Why Adam Lambert Won't Win Idol

The New York Times featured an article in it's Sunday Style Section about why Adam Lambert may have trouble winning the American Idol title despite his soaring talent: America may not be able to accept a gay winner. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/fashion/12gayidol.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=adam%20lambert&st=cse

This article prompted a debate between me and my friend about how it is absurd that we can elect a black president, but not vote for a reality show contestant because he may or may not be (I mean he totally is) gay?

But sadly, it makes sense.

Let's take for instance Justin Timberlake. Sure he is talented. But let's pretend for a second that tomorrow he came out to the world, professing his love for men. His entire image of bringing sexy back would crumble, and I believe so would his music career. JT may have a wide fan base, but the biggest purchasing demographic of pop music is teenage girls.

Similarly if Zac Efron said his relationship with HSM co-star Vanessa Hudgen's was a cover for his homosexuality (which by the way I am pretty sure it is) I bet there would be millions of disappointed little girls who would no longer squeal when he comes on TV or line up to see his new movie 17 Again.

Of course, as my friend argued, it should just be about talent. But when has it ever been? Britney Spears' return to the pop world proves it actually has nothing to do with music. But my friend kept insisting - Fantasia Barrino and Ruben Studdard (two contestants who clearly lacked sex appeal) won Idol? Well friend, their records flopped.

The point of American Idol is to turn a regular Joe or Jane into a successful recording artist. But this seemingly regular American can't just have an extraordinary voice. It's about performing, image and yes, sex. Those who just have the talent without the appeal end up other places, like Broadway (which is where Clay Aiken, Diana DeGarmo and Fantasia landed).

This is why my bet is on Kris Allen to take it all - he can sing, play the guitar and piano, and makes me swoon every time he steps on stage. Sure he has a wife, but there is always the chance he will leave his wife when in some parallel universe we meet and he discovers he truly loves me. Not even in our imaginations can we ever land Adam Lambert.

Fate, Faith and The Monster

Turns out destiny is not such a fickle bitch, at least not for Benjamin Linus.

The Monster, a phantom barely mentioned in the last several seasons of Lost, finally reared its smokey head this week. Ben summons The Monster to be judged for the murder of his daughter Alex and his departure from the island. (We learned from a series of flashbacks that Charles Widmore was banned from the island after it was discovered that he was making frequent trips to visit his daughter Penelope.) We can assume Ben fears the same abandonment.

Killing some (most notably Mr. Eko and Nadine) and sparing others (Locke in Season 1) , it is unclear The Monster's reasoning behind who shall live and who shall die. I would think Ben's lies, deceit, torture and murderous plots, would have earned him a spot on the to die list, but not according to The Monster. Instead it merely revealed to Ben the sequence of events leading up to Alex's murder and then brought Alex or the ghost of Alex to Ben to deliver a message - if he kills Locke (again) he will die.

Ben is now forced to put his trust and faith in John Locke. Relinquishing this control pains him more than if The Monster were to destroy him. It's now his turn to have faith in his fate.

The only plausible explanation for Ben being spared comes from Locke's sarcastic words of comfort before Ben goes to stand before The Monster. "If what you did was for the benefit of the island, The Monster will spare you." Whether or not his actions have truthfully been to protect the island or for his own selfish gain has yet to be determined.

Luckily for Ben, The Monster or God or the show's writers, don't want to see him go. Sayid's attempt to kill pre-adolescent Ben in the Episode "He's Our You," actually sets into motion a series of events that ultimately create the immoral Ben we all know and love.

I have been wrestling with the question of where Ben's loyalties lie, and the only answer I have been able to come up with is Ben, like all of the other characters, is neither totally good or evil. He is a result of growing up motherless with an abusive/drunken father. I can't help but liken him to the character of Severus Snape in Harry Potter. While throughout all seven books it seems Snape is actually playing a mole to Voldemort, he turns out to be one of the good guys, but tainted by his dislike for Harry's father and brutal treatment by his classmates as a child.

Reality takes the Emmy's

The Emmy Awards celebrated it's 60th birthday last night (as old as Betty White's TV career we learned) with the introduction of a new category - outstanding reality host.

Proving just how powerful and influential reality television has become, the five emcees nominated in the category - Ryan Seacrest, Jeff Probst, Heidi Klum, Howie Mendel and Tom Bergeron - all took a crack at hosting the Emmy's.

Now one would think with numerous TV and radio deals, and iconic frost-tipped hair, Ryan Seacrest was a shoe-in for the award. But after a long, drawn out imitation of reality shows' elimination rounds, and a commercial break, Jeff Probst, host of of Survivor, actually took home the golden trophy.

