Monday 22 November 2010

Katie Waissel's Grandmother a Prostitute?!

Katie Waissel's Grandmother is a Prostitute?

I know it's harsh, and probably tabloid junk but this has got to be my favourite X Factor story this year! I can't help feeling sorry for Katie though. I am still not her biggest fan but I can certainly see how this latest news would bring her right back to square one with the public again. She was excellent during Saturday night's X Factor and for thsi story to come out now must be mortifying.

At the same time though, there is a suppressed giggle inside me. Not because it's funny that Katie Waissel has been embarrassed. It's simply the idea that there is a website in existence called Vintage Vamps, featuring mature ladies in rather risque outfits. Good luck to them, I guess, but....wow.

Sunday 14 November 2010

Goodbye Aiden! #xfactor

I didn't write a recap of tonight's result because the site I write for is having some issues at the moment, so I will just say as much I can muster about tonight's result. I am gutted that Aiden is out of the competition. If audiences want something different, Aiden is the man. I get that in terms of oddities, Katie was probably the lesser of two evils in eyes of the viewers - she is at least fairly easy on the eye and looks like she is having fun. Aiden generally looks drunk or scary - but his voice is stunning, it just needs a touch more control. I desperately hope this isn't the last we hear from him but I fear he is so far from the mainstream he just won't fit :(

Sunday 7 November 2010

Dear X Factor...

...Your 'don't vote Katie out ' rule is starting to become obvious. Dannii is clearly the only judge with ears and backbone. Katie Waissel is NOT interesting, entertaining and clearly not who the public want to see again based on the epic amount of jeering from the crowd and being in the bottom two three times. I admit Treyc probably wouldn't have won but she deserved the chance to stay longer.

Simon Cowell has admitted he enjoys controversy - but he began the X Factor as a TALENT show. Clearly he is happy to go against what he originally believed in for the sake of headlines.

Cheryl Cole totally copped out - though I understand why she didnt want to choose and it wouldnt have changed the result anyway. But even so - she was asked the question and should have answered it.

Louis Walsh called Katie "style over substance" and keeping her on was dumb.

Writing about Katie Waissel is interesting, granted. I don't want to be one of those internet bullies I keep hearing about - but when a single act who isn't ever going to be the next big thing is blatantly allowed to break the rules then continue through the competition after having fluffed her words and sang out of tune, people will be pissed off. Simples. As such, I will still be reporting on her antics - but doing so as impartially as I can manage.

Well, I'll try.

It's not that I dislike her as a person - because we dont even know who she is. But that is where the dislike comes in. That and her singing is average at best when other people - like Gamu - were denied a place in the live shows. Its not so much the feeling that she stole Gamu's place because that could have been blamed on any of the girls. Its simply that she is not good enough, IMO.

Friday 5 November 2010

Robert Pattinson Backs X Factor Wagner

Robert Pattinson Backs X Factor Wagner

This is by far the funniest celebrity news story I have read in ages! Clearly this is just a simple case of piss taking but I think Robert Pattinson sums up the feelings of many of the X Factor voters who now see the show for the mockery it has become!  If this news helps Wagner stay in the competition, it will only become even funnier. :D

Sunday 31 October 2010

Katie Waissel was Always a "Monster"

Katie Waissel Was Always a "Monster"

If you click on the story above, you will find a relatively calm report about the latest Katie Waissel scandal. Outside of that article, I want to say how much I think the X Factor is a complete and utter con.

The stories about whether or not Katie Waissel already had the inside track on the show have been rife - linking to them all with the "evidence" about how she had been on tour with former X Factor runner up Andy Abraham and that she had met Brian Friedman and Sony execs before would take forever.

While I am still completely addicted to the X Factor and am done with being irritated by the outcomes, there seems to be some kind of mass manipulation going on. If Simon Cowell says something is excellent, regardless of what we have heard, for some reason we always believe it. It might be because he is rarely awestruck that when he is we trust his word. In my opinion, that is why Katie Waissel is still in the competition. Let's be honest - she has really only put on one credible vocal through the show so far and that was when she sang Etta James. Her performance of the Jungle Book song was entertaining, sure. But vocally, it sucked. Simon Cowell comparing Katie Waissel to Gwen Stefani is one of the most idiotic things I have ever heard. Gwen Stefani can actually sing. She is quirky, yet genuine - at least that is how she comes across.

My plea to the public this week - PLEASE judge on what you hear and not what the judges say. It is our votes that make the difference.

Sunday 24 October 2010

Weekend X Factor roundup!

Well, well, well! Another entertaining X Factor weekend is now over and the results are in! Before I get to that though, here is my X Factor Live Show week Three Roundup. I thought the show itself was actually quite good, though how most of those songs are "guilty pleasures" I have no clue. Many were classics! Cher Lloyd, Rebecca Ferguson, Treyc Cohen, Paige Richardson and Matt Cardle stood out for me by a mile - though there were good performances from pretty much everyone.

Katie Waissel - oh God. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed her performance of her ridiculous song but her singing is not doing it for me. I want to be convinced that she is not just a tabloid junkies dream but it hasn't happened yet. She does seem like a nice girl, but one who tries too hard and that may be the problem. *sigh* I guess we'll have to wait and see what she comes up with next time!

X Factor Week Three Results Show

Meh is all I can say to this really. The wrong people were in the bottom two and that always sucks.

I would also like to pick up on some other news that broke on Saturday. There is/was a Cher Lloyd hate video spreading its way around the internet. While I have not been her biggest fan, I wrote an article tackling the claims, not because I have overall proof that it is all lies, but just to pick up on some of the things that are merely speculation. Take a look! Cher Lloyd Hate Video - Twisted Facts, Rumours and Unfairness

Thats all for now, folks!

Tuesday 19 October 2010

Katie Waissel vs Cher Lloyd: Do They Have the X Factor

Katie Waissel vs Cher Lloyd: Do They Have the X Factor

In the above article, I have tried to settle the argument about whether or not these girls have the X Factor. Even I was suprised by my thoughts!

Wednesday 13 October 2010

X Factor Drama Queen Katie Waissel Threatens to Quit

Katie Waissel Threatens to Quit X Factor

Ooh, big surprise! A story that will make people feel sorry for her! Yeah, yeah okay I'll go and get myself a saucer of milk :p I am beyond dubious about the truth of this story but I felt it was worth reporting. True or not, maybe it is time to give Miss Waissel the benefit of the doubt and judge her for what she does from now on, instead of what she did before. You never know, the British public may even grow to love her!

Sunday 10 October 2010

X Factor thoughts

Last night I wrote my instant thoughts on the X Factor live show, which you can read by clicking the link below. This morning, on thinking about it, I feel that my initial thoughts were correct but perhaps I was a little harsh on the likes of Cher Lloyd and Storm Lee. However, I stand by opinion that almost all of them looked ridiculous. It is hard to take these people seriously when they are dressed so poorly. It distracted from the singing so much because I couldn't stop wondering why the hell they were wearing such deranged outfits.

