I don't know how I'm going to survive my drive to work this week since I finished listening to the Serial podcast. My new job and hour commute was the perfect time to catch up on this gem that everyone was buzzing about in December.
For anyone even more behind than me, Serial was a weekly podcast spin-off of the radio show This American Life, hosted by Sarah Koening, who told the true story of the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee, a popular high school senior in the Baltimore area. Her ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed was convicted and is serving life in prison for her murder. Koening skillfully re-examined his case and presented a gripping story with more holes than a slice of swiss cheese. You can and should download the Serial podcasts. Be sure to watch these SNL SERIAL and FunnyOrDie parodies too when you're done!
The series made me think of a book club I was in several years ago when we read The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold. The novel is told from the point of view of the young victim settling into heaven as she sees her murder solved and the reaction of her family and friends. I realized then that my idea of heaven is True Crime Heaven. I want the TRUTH about all of the murder stories I have heard throughout my life.
I picture myself on the escalator ride up to the pearly gates with each floor being a glimpse into the crimes of the century, like who murdered JFK, Marilyn Monroe, Nicole Simpson, JonBenet Ramsey, Reeva Steenkanmp, and now, Hae Min Lee. I'll finally get to see if what I suspected was TRUE (multiple shooters, Peter Lawford, OJ, Patsy, Oscar, Adnan). Huh, interesting, I knew it!, no way, why, no?
Then I got to thinking that maybe that's too ugly a view to take with me. Maybe senseless, ugly human behavior is best left to the imagination and writers of Law & Order franchises. Why is it so hard to know the truth? Does anyone ever say yes I did it, but here's why? Oscar Pistorius, to his credit at least admitted he made a mistake (take away points for killing her on Valentine's Day, though). Was he telling the truth?
I'd also like to know how the "Mail Kimp" soundbite got included on Serial. Seriously, did they only interview three people for that spot?
What is your idea of heaven? What would you like to know on your escalator ride?
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Treading Water in the Employment Dance
I read these words recently: Having a job is a privilege.
I repeat them to myself every day.
I lost my job at Fox Home Entertainment two years ago in
October. I was shocked yet equally unsurprised. Fox had periodically laid off a
few people here and there since I had started in 2007. I never felt secure,
even when I started with a three-year contract. I had not recovered from the
real life-altering jolt of being laid off from NBC Universal in October 2006
after 13 years. Honestly, I don’t know if I ever will recover from that job
loss. I had thought I was a lifer there. Having
a job is a privilege.
I feel like I’ve hit a survivor milestone in these two
years. I have collected unemployment, free-lanced, started my own business,
sold items on eBay and Amazon and applied for “real” jobs. I’ve become a
professional water-treader, of sorts. Unlike the California landscape,
sometimes the water level of a professional water-treader can get precariously
high. And I'm not the only one. I know several people who were laid off around this time who are doing the same juggling routine.
I’ve always been a loyal employee, staying at my jobs at
least five years. I always had corporate jobs with benefits (that I never
thought much about at the time.) I’ve been fortunate enough to have a temp assignment at
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment for the past year. I get monthly assignments
and find out a few days before the end of the month if I will be extended. This
creates a tremendous amount of anxiety until I get that ping in my email. This
perpetual limbo keeps me afloat, yet hinders me from moving forward. I am
constantly reminded of my temp status, both in the work I do and the monthly
health benefits I pay out-of-pocket (now I know how people who lease their
Mercedes feel.) Having a job is a
privilege. Boy, do I know.
Lay-offs are now pending at Warner Bros. and a whole new batch of dedicated employees will have their lives irrevocably altered. They'll get severance packages and unemployment benefits to soften the blow, but the jobs they were so good at for so many years will be gone. They too will eventually join the treading water world of the unemployed and underemployed. My heart goes out to them.
Many of you know that I’m a big proponent of LinkedIn and
often coach people on their profiles. I always warn people to be careful about
updating their jobs in the experience section as it often sends out an unwanted
“Congratulate Lynne on her new job!” notice. I’m glad it doesn’t send out
“Lynne’s celebrating her two-year anniversary at Unemployed!”
Maybe I should add “Drought resistant” to my skills and
expertise list on LinkedIn. Would you endorse me?
