Not American Idol, but BETTER!

I have a confession. I love American Idol rip-offs. Well, some of them at least. Let me start by saying, I never got into American Idol. The show to me, is lame. Anyone can sing. I went to high school with a guy who was a good friend and he could sing as good as anyone who's been on that show. I worked with a girl who sang better then Carrie Underwood and others, she even sang at football games and such, but she never persued it which is why she's not a star. Is it easy to sing? No, but it's not hard per say either. For me the major problem with Idol is that it doesn't produce real stars. There are no Elton John's being discovered on American Idol. The best person to come from Idol is Kelly Clarkson and while she's got some decent pop stuff, you can make a pop star out of ANYONE.

That's why American Idol sucks. It's been on for about 50 years now and has made one bankable star. That's pathetic. It's just fat black girls and gay guys singing. Sorry, not my cup of tea. That said, it has created a genre of TV that IS enjoyable. While not all American Idol rip-offs are created equal, I'm looking at you, So You Think You Can Dance? Some are actually great. Here's my favorites:

America's Got Talent
The show that re-ignited David Hasselhoff's career, AGAIN! Why is this show entertaining? Because it's a variety show at the very core. You see jugglers, ventriloquists, singers, dancers, magicians and plenty of other oddities. That said, this show's main problem is the singers. I hate it when singers come on, because they should be on Idol, IMO. Last years competition was won by some 12 year old, who could sing, but I thought it was bogus. Plenty of better acts probably should have won. That's the real downfall of the show is that plenty of Idol castoffs end up on the program. In between that drivel though, you get guys who can sing and play guitar, some incredible bands like the 16 year old rockabilly band from last week, and some talented magicians. Even the occasional wonky act has it's charm. Bobby Badfingers from last year stands out to me as someone who was entertaining in a "I've never seen that" kind of fashion. Quick Change was a magical act from last year that you've likely NEVER seen anything like. This year hasn't quite produced the unique acts of last year, but we have seen some good ones. Sharon Osbourne replaces last year's weak judge Brandy, but I'm not sure if Sharon is really worth her weight. She's a bit of a drama queen. At least she's better then Brandy. Jerry Springer has replaced Regis Philbin and has been doing a great job.

American Inventor
Of all the Idol rip-offs, this one is probably my favorite. Why? Because at the end of the day, last year's winner actually had a GREAT invention that could save lives. That alone makes it better then anything Idol has ever produced. What truly makes this show great though is that there aren't any jokesters. On Idol and all the other shows, people show up in wacky outfits, do bad singing or dancing, just to get on TV. Not here. The people that show up with some of these lamebrain inventions are truly and completely... INSANE! I kid you not. Insane people show up to the show. This week had a man who wears copper on his head to sleep. Among other places. He honestly believed it made him healthy. He was of course, completely bonkers, but he wasn't an "act" like so many of the people on Idol are. The show has been retooled this year with new judges, including George Foreman who's too nice to really be effective. There have also been some pretty novel ideas come through and the stories are great. When someone gets voted off on this show and they cry, it's because it's REAL. Some of these people have thousands of dollars invested in their product. Whereas on Idol, the waterworks routine is just that, a routine. To truly invent something great, you have to be a thinker and that's why this show is the best. It's too boring for some and not a huge ratings hit, but for my money it's the best entertainment out there.

The Next Best Thing
This show has proven to be a ratings hit. Basically it's a impersonator competition. This doesn't have the depth of American Inventor, nor the wide range of acts as America's Got Talent, but it does feature lots of impersonations. Good and bad. The odd thing to me about this show is that lots of acts I think are good, they axe. Whereas some I think are just okay, they pass through. Regardless there is a pair of guys doing a BRILLIANT Honeymooners routine and you really feel like they are Art Carney and Jackie Gleason stepping out of a time machine. This is good mindless TV.

So there you have it. Some summer "Idol Rip-Offs" that are actually a billion times better then Idol itself. Every show that Simon Cowell produces has to have a snarky British guy, but oddly enough to me Piers Morgan and David Jones are MUCH more appealing then Simon. They aren't really doing a Simon impersonation, instead they are being more genuine. Simon is basically a parody of himself these days and thankfully they aren't doing a parody of him. Of course it does seem that way when they are all the mean judges, but at least they have their own twist to it.

I suggest you watch these shows. Besides, it's not like there is much else on during the summer.

Random Villains Most Anticipated Movies For The Rest Of 07!

Well.... we are about half way through the year, almost all of the big summer blockbusters have come and gone. And only a couple remain. So the big question is, whats left? Well I have compiled a list of the top 10 movies that I am really looking forward to for the rest of the year. And yes they are in order of 10 being "would really like to see opening day" to 1 being "nothing on the face of the planet will keep me from seeing immediatley." So on ward!!!!

