Donna Kauffman’s Blog

So, we’re getting down to the nitty and the gritty on So You Think You Can Dance. Fortunately all the choreographers got the “use props” memo and followed through. But I have to say, well done, choreographers! About the only thing I’d have changed about last night was doing round two first, but only because round one was so freaking awesome, it should have been the round that ended the show. I wouldn’t have had a clue then who to vote for as all eight dancers rocked it.

But in round two, Mark and Comfort (such a shock they got paired up…..sure it’s out of a hat. A stacked hat.) got the dreaded close-hold, non-latin ballroom routine. I don’t think any dancer has done really well in that this season except for Chelsie, who comes from the ballroom world. They got the foxtrot and did a basic, serviceable job with it. But on a night with really amazing routines, it wasn’t even close to being enough. So, if there was any doubt either of them would survive this week, not happening after that, especially as it was their last impression.

Round one had Twitch and Katee doing a funked up contemporary routine played out entirely through a door that open and shut between what was theoretically Twitch’s apartment and the hallway. I loved it. I thought it was great fun and absolutely had a blast watching. Then Will and Courtney paired up with some obvious friendship and surprisingly great chemistry for a samba that was mui caliente. Yowza. Loved that. Then we had Joshua and Chelsie with a tango that was all kinds of hot, too, and Comfort and Mark’s innovative hip hop routine, also riveting and fun to watch. Seriously, I was just having the best time ever.

Then round two started, and we kind of came back to reality a little bit, but it was still great. The dance selection was eh. Round two we got Broadway with Tyce D’Orio (or as someone truly thought his name was …Tasty Oreo. Serously. I laughed until I was sick. But it does sound exactly like that.) Foxtrot with Mark and France (who I love, but yikes) and the dreaded Doriana, Mistress of the Dark with her lame disco routines. It was more fun this time given she had Joshua doing all these insane lifts with Chelsie, but they really need to drop that, and her, from competition. I actually liked the Broadway with Twitch/Katee to Sweet Geogia Brown, as the characters were really fun, so that was a nice surprise. And we got a slow hip hop from Nappy Tabs for Will and Courtney that was interesting and fun to watch. The foxtrot was the lowlight of the evening with Comfort/Mark, but what can you do?

But my MOST favorite thing of the whole night were the solos. Well, one solo. Show of hands on how many people, when Will’s solo came to an end, went “NO! NOT YET!” ?? Couldn’t have just been me, but oh my god I laughed and applauded. He did James Brown, full regalia and he was nailing it, y’all. I loved it. I would pay to watch that whole routine. It was hilarious and ridiculously great. Seriously, much much love to him after that. He’s been growing on my as a person anyway, in addition to being in a whole ‘nother realm as a dancer, but that? Sealed it. I heart him now.

I also heart the rest of the guys, so after Mark departs tonight (and is there any doubt, really?) it’s going to be down to Will, Joshua, and Twitch. Yow. I have a sad feeling it will be Joshua departing at that point, but I do really think Twitch and Will deserve final two guys. On the girls side, Comfort will/should go tonight, leaving Courtney, Chelsie and Katee. Only Katee is safe, really. She’ll make it to the final four, but hard to say who will go from the other two next week. Could go either way, as both have been doing really, really well with the partner rotation. Chelsie, to me, is the more talented of the two, but Courtney has benefited from some awesome choreo which she’s nailed, these past two weeks. So…..who knows.

And winning? Man, can we just give it to the final three? Because between Will, Twitch, and Katee, I couldn’t pick one. In a variety of different ways, and for very different reasons, they all deserve the win. I’d be happy with any of them taking it home. Cannot wait to see what choreo gets thrown at them next week!

What did you all think?

On Project Runway, not a really fabulous night. The challenge was interesting, only in that they had to design a dressy dress for their models…and they let the models shop for the fabric. That was hilarious. And resulted in a lot of models wearing micro mini dresses because they have no idea what a yard of fabric is. Wow. In the end, I could have sent any number of them home, but we lost someone whose name I don’t even remember at this point. In my head, I called him Christopher Robin because of his penchant for blazers, shorts and his soft spoken manner. I had no real problem with him going, only I’d have sent weepy chick home (why can’t I remember these people’s names yet?) The only one I remember is Suede and only because he talks about himself in the third person all the time, which I loathe. As do his fellow competitors, who hilariously called him out on it. That and the Leather Tuscadero sequence were what made last night’s episode watchable. Well, that and Natalie Portman is cute as a button and actually contributed to the conversations.

I hope I start feeling the love soon. Even Tim seems cranky. But I love Cranky Tim when he’s handing it to the designers.

