was way back in the early 1990s when I first became exposed to this incredible love story by Charlotte Bronte which is when I saw the 1973 BBC version that starred Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston as Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester on a Sunday afternoon. I completely fell in love with the story of a plain governess looking for happiness and thinking she found it with her employer but learns of his dark secret.

After watching that mini-series, I read the book (something I never do) and I instantly became a fan. But I soon forgot about Jane and her Rochester until 1996 when flipping through a movie magazine I noticed a new version by Franco Zefferilli and starring Charlotte Gainsbourgh and William Hurt. I rushed to theatre when it opened and I became entraced with the story all over again and its magnificant score but it was an incomplete version. I soon was on a mission to find a complete version again like the 1973 version but with better production values.

While watching A&E's version of Emma, I came across a commercial for a new version of Jane Eyre that would air in the fall of 1997 and starring Samantha Morton and Ciaran Hinds. I fell in love with that version, while incomplete in its telling of Jane's story, had the right production values, a great score, awesome chemistry between the two leads and while not perfect thought I found the one.

By now, I sound obsessed with the story and I think it must be in my genes as my paternal grandmother really loved the story. To further my obsession, I discovered that Toronto in 1996 was holding the world premiere staging of Jane Eyre the musical starring Marla Schaffel and Anthony Crivello. Unfortunately, I never got to see that staging but managed to buy what is now the rare cast recording of the Toronto production and was entranced by Ms. Schaffel's and Mr. Crivello's performance and the music was awesome for a lack of a better word.

Even after discovering the Samanthn Morton version, I came across the 1983 production of Jane Eyre (thinking it was the 1973 one) that starred Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke. I loved this version too because a) it was complete b) loved Timothy Dalton, he, up until that point, was the best looking Rochester and loved how he delivered his lines. But what bothered me was a) the production values -real exterior, fake interior (you can tell it was filmed on a soundstage and not at a real stately home) and that Zelah Clarke was really short and there was no chemistry between the two.

So now it became my mission to see every single version of Jane Eyre. Up unti this point I've mentioned four versions that I have seen. The next version that I got to see was when Jane Eyre the musical moved to Broadway and I got to see it twice in NYC still with Marla Schaffel in the title role but now with the handsome James Barbour as Rochester. Their singing conveyed the passionate nature of the two characters very well and Schaffed deserved her Tony nomination and should have won.

Then I saw the 1944 version with Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine and I disliked that version because it totally didn't follow the book at all. Then the 1970 version had a great score by John Williams but Susannah York was way too old as Jane and George C. Scott was awful as Rochester. And the look of the story was washed out because of the age of the film.

Yes I am getting to Masterpiece Theatre's version of Jane Eyre. What lacked in every single version that I've seen, even the 1997 version was the intense, romantic and passionate chemistry between the two leads and the Masterpiece Theatre/BBC version has that in spades.

When Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens are on screen together it is electric, I feel their attraction to each other. And after seeing part one over and over again on tape, I still feel it. What is also superior is the fact that there is no narration. All other versions depended on Jane's narration to tell us (the audience) what she is feeling. But the great thing about Ruth Wilson's performance is that we don't need narration to tell us what she is feeling, we see it on screen. We feel what she feels. Ruth Wilson is the best Jane Eyre I have ever seen and I think she is more beautiful in this role than she is as Jewel Diamond in Suburban Shootout.

And Toby Stephens is very sexy as Rochester and we see his pain of his past. The production values of this production is superb. I love that fact that the filmmakers used Haddon Hall for Thornfield as it is the second time it has played host to this literary household after the 1996 Zefferilli version. The music by Rob Lane is moving and while the production short changed her childhood (I mean they got Georgie Henley -of Narnia fame- to play young Jane that they could have used her better) But so far they got the core love story right and I am so looking forward to part two next week as it looks totally awesome.

I think I have found my one Jane Eyre, the version that I love above all else as it is so far complete (as long as they get the Rochester/Jane part right, which they have so far), excellent chemistry between the two leads, great production values and great score.

I gave up watching Battlestar Galactica to see this and would do it again next week and anytime a version of Jane Eyre is on.

Yes I am obessed but I can't help but relate to her story.

Looking forward to part two next week.

Amazing Race 10 -December 3, 2006

Well folks we are in the homestretch and next Sunday is the season finale and who expected the final three to include the Bama's. I mean it was expected to have the models and the couple in most need of therapy in there but the Blondes should have been there. It was obvious that they were eliminated when everyone was bunched together to get to the pit stop.

I really think it was unfair how everyone wanted to gang up on them to get them out but I understand why they wanted them out because they were a very strong team. I really think it sucks that they are not racing for the million; they really deserve too. Dustin and Kandice are the strongest all-female team I have ever seen in the Amazing Race and I hope they get to be in the All-star edition that will be rumoured to be the next race.

Anyways, the episode the was interesting. The road block was awesome and I totally would have done it but the way it looked, I thought I would have to cook and eat a camel head - that I don't think I could do. In the end, it was just grinding camel meat to make sausages. It looked good and all the teams said it smelled and tasted good.

Then it was off to Barcelona, a very pretty city and the pit stop looked gorgeous. It looked like the Blondes really were going to come in first but the equalizer was the airport then the maze not opening up until the morning. Then most of the teams got lost in the maze then getting out. Except for Bama who calmly found there way out and I am glad that the Blondes praised Bama for being calm as being a smart way to play. But I wish Karlyn would stop being such a sourpuss, she always looks so pissed off in the team confessionals, in the car, during road blocks and detours. I mean I am glad that they are the first all-female team in the final but Karyln could be their downfall. But more on that later.

As for the detours, I wouldn't do a needle in a haystack choice so I was surprised that Rob and Kimberly and the Bama's chose that one but it was hilarious to see Kim get pummelled by the tomatoes and Rob throwing it at the locals, it was like a snowball fight. I wish Karlyn would have thrown some to let off some frustration.

But I don't know which one I would have chose. I am fairly short so having to carry a giant would have been daunting. But I would have been the smarter task as long as you knew where to go in terms of the square.

So now my thoughts on the final three:

Tyler and James: A strong team and they will probably will win since all-male teams that are young and physical (sorry Ken and Gerard from AR3 -the only other all-male team in a final not to win) usually win. Their downfall could be that they have poor navigational skills and sometimes don't think before heading off to a route marker or doing a task. But, I think they are also a bit arrogant in thinking that they will because Bama is in the final three and they are not as physical as them. Which brings me to:

Lyn and Karlyn: Yes, they are not physical and that could be their downfall but since leaving the six pack, they've come in 2nd place. They are smart and calmer but Karlyn could be their downfall with her negativity. I mean I want an all-female team to win but does it have to be them. I really wanted Kandice and Dustin. If anything, I want Lyn to win. She is a saint and patient to put up with Karlyn. I think this is the first time that I want one person in a team and not the other since Flo and Zach from AR3 -we all remember them don't we!

Rob and Kimberly: My brother said last night that Kim looked like the Wicked Witch of the East (aka Elphaba - if you've seen or read Wicked then you'll know what I mean) and I agree. I really don't want them to win. Their arguing gets on my nerves and it really bothers me that he calls Kim, the woman he wants to marry, "dude" and Rob's beard is crazy annoying. The way they behave in stressful situations will be their downfall and their poor navigational skills and poor communication skills might prevent them from winning the million.

My prediction on who will win: Tyler and James
Who I want to win: The Blondes. Just kidding: Lyn (and I guess Karlyn)

Looking forward to next week.