I also stand by the opinion that the X Factor is more of a freak show than a talent show - by which I mean that there is far less talent than quirkiness, and while quirkiness is often a good thing - too much of it at once is not cool. After being angry about Gamu not getting through, I kinda think she may do better out of it all - as long as she is allowed to stay in this country.

Crazy Outfits, Bad Singing and Bickering Judges - X Factor Live Shows Week One

Saturday 9 October 2010

Hey hey, it's X Factor Day!

I know I said that I would post some non X Factor articles soon, but as it is the day of the first live show, it would be silly of me not to write about the X Factor today!

Cheryl Cole Admits Gamu Axe Was Purely Her Decision

Thursday 7 October 2010

Tuesday 5 October 2010

Cheryl Cole "Ordered" To Axe Gamu?

It seems that Gamugate is set to keep on running! Sadly, it seems that the more publicity she gets, the less the X Factor people are willing to take her on. :(

With news that even the wild card show may not save Gamu Nhengu, it has ocurred to me that maybe the whole thing really is a big joke. If it were a REAL wild card show, the VIEWERS would get to be the ones to vote, not the judges. Let's face it, it is after all, the viewers who are making them rich by tuning in every week and voting for the contestants. Why shouldn't we get a say?

Anyway, here is today's news: Cheryl Cole "Ordered" to Drop Gamu from X Factor

Monday 4 October 2010

Does Ghamu Nhengu REALLY Have the X Factor?

I have been putting some thought into this, and here is what I have decided: Does Gamu Nhengu REALLY Have the X Factor?

The morning after the X Factor

Took me a while to go to sleep after last night's X Factor because I couldn't tear my eyes away from Twitter where I was watching peoples opinions for over an hour after the show ended.The only thing I grasped was major anger from people who think Cheryl Cole made huge mistakes.

With her and Danni being missing from most of the auditions and Boot Camp, it seems people are questioning their choices. I think their questions are fair - particularly in regards to Cheryl's choices. I actually thought Danni's choices were spot on. But for Cheryl, her place as the nation's sweetheart has seriously taken some damage.

There were three big problems with her choices. One, and the biggest mistake ever, was letting go of Gamu Nhengu. For Cole to say she didn't see star quality in her could be a direct result of her missing Boot Camp. Gamu is definintely a star and with any luck, the wild card show will save her. Doesn't take away from the fact that Cheryl messed up though.

Secondly, putting through Katie Waissel who forgot her lyrics in her first audition and cried and mumbled her audition at Cheryl's house was very wrong. There are many conspiracy theories circulating the internet about why she was allowed to go further - the main being that she has many contacts with Simon Cowell's record company which may have put her ahead of the game. The bad news for Katie is that the British press know how to spin a story and even if she makes the live shows - she may not get voted in past the first week unless she is incredible.

Third, Cher Lloyd. Personally, while I think she has got something, she may well struggle singing a normal song that is not hip hop. Her voice is strange. More worryingly than that though, are the reports about her delicate state of mind. The more I think about this decision the more ridiculous it seems. Choosing her based on one good audition - her first - seems nuts. At Boot Camp, she wasn't brilliant and at Cheryl's house, she fell to pieces. It has been said that she got a throat infection while she was there but it doesn't take away from how nervous she was. Putting her out there onto the live shows where millions of people will watch her singing live is a dangerous thing.

But the decisions have been made. Now all we can do is wait and see what happens next!

Tuesday 21 September 2010

Spreading the Gary Oldman love!

Gary Oldman is a complete legend. Anyone who knows me will be able to tell you that he is my favourite actor of all time. I love him so much that I even forgive him for the epic lapse in judgement he made when he agreed to star in Tiptoes! (God, that movie is awful, have you ever seen it?!)

Gary Oldman has starred in many, many movies, but I have some favourites! take a look: Best Gary Oldman Movies

Friday 17 September 2010

Robert Pattinson and Emma Watson Together Again?

Robert Pattinson and Emma Watson to Re-Unite On Screen?

Harry Potter fans will know that RPattz and Emma Watson were co-stars in HP and the Goblet of Fire, but according to reports that MAY work together again the movie Dark Arc. For full details, clik on the link above!

Although I am in no way a fan of Emma Watson 's acting skills, the idea of the two of them working together actually makes me quite excited. I want to know if she can act better in a different movie. I watched Ballet Shoes and she was okay in that, but I have yet to see anything about her that makes me think "WOW!". In interviews, she seems like an all-round awesome girl and her work on fairtrade fashion is to be applauded but I want to see some top calss acting from her!! If it happens to be with Robert Pattinson, all the better!

Thursday 9 September 2010

JLS Condoms!!

If I didn't know better, I would swear it was April Fool's Day!

Boyband JLS Launch Their Own Range of Condoms

This is my favourite entertainment story of the YEAR!It is fairly fresh and not much feedback has been received yet but I wouldn't be at all surprised if there are anguished cries from the mothers of teenage girls - wailing that this is encouraging teenagers to have sex instead of trying to stop it!  JLS' intentions were nothing but honourable, I believe, but this could all go horribly wrong.

Not to mention the nagging question - why would a guy buy JLS comdoms?! While there is nothing funny about teenagers having sex - particularly when they are underage - I can't help giggling over the idea that this may be JLS's first *cough* flop!

Wednesday 8 September 2010

A Beginner's Guide to Pretty Little Liars - The Complete Collection

Hey peeps!

A while ago I showed off a couple of my Pretty Little Liars guides and over the last couple of weeks I have been slowly adding to the collection. I am pleased to tell you that they are all done now, so I wanted to post them all here for quick and easy access! Before I do that, I wanted to say that I had intended to write I final article detailing the parents of the Pretty Little Liars because they have been rather important in the show too. However, there just wasn't enough on all of the parents for me to do this so I will post a bit here.

Spencer's parents - Spencer's family is rich and outgoing. Her father is a very determined man, intent on winning at any cost. He looks down on the "little people" who he considers below him. Spencer's mother initially came across as being very much like her husband. It was later revealed that she has a softer side, and was so afraid of being cast aside for not being perfect, she hid the fact that she had a lump removed from her breast from everyone in the family.

Emily's parents - Emily's father has just returned home from Afghanistan after being away with the army for a long time. He seems like a pretty decent guy so far. Emily's mother is a little like Spencer's father in the sense that everything has to be "perfect". Anything differing from the norm is unacceptable.

Hanna''s parents - Seperated. Hanna's dad is to get re-married but I don;t think he will be very important to the show. It's her mother Ashley who is interesting. Ashley is not above doing something bad in desperate times. She slept with the police officer who arrested Hanna for shoplifting so he would drop the charges. In the last episode before the mid-season break, we saw Ashley stealing money from a very old lady who left behind the key to her safety deposit box at the bank where Ashley works.

