Defending the Fantastic Four films

With Iron Man about to be released in a couple of days and the Incredible Hulk not that far behind,I've been thinking quite abit about the Fantastic Four movies and how they seem to currently hold the redheaded stepchild position in the superhero movie pantheon.

While most of my knowledge of FF lore comes from various cartoon show versions over the years, I do think that the Hollywood take on them has been pretty good and rather more entertaining than many folks want to give them credit for.

So,why don't we look over some of the main objections to the FF on film and see just how much water they hold? As they say,ladies first,therefore I'll start with the future Mrs. Fantastic:



JESSICA ALBA IS MISCAST AS SUE STORM

Now,I'm not about to argue that Jessica Alba is the next Meryl Streep,but having her as Sue Storm is really not as bad as,say,Halle Berry as Catwoman or Nicholas Cage being allowed to be Superman(didn't see Ghost Rider,so I can't comment on that) or not having Angela Bassett as Storm in the X-Men films(my personal pet peeve).

For one thing,Sue Storm is not a solo warrior woman figure like Storm or Elektra or
even the She-Hulk. Yes,I do know that in the comics,she's become a strong maternal figure in her own right who can kick some serious ass,but to be honest,she's always been the girlfriend/wife/sister of the group that men fight over and fight to protect.

Since the current films blend both the early day and the present incarnations of the characters,Alba is more than capable in the role. She certainly has charm enough to slow down the Silver Surfer there as well as inflame the passions of Reed Richards and Victor Von Doom:

THE SILVER SURFER GETS AN EYEFUL OF SISTER STORM



SUE & REED WORKING WELL TOGETHER





JULIAN MCMAHON IS NOT MENACING ENOUGH AS DOCTOR DOOM

Taking on an iconic villain role is just as daunting as donning a superhero one. Doctor Doom is a major player in the Marvel universe,right along side Magneto,The Green Goblin and Galactus.



Granted,I am not the most impartial person in the world when it comes to Julian McMahon but he really bring the egotistical elegance and the ruthless force of the character to life very well onscreen.

Whether he's facing off against the FF,or trying to cut a deal with the Silver Surfer,McMahon's smooth moves enhance any and every scene. It's hard to think of another actor who could make Doctor Doom such a force to be reckoned with,in my humble fangirl opinion:

SHOWDOWN WITH THE SURFER,PART ONE



FOUR AGAINST ONE





THE FF FILMS ARE NOT AS GOOD AS THE X-MEN OR THE SPIDERMAN MARVEL MOVIES

Comparing every movie made from the same comic book company over the years can easily be bogged by personal taste,casting choices and actual like/dislike for the original characters in the first place.

While the first two X-Men and Spiderman films were entertainingly artistic tributes to both the comics and to moviegoers,the third entries were rather lacking. I'll tell you this;I had a much better time watching Fantastic Four:Rise of the Silver Surfer at home on DVD than I did seeing Spiderman 3 on opening day in theaters.



That's not to say that I wouldn't want to catch a third FF movie but you have to admit that the expectations on both X-Men and Spiderman are much higher than with the Fantastic Four or even other Marvel icons like Daredevil(which I liked,yet the Elektra movie spin-off stunk)or The Punisher(an okay movie,at best).

Part of the charm of the FF movies lies in the Saturday matinee style of the storytelling that lets the character have some fun but doesn't skimp on the pathos when needed while not overdoing either element. Look at Johnny Storm(Chris Evans is quite the smartass) and The Thing(Michael Chiklis is picture perfect as Ben Grimm)to further demonstrate my point:

FIRE AND ICE



NOT MUCH OF A HOMECOMING



In conclusion,while the Fantastic Four films may not be the ideal Marvel adaptations for everyone,they're not as bad as they could be. Still don't buy my argument? Then
try and find a copy of the Roger Corman unauthorized FF movie and see just how awful the Fantastic Four saga might have been showcased to the world. I haven't seen that one in it's entirety but a little goes a long way:

Open Letter Regarding Miley Cyrus's Vanity Fair Photo Shoot

Dear Media and/or Moral Watchdogs,

Having just hit the "big 4-0",it is safe to say that I am not in the age range of your typical Miley Cyrus,aka "Hannah Montana" fan,nor am I the parent of one. However,I've been around the teen star circuit in my time and have this to say about Miley's current controversial photo portrait in Vanity Fair:

You all seriously need to mellow out,bigtime.