Don’t forget to enter this week’s SHaQ Attack contest! See Monday’s post for details. Winner announced tomorrow. And only another week before the new website is launched. Wait until you all see it. SO cute and cool and fun. I’m so thrilled to finally get the whole thing redone with a cohesive look to all the pages and with my backlist and bookshelf all organized and easy to interpret. I won’t know how to act!

And if you missed yesterday’s sneak peeks….grab a fan and scroll down. My, my….now if I could just wangle invites to the cover shoots……

Filed under: Writing on July 24th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

I promised, so get your icy drinks and fans ready, Blog Babes. If it wasn’t hot enough this summer already…..

First up, my October anthology with Brava…To All A Good Night. And if that’s what opened the door when I came home? Good night, indeed. Following the cover art is the back cover copy. Enjoy!

This Christmas, sugarplums aren’t the only visions that will be dancing in your head. Prepare to have your toes curled by some of the holiday’s hunkiest heroes in this hot, hot, hot collection. . . .

DONNA KAUFFMAN :

Unleashed

When Emma Lafferty is hired by a billionaire CEO to watch his pets over the holidays, she expects to enjoy a quiet Christmas in opulent surroundings. What she doesn’t expect is to spend the week trapped in the mansion with the CEO’s sexy great-nephew¬¬—and heir—whose motives are as shady as his desire is crystal clear….

JILL SHALVIS:

Finding Mr. Right

Brilliant chemist Maggie Bell has a knack for choosing Mr. Wrong, and with yet another lonely Christmas looming, she decides it’s time to alter the equation—and seek out someone who seems totally wrong for her. Enter Jacob Wahler, the rough and rippling contractor who’s about as far from Maggie type as he could get. But suddenly what’s wrong for Maggie seems oh-so-right….

HELENKAY DIMON:

Can You Hand Me the Tape?

Natalie Pritchard is desperate. It’s a week before Christmas and she’s lost the naughty tape she made for her now-ex-boyfriend. She’s so desperate, in fact, that she’ll turn to her nemesis Spencer Donovan for help. The sexy criminal defense attorney would be only too happy to assist—but can Emma afford his price?

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And if that’s not enough to melt the ice cubes in your glass…..check out the cover and copy for my March 09 Brava release, Let Me In:

He’s bringing anything but peace and quiet…

Tate Winslow is done with all the guns, the adventures, the brushes with death. All she wants is to be left alone. So when her enigmatic ex-boss shows up on her doorstep, she doesn’t care how good he looks. He’s all alpha male, the baddest of the bad—and a threat to her hard-won peace in more ways than one.

Tate is the only lead Derek Cole has on a case that could blow the intelligence world apart—if it doesn’t kill him before he can figure it out. She was his best agent, but she’s in hiding and he’s gone rogue, and he’s starting to think of her in a very nonprofessional way. In fact, he wants Tate like he wants his next breath, but he’s already risking his life and his career…does he need to put his heart in danger too?

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Did it get a little warm in here or what?

Filed under: Writing on July 23rd, 2008 | 4 Comments »

So, they whacked Clay, who I was sure was The Mole. So I’m going to pull a complete 180 and go with Paul. I’d had it down to between Clay or Craig, but then I saw Paul with his family this week, looking remarkably sane and being very adorable with his daughter and it made me go hmmmm……

But, 3 seasons, I’ve never been right yet. So….yeah. Don’t go betting the line on my prediction.

In other news…Sneak Peek Day will be tomorrow. I know, I know, don’t be hatin. I’m not intentionally being a tease, but I somehow managed to corrupt one of the files and so I’m working on it, and I wanted to post them all together.

In the meantime, don’t forget to enter this week’s SHaQ Attack Contest! It’s easy. Really. Details in Monday’s post.

Are you Mole-ing? What is your prediction? It hasn’t been really all that entertaining, but I’ll hand it to them, I really don’t have any strong clues on who to pick, and we’re down to 4. Other than I’d be stunned if it was Mark, any of the rest could be the sneak and it wouldn’t surprise me. Still. Money on Paul. Just sayin.

So? DISH! (And tomorrow? Have something icy to sip before viewing. A fan could come in handy. Just sayin.)

Filed under: Writing on July 22nd, 2008 | 1 Comment »

So….on Big Brother, they have a big contestant. In both ego and biceps. If you look up the personal definition of tool in the slang dictionary, there stands a picture of Jessie. To describe the level of toolishness here, he would likely be so very proud of that particular accomplishment, because it means his picture is published somewhere. Really, do they come any toolier? I think not. The Duh Face alone is epic. As is the never ending quest for respect, which he seems to think is automatically owed to him commensurate with his bicep measurement. Seriously. Makes the whole thing hard to watch.