Aria's parents - Also seperated after her father Byron's affair was revealed. Her mother Ella moved out of the family home and is trying to get herself together. Byron is equally struggling two look after their two children all by himself. He has been spending an increasing amount of time with Ashley.

Okay, that's that done! *lol* Now for the full beginner's guide to Pretty Little Liars!

A Beginner's Guide to Pretty Little Liars - Part One, Alison DiLaurentis

A Beginner's Guide to Pretty Little Liars - Part Two, Spencer Hastings

A Beginner's Guide to Pretty Little Liars - Part Three, Aria Montgomery

A Beginner's Guide to Pretty Little Liars - Part Four, Emily Fields

A Beginner's Guide to Pretty Little Liars - Part Five, Hanna Marin

A Beginner's Guide to Pretty Little Liars - Part Six, Jenna Marshall and Toby Cavanaugh

A Beginner's Guide to Pretty Little Liars - Part Seven, Sean Ackard and Lucas Gottesman

A Beginner's Guide to Pretty Little Liars - Part Eight, Ezra Fitz, Mona Vanderwall and Maya St. Germain

Hope you enjoy these little PLL snippets! <3

Friday 27 August 2010

X Factor Scandal Already?

It's only been a week but the X Factor scandal has already started. *sigh* Anyone who saw the first episode last Saturday will probably remember the best and worst auditions - they are always the ones which make the news and are surrounded by a flurry of gossip. Shirlena Johnson and Katie Waissel were two of the ones in the limelight this week - find out why by reading the following articles:

X Factor Axe Shirlena Johnson

X Factor Hopeful Katie Waissel May Have Breached the Rules, and What it Might Mean for the Show if They Make an Exception

Monday 23 August 2010

Men, men, men, men manly men!

No, I'm not talking about my love life! :p I am , of course, talking about the fantastic television show, Two and a Half Men! While Charlie Sheen may not be many people's flavour of the month right now, I will always love him. He is an amazing comedy actor with incredible understanding of how to deliver funny lines without overdoing it.  Along with a stellar cast, Charlie Sheen brings Two and a Half Men to life.
My love for this show is immense. I can watch it over and over and still laugh every time! I have recently been thinking about my favourite episodes from each series and it prompted me to write this: Best Two and a Half Men Episodes of Season One

Naturally, there will be an article for each season, but this is the only one so far! More soon!

Wednesday 18 August 2010

Just when you thought I had shut up about Pretty Little Liars....

I'm sorry! What can I say, I'm obssessed!

I decided that there are still too many people who aren't watching Pretty Little Liars and who won't have to the time to catch up. Or can't be bothered to watch all of the episodes so far :p so I decided to break down the show in a series of articles. These will form my Beginner's Guide to Pretty Little Liars! So far I have done two,and I wanted to share!

Beginner's Guide to Pretty Little Liars - Part One,Alison DiLaurentis

Beginner's Guide to Pretty Little Liars - Part Two, Spencer Hastings

Wednesday 11 August 2010

Goodbye Pretty Little Liars - I will miss you!!

I am sad to have to say a farewell to Pretty Little Liars today. Thankfully, it is just heading off for a mid season break but...man my Wednesday morning are going to be boring from now on!

Congratulations to ABC Family for taking this fantastic show and introducing us to the awesomeness of Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell, Ashley Benson and Troian Bellisario. These fine young actresses will all continue to have a bright future and I am not the only one who thinks so! Pretty Little Liars won three Teen Choice Awards this week which further proves how brilliant they are!

I will leave you today with my recap of Pretty Little Liars episode Keep Your Friends Close

Tuesday 10 August 2010

Erin Alden Interview

Alberto Albis is a legend. In his very selfless way he has given me the opportunity to interview and review people who I would never have been able to dream of talking to. Alberto Albis singlehandedly opened my ears to some incredible musicians and most impressively, inadvertantly helped to get one of my quotes onto Roy Ashen's promotional video for his album,Eclipse. (Look for the comment from Associated Content- that'sME!!


My most recent interview has been with indie/rock musician Erin Alden, an awesome talent I wish I had known about a long time ago. On hearing her music, I bet you will feel the same. When you listen to it, you can feel that it comes straight from the heart, just as all the best music does. Check out my interview with Erin Alden and click on the link to her music at the end- you will love it!

Monday 9 August 2010

Robbie Williams is Married - My heart is broken!

Haha, not really! Well, maybe a little. I always loved him, as do legions of others both male and female! But alas, he has gotten away from us and finally got married! The lucky lady is an actress named Ayda Field and I am sure she will forever be the envy of many after bagging our favourite happy-go-lucky bachelor!

In honour of Robbie Williams' wedding (and it's music monday!), let's look at the life and times of Robbie Williams! You should know, I had the hardest time narrowing this down!

You have to be/have been a hardcore Take That fan to remember this one! Back in 1992 when Take That were new, this song showed a very young Take That, including a leather clad Robbie!






Robbie taking the vocal lead on Everything Changes. This song brings back so many memories for me! It will forever be a favourite!






Robbie Williams' first solo single, a cover of Freedom by George Michael






I know everyone knows Robbie Williams for Angels, and although still a favourite, it was too obvious a choice so I am going to replace it with another favourite ballad, Eternity






A change of sound and a controversial video! Rock DJ!






Huge Robbie fans will remember watching this moment, and those who REALLY love him will have and always will cry watching him singing My Way live at the Albert Hall. (and for those who think he is a smug idiot, try to terminate those thoughts because Williams is, in my humble opinion, one of the world's greatest showmen!)






And finally from the latest album - You Know Me






As you can see, Robbie has had a varied career and I hope married life doesn't make it stop for too long!

For more news on his big day, read on! Robbie Williams Weds Ayda Field

Wednesday 4 August 2010

Why Do Woman Fall In Love With Fictional Characters?

Mr Darcy, Edward Cullen, Captain Jack Sparrow and Harry Potter. All over the world, millions of women have fallen in love with these fictional characters. If we haven't done so ourselves, we all know someone who has fallen in love with a character from a book, TV show or movie. But why does this happen? Why do perfectly rational, sensible women find themselves swept away by someone who isn't real? Fear not, I am here to tell you the answer!

Why Do Women Fall In Love With Fictional Characters?

Friday 30 July 2010

Movie badness

I call myself an entertainment writer. I guess that's what I am. I write about entertainment news, I review tv shows (okay I review A tv show), I review albums and interview musicians. I suppose that qualifies me as an entertainment writer.

I fail a little when it comes to movies though. In my own mind, I know a lot about movies. I've seen hundreds, maybe thousands. But compared to other people my knowledge is shocking. My tastes in film might not be the best but I know what I like. I know what looks good, can spot bad acting and failing plotlines, complain when a comedy is not actually funny.