I know that Miley has to had to apologize in public,which is ridiculous but apparently is enough to appease the overlords at Disney into supporting her,in hopes that she is not dethroned as their reigning Queen of the Cash Coffers.

But,what does she really have to be sorry about? Her family was present during the photo session(some of the pictures were with her dad),the picture in question only shows her bare back,and it's obvious from just looking at it that the photo was meant to be an artistic expression,not some sleazy To Catch a Predator girlie pic.



It's also obvious that Miley and her managers were testing the waters here,to begin her career crossover into a bigger arena that would allow her to have just as successful a run in show business as an adult.

After all,the Hannah Montana well is due to dry up all too soon and instead of scrambling about for a spot when the drought hits,Miley intends to start pitching her tent on higher ground. Good for her,that's what she should be doing if she's serious about having a long term career as an entertainer.



Also,her family should be commended for keeping her on the right track and trying to steer her in the proper direction(her father,Billy Ray,knows about the pitfalls of fame all too well). Consider this;this photo shoot was for Vanity Fair,not Maxim or Stuff or FHM. Heck,it's not even a cover spread(the issue has Robert Kennedy on the cover),people! Sounds like Miley's group was aiming for some subtle maturity there.

I think it's about time that folks let childhood and teen icons grow up at the right pace for them,not insist on the starlet staying in a playpen that they've outgrown just so that they don't have to face their own advancing march of the ages(or that of their own offspring).

Also,a few months ago,there was a flap over the Hannah Montana movie because some mom in the audience was upset that Miley wasn't wearing her seatbelt in one scene where her father was driving the car. Why are we making one teenage girl be the moral arbiter for an entire generation? Do you really believe that kids are such cultural lemmings that they will blindly imitate any action by a celebrity?



Yes,I am in favor of folks wearing seatbelts but that's not the point. The point is that by insisting on Miley maintaining a super squeaky clean image only sets up the possible surge into a life beyond the Disney Channel via embracing the complete and total opposite persona,which usually leads into a major meltdown before she hits thirty.

Have we learned nothing from Britney Spears's self destructive swan dive(she started out as a Disney darling,remember?)or Lindsey Lohan's myriad mess-ups that have made her a movie liability instead of an asset? These are just recent examples,there are whole case files on the number of childhood/teen celebs who have crashed and burned to have their own specialized cable channel.



So,let us save the moral wrath and outrage for a more appropriate target in the distant future,shall we? Give the poor girl a break and stop with the freak out already.

Miley is going to become a woman,regardless of what anyone says or does,and the healthiest thing to do for both her and her fanbase is to allow that to happen in a emotionally secure and encouraging environment. Hard to do under a media spotlight,but wouldn't it be nice to have one "Where Are They Now" episode about a teen star that doesn't have the inevitable slide into drugs/alcohol/abusive romantic relationships that ends in a string of violent and messy divorces? That alone would be a big achievement for the next generation of pop starlets to strive for.

Sincerely,

Lady T and the other well wishers on the sidelines

P.S. Best of luck to you,Miley and Billy Ray,keep on truckin'

Start your Summer reading off right with these May/June picks

Very much like the movie industry,the blockbuster book releases start up in May and by June,are well on their way to setting up shop for summertime reading. With that in mind, think of this book preview as a highlight of coming attractions at your local cineplex of the mind.