10. Saw IV

The Saw series has been really good. The only good horror movie franchise of late that has consitently delivered the goods. Ive been really please so far with all of the Saw movies. Many of you, even myself wondered, what in the hell can possibly happen, Jigsaw died in Saw III. Well I wondered that too but then I also thought to myself, this is Saw, they will come up with a clever idea on how to keep it going. From what I have heard in Saw III they left little hints here and there about how a Saw IV could come to be. So we shall see.

Plot: As a continuation of "Saw III," Jeff must find his daughter and escape the building to which they are confined before they both die. After finding another tape of Jigsaw, Jeff realizes there may be a newly added piece of the puzzle that he must decipher before it's too late.

Release Date: October 26

9. Live Free or Die Hard

Any man, or even woman, on the face of the planet will agree, or agree somewhat. That Die Hard is the best action movie ever made. What is annoying is the people that bitch about new Die Hard movies, new Rambo, new Rocky, new sequels to any old school awesome movies, because the actors are too old. Well all I gotta say is I would rather see a 50/60 year old Stallone, Willis, Ford, Ahnuld kicking the shit out of guys playing the characters that we grew up watching, than see some hack actor play another XXX or have to sit through another shitty CGI filled crap fest of action movies that we get these days. Honestly name one really awesome hardcore balls to the fuckin wall action movie that has come out the past 5 years that will live on forever like these movies have. The only thing that I am jaded about with this movie is its PG-13 rating. Then of course I think about how movies are rated these days, and R rated movies from back then are pretty much PG-13 rated now.

Plot: An attack on the vulnerable United States computer infrastructure begins to shut down the entire nation. The mysterious figure behind the shattering scheme has figured out every digital angle - but he never figured an old-fashioned, "analog" fly-in-the-ointment: John McClane.

Trailer

Release Date: June 27

8. Transformers

The heavily debated, Transformers. Like any kid from the 80s, I was raised on Transformers. Had all the toys, the VHS cartoons, pajamas, bed sheets, lunch box, had it all. Many people have debated this movie, mainly due to the fact that Michael Bay directed it, and lately he hasn't impressed anyone much. But many also forget that Steven Spielberg is the executive producer, and if you look at his executive producing credits, he does impress alot more than he lets us down. Goonies anyone? Also Bay does have it in him to make an awesome movie, see a perfect example in, The Rock. Hopefully this will live up to my expectations, and not make me want to rip my eyes out.

Plot: Our world will be transformed on July 4 when aliens make Earth their final battleground in "Transformers." As the forces of evil seek the key to ultimate power, our last chance for survival rests in the hands of young Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf).

Trailer

Release Date: July 2

7. Run, Fatboy, Run

Not much is known about this flick, other than the fact that it stars Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Spaced) And as long as he is in it, I am so fucking there.

Plot: "Run, Fatboy, Run" centers on a charming but oblivious overweight guy who leaves his fiancee on their wedding day only to discover years later that he really loves her. To win her back, he must finish a marathon while making her realize that her handsome, wealthy fiance is the wrong guy for her.

Trailer

Release Date: September 28

6. Halloween

Sigh... Halloween. God am I dreading this movie. Halloween, the first one, the real one, is my favorite horror movie of all time. It started them all, without Michael Myers there would be no Jason, no Freddy, no nothing. This past weekend I even went to the neighborhood where they filmed the first Halloween. Its sequels had there ups (H20) and their downs, (Do I really even need to name which Halloween sequel it is here?) And on top of that, man of my favorite horror movies, like When A Stranger Calls and The Hitcher, were both remade into complete shit fests. But they didn't have Rob Zombie at the helm. I was very against this movie, hated it, wanted nothing to do with it. Pissed off at how dare they touch my beloved Halloween!! Then I saw the trailer, and it blew my fucking mind. I was impressed, and now I really want to see it, for the main factor being, its Michael Myers, on the big screen. Also the cast rules, mainly for Malcolm McDowell.

Plot: While revealing a new chapter in the established Michael Myers saga, the film will surprise both classic and modern horror fans with a departure from prior films in the Halloween franchise. Audiences should brace themselves for unprecedented fear as Zombie turns back time to uncover the making of a pathologically disturbed, even cursed child named Michael Myers.

Trailer

Release Date: August 31

5. I Am Legend

Good ol Will Smith. He is very hit and miss with me, hated the Pursuit Of Happyness for the main reason being that it is the most depressing shit I have ever watched in my entire life. Then of course theres Wild Wild West. I also didn't really care for the Men In Black movies. But he is a good actor, and sometimes he comes out with some good stuff. This movie has a really awesome plot, and the trailer worked for me. Very different looking movie than from what we are normally fed from the studios every summer. Hopefully this will live up to its expectations.