But there is occasionally good that can come from bad movies. Sometimes they are so awful that they become entertaining. I'm sure everyone has settled down in front of a film and thought, "this is crap" but continued to watch and found that in spite of the lameness, you are enjoying it.

Take a look at this list of  movies that are so bad, they're good. Feel free to leave your favourites in the comments!

Thursday 29 July 2010

Pretty Little Liars recap

Hey guys! I am SO sorry for not updating yesterday! I had one of those crazy days where you don't know if you're coming or going! I know it's a little late but here is my Recap of Pretty Little Liars episode Please, Talk About Me When I'm Gone

Thursday 15 July 2010

Pretty Little Liars Goodness

Although I am a huge fan of Pretty Little Liars, it is certainly not without faults. I have made honest judgements when writing recaps of the show because it doesn't feel right to just say the positive things and not point out the bad things. Liking a show does not (or shouldn't) make you blind to its faults.

That said, this week's episode of Pretty Little Liars was absolutely superb. Amazing acting all around from the girls. Is it weird that although Toby Cavanaugh is creepy, I cannot help but find him a little bit hot? :D

Anyways, if you need a recap of what happened this week, take a look at me Recap of Pretty Little Liars episode There's No Place Like Homecoming

Friday 9 July 2010

The X Factor is coming.....

Huh, that sounds kinda ominous! :p

Still more bad news on Cheryl Cole today. Although the X Factor will be returning to our screens soon, with Cheryl's condition getting worse, it's looking more and more certain that she won't make any of this series. Even if she starts to get better tomorrow, she has many weeks of recovery to get through. The show will not be the same without her! Latest news on her condition is that Cheryl Cole has fluid on her lungs. That is really not a good sign but I am still sending out constant good thoughts to her that she begins to get better soon.

On a slightly less depressing note - Leona Lewis has been in the news recently for slating reality television shows - you know - like the one she came from. It gives the impression that she is getting a bit big for her boots, and that once shy girl who appeared on the X Factor has suddenly forgotten that reality tv was the thing that made her famous. She made a claim recently that X Factor is no longer about music and more about theatrics and it got me thinking. X Factor was ALWAYS about theatrics. Judges fighting, tactical voting, angry outbursts - it's been there all along! For further proof, take a look at one of my newest articles: X Factor is a Pantomime

That's all for this week's entertainment news (unless anything major happens later!). Hope you all have a great weekend!

Wednesday 7 July 2010

Cheryl Cole Update, plus Pretty Little Liars Recap!

I'm gutted to report the news that Cheryl Cole's malaria is not getting any better yet. I was hoping to wake up to hear that the worst was over, but unfortunately the nation's sweetheart is still in intensive care. :( Keep fighting Cheryl, we know you're tough enough to do it!

In other news, Pretty Little Liars was on yesterday! YAY! I am ITCHING to make Pretty Little Liars graphics but I have got a ton of articles to write before I can consider slacking off! Anyways - watched the episode this morning and it was pretty good. Not one of my favourites but every now and again these slower episodes need to happen to prepare us for the bigger events! To read a recap of Pretty Little Liars episode Reality Bites Me, click the link! :D

Friday 2 July 2010

Flashforward Update

Just when I thought Flashforward Fridays were done, this one came along!

It has been a loooong time since I posted anything on my blog, let alone Flashforward stuff, but I won't weigh you down with all the details. I will just let you know that the fight to save Flashforward is not over yet and today there was a little more good news:

Flashforward Tops Poll of Most Missed Axed TV Shows

All of the Flashforward info you could need is contained in that article, so I will leave it there for today! Have a great weekend!

Wednesday 30 June 2010

Pretty Little Liars

See, I came back  just like I promised! :D

Today I want to share my latest obsesssion. A new teen drama showing  on ABC Family called Pretty Little Liars. I live in the UK, so unfortunately I am forced to watch online for now, but for the Brits who are reading I am very hopeful it will get picked up over here at some point.
The show is based on a series of books by Sara Shepherd - if you've read them, please don't post spoilers. ;) It centres around four girls, Aria, Hannah, Emily and Spencer whose best friend  Alison mysteriously disappeared one night when they were having a sleepover. A year after her disappearance, the girls start receiving creepy messages from "A", and they begin to think Alison is still alive....until her body is discovered. All of the messages they receive hint at secrets only Alison knew but the question is - who is sending them?

Pretty Little Liars has reached episode four and many things have twisted and turned since then. If you want to catch up, I have written recaps on every episode so far:

Review of Pretty Little Liars (Pilot)

Recap of Pretty Little Liars Episode "The Jenna Thing"

Recap of Pretty Little Liars Episode "To Kill a Mocking Girl"

Recap of Pretty Little Liars Episode "Can You Hear Me Now"

If you're watching this show, please let me know what you think of it - but remember to keep it spoiler free ;) Thanks!

Friday 14 May 2010

It's a sad day :(

After months of tireless work, promoting and spamming Twitter and Facebook with endless requests for people to watch Flashforward and to write letters to ABC to let them know how much they love the show - it is being reported that Flashforward will not be renewed. It isn't absolutely official yet - at least ABC haven't announced it -  but the makers of the show and some of the cast have confirmed that Flashforward is over. You can read more here.

On a personal level, it's painful. I feel that Flashforward wasn't given a fair chance and am quite sure it would have picked up a lot once Lost ended.

As a presenter of Squirrelio Fans I would like to say thanks so much in particular to David Vox Mullen of Flashforcast for rallying the troops and making everyone stand up and fight for Flashforward. We did all we could but ultimately, the poor ratings system was far too big a hurdle. Thanks also to every single fan who was inspired by David and wrote letters, emails and sent Flashforward related things to ABC - Flashforward fans truly are the BEST!

While today's news is sad, we are still clinging to the hope that another network will give Flashforward another chance. I will update as soon as I hear more!

On a happier note, we did record our podcast this week! Sadly, Aaron was studying for finals and couldn't be with us, but Eva and I managed to battle through and provide some lighthearted entertainment for you!  You can listen here or subscribe so you never miss a podcast here. We hope listening goes some way towards cheering you up!

Tuesday 11 May 2010

Twilight movie update.....

Ok, so I am a known hater of all things Twilight.  I believe the books are badly written, lack substance and likeable characters, put women in a poor light and I think any book that depicts vampires as sparkly should never have been allowed to be published. Z.J. Ascensio even wrote an article about the relationship lies in the Twilight series, which just serves to help prove my point.  But I digress.

Today news broke that two  actors may lose their roles in the movie version of Breaking Dawn due to some disputes over payment. Full story can be read here.

The idea of casting changes got me thinking about whether or not, if the change happens, it will make a difference to the popularity of the movies. Presumably the millions who watch the Twilight films just to see Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner will not be bothered. They might not even notice if Lautner removes his shirt. But those who like consistency in their movies may be irked. If the Harry Potter movies had suddenly swapped Devon Murray for another actor in the role of Seamus Finnegan, I would have certainly have had something to say! That may be because he is a cutie with a lovely accent, but even so - these changes can have an effect on how a movie is perceived.