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
September is the New January
Did you notice that Hell just froze over? That the cows came home? And the Fat Lady Sang? I know, it was all my doing. You see, I started an exercise program and stuck to it for its duration, and I owe it all to...September!
September is the new January. Just like January, when you're so over the holidays, you can't eat or drink another bite and you're ready to wipe the slate clean, September gives us the same shiny new, optimistic feeling. Gone are the excesses of summer barbecues and weddings, laying around doing nothing (if you are so fortunate), watching endless Little League games (grown-up LL games are apparently called The Dodgers, FYI). It's time again for a little structure and discipline to kick in.
After a brief family visit in August to Disneyland, I realized how pathetically out of shape I was. I have been going to a weekly "bootcamp" class on Saturdays for years, but that was pretty much all I did all week. My summer schedule also meant I skipped some of those workouts too. Walking around Disneyland for 10 hours will separate the fit from the flab-ulous. First, there were the pictures taken at unflattering angles while holding 1000 calorie cupcakes (The Bumblebee Lemon Cupcake at the Hungry Bear Restaurant in Frontierland is diet-busting worthy). Then there were the 14,000 steps logged in. I whimpered at the thought of walking back to my car.
My current freelance job at Warner Bros. has me sitting for eight hours. Our building is slightly off campus, so our eating options are downstairs in the cafeteria, next door at Claim Jumper where everything is over 2000 calories or a seven minute walk across the street to the WB Commissary. 90% of the time, I opt for downstairs because it is most convenient.
Late in August, while catching up on my daily industry news on WB's home page "Behind the Shield," I noticed a fitness class being offered. Usually the fitness classes are not featured and they are free to members of the gym, which I was not. This one was called FUNctional FITness and it was meeting M-F from 6-7pm for 20 sessions starting Sept 8. I had to pay for it and join the gym.
I emailed the instructor and asked, "Would you recommend this class for a sedentary slug with bad knees?" He responded back immediately, "Absolutely! Everyone has to start somewhere." I felt encouraged. So I took the bold move and did something I have a very hard time doing--I committed. Even though I've been too lazy to walk across the street for a year, I was suddenly going to take a class five nights a week for four weeks (I knew I was going to miss four of them already). I joined the gym for three months not even knowing if I would still be employed that long (for now I'm there till 10/31).
I had to take an endurance test with the adorable and perfectly fit instructor to show him how inflexible, unbalanced and un-muscley I was. He continued to be very nice and encouraging. I asked him how the other 3 classmates were and he diplomatically replied, "Well, there are no Olympians."
And so we began. My biggest fear is being "the one that holds up class" but I was pleasantly surprised to see my classmates and I were all pretty much on the same level. We stretched, moved our bodies and threw balls around. I got through it with little discomfort, but enough effort to make me grunt. I went back the next day and the next. All in all I did 16 of the 20 classes, which is 16 hours less of me sitting in a chair. I realized I COULD exercise every day and I felt a LOT better about myself. My fantasy of losing 10 lbs. in the process did not happen, but I still have hope that some day that will kick in too.
Now, when I get home and head to my Lazy-Boy I don't feel quite so guilty. Beside, my second favorite thing about September has started – the new Fall TV Season! What are you watching?
September is the new January. Just like January, when you're so over the holidays, you can't eat or drink another bite and you're ready to wipe the slate clean, September gives us the same shiny new, optimistic feeling. Gone are the excesses of summer barbecues and weddings, laying around doing nothing (if you are so fortunate), watching endless Little League games (grown-up LL games are apparently called The Dodgers, FYI). It's time again for a little structure and discipline to kick in.
After a brief family visit in August to Disneyland, I realized how pathetically out of shape I was. I have been going to a weekly "bootcamp" class on Saturdays for years, but that was pretty much all I did all week. My summer schedule also meant I skipped some of those workouts too. Walking around Disneyland for 10 hours will separate the fit from the flab-ulous. First, there were the pictures taken at unflattering angles while holding 1000 calorie cupcakes (The Bumblebee Lemon Cupcake at the Hungry Bear Restaurant in Frontierland is diet-busting worthy). Then there were the 14,000 steps logged in. I whimpered at the thought of walking back to my car.