After all,there's really not that much of a difference;plenty of thrills,chills and special effects abound on these pages,along with laughs,love and moments of high drama. So, grab some popcorn and have a seat,as the trailers begin:

SCI FI SPECTACULAR



I've already given my two cents on Stephenie Meyer's soon to be released adult novel,The Host,but hey,if they can hype up Iron Man from here to eternity,why not make some extra noise for one of the best sci fi love stories to come along in a long time?

With the next book in the Twilight saga,Breaking Dawn,due to come out this August and the film adaptation of the first book in the series expected to hit theaters by next Christmas,Meyer is primed to become a huge player in Hollywood as well as with book lovers everywhere. A good place to get onboard this Starlight Express is with The Host:



MORE FLIGHTS OF FANTASY



In Marie Brennan's historical fantasy novel,Midnight Never Come,the courts of Queen Elizabeth I and the Faerie Queen Invidiana are secretly connected to one another,with shared intrigues that could topple them both.

A pair of spies from each realm must work together to protect their world and discover where their true loyalties lie. This blend of royal backroom dealings and faery mythos sounds like the perfect recipe for a tasty picnic basket of delights for the adventurous reader.(May)



The third volume of Jacqueline Carey's second set of Kushiel novels,Kushiel's Mercy,will be released in June and continue the saga of Imriel and Sidonie as they struggle to keep true to the creed,"Love as thou wilt". I must confess that I'm just starting to get into these books and already envy those who have loved them this far along.

BEACH BOOK BINGO



Speaking of sagas,one of the reigning queens of that genre is arriving this June with An Absolute Scandal. Penny Vincenzi's new novel focuses on a group of downtrodden yuppies and working class folk who are both affected by the sudden crash of Lloyd's,a major banking house, during the nineteen eighties.

Vincenzi is one of those wonderful British writers who is keeping the grand old tradition of steadfast sagas alive and well(yes,I'm shamelessly partial to the Brits)and she seems as down to earth and as charming as the stories she tells:




Another favorite Brit of mine is Marian Keyes,who will be gracing book shelves soon with This Charming Man. Upon news of the upcoming marriage of local politician Paddy de Courcy,four women are forced to examine their connections to him.

One of those ladies is the bride to be,Alicia,and another is Lola,who has been dating him long to wonder why she isn't. As reporter Grace(with some assist from her sister Marnie)closes in for the real scoop,the truth may reveal more than all of them imagine it to be(June 17).



In Summer Blowout by Claire Cook,salon owner Bella Shaughnessy swears off men after her half sister takes off with Bella's husband in tow. However,her recent run-ins with a local entrepreneur who gives her some excellent business help,threatens to change her resolve.

Now,if that doesn't sound like a ready made sweet summer romance to share with your book club at the seashore,I don't know what is!(June):





Just in time for those wedding bell blues,A Bad Bride's Tale by Polly Williams introduces us to Stevie Jonson,a graphic designer who thinks she's perfectly prepared for her big day.

That illusion quickly shatters as chaos starts to surround her,with her parents on the brink of divorce,her best friend Lara fulfilling Stevie's own dreams of moving to New York and an old high school crush comes back to town,adding fuel to the fire of her doubts. If Stevie does decide to walk down the aisle,the question then becomes,who will be waiting for her at the other end? (June)

ONE PERSON'S DRAMATIC STRUGGLE OR TWO



Steer Toward Rock by Fae Mynne Ng showcases a love triangle in the San Francisco of the sixties,as Jack Moon Szeto must choose to give up his bachelor tomcatting ways and stay with his "paper" wife from China or follow his heart to be with Joice Qwan,the possible true love of his life.

Joice is American born,while Jack owes his new life in the States to an old debt from Yi-Tung Szeto,whose claim on him is bound by tradition as well as the law. This novel displays a certain moment in cultural history that highlights the age old woes of making choices of the heart(May).



In No One Tells Everything,Rae Meadows has the reader see the seedy side of New York City life and the dark privileges of the wealthy thru the eyes of Grace,a single in her thirties copy editor who becomes obsessed with the murder of a local college co-ed and her accused killer,a rich boy from Grace's hometown in Ohio.