I hope these Twilight payment issues are resolved postively for the sake of the fans. It would be sad for them to see different actors taking over for the final movie.

Saturday 1 May 2010

Flashforward Saturday - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Hey peeps! How fast the time is going!

This week's Flashforward episode was titled Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, named after an intense obstacle course that had to be taken on during FBI training. A lot of crazy stuff happened this week, but sadly there will probably not be a recap as the site I write for has made some changes and therefore I will not be paid for a while. Call me mean, but I am not a fan of people making money from me when I get nothing out of it :p Normal service will resume in some form or another as soon as I find out what's happening!

As always, we recorded our Squirrelio Fans Flashforward podcast yesterday! Both Eva and myself were a little bit short on time, but it turned out really well. We also had an extra long section from Aaron Johnson this week which is great fun to listen to! Watch out for his impressive attempt at a British accent! :D

Squirrelio Fans Podcast - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

or for convenience - subscribe to our feed here

Monday 26 April 2010

A step back in time

Who doesn't love to reminisce now and again? Sometimes looking back can be so much fun. Thinking back to when you were a teenager,or even a child can bring back fond memories of times when life was simple.
Have you ever noticed how music can induce so many memories? Well some of my favourite memories come from the 90s. In particular, the summer holidays. I remember getting up early to watch my favourite tv shows in the morning before my mum was ready for us to go out for the day. After all this time, hearing a familar tv theme tune from those days always brings a smile to my face.

I recently wrote an article about my favourite 90s tv theme tunes, not all of them from children's shows, but they are all catchy and brilliant. Take a look, and let me know if you recognise them, then tell me some of your own favourites in the comments!

Saturday 24 April 2010

Flashforward Saturday - The Garden of Forking Paths

I'm so sorry for not being around this week! Sometimes life gets a little crazy and this week was another one of those times! I should be posting with better regularity from today though!

Flashforward Saturday is here again, and while I don't have a recap of The Garden of Forking Paths yet, I will do my best to get one written over the weekend for you. For those who saw it? OH MY GOODNESS! This week's episode was absolutely incredible! The tension nearly killed me, let alone Demetri! I can honestly say I have never been so scared watching a tv show in my life.I was engrossed, so much so that when it was over I needed to have a long lie down to recover!

When I was done though, I recorded an epic Squirrelio Fans podcast with Eva. One of the longest and funniest podcasts we've ever done. If you enjoyed this week's Flashforward, you'll love our podcast! We also introduced a brand new member to the Squirrelio Fans team this week! Aaron Johnson is a fellow AC writer and an all round great guy. He agreed to record a selection of his thoughts on the episode so that gave a whole new dynamic to podcast.

If you want to hear all of us in action, you can visit our Squirrelio Fans website here

To subscribe to our RSS feed, click here and you can also download us on iTunes.

If you like what you hear, join our Facebook fan page or follow us on Twitter

Saturday 17 April 2010

Flashforward Saturday and Autism Speaks

Hello hello! Flashforward Saturday is here!

Did you see Flashforward this week?? Talk about another great cliffhanger ending! Dyson Frost is a bad man! For a full recap of the latest episode, Let No Man Put Asunder, click here!

While we're on the subject of Flashforward, I must take the time to promote a very worthwhile cause. On the show, Ryan Wynott plays Dylan Simcoe. Dylan is autistic and in order to play the part in a believable way, Ryan had to learn some things about autism. Next week, Ryan Wynott will be taking part in a walk in Los Angeles in aid of the autism charity, Autism Speaks. It is a brilliant organisation which you can read about here, and if you want to support Ryan Wynott or find out more about why he got involved,take a look at this article.

Finally, as it is Saturday, it means we recorded a new Squirrelio Fans podcast yesterday. Those of you who haven't seen Let No Man Put Asunder should wait until you have before downloading. ;) You can get hear the latest podcast on our website, or download through iTunes! :D

EDIT: The campaign to save Flashforward is still ongoing! More info in this post!

Thursday 15 April 2010

What do Courtney Love, Robert Pattinson and Pirates of the Caribbean have in common?

Usually, I'd say....not much.

But very recently, all of the above have been making the news for various reasons.

Almost a week ago, Courtney Love was reported to have said that she wanted Robert Pattinson to play Kurt Cobain in a movie about the Nirvana singer's life. Anti-Pattinson people were somewhat apalled by this idea, but I have to admit, I would have loved to have seen him give it a try! However, that was not to be. Yesterday, Love spoke out against these claims, saying they were "silly". You can read the full article here.

Next, some news about the forthcoming Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Today a new leading lady was announced. To find out who, take a look at this article!

Not sure how I feel about the casting of an unknown in such an epic movie series. I don't think they will be quite the same without Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley. On the other hand, it may be good to see some new faces. I'mvery excited about Ian McShane portraying Blackbeard!  While I wasn't very taken with At World's End, I am very much looking forward to seeing On Stranger Tides. Only another year to go....!

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Decorate the halls! (Top Ten Tuesday!)

Yeah, ok...shockingly bad pun seeing as it isn't even Christmas, but this topic doesn't allow for a whole lot of creativity!

Spring has arrived, and it is fairly normal in the UK for people to begin decorating their homes at this time of year. It's usually done over the Easter holidays, DIY shops are filled with eager people stocking up on paint, wallpaper etc, and preparing to give their homes a makeover!

But what would decorating be without a little music? Boring, that's what! So, with that in mind I present you with my Top Ten Tuesday post....Top 10 Songs for Decorating/Construction!

1. If I Had a Hammer - Peter, Paul and Mary
2. We Built This City - Jefferson Airplane
3. Love Can Build a Bridge - The Judds
4. Can We Fix It - Bob the Builder
5. Painter Song - Norah Jones
6. One Piece At a Time - Johnny Cash
7. Grandpa Was a Carpenter - John Prine
8. What's He Building in There - Tom Waits
9. Our House - Madness
10. Hammer To Fall - Queen

For the full list, click here! And don't forget to visit ohamanda for more Top Ten Tuesday goodness!

Saturday 10 April 2010

Flashforward....Saturday?

*lol* Apparently I don't have time for Flashforward Fridays, so we are changing to Flashforward Saturdays which doesn't have the same ring to it but it's the best I can do!

Okay, there has been plenty of activity on the Save Flashforward campaign which you can read about here and if all goes well I should have the time to write a recap of the latest Flashforward episode "Queen Sacrifice" which was totally amazing! I guess I'll have to stop promoting my article Who Is the FBI Mole now! You can, of course, read it and laugh about how wrong I was!