Late in August, while catching up on my daily industry news on WB's home page "Behind the Shield," I noticed a fitness class being offered. Usually the fitness classes are not featured and they are free to members of the gym, which I was not. This one was called FUNctional FITness and it was meeting M-F from 6-7pm for 20 sessions starting Sept 8. I had to pay for it and join the gym.
I emailed the instructor and asked, "Would you recommend this class for a sedentary slug with bad knees?" He responded back immediately, "Absolutely! Everyone has to start somewhere." I felt encouraged. So I took the bold move and did something I have a very hard time doing--I committed. Even though I've been too lazy to walk across the street for a year, I was suddenly going to take a class five nights a week for four weeks (I knew I was going to miss four of them already). I joined the gym for three months not even knowing if I would still be employed that long (for now I'm there till 10/31).
I had to take an endurance test with the adorable and perfectly fit instructor to show him how inflexible, unbalanced and un-muscley I was. He continued to be very nice and encouraging. I asked him how the other 3 classmates were and he diplomatically replied, "Well, there are no Olympians."
And so we began. My biggest fear is being "the one that holds up class" but I was pleasantly surprised to see my classmates and I were all pretty much on the same level. We stretched, moved our bodies and threw balls around. I got through it with little discomfort, but enough effort to make me grunt. I went back the next day and the next. All in all I did 16 of the 20 classes, which is 16 hours less of me sitting in a chair. I realized I COULD exercise every day and I felt a LOT better about myself. My fantasy of losing 10 lbs. in the process did not happen, but I still have hope that some day that will kick in too.
Now, when I get home and head to my Lazy-Boy I don't feel quite so guilty. Beside, my second favorite thing about September has started – the new Fall TV Season! What are you watching?
Sunday, August 24, 2014
And the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series Goes to...
I have a cool perk from my old job at NBC. I am a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS) and I get to vote for Emmy programs as a member of the Television Executives branch. Each year I get dozens of TV screeners on my doorstep. As a print professional, my first thrill is with the packaging. I still have a Food Network lunch pail and an American Idol 45 from the days when presentation was important.
Now, most networks send utilitarian packaging. Regardless of the outer package, I am thrilled that they still send DVDs. My intentions are always pure in April when they begin to arrive. I plan to watch them all. Quickly, the screeners become akin to Lucy and Ethel at the chocolate factory--there's no way to keep up! I wonder if the TV critics even can. I end up relying on my friends and co-workers to help me decide what to vote for.
The way the Emmy voting process works is this http://emmys.org/news/awards-news/infographic-how-primetime-emmy-won: In June, 17,000+ of us fill out ballots to nominate 10 shows per category (Comedy, Drama, Miniseries, Variety Show, etc.) There are some categories like Children's programming that I don't even fill out. Others like Unstructured Reality Program (Kardashians, Real Housewives, Duck Dynasty, etc.) I could not bring myself to vote for. After the nominations are announced, you can sign up as a Blue Ribbon Panel judge for two categories. You can't judge the main categories more than two years in a row. This year I chose Short Format Nonfiction and Comedies.
For Short Format Nonfiction Program, we only had to judge if the piece was worthy of an Emmy. I said yes to 30 for 30 Shorts about Arthur Ashe and I Was There: Boston Marathon Bombings. 30 for 30 won.
For Outstanding Comedy Series you are sent two episodes of the nominated series: Orange is the New Black, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Louie, Veep and Silicon Valley. I think this is a flaw in the Emmy voting process. There should be more nominations and the panels should have to watch the WHOLE series. Of these series, I had watched one in its entirety already, had another on my DVR but had only seen a few episodes and had not watched any of the others.
I watched them in this order and here's what I thought:
Orange is the New Black: I love this series and it's the one I had already seen. As much as I love it, I have a hard time considering it a COMEDY.
The Big Bang Theory: I know lots of people love this show and I wanted to be one of them. I just couldn't stomach the laugh track.
Louie: Very likeable, but I don't think these episodes were the best of the season.
Modern Family: A favorite that I have fallen behind in watching. Reminded me of why I love it. Solid A-B-C story lines, great cast. Definitely worthy of winning for the fifth time.
