Everything Means Nothing

I'm not going to lie to you, folks. Although I had heard about the tornadoes ripping through the south, I really wasn't paying very much attention.  Afterall, we've been seeing patterns of natural disasters as of recently and it really isn't very difficult to dismiss something or become immune to a situation when it's not in your own backyard and doesn't feel like it's directly affecting you. After seeing days of royal wedding coverage, I was able to finally digest the hard facts. I felt like Obama touring the areas of devastation. I went online and watched cable news coverage. Then I felt like Bush after Hurricane Katrina because days had gone by and I had done nothing. Where is Kanye to announce to the world that "Chenna doesn't care about southern people"? I've been in my own bubble. I let the news filter through me and now, I am broken hearted as I try to pick up the pieces of what I've missed and figure out how I can catch up. My house, my car, clothes and shoes mean nothing. This I know. And this is not something that I just learned today, I've always been aware that material things are just that... materials. But there are people who have truly lost everything, so it's not a bad idea to revisit the fact. In the Bible, Jesus tells his followers that he will return but not before a few things happen first.  "Nation will rise against nation... there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues..." He says these things must happen so therefore we shouldn't fear them. It's all a part of something greater to come. This can't be something easy to hear when your house has been reduced to rubble and your loved ones are missing and/or dead. I feel thankful for my life and my worldly possessions during this time, but more importantly, I am so grateful for the things that I cannot see or hold: my faith and my God, and the power of prayer, which as a nation we can use to heal the world.

Casey's Cast Away, James is Crowned King?

Last night we said goodbye to Casey Abrams, the bluesy jazz man, the red haired, bearded, bassist who I have to come to know as the finalist unlike anything Idol has ever seen. Yeah, we've heard that line before, along with, "this is the best season ever." It could be said from year to year as the talent evolves and impresses our nation. But Casey truly was identifiably the most unique and musically talented individual I've seen since the show's inception. Not just because he plays the upright bass, not just because he looks different than anyone we've seen, not just because he growls when he feels the music moving through him, and not just because he's far beyond his years, the way he interprets various musical genres. It's because of all of those things actually and even more. I appreciated what Casey brought to the stage each week and even though I breathed a great sigh of relief when Jacob, who was in the bottom three again, was sent to safety, I knew when there was only Scotty and Casey left, that last night would be the night the jazz and R&B died. The voters have spoken and he will be missed by me. Randy, however, although he may have been touched to see a fellow musician leave the show, seemed to have the winner, not the loser, on his mind. Wednesday, after James' performance of a Carole King classic, Randy declared James the winner of the whole thing, and jumped on stage at Ryan's behest to hug him and reiterate his prediction, just in case we didn't hear it the first time. I was never really a fan of the judges making such predictions, there is some chance that it truly could sway the vote. A vote that James doesn't seem to need any more help in gathering. I don't think he's ever been in the bottom and with only five people left, he just might rock and roll his way into the finale. The real question is: who will be there with him?

"The Tamar Show"

I know family love is unconditional but, Tamar would make it hard for me. This weeks show was mostly about Tamar and her rants and raves, her jealousy and self-esteem issues, and her obsession with money and class. Not a good look for the youngest (and loudest) sister in the Braxton bunch. She's stated many times in the last three episodes that she wants a record a deal and is tired of being known as Toni Braxton's sister. She tries her best to bully her record label exec husband either by verbally attacking him or by batting her falsies. Either way, he's standing firm on his answer. He'll give her a contract, but it has to be under his rules and regs and she will not have the control that she mistakenly feels she is ready for. Therefore, Tamar has not signed this contract and remains wealthy, married and miserable. She has a know-it-all mentality and a teenager's temper. It was Toni Braxton's birthday, and the girls were in Miami. They bought their sister a special gift, but Tamar was so engulfed in her own fantasy life, that she went looking for the same pair of sunglasses for herself once they got home. They walked the red carpet at a Dolphins game, and Tamar complained when the announcer only pointed out "Grammy award winning" Toni's name. I have to admit, this one was a little upsetting to watch. Especially the part where Tamar sat at Toni's birthday dinner table and proceeded to read each sister and insult their relationships with their men. "You have a husband who cheats, you have a husband who is a computer nerd and cheats on line, you have one who just wants to live off your name..." Not an exact quote, but pretty much how she said it. I don't know how those women sat there and tolerated this little girl's abrasive comments and opinions. I guess it leads us back to that unconditional love theory. Or maybe there is some sympathy mixed in as well. Toni called her "New money" a couple different times as Tamar made fun of her for still shopping at Target and Walmart. At the rate Tamar is going, she better hope her husband continues to appreciate her for being a "pretty wife" because she could end up ringing her sister up at the register the next time she shops there.