Yesterday's Squirrelio Fans podcast went really well. We had great fun with it, and it was a little longer than usual to squeeze in all the excitement! Please check it out if you are a Flashfoward fan! Also, join us on Twitter and Facebook if you enjoy it!

Thursday 8 April 2010

More Harry Potter?

It seems my Harry Potter geekiness has yet to be properly discussed here! I won't completely bore you with it though, I willjust give you the highlights!

When I was 17, my best friend was reading a Harry Potter book on the train on the way to college.When I asked her why she was reading a kid's book, she replied "Because it's good." I laughed, read the back cover, laughed again and gave it back to her. What's weird is, I don't remember when I first picked up the Philosopher's Stone and got addicted, I just know that I was instantly hooked. What followed can only be described as an obsession - reading the books, analysing them, posting theories on forums and debating, watching the movies, buying the merchandise. You name it, I probably did it!

Only true Harry Potter fans can understand the depth of love I have for the characters, and the lady who created them, J.K Rowling. But today it was brought to my attention that there may be still be life in the Harry Potter series yet. It got me thinking about how this could even work when J.K Rowling made such an effort to tie up all the loose ends. More to the point, do we really want more Harry Potter? Loving the books is one thing, but it seemed as though the door had closed on that world and I am not entirely sure it's a good idea to re-open it. For more thoughts on this, please click here.
Are you a Harry Potter fan and would you like to see more books about him and his future? Please leave a comment and let me know!

Tuesday 6 April 2010

Top Ten Tuesday!

Ever have one of those days where everything goes wrong? Today is one of those days, and I am in some serious need of cheering up! To that end, I bring you this week's Top Ten List -Ten Things That Instantly Cheer Me Up!

1.Music

2. Looking at old photos

3. Cake

4. My mum

5. Hot bubble baths

6. Talking to my best friend

7. Writing

8. Playing Sims 2

9. Shopping

10. Cadbury's Creme Eggs!

For a more in depth look at my choices, click here.

If you want more Top Ten Tuesday fun - go see ohamanda's blog - the place where it all began!

Wednesday 31 March 2010

Flashforward needs YOU!

If you are following me on Twitter or Facebook, no doubt you will have seen me write this a LOT the last few days.Now I am going to explain why. :D

I think I have mentioned once or twice (:p) that I LOVE Flashforward and I have already explained the reasons why. But the show is in serious danger of being cancelled and I would like to make a plea on behalf of everyone who loves it to help us to save it.

You have probably noticed the alarming amount of negative press that has surrounded Flashforward, but it's time to make it stop. David Vox Mullen is the presenter of Flashforcast, a podcast dedicated to Flashforward, and he is asking fans of Flashforward to take action to secure a second season for the show.

All it takes is a simple letter to the head of ABC's Entertainment Group. If every single person who watches Flashforward in the U.S alone, that's over 6 million letters dropping into Stephen McPherson's mailbox. If we then add all th epeople who watch throughout the rest of the world, we could probably more than double that number. Who could ignore that?

This tactic has worked before, and it can work again. As a fan of Flashforward, I am asking you not to let this chance slip by. If you love Flashforward, make it known by sending a letter. You can make a difference.

The address to write to is:
Stephen McPherson
ABC Entertainment
500 South Buena Vista St.
Burbank, CA 91521

The full details can be found in this article (which links to the Flashforcast site) and at Squirrelio Fans

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this - we really appreciate it!

Tuesday 30 March 2010

Top Ten Young Hollywood Actresses!

Following my Top Ten Young Hollywood actors, I bring you the female version, just in time for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by ohamanda !

For my list, please click here - (yes I know this is slightly cheating but I am short on time and I didn't wanna miss Top Ten Tuesday!) Feel free to leave comments and I will reply as soon as I can! Thanks!

Sunday 28 March 2010

Young,Hot and Talented!

Happy Sunday everyone! Hope all in Europe are coping with the time change! :p I am never amused when I have to lose an hour's sleep!

On to the entertainment news....

I recently took on the challenge to pick twenty of the hottest young stars in Hollywood right now, ten actors and ten actresses. It has taken me a loooong time to compile the list because there is so much young talent out there at the moment. However, I finally completed article number one, so I present you with The Finest Young Actors Hollywood Has To Offer!

Friday 26 March 2010

Flashforward Friday - "Blowback"

YAY! It's Flashforward Friday again! Time is flying by, but where Flashforward is concerned, that is a great thing!

I sincerely hope you have all been watching ;) This show just keeps on getting better and better with each episode. I cannot urge you guys enough to start viewing Flashforward if you haven't already. Excellent  writing, great cast and an outstanding concept!

For those of you who need a reminder of last night's episode, here is my recap of "Blowback"!

If you want to discuss the show, come to the forum here and if that's still not enough for you, come and listen to our crazy podcast!

Thursday 25 March 2010

What makes a good movie character?

Yesterday I picked up an assignment from the Associated Content assignment desk. The assignment was to write an article about my favourite characters from a movie series. It was a no brainer for me. I know which characters I love so I figured it would be easy. What was challenging though, was explaining what I loved about them in a way that  was easy for other people to understand. Actually, that is often a challenge when I write about anything I am passionate about. It's hard not to assume that everyone loves the same things and understands what I mean with little explanation!

Let's look at the question in the title. What makes a good movie character? For me, it's a number of things. First of all, a well written character is a must. A character with depth, a reason for their actions. A two dimensional character is just not going to cut it. Even now I still see movies with characters in them that have a distinct lack of motivation and purpose *coughTwilightcough*.  I think the right actor is also essential to a movie character. Tom Cruise could not have played The 40 Year Old Virgin any more than Steve Carrell could have pulled off Cruise's part in Cocktail. It's not entirely about the look, it's about what the actor is good at. Although a good actor can turn his hand to anything, I believe certain actors are better at certain things.

That said, before Michael Emerson became creepy Ben in Lost, he was a comedy actor. But Ben is actually pretty funny, so I guess it still works! :p

What makes you love a movie character, and which are your favourites?

If you want to see which character from movie series' I picked as my favourites, click here!

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Top Ten Break Up Songs!

In honour of  Top Ten Tuesday at the wonderful blog of ohamanda I'd like to share my list of the top ten break up songs! We all know the feelings that wash over you when you break up with someone. Misery, pain, anger. But music has magical healing properties and I think this list can help!

1. Since You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

2. You Oughta Know by Alanis Morrisette

3. With or Without You by U2

4. Strong Enough by Cher

5. Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac

6. F*ck You by Lily Allen

7. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart by Al Green

8. Leave Right Now by Will Young

9. Survivor by Destiny's Child

10. I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor

For the more detailed version of this list, please click here and feel free to leave your own suggestions in a comment!

Monday 22 March 2010

Viva La Rock!

It's time for another kick ass interview!