Plot: Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a brilliant scientist, but even he could not contain the terrible virus that was unstoppable, incurable, and man-made. Somehow immune, Neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City and maybe the world.

Trailer

Release Date: December 14

4. There Will Be Blood

Mother fuckin PTA. Paul Thomas Anderson. Who never does any wrong, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Punch Drunk Love are all up in my favorites of all time. Hes been MIA for awhile but now is back with this little diddy. The trailer is odd, but hey, its PTA. What do you expect?

Plot: A sprawling epic about family, greed, corruption, and the pursuit of the American dream. Set in the booming West coast oil fields at the turn of the 20th century, "There Will Be Blood" follows the rise of rugged prospector Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis) who becomes an independent oilman after hitting it rich with the strike of a lifetime. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film is inspired by Upton Sinclair's novel "Oil!"

Trailer

Release Date: December

3. Superbad

Loved me some Knocked Up. Best movie of 07 so far in my eyes. And this movie comes from the same people. The trailer is hilarious, the actors are great. And the people behind this movie, and Knocked Up are doing what I have hoped and prayed for, bringing back classic comedy movies. Showing shit like Scary Movie and all those other pieces of crap how its done.

Plot: "Superbad" revolves around two co-dependent high school seniors (Hill and Cera) who set out to score alcohol for a party, believing that girls will then hook up with them and they will be ready for college. But as the night grows more chaotic, overcoming their separation anxiety becomes a greater challenge than getting the girls.

Trailer

Release Date: August 17

2. Trick 'r Treat

I know damn near nothing about this flick, but what I have heard, and have seen, rock my face off. The production stills are fuckin amazing. The poster for this is the coolest looking poster I have seen in a long time. Also it centers on my favorite holiday there is, Halloween.

Plot: It is said that Halloween is the night when the dead rise to walk among us and other unspeakable things roam free. The rituals of All Hallows Eve were devised to protect us from their evil mischief, and one small town is about to be taught a terrifying lesson that some traditions are best not forgotten. Nothing is what it seems when a suburban couple learns the dangers of blowing out a Jack-o-Lantern before midnight; four women cross paths with a costumed stalker at a local festival; a group of pranksters goes too far and discovers the horrifying truth buried in a local legend; and a cantankerous old hermit is visited by a strange trick-or-treater with a few bones to pick. Costumes and candy, ghouls and goblins, monsters and mayhem... the tricks and treats of Halloween turn deadly as strange creatures of every variety—human and otherwise—try to survive the scariest night of the year.

Release Date: October 5

1. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Last, and not least, THE KING OF KONG. I love me a good documentary. Because the shit is real. Real people, real things in their lives, going down. Being a video game nerd, this movie is my most anticipated for the rest of 07 that there is. I know the feeling of having a high score on a video game, only to see it broken and having to do what I can to reclaim that top spot. These guys take it to an all new level. (cue You're The Best from Karate Kid music here)

Plot: A middle-school science teacher and a hot sauce mogul vie for the Guinness World Record on the arcade classic, Donkey Kong.

In 1982, LIFE Magazine assembled the world's greatest gamers for a photo shoot that would become the center spread of their 1982 Year-In-Photos edition. Billy Mitchell, who would later be named the "Gamer of the Century," was one of the invitees.

Mitchell, the World Record holder on Centipede, had been tracking the score on Donkey Kong, and knew he could take that title as well. In front of the 20 best gamers in the world, Billy scored 874,300 points, a record many thought would never be broken.

In 2003, 35 year old family man Steve Wiebe, after losing his job at Boeing, found solace in Donkey Kong. Steve stumbled upon Billy Mitchell's record online, and set out to break it. He began perfecting his game every night after his wife and kids went to bed, and not only surpassed Billy's record, but ended up with a thought-to-be-impossible 1,000,000 points.

A tidal wave of media coverage followed, and Steve Wiebe quickly became a celebrity in his hometown of Seattle, WA. He also rediscovered his love for teaching, and regained the respect of all who once doubted him. Meanwhile, back in Hollywood, FL, Billy Mitchell hatched a plan to reclaim his fallen Donkey Kong record…

In the months that followed, Steve and Billy engaged in a cross-country duel to see who could set the high score that would be included in the 2007 Guinness World Records' book and become The King of Kong. Along the way, both men learned valuable lessons about what it means to be a father, a husband, and a true champion… discovering that you don't always need to win to be a winner.

Trailer

Release Date: August 17 limited

Fantastic Start for Silver Surfer

The Silver Surfer, it turns out, doesn't just rise; he rakes in millions. And he may have earned his own spinoff as well.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer breezed to the top spot at the weekend box office with $57.4 million, according to estimates from box-office trackers Nielsen EDI.