As Grace digs deeper into the story,more than one hidden secret comes to light. Some of them invoke memories regarding the death of Grace's younger sister over twenty five years ago. While the trail of one murder leads her back to her old stomping grounds,Grace comes to realize that mystery she is most anxious to solve is her own(June).

THE CRITICS ARE IN...



David Gilmour took a novel approach to his teenaged son Jesse's lack of interest in continuing his education;he made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Jesse was allowed to quit school and not get a job,but he had to watch three movies a week with his film critic father.

The results of that interesting life experiment can be found in the senior Gilmour's memoir,The Film Club. If you're on the lookout for a great Father's Day gift or a few good suggestions for your Netflix list, this is your Golden Ticket,folks(May):



So,as you leave the theater,please remember to put your seat back in the upright position and please keep these titles in mind as you head towards your library and/or bookstore. Otherwise,you might have no choice but to test the uncertain waters of whatever lands at the multiplex this season,if all of the big ones are sold out:

Sally Gunning's new novel is Bound to move your heart

When Alice Cole was still a child,her father sold her as an indentured servant to the Morton family upon their arrival in Boston,Mass,after a long journey by boat from England that claimed the lives of Alice's mother and her two younger brothers.

The Mortons treated her well,almost like one of the family. Nabby,their daughter considered Alice to be her best friend and when Nabby grew up and married Emery Verley during the year 1764,Alice went with them to be their servant for the couple's new household. Alice's indenture was given as a wedding gift to the newly weds,even tho at age fifteen, she only had about three years left to serve on it.



Verley seemed to feel that having Alice and Nabby was sort of a two for one deal;a wife and a mistress side by side. His forced sexual attentions on Alice(and threats of punishment and worse conditions if she complained) became more and more frequent,to the point of not even trying to conceal it from his wife. Nabby turned against Alice,out of jealousy,and when she couldn't get her husband to sent Alice back to her father's house,Nabby went after her with a hot poker.



Alice could take it no more,so she fled one morning and by stowing away on a boat,made her way to the village of Satucket in Cape Cod.

There,she receives help and sympathy from Widow Berry,an independent woman who insists upon living life in her own way,and Eben Freeman,a local attorney who is active in the growing political movement against unfair taxation by England towards the colonies and is a close friend and adviser to the widow.

Afraid of being sent back to Verley,Alice gives her last name as Baker and tells both of her new friends very little about her true past. The widow and Mr. Freeman can tell that there is more to Alice's story but are willing to let her gain their trust and reveal all in her own time.



Unfortunately,that time is growing briefer as Alice realizes that she is pregnant and is faced with a myriad of decisions about what to do about it. For awhile she stalls and dwells in denial,but that only lasts for so long;the undeniable reality of the situation catches up with Alice and brings her into the eyes of the law,for more than one reason. Alice has to not only give her trust willingly,she must also face her own worst fear head on,dealing with Verley.



Some of the characters in Sally Gunning's Bound were first featured in her earlier historical novel,The Widow's War. It isn't necessary to have read one before the other(altho you may want to check out The Widow's War after completing Bound)as Gunning easily creates a compelling and very realistic portrait of a young woman trapped by her circumstances and the rigid morals and class structures of her time.

Alice's trauma,fears and confusion about her situation are not only understandable but as timely as a Law & Order:SVU episode. Gunning has a sure and steady hand with her prose,keeping things simple but not plain. The most fanciful parts of the novel are the descriptions of Alice's dreams,which are vividly beautiful and terrifying at times. Gunning's down to earth style suits the salt of the earth people on the pages to perfection.

Bound is on sale now,and if you are looking for a smartly written historical novel that feels as real as today's headlines,your quest is done.

Top Chef improvs,Jen shines in Hell's Kitchen and Carly Smithson sings her swan song on American Idol

Things got off to a sweet start on Top Chef this week,as the Quickfire Challenge had the chefs were asked to whip up a dessert for Padma and guest judge Johnny Iuzzini. In addition to immunity,the winner would also get their recipe added to the official Top Chef cookbook that's just been released in stores.