On Design Star, however, tools are put to their proper use. The three finalists get their biggest task ever, which is to design a space for a family member. Pressure! And, in the case of Matt who has been estranged from his family prior to going on the show, Awk-ward! But they all step up to the challenge and all the respective family’s loved the results. I personally liked Jennifer’s the best. Love her hand painting on the walls - she can come and be “predictable” on my walls anytime! Matt’s creation was inventive, as well, except I would KILL to have that craft space. And there would be no stinkin’ gaming table shared space, my friend. The grandkids can play in the garage. Gramma needs her craft room!

In the end, Trish is excused, and….rightfully so, I think. (What is UP with her weird hair?) So, it’s down to Matt and Jennifer, and though I’ve been a Matt fan all along, I am thinking that maybe Jennifer has the more unique launch pad for a new show. I’d be happy with a win on either side. Next week? Their final challenge is to help Katrina victims renovate their homes. And….it’s been two years. And mold grows. Yikes! I hope they can help because it’s still amazingly horrifying down there!

We are having a SHaQ Attack contest this week. It’s two weeks and counting until the unveiling of my new website - woo hoo! So no scavenging for you all! Just send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with Is it MY TURN YET? in the subject line. I’ll pick a winner from the stack of entries and said Blog Babe gets a free signed book!

Also…tune in tomorrow for some Mole MAC (why, I have no idea. Worst season ever.) AND! More interesting, a sneak peek at my March 09 back cover copy, and, more importantly, front cover body for Let Me In, and let me just say, McSteamy? Yeah, move over. Also, another peek at my October cover for the To All A Good Night anthology. Because you can’t see that kind of chest too often.

So….DISH already!!

Filed under: Writing on July 21st, 2008 | 2 Comments »

So, before we get to the premiere of Season 5 of Project Runway….

About the eliminations on So You Think You Can Dance… First, fun that they opened with a Bollywood group routine, different and eye catchy. Loved that we got group dances in lieu of another lame musical non-dance related guest. Not so keen on Mia’s weird fallen angel allegory, it was depressing, and then those poor girls had to stand there in hair and makeup SO not meant for actual lighting to hear their fates. Unkind. Shocker of the night was the guy’s Broadway routine. I knew it wasn’t Tyce as it was way too good for that, but couldn’t imagine they pulled Andy B back in, so, color me shocked when we found out it was our own Dirty Uncle Nigel! Nice job. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

On to the bottom four — Comfort was no surprise and neither, really, was Kherington. Interesting that it was Twitch who kept both girls safe in their respective turns with him, and without him….not so much. I was surprised, but only a little, that it was Kherington on bus home. Also, much love to Lil C for his gentle wrist slappy of Kherington’s bratty reaction to their criticism. So, Comfort gets another week, but unless she gets two street routines, I doubt any more than that.

On the guys side, it was no surprise to find both Mark and Gev in the bottom two. I thought Gev’s solo was awesome and wished the judges were around one more week to save him. But, alas, it was Mark staying and Gev leaving. Pretty sure Mark will be heading out after him, but you never know!

It will be interesting to see who gets who next week and who gets what to dance. I can’t wait. I’m so enjoying this entire season.

Okay, so Our Tim was back last night and in fine form, delivering the smackdown to the new designers, who are…well, let’s just say a rather eclectic group. Whether they prove to be an eclectic talented group remains to be seen. We have a throwback to season one where they all have to shop at Gristedes grocery to come up with the “ingredients” of their outfit. We get a return visit from Austin Scarlet, who won that challenge in season 1, and is as Austin Scarlet-y as ever. He was the only one to use live produce in the making of his outfit, and, once again this season, we only have one person using any live produce, and only then as a neck “garnish.”

In the end, Our Tim lectures a group of them for playing it safe and using tablecloths and shower curtains. Our finalists have used a table cloth designed into a stunning gown, with full salad neck garnish, a dress made of fused blue plastic cups, which was amazing mostly for the concept, and the winner, who deconstructed vaccuum cleaner bags, dyed them in a random splash pattern with bleach and Rit dye, then constructed a well tailored skirt, using the binding of a school notebook to create eyes and hooks up the back. The coffee filter boob bodice I could have done without, but it was so creative, I totally agreed on the win. The losing designers were between a guy who created a raincoat that looked like something from a slasher movie out of a shower curtain, a rocker chick designer who sewed together trash bags to create a look that was like, well, sewn together trash bags, and I can’t even explain the other idea except it was so whack and hideous, and the designer was trying so hard to be this season’s Christian, with his tired and overused girlicious tag line and freak tanning obsession with the dial set on Ooompa Loompa, I just wanted to see him go home. Alas, slasher raincoat designer ends up the first victim.

