"American Idol" is the only reality television show I watch and one of my favorite television shows period. I often say, it takes a lot to make me want to put down my book to watch television, but the singing contest on the FOX channel is, in my opinion, one of the best shows on television for lots of reasons. Mainly, you can watch it regardless of who is in your living room and it has mass appeal for all ages.
Matter of fact, my eight-year-old niece Lorna and I often call each other during the performance to talk about our favorites. Two of my cousins and I are often texting each other during the show and prior to our Health Council meeting the other day, we were all chatting about who might get kicked off that night and who we thought was the best overall performer.
Perhaps in a land where gas is too high, the elections run too long and the Iraq war is now entering its fifth year, "American Idol" is a welcome diversion in most homes. Maybe it is just nice to see that some average American can become America's next biggest star. Just look at what the vehicle known as American Idol has done for Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken and Jennifer Hudson, just to name a few. One day they are working like you and me, then the next day they are posing for People and Vanity Fair Magazine, appearing on television and mixing it up on stage with some of their favorite artists.
"Idol," last year, also began what is known as Idol Gives Back and raised more than $70 million for charities across the country including tornado victims here in Tennessee. This show is a refreshing change from all the other line-ups on the air waves and the ratings prove it. It continues to be in the top slot week after week.
I was talking with some friends the other night about the numerous reality shows on television now which apparently came about during the last writers strike several years ago. We have "The Biggest Loser," "Big Brother," "So You Think You Can Dance," "Dancing with the Stars," "The Hills," "Intervention" and the list go on and on. But, I have thought of a couple of reality shows that haven't yet been created:
1. "So You Think You Can Preach" — Men of the cloth would preach a sermon each week. Viewers would vote for the best preacher. The winner of the competition would get an hour-long television show.
2. "Celebrity Survivor" — get a group of A list celebrities and see how long he/she can survive without a chef, publicist, attorney, personal trainer and personal umbrella holder. Winner gets it all back.
3. "So You Think You Can Survive Without a Cell Phone" — This show would feature a group of high school students without cell phones. The teenager who can go the longest without his/her cell phone wins a free college scholarship.
4. "Keeping Up With Soccer Moms" — This show features ten stay-at-home dads.
After six weeks, the one who can still keep up with the family duties wins a vacation and a brand new mini van.
5. "So You Think You Can Teach" — This show features a group of men and women who think teaching is a piece of cake. At the end of nine weeks, the person still teaching gets a week of snow days and money to buy classroom supplies.
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And speaking of stars, congratulations to the 2008 winners of the TAD Center's seventh annual Youth Talent Show. The 8-12 year-old winner was Emily Swafford of Stone Elementary. Emily sang during her presentation. Second place in that age division went to Timothy Hawn of Wheeler Elementary in Pikeville. He played the piano and sang.
The winners of the 13-29 year-old age category are Anna Hill of Cumberland County High School and Whitney Padgett of Homestead Elementary. The girls presented a choreographed routine to a Carrie Underwood song. Second place went to vocalist Rodney Insco of Clarkrange High School. Hill, Padgett and Insco will all advance the youth talent show in Knoxville this fall.
Special thanks to the 2008 talent show judges: Dr. Larry Patterson of Eye Centers of Tennessee, Marley Wyatt, former TAD talent winner, and Josh Brandon of Peg Broadcasting for their time and talents.
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Disney producers will be in Nashville on April 6 at the Sommet Center to hire extras for the new Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana movie. The new flick, which will be made in Tennessee, needs extras to be background actors in the 15-year-old pop superstar's new movie. These are non-speaking parts.
If you want to be an extra, you need to be at the Sommet Center between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon with a recent 4x4 snapshot and a pen. Extras may work anywhere from one day to several weeks. Filming begins in and around Nashville on May 6.
Lifestyles
AROUND THE TOWN: "American Idol" still one of TV's best
- Lifestyles
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Widows Sons support TAD
The Widows Sons Masonic Riding Association, Dry Bones Chapter, held a benefit motorcycle ride May 19 to benefit the Teens Against Drugs (TAD) Center in Crossville.
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New Corvette Club shares love for flair, design
If you were reaching maturity during the 1950s through '60s, you were probably either a Chevy guy or a Ford guy. While Chevy guys had reason to admire Ford Thunderbirds and Mustangs, the Chevy sports car enthusiasts have had an ace-in-the hole with the advent of the first production Corvette in 1953 — only six months after it debuted as a GM prototype.
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Arts festival coming in September
Mark on your calendar the dates of September 14-15 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) for the Plateau Arts Festival at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, 451 Lakeview Drive (off Peavine) in Fairfield Glade.
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PLEASANT HILL RAMBLINGS: Award-winning artist shares talent with community
Not everyone has the pleasure of living next door to a “real live artist” – not just a Sunday painter as many of us are, but an award-winning career artist who has had 20 solo exhibitions, been accepted into various juried shows and garnered numerous awards.
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2012 Tennessee Senior Chess Tournament winners honored
The chess tournament was a great success, with a total of 18 players representing Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky. They took home many prizes, plaques and cash playing open section.
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PLATEAU GARDENING: Photographing plants and blossoms
I keep a monthly photographic plant journal. With a digital camera, photography enthusiasts like myself can take lots of pictures at little cost. Not surprised plants are my favorite photo subjects, are you?
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Celebrating Tennessee state parks
Come celebrate National Trails Day and the 75th anniversary of Tennessee State Parks, Saturday, June 2.
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GIVING BACK: Take a look at state of our waste
The county recently submitted its solid waste report to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. In the past year, the county collected and landfilled 52,462 tons of waste. Another 6,067 tons of materials were collected and recycled. A total of 58,829 tons of waste were collected by the county.
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The River WILD!
The Big South Fork of the Cumberland River winds its way through the 125,000 acres of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area before flowing into the Cumberland River and Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. It’s a free-flowing river, with no dams to control release of the water, but the scenery and the magnificent rock formations make it a favorite of paddling enthusiasts who watch the weather to see if they can get out and explore areas that are hard to reach by foot.
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Farmer's Market opens for business June 2
The Cumberland County Farmer’s Market will officially open the growing season as it has every year since 1978. This year’s “opening” will be Saturday, June 2, at the traditional location on Livingston Rd., next to the fairgrounds. Selling will begin early (6:30 a.m. or so), although some vendors may set up a few hours later in order to provide the freshest vegetables picked just that morning. There is usually a good selection until well after noon.
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