Silicon Valley: Surprising. Had not hard many people talk about it. Made me want to watch more episodes, possibly too much of an inside joke to appeal to many,
Veep: Another surprise. I don't get HBO so I had not seen this series before. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tony Hale, Anna Chlumsky, Matt Walsh, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons and Sufe Bradshaw are absolutely perfect in this cast. The dialogue and acting are so quick and on point it's like watching an Argentinian Tango. It's as irreverent as can be, yet with a mushy heartfelt core.
My Emmy vote, just edging out Modern Family went to VEEP. Who would you vote for? I'll be watching Monday night. Join me on Twitter @pinkypulse #Emmys!
Now, most networks send utilitarian packaging. Regardless of the outer package, I am thrilled that they still send DVDs. My intentions are always pure in April when they begin to arrive. I plan to watch them all. Quickly, the screeners become akin to Lucy and Ethel at the chocolate factory--there's no way to keep up! I wonder if the TV critics even can. I end up relying on my friends and co-workers to help me decide what to vote for.
The way the Emmy voting process works is this http://emmys.org/news/awards-news/infographic-how-primetime-emmy-won: In June, 17,000+ of us fill out ballots to nominate 10 shows per category (Comedy, Drama, Miniseries, Variety Show, etc.) There are some categories like Children's programming that I don't even fill out. Others like Unstructured Reality Program (Kardashians, Real Housewives, Duck Dynasty, etc.) I could not bring myself to vote for. After the nominations are announced, you can sign up as a Blue Ribbon Panel judge for two categories. You can't judge the main categories more than two years in a row. This year I chose Short Format Nonfiction and Comedies.
For Short Format Nonfiction Program, we only had to judge if the piece was worthy of an Emmy. I said yes to 30 for 30 Shorts about Arthur Ashe and I Was There: Boston Marathon Bombings. 30 for 30 won.
For Outstanding Comedy Series you are sent two episodes of the nominated series: Orange is the New Black, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Louie, Veep and Silicon Valley. I think this is a flaw in the Emmy voting process. There should be more nominations and the panels should have to watch the WHOLE series. Of these series, I had watched one in its entirety already, had another on my DVR but had only seen a few episodes and had not watched any of the others.
I watched them in this order and here's what I thought:
Orange is the New Black: I love this series and it's the one I had already seen. As much as I love it, I have a hard time considering it a COMEDY.
The Big Bang Theory: I know lots of people love this show and I wanted to be one of them. I just couldn't stomach the laugh track.
Louie: Very likeable, but I don't think these episodes were the best of the season.
Modern Family: A favorite that I have fallen behind in watching. Reminded me of why I love it. Solid A-B-C story lines, great cast. Definitely worthy of winning for the fifth time.
Silicon Valley: Surprising. Had not hard many people talk about it. Made me want to watch more episodes, possibly too much of an inside joke to appeal to many,
Veep: Another surprise. I don't get HBO so I had not seen this series before. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tony Hale, Anna Chlumsky, Matt Walsh, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons and Sufe Bradshaw are absolutely perfect in this cast. The dialogue and acting are so quick and on point it's like watching an Argentinian Tango. It's as irreverent as can be, yet with a mushy heartfelt core.
My Emmy vote, just edging out Modern Family went to VEEP. Who would you vote for? I'll be watching Monday night. Join me on Twitter @pinkypulse #Emmys!
Thursday, July 31, 2014
The Real Bloggers of BlogHer
The first business card I made for PinkyonthePulse.com had my title listed as Lynne Gullo, Blogger. Perhaps, I was a bit optimistic. I always "fancied" myself as a writer, even though my brother Jim is the professional writer in the family. I "fancied" myself as a guitar player too. While I did play guitar in a Go-Go's cover band, our lifespan was very short and after many years of lessons I never really improved. There were golf lessons with similar results. So far I have had the sense not to have business cards made with "Musician" or "Golfer" on them.
Blogging has been my self-imposed drought lately. Every month I vow to get more words on the page and end up like a college student pulling an all-nighter to get my paper written before the stroke of midnight. Hence my July 31 post date.
So in the spirit of BlogHer, a recent conference held in San Jose (I did not attend), I'm going to share with you some blogs by women who are doing it right. These are women I met through my American Idol #IdolTweethearts experience who are active bloggers. They are the real pros and I continue to learn tons from them. You really should check out and follow these ladies. They are both terrific and prolific!