Once we get further into it, there will be actual names, but for the moment, I’m reserving judgment on this season. It looks more colorful than talented, and there’s only so much backstage character drama I can handle. I want to see fashion and a group of pros, like last year. I think I’m dreaming, looking at this group.

On to this week’s winner of the SHaQ Attack contest! All ya had to do was email to win a copy of any book from my (almost ready to be taken down) website…and the winner is? Blob Babe Cindy! Woo hoo!!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Stay cool, read something hot, and DISH already!!!

Filed under: Writing on July 18th, 2008 | 3 Comments »

Wow, so much MAC, so little of my life left. But I’ll give it my best go.

Starting (and ending) with So You Think You Can Dance, we confirm the news that Jessica has had to bow out, as it turns out, because of broken and fractured ribs. Ouch! Oddly, the audience wasn’t all awwwww over it, but kind of, well, festive. They got even more festive when it was announced that Comfort was returning to compete in her place.

We also find out that they are, indeed, breaking up the pairs tonight. We also find out that they’ll each dance solo, which is great, mostly because the judges no longer have the power to eject, that power rests solely with us. Ameriker! So, I’m glad we get to see everyone’s individual strength as well as their partner work. With new partners! I’m so torn! Both excited and sad.

Lil C is on the judges panel tonight, along with Crazy Mary and Dirty Uncle Nigel, and I’m sure he’s quite happy that he doesn’t have to decide who goes home. I’m interested to hear what he has to say to the performers.

First new pair? Joshua and Courtney. I’m underwhelmed as she’s not my fave, but she’s the right size for him, so we’ll see. And they get hip hop with Dave Scott and I am very, very happy about that. Finally, some Dave choreo! Josh is a very adorable and patient partner and I think Courtney might be a good match for him in terms of enthusiasm. We’ll see! So, I was worried about Josh going first? I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. SO good he got hip hop and he was all kinds of hawt. I think the routine played really well for Courtney, too. I’m happy… Judges? Love Train all the way around. I think Josh’s partnering skills and his sincere appreciation for whoever he’s dancing with really shines. It will be interesting to see what happens when he gets into less familiar dance territory. I hope his partner takes equally good care of him then. Very adorable.

Next up is Kherington and Mark - hmm, interesting! They look kinda cool together. And they get…..Texas Two Step? Never done on the show before and they are feeling realllllllly out of their league when they see it for the first time. Should be fun! So, looks like lots and lots of spins to me and I’m not so sure they’re in sync, but I’m kinda dizzy watching so who knows. I’ll wait for the judges (a hip hop guy, ballroom queen….and Nigel) to tell me what’s what. Yeah. Even more fun. I don’t think it was so good, and the chemistry was tough to call, but it did look real hard, so there was that. Kherington was wearing next to nothing, so we know Dirty Uncle Nigel will love that part. Shockingly, he says nothing about that, and is pretty much dead on about the rest. Kherington is called out for leading too much and having gimpy arms and Mark is praised for managing to lead her anyway.

Next couple is….hunh. Twitch and Comfort. Wow. And they get smooth waltz? Yikes! Now, I think it would have been scarier for him to have Jessica for almost any dance, except maybe this one. Thank GOD we’re voting for individual dancers this week and not couples. Because….yeah. I’d like the guy to stick around. Will be interesting to see if Ameriker wants Comfort to go home or if they’ll keep her around. And so, in rehearsals they are way more Laurel and Hardy than Astaire and Rogers. A shame they can’t do a comedic version of the waltz. That? They’d nail hard. Here we go. And they get a freaking JOURNEY song???? Open Arms? That’s so wrong for these two it ain’t funny on a whole new scale of not funny. Wow. Twitch is much better at pretending than Comfort as it turns out. You know, sometimes I feel she just can’t catch a break. Smooth Waltz? Rilly? But it’s not all that. It’s not even kinda that. Sorry. I would have enjoyed them doing something fun. But this was painful. Judges? I’m loving Lil C and his great combo of nerd voice and whack analogies. He’s entertaining as all hell. All three judges wince, but he’s the kindest and does give constructive criticism, which is appreciated by this viewer. Wow, my man Josh is looking sweeter tonight than ever before!

(Did Cat just say there is another first dance tonight - the pas de duex? Are the producers on crack? Yikes! Like the show and new partners and learning two dances AND a solo isn’t enough? Sure, Bollywood was fanastic, but the two step, not so much. And now ballet? I hope like hell it’s Will who gets it. And maybe Comfort is really happy she only got the damn waltz right now. I’d be!)

