YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is now 11:00pm EST. If you don't understand what this entry means, then it's probably better that way.

My girl...

Boom! Kak! Boom! Kak Kak!

The day has finally arrived...Diddy will be "Making The Band". Last thoughts on the contenders:

Aubrey: As I said in a previous post, pretty much a shoo-in for the band. She was in Blender Magazine, so her star seems to be rising already. Good voice, better dancer. The requisite "hottie" of the group, like Posh Spice, Rachel Stevens (from S Club 7 - don't even say it), or either of the girls not named Carnie Wilson (in Wilson Phillips).

Aundrea: My favorite of the group, a returner from the previous season. She sings better than she dances, but overall she's well-rounded. Midway through the season, an entire episode was devoted to chronicling her as she struggled to pick up a dance sequence. Ultimately, Diddy was just testing her because he wanted her to "wake up". Think about it: if he wanted her gone, he'd have punted her then. I'd like to think she's in.

Dawn: She's a sleeper in the group, though the fact that she's been under the radar for most of the show makes one wonder if the show editors give less screen time to those who, in the end, will be cut. Things to note, though, are that she has proven herself to be consistently solid, both in vocals and dance, which is definitely not the case for a lot of these contestants. Also, in the last episode where the groups opened for The Backstreet Boys, she showed herself to be a leader in the group, rallying the girls to move past their poor rehearsals and get their swagger back. It worked.

Denosh: The oldest and most experienced member of the group, Denosh claims to have danced in videos for Missy Elliott and Ciara, among others. A strong singer and evidently a strong dancer, Denosh's big problem lies in that she's rubbed others the wrong way with her dictatorial style of collaboration. And it's also been noticed by Laurie Ann, the choreographer, who denounced Denosh's ego. Also, in the Backstreet Boys performance, Denosh started the song at the wrong pitch, which doomed their group from the start.

Dominique: Another sleeper candidate, who may not be such a sleeper after all. From the beginning of the show, her body image was a detriment to her because she wasn't rail-thin like most of the other girls. And it didn't help that she could not dance that well. But what she lacks in moves, she more than makes up for in voice. If nothing else, her voice is great enough to overcome any criticisms, especially since she is hands-down the best singer left in the bunch (the only other person who could rival her was Tiffany, but she had to leave because she injured her hip during one of Diddy's workouts - no one said this was gonna be easy!). She did just fine in the group performance, so there doesn't seem to be anything holding her back.

Jasmine: Unfortunately, not much has been shown about her, which makes me think she will not make the band. Solid performer, but she hasn't stood out during the episodes. I don't think she will make the band. She's in direct competition with Dawn, and between the two, I think Dawn would get picked over her.

Kelli: She has been featured more than Jasmine, but the overriding message about her is that she tries very hard but still needs work. Her vocals do not stand out, and Diddy called her out as one of the people who can't dance. He said the same for Dominique, but she has more going for her with her voice. But, the editors did make it a point to show Diddy recognizing that Kelli has been trying very hard. I'd be surprised if she made the final group.

Melissa: A solid performer, but she's in competition with Aubrey, Shannon, and maybe Aundrea. There's just no room for her, and I don't see anything special in her to overtake any of them. In fact, in the Backstreet performance, she gave off a weird vibe that was very unsexy (the intent of their group's performance).

Shannon: This is a tough call. Diddy praised her on a number of occasions, and she has been solid. Better dancer than singer, but at 25, she's also a bit more mature and removed from the group. The maturity could be a good thing, so that there are less fights like "Da Band" had. If she makes it, I predict she takes Dawn's spot.

Taquita: Wow, I have no clue what's going to happen with Taquita. Most of her screen time has shown her getting chewed out for screwing up dances, singing incorrectly, or yawning. BUT, she also has been featured a lot in commentaries where she has been hilarious. There is a lot of upside to her, and she's just fun. Her stiff competition is with Denosh, so let's hope Diddy chooses a better fit for a group than the more individually talented person.

Wanita: Roughly tied with Jasmine in my mind. Hasn't really stood out, and not much in the way of storyline has been devoted to her. A dark horse, if anything, but it would actually surprise me less if she made it than Taquita or Jasmine or Shannon.











The Verdict? My hope is Aubrey, Aundrea, Dawn, Dominique, and Taquita (though Shannon somewhere in there wouldn't hurt). I guess we'll find out tonight at 10pm...

Save The Bluths!!!

Sign this petition, now please!

Do it for Franklin.

Booyakasha!

Have you seen this man?



For those who've missed out, this is none other than Sacha Baron Cohen, playing his signature role, Ali G. If you have not seen this show, Da Ali G Show, the first two seasons are out on DVD, his show gets sporadic play on HBO, and you can find clips on file-sharing networks. The show is, in a word, brilliant.

In a nutshell, Cohen utilizes three different personas in the program: Ali G, a wannabe gangster from Staines, a suburb in England; Borat, a Kazakhstan immigrant who is taping specials on American culture for his home country; and Bruno, a gay fashion reporter who assumes that everyone else is also gay. The Ali G segments are the best because he interviews very prominent figures in American politics and history, such as Newt Gingrich, Pat Buchanan, and Ralph Nader, only to use his supposed idiocy to lure them into making ridiculous statements while poking fun at the political system. In order to be good at what he does, Cohen has to be quick on his feet, and he has shown himself to be a genius at balancing innocence and naivete as perceived by others with his subtle "wink at the camera", knowing that the audience is in on the joke as well. But, because he is British, you might need this dictionary to understand what he's saying, at times.


Here's an example of when he spoke with Pat Buchanan about America's invasion of Iraq over what he thought were "B.L.T.s":

Ali G: Let's say he didn't have mustard and the "B.L.T.'s" just was plain would you been able to go in there then?

Buchanan: No.

Ali G: Is it ever worth fighting a war over sandwiches?

Buchanan: Is it ever worth fighting a war? Yes.


Or, what about when he interviewed astronaut Buzz Aldrin?

Ali G: Boyakasha! Check it out, I is here with none other dan my main man, Buzz Aldrin. I know dis is a sensitive question, but what was it like not being the first man on the moon? Was you ever jealous of Louie Armstrong?

Buzz: It was Neil Armstrong, and, no, I was not jealous. He was a very, very qualified

Ali G: Whatever.

Buzz: person. Yeah.

Ali G: So, when you arrived on the moon, was the people who lived there very friendly, or was they scared of you?

Buzz: There was absolutely no thought of encountering any living being whatsoever.

Ali G: Do you think man will ever walk on the Sun?

Buzz: No. The Sun is too hot. It is not a good place to go to.

Ali G: What happens if they went in winter, when the Sun is cold?

Buzz: The Sun is not cold in the winter.


I encourage you to check out his stuff. If you like English humor, you will find yourself rolling on the floor with laughter when you watch it. By the way, did you know that Cohen is also engaged to Isla Fisher, who played the crazy younger daughter in "The Wedding Crashers"? You know, the adorably goofy redhead sprung on Vince Vaughn? Just thought you might like to know.