The haul is about $7 million more than projections, and Surfer managed what few films this summer have: improve commercially and critically on the original.

CHART: Top 10 films of the weekend

REVIEW: 'Surfer' more silver than stain

The 2005 Fantastic Four made its debut at $56.1 million and went on to earn $154 million.

In addition, analysts say, Silver Surfer took steps to distance itself from the dreadfully reviewed original. The film:

•Added a hero. Most sequels introduce new villains, but this film added someone to root for in the Surfer. "He's not as iconic as, say, Spider-Man, but he's a beloved figure," says Gitesh Pandya of BoxOfficeGuru.com. "That made it seem like two superhero movies in one, which is unusual."

•Dropped a rating. The original movie was PG-13, while Surfer is PG, a rare move for a franchise. "This is about the only comic-book series not looking to get darker," says Blair Butler of the G4TV network, which caters to comic and video-game fans. "That makes it one of the few family-oriented comic-book movies."

•Stepped up the action. The beef with the 2005 film was its lack of fight scenes. Silver Surfer has "much more going on," Pandya says. It "played more like a disaster film. That's smart for summer."

Executives at 20th Century Fox and Marvel Studios knew they were on to something when the trailer became an online hit. They are now discussing a spinoff for the character, embodied by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne.

"He's a mysterious character with a back story we could only touch on," director Tim Story says. "There's a reason he has been around (in comics) for 40 years."

No other film came close to Silver Surfer, though several movies performed respectably. Ocean's Thirteen held reasonably well in its second weekend, dropping 47% to $19.1 million for No. 2. Knocked Up fell only 26% and took in $14.5 million in its third weekend.

The only other major newcomer, Nancy Drew, earned $7.1 million and seventh place, slightly below projections.

Ticket sales were up 6% from last weekend, but dipped 2% from the same weekend last year. Final figures are due today.

Portions of this article were taken from A.P. and USAtoday.

Chicks dig Nintendo!

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Nintendo is good for your game. I don't mean your video game, I mean your "getting laid" game. If you ever hear a guy say the word "Playstation", it's almost always followed by a groan from the females in the room. Let's face it, Playstation is for nerds. Since the PS2 came on the market, girls have been disgusted with video games. To them, Playstation translates to guys hunched over, playing Final Fantasy or Madden and spending hours of their lives being nerds. That's right, Playstation doesn't get women. Walk into a room full of chicks and tell them you've been playing Playstation all day. See how many wanna come back to your crib and play with you. The answer will be none.

So what makes Nintendo different? It all started with the original NES. That was a system that reached out to more then just guys. If you are in your mid to late 20's, your girlfriend probably owned a Nintendo. That was step one. Along came the DS and it became step 2. There are 400 MILLION, DS systems sold worldwide. How many people are there in the world? A couple billion? Almost everyone has a DS at this point. Guess what that means? Girls play the DS. I know this from personal experience. Lots of ladies love the DS.

Nintendo knew they were onto something so they created the Wii. The Wii is breaking boundaries that even the DS didn't. Old people are playing the Wii. But what's even more fascinating, is the WOMEN are playing the Wii. If you walk into a bar, tell some girls your having a Wii party, you might be surprised they WILL come with you. Now don't go home and pop in Zelda (you nerd), but you can play any of the Wii party games including the Mario titles.

Check out this recent article, Wii Gaming Parties (wrote by a woman) about the trend of Wii hot spots popping up. Fight clubs, Tennis tournaments, bowling leagues. ALL on the Wii. Guess who's showing up to these events? Not the Sony Fanboys/Star Trek nerds, but actual living, breathing, SKINNY, GIRLS! Women. Chicas! That's right, chicks dig the Wii.

So for the first time in the history of video gaming, you finally can talk to girls about games. You can get them to play games. Just make sure you have one of Nintendo's little white systems and you might actually be able to play video games and get LAID because of it.

WWE Hall of Famer Sherri Martel Passes Away

PWInsider.com reports the passing of WWE Hall of Famer Sherri Martel, real name Sherri Russel today.

A former WWF and AWA Women's champion, Martel is probably best remembered for her role of one of the best female heel managers of all time during her 1990s WWF run, working alongside Shawn Michaels, Ted DiBiase, and Randy Savage, among others.

Moving to World Championship Wrestling in 1994, Martel worked on top with Ric Flair during his feud with Hulk Hogan before moving on to manage The Harlem Heat tag team.

Martel was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in Chicago during Wrestlemania 22 weekend and still made semi-regular appearances at conventions and media events. Jakks Pacific had just released a Classic Superstars action figure in her honor.

Martel was only 49 years old.

We here at Ultra Entertainment send our thoughts and condolences to Sherri's family and friends.