On to Couple 4 - Wow, power duo. Will and Katee. I guess we’ll find out now if he’s loved, because they can’t claim weak partner this time. And holy crap, they get a Tyce Broadway routine. Can’t any of these guys catch a break? I was so thrilled with it opened with Dave and it’s been a very steep, seriously bad decline from that point on. Totally sucking the buzz right out of me. At least they could have gotten an Andy routine. But if anyone can make me love a Tyce Broadway routine, it will be these two. Bring it on. I beg you. They get music from Guys n Dolls. Beats the hell out of Journey, so I’m happy. And, it was cute, but I guess I don’t get it on this scale. It doesn’t seem challenging really, to me. Not for dancers of this caliber. An easy one to fake, but they did sell it. I do like them together alot. Judges? Love all around. Deserved.

Final first round pairing has to be - Chelsie and Gev. Ooookay. Can’t wait to see what they get. Wow, they get contemporary with mohawk queen Sonja. Yikes. I’m not a fan of her choreo, but these two did attack it very well. Judges approve.

Round One, for me, went to Josh/Courtney by a long mile. Technically, I suppose it would have to go to Will?Katee, but I can’t say I was even as close to being as entertained by their routine as I was by Dave’s. Tough luck on the draw.

Round two?

Josh/Courtney get the rumba with Jean Mark and France. Yep, this is gonna be the test here. I fear I’m going to wish they’d gotten the Dave routine second. We’ll see! In the piece, Jean Mark choreo’s it for Josh to be her hero. Which - couldn’t be more perfect. I’m feeling better now. And? Here we go. Tight pants are back. Always a plus. I think they were both very sensual, although I will say I don’t think I felt the connection between them I’d have liked to. Josh was better than Courtney at emoting, but they were more into their own moment than each others. Still, I thought it was pretty to watch. Far more so than a lot of other pairings/routines tonight. The crowd totally loses their collective minds. Judges? Much love. Seriously, how freaking adorable is this guy? I love.

Kherington/Mark get jazz with Tyce, and at least I like these better from him. More complex and fun to watch. They get Jamiroquai - yay! And…..so the discoish beat wasn’t getting it for me with the choreo used to it, and it was kinda just okay, felt longish and lacked real energy for me, but I do think they the most they could with it. Judges? Felt the same as me.

Yay, finally Comfort gets a break and I get my happy place back. Comfort and Twitch get a Dave Scott hip hop routine and all is much better in my world. These two had better totally kill this. Mmmmbaby. Here we go. It’s not as innovative as his first routine tonight, but it’s cute. And they do very well. I was hoping for something more on top of it and wild in terms of choreo, but this was fun. Judges - Lil C gives the love. Mary says it was buck.. Ahahahahahahaaha. Nigel adores. It’s all good. And the happy place continues.

And you can’t tell me this wasn’t rigged, because no one else on the show could handle this, but I’m really excited to see what they do with it, so I’m thrilled that it’s Will and Katee with the pas de duex. They get Desmond Richardson, who is like this god in the dance world. Will must have been beside himself to get to work with him. And Dwight Rhoden, a demi god. So, they’re in good hands. I’m expecting more than I thought I would from this. They do it as more modern Alvin Ailey than a traditional ballet, so that explains that part. It looks ridiculously hard. And I can’t wait! Here we go. Well, will is mostly naked again, so I’m already happy. (And they’re dancing to Archie’s version of Imagine! Ha!) It is artistry in motion. I think there was a small fault on a turn, and unfortunately it happened right before a really awkward music break (why did they do that? It really yanked you out of the piece) but in every other way it was stunning. Truly gorgeous. Best of the night, I think. Certainly the most physically demanding by far. Judges - gush as they should. Very, very well routine.

Chelsie/Gev get a jive from Jean Marc and France and when you see them demo it? YIKES! That was awesome. And at warp speed. They get Brian Setzer, which is perfect. Her skirt length, however, is just long enough to be more distracting than sexy. But for all the manic pace of it, there were really great moments, very sharp. I think they did a very respectable job with this and it might just save Gev from being forgotten tonight. Good thing he went last. Judges?

Everyone did solos throughout the evening - quick recap: Chelsie, forgettable. Gev, incredible. Courtney, desperate. Mark, odd/endearing. Comfort, zoning. Twitch, awesome. Katee, elegance. Will, stunning. Kherington, respectable. Josh? Rocking!

I have NO idea who is going home. I think Kherington might be in danger. And, sadly, Comfort, too. For the guys, I think Gev and Mark didn’t stand out quite as well as Twitch/Will/Joshua tonight. But who knows if Will pulled in the voters. I guess we’ll find out tonight. What did you think? What were your faves? What left you cold?