Stacey Nerdin
http://www.thesceniclife.com
Twitter: @staceynerdin
Blogger, reader, pop culture junkie. Content Marketer for small agency. Mom of 5 (Kinder to college). Lover of iPhone, naps, and my DVR. But especially naps.
Mary Burt-Godwin
http://www.mamamaryshow.com
Twitter: @mamamaryshow
Host Vlogger & Blogger, Ask the Mom panelist @Fox5SanDiego, columnist for @TodaysMama, Author of DeadDadsClub.com
Elizabeth Esther
Site: www.elizabethesther.com
Twitter: @elizabethesther
Blogging has been my self-imposed drought lately. Every month I vow to get more words on the page and end up like a college student pulling an all-nighter to get my paper written before the stroke of midnight. Hence my July 31 post date.
So in the spirit of BlogHer, a recent conference held in San Jose (I did not attend), I'm going to share with you some blogs by women who are doing it right. These are women I met through my American Idol #IdolTweethearts experience who are active bloggers. They are the real pros and I continue to learn tons from them. You really should check out and follow these ladies. They are both terrific and prolific!
Stacey Nerdin
http://www.thesceniclife.com
Twitter: @staceynerdin
Blogger, reader, pop culture junkie. Content Marketer for small agency. Mom of 5 (Kinder to college). Lover of iPhone, naps, and my DVR. But especially naps.
Mary Burt-Godwin
http://www.mamamaryshow.com
Twitter: @mamamaryshow
Host Vlogger & Blogger, Ask the Mom panelist @Fox5SanDiego, columnist for @TodaysMama, Author of DeadDadsClub.com
Elizabeth Esther
Site: www.elizabethesther.com
Twitter: @elizabethesther
Blogger, Author of "Girl at the End of the World" (published March 2014), Mother of 5, Unabashed bookworm, lover of rescue dogs, rainy days & long walks by the ocean. Heart healer. ENFP.
Elizabeth Traub
Twitter: @elizabethtraub
Chatty,wife,mom of 5, Brand Strategist, Social Producer & Marketing Direction.Taking your offline marketing campaign & building online. #SavvySocialTip
Emily Hill
Twitter: @Emihill
Social media-loving, Diet Coke-drinking, triathlon-racing, dessert-eating, copywriting mother of four. And I do it all in heels.
Kellie McAnulty
Site: www.herthoughtsaboutit.com
Twitter: @razorbackgirl
Social Media/ Graphic Designer. Loves husband/music/Razorbacks/Mike Trout/NYY/ARod/Cowboys!
Meg Hodson
Twitter: @happykidsinc
Writer, Blogger, Social Media Maven/Addict/Marketer, Event Marketer. There's no H in wine
Nina Radetich
Site: www.ninaradetich.com
Former News Anchor/Founder of NR New Media, a Social Media Marketing Agency in Las Vegas/Wife/Mom/Former Triathlete/Coffee Addict/Fitness Fanatic
Theresa Santoro
Site: www.TheFineArtofParenting.com
Twitter: @Parentingtip2go
Parenting Expert, Child & Family Advocate, Supporter of Education & the Arts
Jessica Benton
www.ThatTechChick.com
Twitter: @ThatTechChick
Blogger addicted to all things tech & beauty. Also a mom, wife, and more! And yesy, I tweet about it all!
Jessica Benton
www.ThatTechChick.com
Twitter: @ThatTechChick
Blogger addicted to all things tech & beauty. Also a mom, wife, and more! And yesy, I tweet about it all!
Then there's me:
Lynne Gullo
Site: www.pinkyonthepulse.com
Twitter: @pinkypulse
Ink.Paper.Tweet. Blog. Print and Pop Culture professional turned Social Media Consultant. LinkedIn, Twitter, #SocialTV, Fun!
Happy Blogging!
Monday, June 30, 2014
Happy Social Media Day!
So what should we celebrate today? I have made some lovely new friends through social media. I've always said my favorite part of Facebook was finding my grade school classmates whom I shared 2nd -7th grade with. I had a fun time with American Idol. I've enjoyed 90% of what you have posted on Facebook. I can't get enough of funny animal videos. No matter how many times you ask, I will not play Candy Crush.
