TGIF - Miranda Lambert, Scherzinger, Pond's Cream

Take a dip in the Pond's!

I was a lil late to the Miranda Lambert party. (Shame on me.)  But I've caught up this year and I'm happy that she's a country work horse!  She's created a trio, which she's a part of, called Pistol Annies.  It's as if she said, "Well, if the Dixie Chicks are on a seemingly permanent vacation, I'll swing in and steal that thunder."... A Cher & Gaga duet dropping next month, followed by a full Cher album!?  Dear Lord, I don't ask for much... ok, yes, I do, but please let this be amazing.... Nicole Scherzinger is one of the most beautiful women on earth and she can really sang.  As the Pussycat Dolls lead, she turned out a ton of great ear candy.  Her solo career? Not so much.  It's stalled more times than it's started. So I hold no hope for her album dropping soon.  I think this is a combo of an artist wanting to be something the audience doesn't want her to be, bad A&R and a team of "yes-men" around her letting her get away with it. Call me, Nicki.... Katy Perry ties Michael Jackson with 5 #1's from the same album.  Michael did it with "Bad."... Yes, after 2 months, Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger" is #3!!!  I know a damn hit when I hear one, folks!...   I'm finally seeing "The Help" this weekend.  And, no Greg, we aren't seeing "Fright Night" or "Conan the Barbarian."... Michelle Branch is back.  I wish I liked the single more....  I decided my (current) calling is to be on "Big Brother," which reminds me of a date I went on many years ago where the guy - a receptionist at a gym - told me his career plan was to be on "Amazing Race."  Haven't seen him on it yet....  I've tried 'em all.  Trust me.  So I can finally say that for the last 3 years I've been loyal to Pond's Dry Skin Cream for my face.  Yes, as we get older, we need to moisturize more, more, more. This one is the thickest that does not clog pores.... Slather it on 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! 

Summer Song, Jagger & Jinxed

Katy: A Summer of Fridays?

It's finally here! The music video for the best pop song of the year, Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger."...  Which leads me to this: what is the song of the summer? Of course my choice is the Maroon 5 track, which opened at #8, based on The Voice performance then tumbled to the 50's but it's rebounded to #25 this week due to some more TV gigs.  Radio, wake up! My choice aside, is it LMFAO with their Black Eyed Peas-sounding "Party Rock Anthem?" That certainly seems to be the inescapable tune of the season (unfortunately). Also-rans to be considered would be Adele's "Rolling" (30 weeks on the chart - still top 10), Katy Perry's "Friday Night," Gaga's "Edge of Glory."  All give me the 'ho-hum' for the Song of Summer title though. They are certainly not up there with Perry's "California Gurls," or Beyonce's "Single Ladies," of summers past....  Gavin Degraw attacked, beaten then hit by a taxi in NYC? WTF?  Hope he's ok. I loved his first album.  I always felt the industry sadly slotted him as a runner-up to John Mayer but I like him more. Here's his "Chariot" from '03.... I hate blatant rip-offs and the upcoming Jonah Hill flick, "The Sitter," is a direct rehash of the classic "Adventures In Babysitting," with a guy sitter....  Happy 47th, Whitney! Yes, just 47. Remember when you were amazing?  I do... What the HELL is up with my jinxed'ness lately? My TV turning on & off automatically, new car battery, dropped & cracked my iPad2 (new screen for $200), internet down 2x in a week? Jesus, Take The Wheel! And gimme a break already!... So, do a Nell Carter shimmy and be Just like Jerry (with better luck of late)!