Out in Reality TV: May 2007 Archives

Andy Baldwin and Tessa Horst from "The Bachelor: an Officer and a Gentlemen" are my favorite heterosexual couple right now! Here they are on the beach in Hawaii over the weekend. Aren't they beautiful??? If this relationship doesn't work out, I may have to swear off reality shows forever...except "American Idol," of course, and maybe "Dancing With the Stars." I also have to reserve the right to watch anything on Bravo and "Amazing Race" if they have another hot gay couple like Chip and Reichen. But other than that, I'll be THROUGH!

Gee, was Jordin Sparks' moment of being crowned the season six "American Idol" crammed in at the end of the show or WHAT? Hey, I enjoyed a lot of what went down on "American Idol" last night from the returns of four past champions to performances by Green Day, Bette Midler, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, and Tony Bennett. But maybe those really cringe-worthy Golden Idol Awards could have been done without so we could have given Jordin her moment in the spotlight. I'm sure she will have plenty down the road and become a big star along the lines of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood but also maybe do Broadway too like season three winner Fantasia.

When Jordin closed the two-hour show with "This Is My Now," "I (Who Have Nothing"), I felt good about her winning and remembered how much I loved her version of "You'll Never Walk Alone," and many other songs this season. Melinda Doolittle is technically a better singer but Jordin is a worthy winner of this talent competition that seems to have all of America interested.

It seems to be the consensus that Jordin Sparks will be crowned the new "American Idol" tonight after nailing her final number in what was kind of a lackluster show last night. Here's where I make a stunning confession: I fell asleep during parts of the show and only saw Jordin and Blake perform one number apiece so I can't make any snarky comments. Dammit. I was tired yesterday but also, I kind of find the whole exercise kind of silly with Melinda Doolittle out of it. It feels anti-climactic for sure. This was the first show all season without Melinda and frankly, she was missed.
But I did wake up and revive myself long enough to watch most of "Dancing With the Stars" where Apolo Ono was the winner...as I had predicted. It's hard to find fault with that result since he and his partner were so good together but I was rooting for Joey Fatone because he was one of the best reasons to watch the show this season - so entertaining yet deceptively skillfull. His positive energy is something I really like in people. As for Alaila Ali, she stumbled in the end a smidge but also was one of my favorites this season. I LOVED what she said when asked how she felt about getting third place: "I'm pissed!"

It was also terrific to see the past champs as well as all the contestants from this season get one last chance in the spotlight. To see Heather Mills do all those great stunts, it was just insane that she was voted off before Cliff from "Cheers" and Billy Ray Cyrus.
I mean, give me a break.

Since Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson have been in the bottom two before and Laila Ali and Maksim Chmerkovskiydidn't knock it out of the park last night, I predict that Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough will win the “Dancing With the Stars” competition when results are announced tonight. Personally, they don't really send me but I acknowledge that they have been spectacular all season long and Apolo being a world-class athlete certainly gives him an edge.
I think Joey is the best pure entertainer and I hope his career goes through the roof after this is over. I have enjoyed him so much and think it is so sweet how he has invited his old NSYNC bandmate to be in the studio audience so often this season. Lance was sitting next to the handsome Harry Hamlin last nigtht.
And then there is the sexiest pair of all: Laila and Maksim who are just so hot! She ripped his shirt off last night and I so enjoyed that even if I wasn't crazy about the rest of their free-style dance.

I will miss them most of all (I feel like Dorothy in the 'Wizard of Oz.') because they were a fun pair who sparred due to their strong personailities and that made it all the more combustible.

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Since all the "Dancing" contestants are already successful in their fields, this show doesn't touch the same cord as "American Idol" which has its final two compeition between Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis tonight. I like them both but the entire thing really lost something when Melinda Doolittle was voted off. It just seemed wrong then and a week later, it seems even more wrong.
I'll be happy for either one of 'em.