I've had to defend social media a lot. There are a lot of mean-spirited people on social. For every dozen of them, there are a hundred uplifting, inspiring, entertaining wonderful people. I wish I had watched the Oprah episode where Ashton Kutcher taught her how to use Twitter. As Pinky on the Pulse, I pride myself on jumping on the bandwagon, even if 100 million people were ahead of me. I'm still finding my way in social media as a profession. I like to joke that social media is like Seinfeld. It's really about nothing and I enjoy nothing very much. I'm good at nothing!
Have I run out of things to say? You betcha. I just signed up for a beta publishing site on Hootsuite that will say things for me because I cannot think of enough things to say. Certainly this is not new in social Media. Content is King or Queen or a Ninja, something like that. The 100 million people ahead of me already said the good stuff, although I am taking credit for the words: "Tweetchless: lack of anything to tweet about." and "Lamecation: planning a vacation to an unlikely location." I like being able to write nearly anything I want without the proper use of commas. Social media must be an English teacher's worst nightmare. I apologize if you are grinding your teeth as you read this. If it's any consolation it really bugs me when people use they're, their and there wrong.
So Happy Social Media Day to You! Thanks for being part of my world.
I've had to defend social media a lot. There are a lot of mean-spirited people on social. For every dozen of them, there are a hundred uplifting, inspiring, entertaining wonderful people. I wish I had watched the Oprah episode where Ashton Kutcher taught her how to use Twitter. As Pinky on the Pulse, I pride myself on jumping on the bandwagon, even if 100 million people were ahead of me. I'm still finding my way in social media as a profession. I like to joke that social media is like Seinfeld. It's really about nothing and I enjoy nothing very much. I'm good at nothing!
Have I run out of things to say? You betcha. I just signed up for a beta publishing site on Hootsuite that will say things for me because I cannot think of enough things to say. Certainly this is not new in social Media. Content is King or Queen or a Ninja, something like that. The 100 million people ahead of me already said the good stuff, although I am taking credit for the words: "Tweetchless: lack of anything to tweet about." and "Lamecation: planning a vacation to an unlikely location." I like being able to write nearly anything I want without the proper use of commas. Social media must be an English teacher's worst nightmare. I apologize if you are grinding your teeth as you read this. If it's any consolation it really bugs me when people use they're, their and there wrong.
So Happy Social Media Day to You! Thanks for being part of my world.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
And the Winner is...Well, Maybe
I have a thing about rooting for the underdog. I attribute some of this to being a Libra (10/17) and those dang Scales of Justice. I always see both sides of the story and usually skew towards the unbalanced choice.
So it's even more appropriate that American Idol would choose me as one of 18 women to get a special sneak peek behind-the-scenes look at Season 13 in December, that I would become one of the branded "Idol Tweethearts" and that I would stick with it all season. Friends and family expressed concern, "What's up with Lynne and her constant chatter about American Idol?" Most shared my enthusiasm, yet my stream was sprinkled with disparaging comments "I gave up after Hollywood Week!" and "I miss the dance routines!" Nobody has actually admitted to missing the awkward dance routines, but there's still hope for the finale!
One thing I honestly miss are the Ford commercials. I always thought Ford was brilliant for shooting a custom spot each week with the remaining contestants. They were smart and fun. I prayed all season that Ford would call the Idol Tweethearts to shoot our own spot. We are smart and fun too! Plus, I would look great in a Ford Escape Hybrid. My other fantasy was a JLo L'Oreal makeover. Or a can of Diet Coke. I am not greedy.
Supporting American Idol this season has been challenging. Even the best combination of judges to date – Harry Connick, Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban – couldn't get the traction they deserved. Being nice isn't enough. If I could pinpoint one weakness it would be in the audition process. A large percentage of contestants played acoustic guitars in their city auditions. They were comfortable performing in a small room in front of the three judges, but this comfort did not expand as the size of the venue did. And don't get me started about the buses in Hollywood Week: bad idea, mean spirited and a blatant waste of money.
It's no secret that my favorite, Savion Wright, was cut during Hollywood Week. I blubbered in my lazyboy. My fellow Tweethearts who had gone to a post Hollywood Week Bootcamp had not spilled the beans no matter how often I asked about him. I know they were equally disappointed. I kept hoping it was a secret plot twist and he would return under a new Fake Elimination 2014 rule. I will continue to hope until the finale.