Subscribers to my blog may be under the impression that cheesy pop is all I am interested in. That couldn't be further from the truth. Yes, I do have a special place in my heart for boybands and other such cheesy music but I am also a huge fan of rock music. I love music from as far back as the 60's, though 70's and 80's rock is by far my favourite. Some might say this in itself is quite cheesy, but that is beside the point! :p

As it is Music Monday, I wanted to share a very special interview with you. This was the first interview I ever wrote, and with a member of a rather amazing band. Alberto Albis is the man, Viva La Union is the band. Besides being the bass player for Viva La Union, Alberto is a very talented, fun and genine guy. His talents don't just lie with bass playing. He also writes songs and helps to produce and promote  new artists, one of whom I have also interviewed.

Viva La Union is an indie/rock band and has a very distinctive sound. The lyrics, written mainly by the endlessly talented John Cho, have depth and meaning and many are brilliantly catchy. Take a look at this interview with Alberto Albis, have a listen to some of their tracks (links are in the article) and let me know what you think!

Friday 19 March 2010

Spreading the Flashforward love!

It's Flashforward Friday!

Never have I been so excited about the return of a tv show as I was yesterday. Flashforward came back to the U.S after a three month break and the wait was an absolute killer! With loose ends hanging all over the place, the fans needed answers and boy did we get them!

Because people outside of America won't have seen the episode yet (unless you're like me and couldn't wait!) I am going to keep this a spoiler free zone but what I can tell you is that last night's two hour opener is among the best Flashforward episodes so far.  Quinton Peeples, formerly the show's script editor, wrote the first half of Revelation Zero and it was incredible. Fast paced and loaded with action, clever twists and turns and some unbelievable scenes, it was the perfect way to bring the show back (though slightly lacking in Agent Noh :p).

Although some questions were answered last night, we still don't know who the FBI Mole is - but for theories, take a look at this article about the suspects.

I also wrote up a list of some other Flashforward unanswered questions, and if you haven't seen the new episode yet, why not do something silly and throw a Flashforward party!

If you are a Flashforward fanatic - come check out our podcast and follow us on Twitter and Facebook . Finally, if you love theories, come to the forum to discuss them!

If you haven't seen Flashforward yet, you're missing out!!

Thursday 18 March 2010

X Factor star is beginning to shine!

In 2009 X-Factor was the cause of many a controversy. John and Edward Grimes, now known as "Jedward" split the UK in half as people debated over whether or not they deserved their place in the ITV show. Although many were against them, week after week they continued to be voted through to the next round. The biggest upset came when the judges on the show refused to pick between Lucie Jones and John and Edward, and so the final decision went back to the public. Millions were outraged when talented Welsh singer Lucie Jones was ousted from the show and the backlash against the Irish twins was incredible.

Drama aside though, last year's X Factor produced some great talent. My favourite of which is Olly Murs. The twenty five year old From Essex was and still is very popular and has been tipped for great things by people with far more knowledge than me!

For more info about Olly, see this article on his future potential! Let me know what you think!







Finally, as promised my review of the Glee Soundtrack Volume Two - sorry it took so long!

Tuesday 16 March 2010

Top Ten Tuesday! (Is it weird that almost every day of the week has a title?!)

Following Music Monday, we now have Top Ten Tuesday! There is something rather geeky about this day naming thing, but I really love it! I learned of this new phenomonen here - it's fun!

Today's list I wrote as an article at Associated Content. This is my Top Ten Friends Cameo Appearances, just because I adore Friends!

1. Julia Roberts as Suzie Moss - When the Friends go to see Ross' former monkey Marcel, Chandler meets an old school friend. Suzie begins making a move on Chandler and the two of them begin a very steamy fling. She even convinces him to wear her underwear out on a date! The same evening, Suzie seduces Chandler in the men's room in a restaurant, then runs away with his clothes.

2. Gary Oldman as Richard Crosby - When Joey was cast as the lead in a movie, he was thrilled to be co-starring with Richard Crosby. What Joey didn't know was that Richard had a drinking problem. In order to get to Monica and Chandler's wedding on time, Joey had to try to sober him up so they could shoot their scene. There are some brilliant moments as a very drunk Richard has some problems with the props!

3.Danny DeVito as The Stripper - Probably the BEST Friends cameo appearance ever came from Danny DeVito. When Monica and Rachel realise that Phoebe wants a stripper at her bachelorette party, they call the first one they find in the phone book. That stripper is a very unfit Danny DeVito. His dancing made it hard for even the cast to keep a straight face!

4.Tom Selleck as Richard Burke - So good that they gave him a recurring role, Tom Selleck starred as Monica's boyfriend during Season Two. Richard was a friend of Monica's parents so their relationship caused some friction to begin with but it soon passed. Sadly, both Monica and Richard's hearts were broken when their relationship ended because they wanted different things for their future.

5. Reece Witherspoon as Jill Green - Another great Friends cameo appearance came from Reece Witherspoon. She played Rachel's spoiled younger sister Jill. Jill's father told her to go and live with Rachel so she could grow up and get herself a career. Rachel quickly took her sister under her wing and tried to help her but Jill became angry when Rachel said she couldn't date Ross, so she went ahead and did it anyway.

6.Giovanni Ribisi as Frank Jnr - Frank Jnr is Phoebe's rather quirky half brother. With a passion for "melting stuff", he finally matured slightly when he met Alice, his Home Economics teacher. Even though she was much older than him they fell in love and eventually had triplets, carried by Phoebe. Thankfully the Buffay weirdness stayed with him throughout the show's duration!

7.Bruce Willis as Paul Stevens - One of my all time favourite actors, Bruce Willis had a cameo role in Friends as the father of Ross' student girlfriend Elizabeth. A little emotionally unstable, Paul threatened to have Ross fired until Ross caught him doing something rather embarrassing in front of the mirror!

8.Ben Stiller as Tommy - Rachel began dating Tommy after she broke up with Ross and he seemed like a decent enough guy until he started screaming at an old couple at Joey's play. Ross tried to warn the others but they all put it down to jealousy. Eventually he got caught screaming at the chick and the duck and Rachel immediately dumped him.

9. Anna Faris as Erica - Anna Faris played the woman who chose Monica and Chandler to adopt her baby. An innocent girl, she shocked the Bings when she said the father of her child might be a murderer! Thankfully, that wasn't the case but she went on to further surprise Monica and Chandler when she gave birth to twins.

10. Freddie Prinze Jnr as Sandy - My final favourite Friends cameo appearance is by Freddie Prinze Jnr. Rachel and Ross hire him as their nanny. Rachel adores him but Ross is uncomfortable with Sandy's sensitivity and fires him. Joey later hires him to be his teacher.

My original article can be found here

Monday 15 March 2010

It's Music Monday....

...and so every Monday I will share the music I love with you!

