Recaps, commentary, highlights of your pop culture favourites and mine! Email me: timmybopper@yahoo.com

 
Okay, I just watched the latest episode of There and Back: Ashley Parker Angel and I damn near cried. Wait, correction: I did cry. And it was unstoppable. It's just the beauty of birth y'know? (Ashley's girlfriend had their baby) God I need to man up. *think manly thoughts, think manly thoughts*

On another note, I haven't written about the Grammys b/c I'm still really sad that Mariah Carey didn't win any of the big awards. I mean, U2's album did not yield any hits and it didn't sell nearly as well as their past efforts. But I think something about longevity and Bono's humanitarian work makes Grammy voters love him. If I were MC's manager I'd put her on a plane to Zaire or something just before next year's awards. Or have her take photos with orphans or something.

Kelly Clarkson was also a surprising winner but a great surprise. I'm glad she's maintained her humbleness and she seems so genuine unlike the fake-Asslee Simpson or say, the arrogant Kanye West. I was hoping Kelly would give one of those "when I grew up in the backwoods of Texas" type speeches but she instead delivered a tearful thank you. That's fine I guess, though I still say the "I used to be a hick nobody and now I beat an ex-Beatle for pop album of the year" speech would have worked better.

Other quick thoughts:

1. Madonna looks good for her age! I mean barely anyone can pull off the leotard outfit let alone pull it off at the age of like 50! Too bad the much-hyped "collaboration" between the Gorillaz and Madge turned out to really be one singing after the other.

2. Best quote of the night: Mary J. Blige talking about Maroon 5's Adam Levine: "I like this guy. I mean, you don't read about him in the magazines and tabloids and stuff." Huh! Let's just say Mary hasn't been reading her US Weekly lately!

3. Best retort of the night: "Jessie and I are just friends," said Levine, addressing the Jessica Simpson rumors we thought, until he grabbed Jessie Carmichel (his fellow Maroon5 bandmate) and gave him a hug.

4. Mariah took 'em to church with her performance! I'm not really sure what "took 'em to church" means but she had a pastor and a gospel choir and used the word "Jesus" a few times so I think I'm using it right.

5. Jay-Z + Linkin Park = good. Jay-Z + Linkin Park + Paul McCartney = amazing surprise! All three of them looked incredibly awkward standing next to one another but their cover of "Imagine" was really well done.

6. Best introduction of the night: Ellen Degeneres. "The following performer needs no introduction," she said. And then she walked away without saying anything more. Classic!

7. Most genuine Ryan Seacrest moment I've seen in awhile: Sure Ryan's gotten all divo on us (male diva) since he signed his huge contract with E!. But when he interviewed Fantasia and Kelly on the red carpet, he seemed truly proud of them, like an older brother who's watched the girls grow up before his eyes. Congrats to both Fantasia and Kelly for breaking out of the reality-tv star mold and becoming Grammy nominees! Somewhere, Justin Guarini is wondering just where it all went wrong...
posted by Tim at 3:56 PM