Since this alone is War & Peace MAC, we’ll save the rest for tomorrow. Our Tim and the new Project Runway designers deserver their own spotlight. But I can say that on Big Bro? Yeah, a most satisfying first eviction. Buh bye, Brian. Dead last place, playa. And I use that term reallllllly loosely, dude. In front of a live audience, no less. So justified. And then? Happy Place goes bye bye when Inflatable Jessie wins HOH. And it wasn’t a strength competition. Wow. My excitement for Week 2 just took a major hit.

Fortunately I have Our Tim to distract me. In fact, I think I’ll go get distracted from that train wreck right now! Project Runway MAC and the booted Dancers, right here tomorrow. Tune in. But, in the mean time, DISH!

Filed under: Writing on July 17th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

So, I take it all back about Big Bro. I gave it another looksee last night and ahahahahahaahhaa these people can actually play this game. How about that? I mean, one week in, and we already have one of the best blindsides in BB history. It’s like Survivor last year where ever tribal council was fun to watch. I hope they can keep this up. I might actually continue to watch past week 1! Of course, with Our Tim coming back tonight, that’s going to be tough competition!

Okay, so last night Brian (aka Dr Will 2.0) decides that while everybody is being nice and meetin’ and greetin’, he’s going to get a jump start on playing the game. So he forms a pretty solid alliance with Great Grandpa Jerry and two other young guys, one of which is Ollie, who I already like. If he’d left it there, and just built on that and worked that strength, he’d have had a pretty solid start and a good ride through at least half the game, but no. He has to go around making sure everybody knew that he was the Guy With The Alliance in the house who could take care of you if you’d just agree to do him a favor down the line. He was securing waaaaaay too many favors and promises, and, well….it came back to bite him on the butt. But in such a spectacular fashion, I’m still savoring it this morning.

Ollie is assuring a couple of the girls that they are safe that week and will not be put up now that inflatable doll Jessie won the veto and will take himself off the Green Chair Of Death. (Wow, do I not like that guy.) Brian comes in like the grand poohbah and backs up Ollie’s claims, assuring them he has the old man in his pocket and he’s in control of the house, so all they have to do is just bat their eyelashes and do whatever he tells them to do, and their sweet lil’ ol selves are safe, safe, safe. Yeah. That lasted about two seconds after Ollie and Brian departed, and Libra - who has all kinds of love this week - just looks at the door, then at the other women, and pulls a “Who died and made him poobah” look, before explaining to them that Brian is clearly in an alliance with Ollie and Great Gramps, and that it will just be another season of Bros Before Hos, with them giving him their votes until he doesn’t need them, then picking them off one at a time. So, Libra, in all her greatness, confronts Ollie, then orchestrates getting the entire house (8 people out of 13) to corner Gramps in his HOH room and tell him, in no uncertain terms, that they know about his alliance and they want Brian out. HA!

I felt sorry for Jerry, as he had really no choice but to go back on his word to Brian, but I liked that he just put it out there exactly as it went down, when he did, in fact, nominate Brian to on the chopping block. Double HA! The look on Brian’s face was worth the price of admission.

Great episode, and good game play. Nice to see people on their toes right off the bat and not sitting around making friendship rings and googly eyes.

Did anybody watch? How crazy is Renny, anyway? I’m pretty sure making her slog through honey and feathers was about the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. Also - great POV competition right there. Loved it. Really tough to do, and hilarious to watch. Nice combo, show.

Don’t forget to enter this week’s SHaQ Attack contest. Details in Monday’s post. And tonight we get Project Runway back AND we hear more about Jessica’s apparent exit from So You Think You Can Dance. Finally, Reality Summer TV is back! I’m pathetically and ridiculously happy about that. My day’s end, unwinding relaxation is back. And my day’s end is usually around 1 or 2am, so all the more reason to watch people slog through honey and feathers, I say!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand? DISH!!

Filed under: Writing on July 16th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

I haven’t a freaking clue. Everyone I suspect keeps going home, so clearly I’m not good at this game. But then, that’s why I’m not bungee jumping head first into a ravine like the contestants had to do last night. Yikes. So, lots of Mole-y behavior, but mostly a bunch of people who can’t get the job done, so very little money into the pot and Alex takes a hike home. I will go ahead and go on record as saying that my number suspect is Clay (so, watch out Clay, you’re clearly the next one going home) with my outside chance being Craig. I’d love it if it were Craig. Mostly, I wonder why I am watching this show. It was such a favorite of mine and now? Not so much really.