I'm going to start with something that combines both music and television. A show which makes the High School Musical movies look dull in comparison. Yes, it's Glee! If you haven't seen this show yet, you really need to check it out. Like High School Musical, Glee brings high school drama and catchy tunes but instead of being squeaky clean it is jammed with controversial topics, quirky characters and brilliant humour. It's dry and sarcastic which appeals to adults, but it also has many touching, teenage moments that high-schoolers will easily relate too. The cast is mainly a host of people plucked from musicals which should give you a clue as to how brilliant their performances are, and yet Glee isn't crammed with show tunes. Instead they take popular music of all genres and eras and make them new and unique.

Quite recently, the Glee cast released a soundtrack of tunes from the show and today in the UK Volume 2 will be released - which I will be listening to and reviewing a little later. Until then though, take a look at my review of the Glee Soundtrack Volume One. See if I can make a Gleek out of you!

Friday 12 March 2010

My entertainment loves

Perhaps it's time for a bit more of an introduction. I mentioned that I write about entertainment but I haven't yet gone into any detail about the things I enjoy!

My main tv love at the moment is Flashforward.I probably mentioned this in my post about Jessika Borsiczky Goyer, but what I may not have mentioned is - it's an obsession. For the three months since Flashforward went on hiatus, I have been avoiding any possible promos, clips, sneak peeks etc because all it does is make me miss it more! It's also partly to avoid seeing things I don't want to know yet, but mainly, I can't stand the torture. The cast is exceptional, Joseph Fiennes, John Cho, Jack Davenport and Dominic Monaghan are  just a few of the stars. The storyline is fantastic, the writing is brilliant and instead of just being one mystery, there are mysteries wrapped inside other mysteries! The questions are endless, as are the possibilites. I firmly believe everyone should be watching it!

I am also a huge Lost fan. I got into the show very late, last summer to be precise! But after just two episodes, I was completely hooked and heavily attached to many of the characters. I will be very sad to see the end of it this year. :(

My UK  tv love is currently Dancing on Ice.  A bunch of celebrities learn how to ice dance under the watchful eye of Olympic gold medallists Torvill and Dean. They are teamed with a professional skater and together they learn a new routine weekly and dance live in front of the nation every Sunday night.It is amazing what these stars can accomplish on this show - check this link out . Hayley Tamaddon is an actress and singer, not a professional skater but this routine is totally worthy of an Olympic gold medal and after just a few months of training!

In terms of music - well, in spite of my current Boyzone promotion, I am not a complete boyband fanatic :p I just have a wide variety of tastes. It would be impossible to list everything I love because there is so much of  it!

Same goes for movies. I have a huge amount of favourites but if I were to pick a genre,  romantic comedies would win out.

Wednesday 10 March 2010

Happy, happy, happy!

Over the last few days, I have noticed some of my friends spreading the joy by posting ten things that make them happy on their blogs. I first noticed the trend on my friend Faith's blog and it got me thinking. I could list ten things every day that make me happy,but the thing that never fails to cheer me up is music! No matter what the situation, there is almost always a perfect song to make things seem better.
In the name of spreading the happiness, here is my list of ten songs to make you feel good!

Monday 8 March 2010

The music of your youth

Some of you may have already read this article of mine about Boyzone's Stephen Gately who died last year while on holiday in Majorca. In that article I explain what Boyzone mean to me, and how Stephen was always my favourite. More than ten years on,they hold a special place in my heart for being the band I adored as a teenager.

Today they release their first album since Stephen died. Thankfully, Stephen's vocals do appear on the album, titled 'Brother', a tribute to him. I admit that I was a little nervous about buying 'Brother'. The idea of not hearing Stephen's voice on every single song still hurts a little. I never expected his death to have such an impact on me. While I didn't go into a period of mourning and sob for weeks, I do feel twinges of emotion on hearing certain songs. I am also very deeply moved by seeing and hearing how the other members of Boyzone  have continued to keep on working through their grief to make this album possible for Stephen.

This got me thinking.  When you were growing up, which bands were you really into? Whose posters did you have on your bedroom walls?

While you think on that, please take a look at my review of Boyzone's album 'Brother'.

Wednesday 3 March 2010

Mondegreens!

As a lifelong fan of music, I have always had a thing for lyrics. I hear a song I like and I need to learn the words immediately so I can scare the neighbours with my singing!  But occasionally there are songs I hear and think "Surely that can't be right."  This happened when I was innocently singing along to Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison many years ago. The line (which I shall not repeat for worry of causing offence at the rudeness!) came out quite naturally, but made no sense and was....well....filthy! After I worked out what the real words were I realised that mis-hearing lyrics is something I do quite often, occasionally causing hilarity among my friends.

It might be that I am easily amused, but misheard lyrics have been known to make me cry with laughter and as we can all use a little laughter from time to time, I compiled a list of my favourite "mondegreens". Please read, and let me know what some of your favourite misheard lyrics are!

Funniest Misheard Lyrics

Tuesday 2 March 2010

Why I love promoting rising stars....

Whatever you wish to excel in, you have to start at the bottom. Occasionally, a lucky break can come along and you could find yourself becoming successful quickly, but even if that is the case, it can only be maintained through hard work.

The music business is notoriously difficult to get into. It has been made a little simpler in recent years with the invention of YouTube, MySpace, Facebook and blogging, but to make a living from music requires a lot of work and even those with enormous talent can still struggle.

I like to think that I have a pretty good ear for finding the artists that will make it and those who don't quite have what it takes. I had heard of Lady Gaga a long while before she stormed the charts with Just Dance, Muse were an unknown local band when I first listened to them and Alexandra Burke was a clear X Factor winner the first year she auditioned for the show.

While I cannot take any credit for the success of the stars I mentioned, it occurred to me that by writing articles I could give a helping hand to musicians who are just starting out. It gives me a chance to combine two of the things I love, and if reading my articles encourage people to listen to the people I have interviewed, I have helped them reach more potential new fans. Plus, it would be pretty cool to say that I helped *insertfuturefamouspopstarnamehere* before they were famous!

Here is one of my rising star interviews. An amazing young lady from California, named Kelly Fauth.

An Interview With Kelly Fauth

Monday 1 March 2010

Is it wrong....?

….to be so excited that the executive producer of Flashforward tweeted my article?? Jessika Borsiczky found my article on the internet and decided that it was worth posting on her Twitter account! This blows my mind. It also reminds me just how incredible the internet is. I live in the UK in a tiny little town, and someone who works on my favourite tv show in L.A can see my work and felt it worthy of sharing!

I am new to to article writing, but this has given me an enormous boost! I guess it shows that writing is infinitely better when you write about what you love!

Thank you, Jessika!!

All You Need To Know About ABC's Flashforward

Sunday 28 February 2010

Welcome to my world!

First post in my shiny new blog!

A Time To Shine is soon going to be packed with entertainment news!  I am a very new blogger so I am still stumbling my way around,trying to figure out how it all works but it is slowly coming together! Will post a proper entry very soon!