Navy Lt. Andy Baldwin showed on the season finale of "The Bachelor" Monday night that he is more than just a pretty face with a killer body: he also has exquisite taste in women. He proposed to 26-year-old social worker Tessa Horst and she said yes! I did predict this a few weeks back simply because while there were plenty of smart and beautiful women vying for Andy - including runner-up Bevin Powers - the regal and reserved Tessa just had a way about her. She was the only woman to question whether a reality show was the proper way to meet the love of your life and she considered bolting. I'm sure this made Andy want her all the more. And you felt that if Andy did not pick her, she would have been heartbroken but not broken because she knows who she is.

Andy Baldwin is one lucky guy and by being such a class act, he elevated this really silly show that I have ignored for years now but got interested in again because if followed "Dancing With the Stars."

I'd like to believe that I am posting these photos of gorgeous Andy Baldwin because tonight is the season finale of "The Bachelor" and he proposes to one of the women on the show. But really, I'm posting these pictures because Andy is absolutely stunning and I don't have any fresh beefcake shots of Daniel Craig or Matthew McConaughney.That said, it would be so cool to have a gay reality show like "The Bachelor" where one lucky guy gets to date a coupla dozen guys and try and pick one to spend his life with. No gimmicks though like making some of the guys straight and forcing the dude to figure out who is who. When I think about the path that Bravo's "Boy Meets Boy" series took, it makes me kinda furious. We deserve our own dating reality show!!!

Wow. Three songs in one night by each remaining contestant. I'm still trying to sort it all out. I took some notes as I watched just to keep track and I found Melinda Doolittle to be the real standout and the most likely contestant to remain unitl next week. When she was singing Whitney Houston's "I Believe In You and Me," what was coming through was that she was feeling the song, not just belting it out. I watched her do that number and thought, "She deserves to win." The judges were back on form last night after being ridiculous last week and were unanimous in their praise of Melinda who followed her first song with the rowdier "Nutbush City Limits" which was solid and rocking then she changed it up again with the third number 'I'm A Woman." The three numbers showed her range and skill and why she should absolutely win this competition.

"Dancing With the Stars" is some of the best television right now because the four remaining couples are, while all very different from each other, absolutely top-notch. Last night. Layla Ali and her partner were absolutely flawless and the way she shimmied across the stage to Tom Jones' "She's A Lady," it was enough to make a gay man's heart skip a beat. I LOVE her presence and could watch her dance all day. While Layla got a perfect combined score of 60 for her two dances, so did Joey Fatone and his partner who were simply dazzling. I think Joey brings so much life to the show with his personality, enthusiasm and his willingness to really go for it.
This is why I think Ali and Fatone should be in the finals.

As far as Apolo Anton Ono and his partner, no one would complain if they made the finals and even won the whole doggone thing. I think they are superb. But I give Ali and Fatone the edge on intangibles. This leaves us with Ian Zeiring who has worked just as hard if not harder than anyone this season. He had his best night yet this week and yet, I don't think it will be enough. If he is voted off tonight, I think he still comes out a winner with his profile higher than it has been since the days of "90210" and his body as fit and buff as it was when Steve Sanders was playing beach volleyball with Brandon!

In the end, my heart belongs to Layla.

I've got a problem with ABC's "The Bachelor" for several reasons: it's turning falling in love and possibly getting married into a reality show and it really dehumanizes the people involved - especially the women. I have only caught an episode here and there. But tonight, I saw the last half-hour so I feel fully qualified to spout off.

First of all, I have NO problem with this season's bachelor, Andy Baldwin. He's pretty much a dreamboat if you like that clean cut, perfect smile, gorgeous body Navy kind of thing. I think choosing him gave the show some new life because he's also a smart guy who seems to have a lot of character. You figure any guy who agrees to do this show is probably just doing it to lauch an acting career or something but with Andy, I kinda believe he is looking for true love. (I'm such a sucker!)

One of the reasons is the way he narrowed down the field by eliminating the annoying catfight kind of girls right away and being able to see who was of real quality. So this brings me to Tessa, a social worker who I, from several episodes back, have believed Andy would choose. She's just got a way about her and he seems to see that. She was also the only woman that I am aware of who questioned the whole reality show concept and if she could really fall in love under these circumstances.
And so, next week is the finale and I predict it will end with a proposal to Tessa and, against all odds, I think this pair could really make it!