Richard received the prizes,for his banana scallops with chocolate ice cream. I have to admit that Richard really has quite a flair for the interesting;I don't even like bananas or scallops but he certainly made this treat look tasty and worth a try.



After that,the chefs went to a performance of Chicago's Second City comedy troop and during the show,found out what their Elimination Challenge was going to be. The chefs split up into teams of two(no knife pull this time,the gang just picked numbers out of a hat)and had to make a five course meal for the Second City folk and the judges.

Each dish was to be based on suggestions asked for from the audience at the SC show for color,emotion and ingredients(example,"yellow,love,vanilla"). Other curve balls were tossed in,such as all of the mixers and blenders mysteriously disappear from the TC kitchen and then at the last minute,having Judge Tom come in and tell everyone that the meal would be served at the TC house instead of the kitchen and that they all needed to pack up what they had cooked so far and finish there.



Some rose to the challenge rather well;Dale and Richard had "green,perplexed,tofu" and they created a Tofu Steak(the tofu was marinated in beef fat)with green curry. It went over like gangbusters and earned Richard another win.
Spike finally got to make his squash soup with Andrew and their vanilla creme fraiche topping gave the guys an honorable mention. I don't like Spike's attitude or his hathead fetish but kudos on the soup,dude.



On the chopping block were Jen and Stephanie,who had "orange,turned on,asparagus" and the ladies made what they called a "menage a trois" that was overwhelmed by goat cheese and supported by bread that was too soggy on one side and too hard on the other,making it difficult to eat. Jen wound up going home because of that,which is a shame since she and Stephanie atleast tried to work with the options they had been given.



Zoi and Lisa,however,totally rejected the Improv suggestion they were given which was "magenta,drunk,Polish sausage". Instead,they made Chilean sea bass(no alcohol added) with chorizo!

Yes, it tasted good but that's not what they were supposed to do! The two of them didn't want to make what they considered to be "bar food" and didn't like having to use ideas from "some drunk in the audience". Excuse me,girls,but you both were in that audience,too and I'm pretty sure you each had your share of drinks there,ok?

Snobbery is extremely unappetizing and insulting to boot. If I went to a restaurant and ordered a hamburger but got a tuna salad instead and was told by the chef,"That's not what I prefer to serve.",I'd be taking my business elsewhere. Get off your high horses,gals or all you'll be serving is dinner for one(and the one is YOU!).



In Hell's Kitchen,Jen is starting to do more than just talk smack. She was very strong this week,pushing hard during the pasta making challenge and then later rallying the troops for the Family Night dinner service,where the ladies were first to complete a full service.

I'm glad to see Jen walk the walk but I just hope she doesn't rest on her laurels because Gordon Ramsey's favor can be whisked away with one wrong move. Vanessa got a hell of a nasty burn during service and had to go to the hospital. She should've gotten her hand under cold water right away,instead of smearing a salve on it(according to my mom,an LPN). Get better soon,Vanessa:





Craig was dismissed,due to his complete uselessness and lack of communication in the kitchen. No doubt he felt that everyone was picking on him and his response is to retreat like a turtle into his little protective shell.

You can not do that in a kitchen,buddy,feedback is an important part of the process. Letting your fellow chefs know how long it will be until your part of the meal is ready is important and if you don't know that,I don't know how you kept a job in food service for longer than a minute. Besides,if you really want to see someone get picked on,just ask Ben:





I have to agree with Randy about American Idol this week,it was a popularity contest. Why else would Carly be in the Bottom Two and then get sent home,after her amazing version of "Jesus Christ,Superstar?" Syesha didn't belong in the Bottom either-she finally dropped that musical torch she's been lugging around all season and gave us a great performance that was fun to watch.