Here we are on the cusp of choosing aHunger Games, I mean, Season 13 winner. Every week I have felt it was any one's title to win and it still is. Caleb Johnson and Jena Irene (note to self every week: Geena) would have to be the Vegas odds-on favorites with their arena filling voices. Johnson's full lung rock vocals have brought down the house every week, but he needs to filter that voice off-stage. Jena Irene matches him decibel for decibel and will have a career no matter how the show ends. There is also the soulful Alex Preston whose quirky charm like his choice of pants does not quite extend far enough.
My underdog pick to win S13 is ... Jess Meuse.
Jess Meuse has impressed me the most throughout the season. She was a standout in the early auditions, but mostly for all the wrong reasons. Usually originals during audition rounds make me cringe, but her "Blue-Eyed Lie" was catchy and proved to be marketable when she sang it again during Top 8 week. Behind-the-scenes drama during Hollywood Week was a near disaster with Meuse having difficulty in two groups, then being reamed by a stage mom. She had a deep hole to climb out of in my opinion, but week after week she has filled that gap.
Her gravelly vocals, reminiscent of one my favs, Stevie Nicks (hear Meuse's take on "Rhiannon") and gracious manner when receiving criticism have won me over. She is clearly grateful to be there each week. She is serious about her career choice and has been posting videos on YouTube for four years. She needs to grow a lot more in her stage presence, but I remind myself that Carrie Underwood was pretty reserved on this stage as well and she got over it quite well.
For a winner counterpoint, see fellow IdolTweetheart Emily Hill's pick here. There's a Diet Coke at stake!
Join @idolTweethearts on Twitter every Thursday at 4pmPT/7pmET at #IdolPreParty, You could win a t-shirt!
One thing I honestly miss are the Ford commercials. I always thought Ford was brilliant for shooting a custom spot each week with the remaining contestants. They were smart and fun. I prayed all season that Ford would call the Idol Tweethearts to shoot our own spot. We are smart and fun too! Plus, I would look great in a Ford Escape Hybrid. My other fantasy was a JLo L'Oreal makeover. Or a can of Diet Coke. I am not greedy.
Supporting American Idol this season has been challenging. Even the best combination of judges to date – Harry Connick, Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban – couldn't get the traction they deserved. Being nice isn't enough. If I could pinpoint one weakness it would be in the audition process. A large percentage of contestants played acoustic guitars in their city auditions. They were comfortable performing in a small room in front of the three judges, but this comfort did not expand as the size of the venue did. And don't get me started about the buses in Hollywood Week: bad idea, mean spirited and a blatant waste of money.
It's no secret that my favorite, Savion Wright, was cut during Hollywood Week. I blubbered in my lazyboy. My fellow Tweethearts who had gone to a post Hollywood Week Bootcamp had not spilled the beans no matter how often I asked about him. I know they were equally disappointed. I kept hoping it was a secret plot twist and he would return under a new Fake Elimination 2014 rule. I will continue to hope until the finale.
Here we are on the cusp of choosing a
My underdog pick to win S13 is ... Jess Meuse.
Jess Meuse has impressed me the most throughout the season. She was a standout in the early auditions, but mostly for all the wrong reasons. Usually originals during audition rounds make me cringe, but her "Blue-Eyed Lie" was catchy and proved to be marketable when she sang it again during Top 8 week. Behind-the-scenes drama during Hollywood Week was a near disaster with Meuse having difficulty in two groups, then being reamed by a stage mom. She had a deep hole to climb out of in my opinion, but week after week she has filled that gap.
Her gravelly vocals, reminiscent of one my favs, Stevie Nicks (hear Meuse's take on "Rhiannon") and gracious manner when receiving criticism have won me over. She is clearly grateful to be there each week. She is serious about her career choice and has been posting videos on YouTube for four years. She needs to grow a lot more in her stage presence, but I remind myself that Carrie Underwood was pretty reserved on this stage as well and she got over it quite well.
For a winner counterpoint, see fellow IdolTweetheart Emily Hill's pick here. There's a Diet Coke at stake!
Join @idolTweethearts on Twitter every Thursday at 4pmPT/7pmET at #IdolPreParty, You could win a t-shirt!
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