But! Tomorrow night, not only do we get Dance back, with new partners (late breaking news to come!) but Our Tim is back!! WOO HOO!! Yes folks, Project Runway returns tomorrow and I cannot wait. But first, in the late breaking news department, I read a news story last night that stated that Jessica on So You Think You Can Dance suffered a show-ending injury that will take five weeks to heal, so she’s out and Comfort is back in!! Coy Uncle Nigel wouldn’t say more to reporters, but that’s the word. I guess we’ll hear more tomorrow. And, while I am no fan of anyone being injured, I can’t say I’m disappointed that things worked out as they did in terms of stacking the remaining dancers just the way I like it. This week they all get new partners, so it should be interesting! (And if they just send Comfort home again, which is highly likely, doesn’t that suck for her?) Still….I wish Jessica a speedy recovery and hope that’s the last injury report we get!

Don’t forget to enter this week’s SHaQ Attack contest. Details in Monday’s post.

Filed under: Writing on July 15th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

Yay, it’s Monday! Yay, there’s more to MAC! Well….sort of.

So, Design Star, Season 3 is proving it ain’t no Season 1 or 2, and not in a good way, y’all. Big Brother went old school and cut out the secret relationship hijinks, but I’m still not sure I’m gonna watch. There were no Evil Dicks, or even just Dicks (yet) and there is a cool 75 year old former Marine and great-grandfather who’s a total hoot, but it might not get me past having to watch a Season of Hooters, if you know what I mean.

Yeah. So, we get Design Star MAC because I’m already invested, even if I should just be committed, but I’m holding off on the other social experiment. Besides, we get The Mole back tonight and….okay, so there’s not a lot of excitement there, either. Thank god Project Runway is on its way! It’s getting slim with So, Oh My God They Can Dance coming closer to an end and not much else to prop us up on.

Okay, we’re down to five designers, three judges, and one host. I like Clive as host, and I’m okay with Martha, Vern and Cynthia as judges. It’s when we get to the actual contestants that things fall apart. I even think they’ve got some really good designers, but it’s like they’ve all gotten hung up in the social dynamic drama and it’s bogged them all down. Plus I think the judges have been touting season 1 and 2 and flinging that in their faces so often its gotten them a little freaked out and second guessing themselves way too much. And, it would be nice to actually see them perform individually more often. Way too many team challenges where it’s all bicker and no shine.

So, last night, we find out we’re losing two designers and we’ve only two more shows to go. Hey! Just in time for Project Runway! So that works. But do the designers? We’ll see. They get the dreaded kitchen remodel challenge, which is dreaded beacause setting counters and cabinets is apparently somewhere in the same realm as sending a man to the moon in terms of logistics, and the time frame never complies with actual work involved and it never gets completed. Our intrepid teams decide that they will be the ones to finally get the kitchen challenge done! However, considering there were ambulances and firetrucks in the preview clips for this week, I’m thinking that might not have happened. Oh….and yeah, it’s another team challenge. Yay.

We’ve got Mikey V and Matt - which is a duel host show I’d watch every day and twice on Sunday, but HGTV and Bravo have yet to call and ask me to be Chief Grand Poobah of Programming. SO their loss. We also have Jennifer and Trish, who I like okay, and Tracee, who I don’t. At all.

Aaaand, the firetruck drama plays out right in the beginning, when policeman Mikey V (I’ll arrest you, then redecorate your kitchen!) and Matt try and get Trish’s ring off her injured finger, then you know that eventually they’re going to call in folks who actually do that for a living before she loses a finger over it.

Clive arrives in all his Brit sarcastic glory and hands them their challenge. (Okay, is it me, or are Mikey V and the much older but still-a-babe Trish totally doing it? Aren’t they totally doing it? I think they’re totally doing it.) Ahem. So, we get teams….(shock!) Actually, we just get one big team. Which is annoying in that, once again, we just get who can’t play well with others drama instead of seeing what these guys can really do with their own vision. We learn nothing from this. I honestly think it’s as much the producers fault that this season hasn’t been as exciting or innovative, as they’ve had a total of one individual challenge in the entire season. Seriously, how are we supposed to know what any of them can really do?

Oh kill me now. Tracee gets the draw as team leader. The underwhelming response from the other designers is downright comical. They also find out that this challenge will bring them from five to the final three, and they’re even more concerned with their leader. Hell, I’d be, too! This proves to be a worthy fear when Tracee can’t run the team or make a final decision to save her life. So….we’ll see how it all turns out, but I don’t think this will be the season to end the Kitchen Curse.

Studly Carter Osterhouse (when is his show on? Yowza!) drops in so they lose more time but I care not as I will ogle Carter as long as he’s on my television screen. (Make note: check HGTV schedule for Carter Can showtimes…) We’re down to the wire and I think the team knows that Tracee is toast, as she should be, but they also will lose another member of the team, and that’s going to be tough as they all have worked hard and, I think, equally well.

