Luther, Fall TV, Celine

Legendary Luther

How is it possible, but yes, with about 8000 tracks in my iTunes, I have no Luther Vandross in there!?  This is shocking because since I first heard his stellar "The Night I Fell In Love" album, I worshiped him, seeing him 4x in concert.  So to rediscover "Till My Baby Comes Home," (a great treadmill track) and dozens of other killer tunes is just pure joy.  See, while I was into pop/rock of the 70's-80's, I was deep into R&B, so singers like Luther, Jeffrey Osborne, James Ingram, Howard Hewett & Peabo were my LIFE.... It's August so let me preview some Fall TV: Critics at the TCA seem to giving positive buzz to "Ringer" with Sarah Michelle Geller (CW), Zooey's "New Girl" (Fox), JJ Abrams of "Lost" and "Alias" fame, gives us "Person of Interest" (CBS); Christina Applegate's gonna try again with "Up All Night" (NBC; co-starring the brill Maya Rudolph) and the highly-hyped Spielberg-touched, "Terra Nova" on Fox.  I read a ton about new  shows before I invest. So when journalists say that a show won't last, I don't bother. But if there's praise, I'll watch to see if I wanna join in.  Bad Buzz: "The Playboy Club." On-The-Fence Buzz: "Pan Am."... "La Cage aux Folles," one of my favorite musicals begins touring this fall. It hits LA's Pantages next summer and I'll be there!... Celine's in Vegas for a little less than 3 more years - and this recent review makes me wanna go NOW!... Super hot Joe Jonas has a solo album dropping soon.  Already on single #2 cuz the first one failed, I'm happy he's doing a pop/dance/Enrique thing, but I just wish the songs were good.  Oh well, he still has his looks.... I should be giving you "3-2-Get" today but nothing new is moving me. I know what's NOT on my radar: the Kanye/Jay-Z album.  Just not my thing.  And with a "B-" from EW, I don't think it'll sweep the Grammy's....  So, go on, get Luther and be Just like Jerry.

Crazy Stupid Great, Celine, Kathie Lee

Gosling's Crazy Stupid Abs

Is "Crazy Stupid Love" just about the most perfect film I've seen this year? Yes. Usually goofy Steve Carrell shows he's more likely to take home an Oscar in his career than Jim Carrey.  This is not a raunch-com but more so a snap-shot a humanity - a page from one family's scrapbook.  Perfect life-stories, perfect performances and the perfect Ryan Gosling. Just go see it. Perhaps because I've been so unmoved by any summer popcorn-action flick, this one makes the top of my list.... And will "The Help" tie? Likely.  Great reviews, a huge book and a storyline-setting that gives me shades of Steel Magnolias and Fried Green Tomatoes, makes this highly anticipated. And of course, it opens today, but I have to wait till next weekend when Deb & Tina are in town. Devil!...  A possible "Bewitched" reboot on CBS?  Because the film did so well?  This seems a better fit for ABC Family or TVLand. Yuck....  Hump Day Hidden Gem: Of course Celine can sell a ballad, but she had some great lil pop dance ditties. Check out the forgotten "Mislead," from her "Colour of My Love" album, especially for the line, "when I've been dissed...." It only hit #24 but was a #1 Club hit with some classic remixes....  Have you ever caught the craziness that is Hoda & Kathie Lee and their 4th hour of the Today Show?  The focus is on their supposed wine-induced, wild, off-the-cuff remarks (lead by Gifford, now a bit more relaxed and self deprecating that her children are grown and well, quite frankly, she's post menopausal).  I get that she's old-school. I embrace that she embraces it.  But when she gets on a Music High-Horse its a bit comical.  She speaks as if she's written hit after hit song - and she is NO Diane Warren (IE nary a charted hit).  So when she says of Katy Perry's California Gurls, "I don't call that music," it only makes her more archaic than she is. Gifford prefers Broadway and Standards, as do I quite often, but as a musician or claimed songwriter, if you can't tell that "Gurls," is one of the best pop songs of the decade, your authority status on music wanes.... Be Crazy, Stupid, Just like Jerry!