concert
Whitney Houston's cringeworthy GMA appearance
If you just watched the crowd while Whitney Houston performed in Central Park on Good Morning, America today, you might have thought that Whitney was doing great. However, if you had the volume on, you know better. Sadly, Whitney Houston's GMA appearance was sad. Her voice cracked and she seemed to be struggling to sing one of her biggest hits, "I'm Every Woman," which ironically was used as the theme for The Oprah Winfrey Show for years. I say ironically because Whitney explained to the fans at one point that her voice was a wreck because she had talked too much during her appearance on Oprah earlier in the week. Ouch!
The entire appearance was enough to make you cringe. At one point, Whitney called her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, out to the stage to sing with her. Bobbi has grown into a beautiful young woman from the teenager she was on Being Bobby Brown, the infamous Bravo reality show starring Whitney and then hubby Bobby.
Could Sugarland: Live on the Inside usher in a new era of TV concerts?
Has it really been four months since a broadcast network aired a televised concert? Sure, there was a Barbra Streisand special earlier this year, but that was from a 2006 concert, and Streisand isn't exactly a "current" or "hip" musical act. (Although she did top the charts when it was released on DVD.) Is that what the kids are calling it these days?Last night brought us Sugarland: Live on the Inside at ABC. This Sugarland concert was pulled from their current tour and featured their top country hits of today. It was a regular concert filmed for television, and I think it turned out really well.
With networks continuously scrambling to look for fresh alternatives to their traditional programming model amidst eroding ratings, I'm hoping somebody was watching ABC the other night. Concert tickets are expensive, and there are still millions of Americans who don't live near enough a big city to consider going even if they could afford it.
Access Hollywood remains stupid, sleazy
Leno giving free tickets to unemployed
In a sympathetic move from the soon-to-be-former Tonight Show host, Jay Leno is giving free tickets to his comedy concert in Michigan to anybody who walks up to the ticket booth and tells the attendant they're unemployed.Where to go with this? First off, I'm wondering if every person in Michigan is suddenly going to be unemployed for the purpose of getting Leno tickets. Secondly, is this the only way Leno can fill a venue with his stand-up comedy? I'm wondering if even free tickets could accomplish that.
I admit some bias from the old days of the Leno-Letterman feud, as I felt Letterman was the more talented of the two. Obviously, the relative ratings of the two shows in that time do not jibe with my opinion.
Of course, if Jay really wanted to help the unemployed, rather than subject them to his comedy, he could give some of them ... oh, I don't know ... a job?
Watch the music of Battlestar Galactica performed live - VIDEOS
This is pretty cool. Apparently, Bear McCreary, the composer for Battlestar Galactica, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and many other films and television series, performed a concert of some of his music at The Roxy. Two segments from the concert were placed on his blog. The concerts were televised on G4. Wasn't that channel supposed to be about video games?Bear McCreary himself has an interesting blog in which he discusses the business of making music for the video entertainment industry. The music has always been a major part of the dark undertones of Battlestar Galactica; it serves the story very well and is a vital part of the telling.
There are two videos after the jump of the Roxy concert. They include pieces called "Roslin and Adama" and "Fight Night". Admittedly, I can't place the Galactica episodes in which they were played. If anyone can, please let me know in the comments.
Classic KISS tomorrow on VH1 Classic
Do you like KISS? Sure, we all do. I can't get enough of Gene, Paul, Ace, Benji, Maynard, Cuddle Pie, and Pooky Bear.
Okay, so I'm not a KISS fan, but if you are, you might want to tune in to VH1 Classic tomorrow evening.
As a promotion for the upcoming DVD, KISSology: Volume Two 1978-1991, band members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley will host KISSology: The Volume 2 Special on VH1 Classic starting at 10:00 p.m., August 10. The special will feature material from the DVD, including music videos and rare footage of the band.
A few ways to experience Live Earth
Can we save the Earth through music?
Of course not, don't be stupid. However, that doesn't mean you can't catch the twenty-four hour Live Earth global concert series on TV starting this Saturday, July 7.
Here's a list of channels that will be covering the event:
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NBC: 8:00 p.m to 11:00
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BRAVO: 9:00 a.m. on July 7 through 2:30 a.m. on July 8
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UNI HD: 4:00 a.m. on July 7 through 2:00 a.m. on July 8
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SUNDANCE: 4:00 a.m. on July 7 through 2:00 a.m. on July 8
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MSNBC: intermittent coverage throughout
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CNBC: 7:00 p.m. on July 7 through 2:00 a.m. on July 8
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TELEMUNDO: 7:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m.