Judges? They’re commended on getting done, but find the result boring. (Agreed.) They nail this down to lack of design plan (Tracee….) Vern chastises the group - well, Tracee - for not doing more actual design work. She’s totally going home. Then we get a Carter Commercial. I think I’ll just watch that a few times, then FF to the end and see who gets canned. I am SO totally taping his show. It looks like fun stuff and he is not hard on the eyes, people. Join me in the shallow end of the pool. Bring drinks.

We get the couple’s reaction to their new kitchen. They love it, but wish it had been more colorful. (Agreed.) They wanted a tile back splash (Tracee….) and were rightfully enthused, but not overjoyed. Hmm….who is in trouble? And are the judges sitting there thinking “We have to give an entire series to one of these guys?”

My vote is Matt. Mikey V is good, but he’d be better teamed with someone else. For the win in terms of tv-hostability, I could see Trish (with a makeup/hair makeover) getting the slot, too. (The judges love her.) A shame we didn’t see more of the individual designers work as I think Jennifer is actually the only one with a really distinct point of view in terms of design with all of her whimsy, but we never get a chance to see that as she’s always just a workhorse for a team effort. The judges did really like her hosting spot, so that was heartening. Which means….pretty much anyone but Tracee is what I’m sayin.

Who goes home? To the surprise of no one, Tracee gets the quick cut. And she completely falls apart on her exit. Did you really not see this coming? The next cut is really tough. I like all four of them. The judges say that the lack of actual design work this week leaves them to judge solely on their hosting ability. Yowch. It’s going to be one of the guys, I think. Awww. We’re gonna lose Mikey? It better not be Matt! I’ve always thought he did better than they seem to see. Aaaand? It’s Mikey V. Awww. No more arm ogling! Wah! (Like I said, shallow end of pool, next to me.)

On to this week’s SHaQ Attack contest. Send me an email with “it’s MY turn!” in the subject line to donna@donnakauffman.com. Winner chosen on Friday and will win a free book from my website bookshelf. (New website relaunch is about two weeks and counting! WOO HOO! I’m having a Very Special SHAQ Contest that week - stay tuned!)

So…have I got you watching Design Star yet? Come on, you two can talk about drywall, floor plans,and backsplashes like a pro! Not to mention ogle Carter’s commercials. Just sayin.

And? DISH of course!

Filed under: Writing on July 14th, 2008 | 5 Comments »

So, on the results show, to the surprise of no one in the universe or beyond, Comfort and Thayne are sent packing. There were six couples left, so half of them were in the bottom. The other two couples were Jessica and Will (no surprise due to Jessica) and Kherington and Twitch (due to their weak tango, I think, and Courtney/Gev’s strong performances and the Bollywood show ender for Katee/Joshua.) Jessica was definitely in danger also for the girls, and I wondered if they’d find a way to lose her so they could keep Comfort for the tour, but they did what they knew they had to do. (And Comfort and Thayne both will be tour alternates, so no big loss there, either.)

Next week, I think, could be brutal. We’ve got all great guys and so-so girls, so it would be great if we could just start knocking them off by overall vote and not by gender. We’re going to lose Will, Gev, Joshua, Twitch, or Mark. Tough call. On the girls side, not so much. We could (and will) lose Jessica or Kherington and it would be no major loss, and I feel the same about Courtney. So…. ugh.

On another note, the Alvin Ailey guys who performed? WOW. Best guest performance ever. That was crazy. And I totally agree with Nigel (augh!) that Will would fit right in with them. That was stupendous human art right there. (Both the Ailey guys and Will.) Cool that Debbie Allen was in the audience to watch him.

So, next week it’s new partners for everyone. I cannot wait! My prediction on Guys In Trouble? Might be Joshua! Let’s pray he gets a routine that plays to his strengths, as I think he is the technically weak guy dancer left. Oh no! Not Our Baby Face! But Twitch’s solo last night was truly masterful, so he ain’t going anywhere. I don’t even want to imagine the bottom couples next week!

So, what did you all think?

One last plug for the booksigning tomorrow at Turn The Page - if you can’t be there, you can have fun at the “virtual signing” - I’d love to see any/all of the Blog Babe Brigade!

Now for the winner of the advance copy of my upcoming release (July 30! Or…tomorrow at the signing!) The Black Sheep & The English Rose. The SHaQ Attack contest winner is? Jordan! Woo hoo!! Congrats Jordan.

Tune in next week for all kinds of new MAC and have a great weekend!!

Filed under: Writing on July 11th, 2008 | 3 Comments »