Andrew Lloyd Webber was one of the best mentors AI has ever had. He was honest, thoughtful and gave great direction to everyone. Too bad that the voters didn't appreciate the pearls being tossed before them:

CARLY,YOU'RE ALWAYS A SUPERSTAR



SYESHA'S A BROADWAY BABY





Now,the person who should have been sent home is also the winner of this week's Sanjaya award,Jason Castro for his abysmal rendition of "Memory". Even Webber was perplexed at Jason's choice and tried his best to help him connect to the song but to no avail. I can see how Brooke managed to squeak by with her sad sack attempt at "You Must Love Me"-I felt sorry for her,too.

Jason,however,was all wrong for this song in so many ways;he's too young to fully give it the emotional nuances that it requires,he didn't understand what the song was about at all and he sang it in a flat,nearly monotone style. It has nothing to do with his gender,a man can sing "Memory" but he needs to be a mature one:

I'M TRYING NOT TO REMEMBER THIS




A MUCH PLEASANTER MEMORY





I was personally amused to find that the songs I had picked out for Carly and David Cook were chosen,but they seemed to have swapped them with each other. I wish Archuleta had listened to me,still can't recall what song he Disneyed up(I know it was from Phantom of the Opera).

Cook played it smart by singing "Music of the Night" as it was originally composed. It showcased his vocal range much better and I wouldn't be surprised if he got a Broadway gig after this. I haven't been crazy about his emo rocker style but can't deny the passion that he puts into each song. I only wish that he would be facing off with Carly during the Season Finale this year:

MAKING THE MUSIC SOUND SO RIGHT



Random Notes:



MOONLIGHT: At the NYC Comic Con,there was a panel on the show with leading man Alex O'Loughlin and Jason Dohring as the guests of honor. I was lucky enough to get a good seat for the appearance and the female fans were gleefully giddy in their praise of the show and the fellas.

For fellow Moonlight fans who would've loved to attend,here are some highlights from the event:

BABY OR CAT? YOU DECIDE!



MORE JOSEF SNARK,PLEASE!



New episodes of Moonlight start tomorrow(in time for my birthday!)and the audience at Comic Con was treated to a few early clips,including one that will drive the fan fiction writers wild. Alas,that bit is not in this promo but trust me,it's worth waiting for:



UGLY BETTY: Betty is back as well,and she's the birthday girl who gets an unexpected surprise(hope any that I might get this week is way better than this):

More Comic Con delights in doll size

The number of sights to see at the NYC Comic Con rivaled any trip into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory(both versions,I might add)and while many exhibitors were selling some of their hot new items,a few were only on display like the official Heroes figures from Mezco(which will be on sale this June).



I was able to get an "exclusive to Comic Con" Buffy the Vampire Slayer figure,courtesy of Diamond Select Toys. The official NYCCC Store had "Initiative" Xander(from season four)and since I own two Anya dolls,it was a vital necessity.

Also,Sideshow Collectibles were very generous,handing out giftcards for folks to purchase items online(you had to go to their website to find out how much it was worth). I received a fifty dollar card and will soon be in possession of a Rupert Giles BTVS figure. Happy birthday to me!

They were also promoting their new line of Indiana Jones figures,in time for a certain movie due to be coming to a theater near you. However,Sideshow was not the only toy vendor at the Con eager to display their line of summer movie tie-ins.



Mattel had a nice big booth that proudly featured their Speed Racer and Dark Knight goodies on display as well as having for sale a Black Suited Superman(which I didn't get).

Hasbro,alas,was not around to shill their Iron Man figures oddly enough but there was plenty of Iron Man posters,promos and comic books all over the place to keep that big blockbuster baby fresh in everyone's mind.

While many of the dolls and toys showcased at the Con were in the affordable price range,quite a few were clearly high end collector's items. While I can appreciate that,it does make a person get all Cheap Pete for a minute there-"Good Lord,that's alot of money!"



For example,Tonner Dolls had an exclusive Harley Quinn figure available for $150 and a set of DC Stars for about $330(the group included Super Girl,Wonder Woman and Bat Girl). The dolls looked great,I will say that. Just too rich for my blood.