Going Royally Mad

HRH Prince William is marrying his girlfriend of almost 10 years, commoner Kate Middleton on Friday and I can't wait. I can't wait for it to be over, that is. The local news media has been camped out in front of Westminister Abbey, the royal palace and even poor Kate's (not so poor looking) house for months now. And now that the date is inching even closer, there have even been counters at the bottom of the TV screen, letting us know how many weeks, days and hours are left before the Prince makes his girl a future queen. Breaking news: I. Don't. Care. I really don't. And I keep trying to figure out if I am somehow being internationally ignorant. I've racked my brain wondering if I'm supposed to care and if it makes me less of an intellectual or more of a brut that I don't. I cared about Princess Diana as I came to see and recognize her in the media and grew to learn of her charitable efforts and admirable charm. I was very young when she married Prince Charles but I remember the night that she was killed in that horrific car chase with the paparazzi. I'll never forget the images of her car, mangled and still, even then, lit up to the sound of flashing lights and camera clicks. Seeing those images replayed again today to somehow tie in the wedding with the death of perhaps William's most important influence is sickening and not an hommage to me at all. I'm offended seeing my favorite morning news show amchors sitting high in makeshift news studios in front of a church where no one will even be until Friday, interviewing anyone and everyone and scrambling to find the kitschiest keychains, fighting to be the first to announce the designer of a wedding dress we just might forget. And I keep asking myself, why do we care? I understand that it is a big deal for the prince to get married. His choice for a bride will be the future Queen of England. But it just doesn't feel like a big deal to me. Maybe because I live in America, and we have our political nonsense to deal with. It's like, holla at me when they actually become king and queen. I shall practice my curtsey...

Hip Hop Out of the Box

Last week's episode left us wanting more as Chrissy (and the rest of us) awaited Jim Jones' answer to the age old question, "Will you marry me?" He looks down on her, as she sits, tears streaming over her painted face and, as he stares lovingly into her dramatically lashed eyes he says... "You sure you wanna do that?" BUZZER! Wrong answer, Jim! Let's try this again. She answers by stating, "I can't see my self with anyone but you." How romantic. Jim, in his powerful pink polo, smiles shyly (or painfully, I can't tell which) and says, "I'm with you." BUZZER AGAIN! I guess that's as hard as it's gonna come. There was no yes or no, just an acknowledgment of what Chrissy must already know. Jim loves her and he has her back. But will he marry her? The next scenes are of Jim showing off his ring to the camera and his friends and family and I can't help but to think that there's something wrong with the picture. Cut to Chrissy's confessional and she tries to explain away her proposal. She claims that it's just a fantasy that us girls grow up with, the man down on one knee, confessing their eternal love and proving it with a diamond and a kiss. She says she's not waiting around for a fantasy and while the rest of us daydream, she's going to go out and get what she wants. I'm not buying it Chris. Some may see a woman proposing to a man as a modern move, an act of love that transcends all gender. I see it as an act of desperation. If there is one tiny drop of old fashioned values and tradition left in this world, can it at least be that? I'm not saying Chrissy is a desperate woman, but she most certainly felt pressured during this time and we all know what desperate times call for. So they are engaged, but not planning a marriage any time soon, and contrary to my opinion, which matters not to their situation, I do wish them all the best.

Return to the Hard Rock

*Lets return to the HARD ROCK hotel for pheleshia's weekly dose of hooking up, drinking and mayhem.*

 This episode finds a new roommate raising the feathers of the girls in the "foul coop"! Heather Cooke joins the MTV RW gang as the havoc that led to Adams departure settles. Heather, who goes by her last name "Cooke", is the daughter of a U.S. Naval officer and a native Filipino mother. She is an avid and passionate soccer player who has won numerous awards for the sport. This, in my opinion, is one of the catalysts for also pulling her closer to the males in the house. Prior to moving into the HARD ROCK home, she lived and worked in Washington, D.C.  As she joins the other roommates we observe the warm welcome from the gentlemen while some of the females decide to not be so gentle. The decision to not be so welcoming is not held by all as Heather decides to give Cooke a chance and not follow in the footsteps of Nany and Naomi. As they spend some time trying to figure Cooke out, Cooke engages her own battle with the girls and stands her ground. She shows us that she can stand her own and is not afraid to speak up and out for how she thinks and feels! Cooke is definitely underestimated and her personality is stronger than imagined. She even starts some drama when she begins on a mission to break up Heather and Dustin as a result of her own attraction to Dustin. As she continues to stir up the emotions of the female roommates the men take time to get to know her and show her some support... to the dismay of the females! The actions of the male roommates later on cause an argument that has many triggers! These triggers include Naomi being upset about Cooke’s interaction with Leroy, to there also being retaliation from Nany due to the fact that she is upset that Cooke has taken Adam’s spot in the house. The men have identified these factors, while the women use the fact that Cooke has made statements of breaking up Dustin and Heather, as the real reason for these arguments. I completely agree with the men, this is all about their own feelings! Overall, this episode wouldn’t have had any substance to it if it wasn’t for the arrival of Cooke! She brought the fire to the episode and I believe will continue to do so in weeks to come. The girls in the house need to stop being so childish and allow for the true reasons for their dislike of Cooke to surface. As we saw in this episode they were only able to confront her as “liquid courage” reared its ugly head again. In the weeks to come I wonder if they will continue to feel this way about her and actually do something about it! What I feel is going to be interesting is Cooke’s reaction to the new drama that is going to engulf the show as Dustin’s escapades previous to joining the show, which are viral, are brought to light. Also, the intimate relationship between Heather and Dustin becomes compromised as a result of this. The upcoming episodes seem to be filled with the typical story lines of possible pregnancy, fist fights and nights of dancing and alcohol. However, the discussion of Dustin’s actions is what is going to hold my attention for the weeks to come.

End of the Road for Stefano

The bottom 3 this week consisted of Haley, the bluesy babe, one of only two girls left in the competition, Jacob, the resident gospel great and Stefano, the wild card and R&B romantic who has been winning Jennifer Lopez's heart since his first audition. JLo, however, kept her fingers crossed for Haley, stating she didn't want to see another girl go home. She got her wish, Haley was the first contestant sent back to the safety of the couches, leaving Stefano and Jacob to suffer through a Katy Perry performance and God knows how many commercials. Finally, Jacob was safe, but I'm thinking it wasn't by very much. This was his second time in the bottom in as many weeks and he seems to be losing himself and his voters as the competition slugs on. Jacob used to wow the crowd with his energetic and soulful singing. His vibrato is one you either hate the sound of or turn the TV up for and his wild high notes used to leave the judges on their feet and literally asking for more. But the last couple of weeks I have noticed, and apparently so has Randy, that Jacob has been holding back. Maybe someone whispered in his ear that he was going too far, or that he would lose America's vote by being too gospel. Randy asked him last week to bring more of himself to his performance and this week begged him to not hold back. So it's not just me, Jacob is definitely scared to take America to church, the thing that got him this far in the first place. Next week, if he could read this, I would advise to put on his Sunday's best and do exactly what we know he is capable of. But back to Stefano. The kid had a lot of heart and you could see that he was trying each time he stepped on that stage. He was losing votes and remained in the bottom for awhile which is usually not a good sign on this show. We knew his time was coming fast and once the outrage of several girls going home week after week took over the Idol buzz online and in the media, after Paul, Stefano was the most likely choice to go home. The other boys, as popular as they may be, should definitely watch their backs and never feel safe. Girl Power does indeed exist and Haley and Lauren are holding on strong. See you next week.