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MUN2: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Barenaked Ladies on PBS
The Barenaked Ladies were one of many bands I had a brief infatuation with, but soon delegated them to "not bad, but I can't listen to them all the time" status. Still, the fellas know how to craft a good pop tune and they have great vocal harmonies, so I don't mind taking their CDs for a spin every now and again.
The band recently filmed a two-hour concert in Detroit, which will be available on TV. Or, alternatively, you can watch the concert on PBS.
The Police to perform on MTV Unplugged - VIDEO
Are you a fan of the rock band The Police and musical instruments that aren't plugged in? Then I have good news for you.
The Police, who are currently on a reunion tour, will be performing an all-acoustic set for MTV Unplugged somewhere in Miami on July 13, according to Fox News. There's no specific word yet on just which venue the performance will take place, but fans will no doubt be able to catch the performance on MTV (and perhaps also VH1 and CMT). The article further states that an album could result from the Unplugged performance, which should make fans very happy, especially those fans who can't afford tickets.
Osmonds to reunite on PBS next year
Bob told you a couple months ago that a possible reunion was planned of Donny Osmond and four of his brothers (Wayne, Jay, Merrill, and Jimmy). Well, a bit more information has surfaced, and more siblings have been added to the reunion, including sister Marie and brother Alan, who was diagnosed with MS a few years ago.
I have no idea about ticket availability, but the brothers (and sister) are scheduled to perform at the Orleans Hotel Showroom in Las Vegas on August 13 and 14. This could be your last chance to ever see them perform together, so you should at least buy a fake mustache and pretend your a janitor and try to sneak into the venue. Or, you can wait until next March when the concert will air on your local PBS station.
Dukes of Hazzard concert stopped over protests
If you had plans to see Tom Wolpat and John Schneider of the Dukes of Hazzard perform with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, you'll have to wait. The performance, which was supposed to be based on the Dukes of Hazzard, was canceled when several people complained about the series' racist content.
Clay Aiken cameo on Days of our Lives
Clay Aiken and Days of Our Lives. Why didn't I think of this? It's a perfect pairing, really. Both are equally over the top. Clay will appear as himself in a Christmas episode, where he'll give a private concert for two of the show's characters, Kayla and Steve.Clay will sing "Everything I Have", a song from his new album which was released last month. His version of "O Holy Night" will also be featured in the Days episode, which airs December 22nd.
Madonna concert to air without crucifixion
From the 'I Told You So' department comes this shocker: NBC is refusing to show the portion of Madonna's concert where she crucifies herself on a giant, disco-style cross. As I reported in September, the network and Madonna had been feuding over what NBC wanted to edit out of the concert, but apparently both sides have come to an agreement and Madonna is allowing the crucifixion scene to be edited out. I'm kind-of surprised that Madonna would allow the editing to happen. She's always sold herself as provocative and cutting edge. Madonna says the crucifixion scene is actually part of an appeal to get audiences to donate to AIDS charities.The (edited) two-hour concert, called Madonna: The Confessions Tour -- Live from London, airs November 22nd at 8 pm.
Madonna may pull out of NBC concert
Surprise, surprise. NBC is reportedly getting cold feet over plans to air a Madonna concert in which she crucifies herself. The New York Daily News reports that NBC is being pressured by the American Family Association to censor the explicit portions of Madonna's concert. Of course, Madonna does not like to be censored and she is threatening to pull her concert off the air entirely. The crucifixion is in her Confessions tour and Madonna says the point of it is not to shock the audience, but it's a plea for people to help one another.NBC will air an edited Madonna concert
Madonna must be just as desperate for fans as NBC is for viewers. OK, that's probably not true. No one is as desperate as NBC. The Material Girl has agreed to let NBC film her summer concert tour, called "Confessions on a Dance Floor", and edit it for a primetime audience. I think that means they'll leave the part where she crucifies herself on a disco cross on the cutting room floor. But, what about the S&M number (pictured)? Wait. How much of any Madonna concert is acceptable for a primetime network audience? There's a reason these things air on HBO.Of course, I am a child of the '80s so I will probably be watching. I imagine this will garner at least one night of hot ratings for NBC this fall.
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