Another disappointment was Christina Applegate's loss in the outstanding actress in a comedy category. After a rough year fighting breast cancer and a double mastectomy, I was really hoping Applegate, star of Samantha Who?, would have won the prize. Instead, she was beat out by Tina Fey of 30 Rock (which was also winner of best comedy series).

And whether it was due to the prolonged writer's strike last season or because I am unfamiliar with many of the programs and actors who won, the awards show was bland. The only rememberable moment was when Josh Grobin, looking absolutely adorable, sang a montage of TV theme songs - everything from crooning The Love Boat to rapping The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

National Stay At Home Week

Now this is my kind of holiday!

Yesterday kicked off National Stay At Home Week, a marketing ploy created by ABC to push audiences to conserve gas by staying home and watching TV. The "holiday," which runs until Sept. 28, coincides with some of ABC's biggest premiers including Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives.

I really can get behind any promotion that saves the environment and money by simply staying home, sitting on my couch and watching TV.

OMG Dylan!

Yes that's what I shouted at the TV when I found out that Kelly had her son Sammy with none other than Dylan McKay! While I was pretty convinced that it was Brandon's child, I couldn't be happier for the prospect of my first crush making an appearance on the show. Fingers crossed!

I think the writers of the new 90210 are starting to realize that the only compelling aspect of the spin off is the storyline between the old cast. There is just very little attachment to the new teens, their relationships or heartache. I can see the same drama (and much more) on Gossip Girl.

The only other remotely exciting part of tonight's episode is when Brenda walked into the cafeteria at West Beverly High and said, "It's like I can still hear the chanting, 'Donna Martin graduates.'" Really who doesn't fondly recall that chant as though it was yesterday?

With the possibility of Dylan returning in the near future that could only mean one thing - cat fight between Brenda and Kelly! And really, whether it's the 1990s or 2008, a Brenda/Kelly brawl never goes out of style.

OTH: Death Reunites

Just when I thought I was going to have to abandon One Tree Hill, I found myself bawling for hours after last night's episode. It was as though I was actually at a funeral for a friend. While Quentin Field's character was far from fully developed, his death brought what has so far been a choppy season, back together.

Psycho nanny was given another layer, and we found the reason for her insanity - she lost her son and is looking to replace him with Jamie. Her pain and grief was beautifully intertwined with Quentin's mom's suffering.

We learned that the teen (Samantha) who stole from Clothes Over Bros in the first episode of the season, is now in Haley's English class and wrote one phenomenal essay. I believe she will play a significant role as the season progresses (maybe Brooke will adopt her).

The scene on the swing set between Jamie and Q's brother was heart breaking, especially when Jamie gave the little boy his brother's jersey. And then at the end of the episode, when he went and stood in the basketball team's line formation in place of Q, I nearly lost it.

Mrs. Scott also revealed her affair with Skillz when she comforted him during the funeral.

The entire episode, but especially the voice over of Samantha's essay in the last few minutes, was one of the most well-written episodes I have watched in a while. Here are some of my favorite quotes:

"Grief is like the ocean; it's deep and dark and bigger than all of us."

"This is a literature class and that's what writers do, we put pen to paper in times of devastating tragedy and just try to make sense of it. Maybe we will find clarity in some of those words. Maybe we will find peace."

"He who does not weep does not see."

"I didn't know Quentin Fields, but I am jealous of him because I see how his absence affected the people who did know him so I know that he did matter to them. I know he was loved. People say Quentin Fields was a great basketball player: graceful, fluid, inspiring. They say on a good night it almost seemed as though he could fly. And now he can."

Mrs. Robinson Syndrome

Is there a new trend for younger guys to date older women? That seems to be the case on Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill, with Nate sneaking around with the duchess and Skillz having a steamy romance with Mrs. Scott.

The funny thing is, if spun the other way, it would seem very, very wrong. During one scene in last week's episode of Gossip Girl my mother made a passing comment that it appeared Vanessa and Rufus were flirting. I was appalled.

Cut to the next scene and Nate and the duchess were rolling naked on the library floor at Blair's party, and I was highly entertained. I know this is a double standard, but it's just creepy thinking of an older man with a teenage girl and I bet would receive a ton of criticism from irate parents.

I am not saying they wouldn't have the right to be peeved, but my issue is few are saying boo to a romance between a 17-year-old boy and middle-aged woman. But why? Is it still so much a mans world that people naturally assume a guy can fend for himself, but a girl can't? While it may be hard to watch a teen girl/man relationship, it may be time to open peoples' eyes.