There were bizarrely cute dolls,too,such as Teddy Scares and Uglydolls,along with the various knock-off versions(kind of felt sorry for the folks who had to walk around in the giant promo costumes for Uglydolls,they didn't seem to be able to see very well in those suits).

In conclusion, I do have to say that regardless of price and individual taste,there were plenty of dolls and action/poseable figures to please just about anyone walking thru the Comic Con,of all ages and credit card status:

What musical madness will be unleased on American Idol,courtesy of Andrew Lloyd Webber?

The remaining six contestants on American Idol have quite the interesting challenge this week,as each one must choose a song from the Broadway works of Andrew Lloyd Webber. This could be either the set-up for a spectacular performance or a major recipe for disaster.

Since we don't have any advance word on who will be singing what at this point,I thought it would be fun to make up a playlist for them. After all,we've been watching this bunch for quite awhile now and their musical patterns have been set down into place by this time. So,let the wild rumpus begin!



DAVID ARCHULETA

The kid has a nice voice and tons of female fans,who have kept him on for a good long run. In my opinion,Archuleta is talented but still a diamond in the rough in terms of a major league career. He has a very Disney quality to his sound which leads me to pick a song from Starlight Express for him.

I haven't seen Starlight Express but I know it's about trains and that the whole cast is on roller skates(bonus points,David,if you actually don a pair for the show). After hearing this song "Diesel",I can easily picture him doing this(with Simon Cowell cringing in his chair),which would be amusing on so many levels:





SYESHA MERCADO

Syesha loves to do diva songs and she's not bad at it,but not as strong vocally as those she emulates. She also is drawn to torch songs with her past choices of "Me and Mrs. Jones" "Saving All My Love For You" and "I Will Always Love You". It makes sense to me that her choice tonight would be "Memory" from Cats.

You know someone's going to do "Memory"-it would be like having a DC Comics costume party with no one coming as Superman,otherwise. Cats,I've actually seen twice on stage and since several other ladies have done this song well,Syesha may have a real chance to shine here:





JASON CASTRO

Castro is like a big puppy dog,you just want to pat him on the head. His musical style is very laid back and mellow(a couple of times,he reminded me of Kermit the Frog)with a coffee house vibe to it. Therefore,I select for Jason a song from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Just take a listen to "Any Dream Will Do" and tell me that it would be hard to picture Castro performing this:





BROOKE WHITE

I have a love-hate relationship with Brooke;love her voice but hate many of her song choices,since she leans toward edgy tunes and makes them as dull as dishwater.

All that may change,however,with the number of Webber songs that have the sweetness which suits her best. For that reason,Whistle Down The Wind sounds the porridge that Goldilocks chose for her.

Also,with her piano playing skills,Brooke could really turn this mother out:





DAVID COOK

Cook is the resident rocker of the group(especially after Amanda Overmeyer,the Rock N' Roll Nurse,was sent home)and while I don't find his emo take on many of the tunes during the competition to be suitable,he does make up for that with a lot of passion. Since many consider him to be a rock god,it's only fitting that Jesus Christ Superstar would go to him.

Some might squirm,due to the touchy nature of the song but this is a guy who has no qualms about taking on Queen,so there you are,folks:





CARLY SMITHSON

Yes,I saved the best for the last. It's no secret that I am a shameless cheerleader for Carly,who is the true powerhouse of the group. Carly is like a Weeble,she wobbles but she doesn't fall down,despite what the judges say nearly every damn week!

You might think that Evita's "Don't Cry For Me" would be a prime pick,but I prefer The Phantom of the Opera's "Music of the Night" instead. Carly has the range to pull off the high melodic runs and the emotional strength to carry the song thru. And before anyone says" But isn't that a guy's song?",listen to Sarah Brightman's version of it and tell me that Carly can't do this,I dare you!:



Well, we will see what happens tonight. Hopefully,the show will give us some good tunes and a good time,not to mention a laugh or two,in all of the right places: