#LindsayOnOwn

            

           Hello everyone! It’s nice to be back after two months. You might remember a blogpost from July 14^th of last year in which I talk about the announcement of Lindsay Lohan’s docu-series on the OWN network. Well, today was the finale of the seven-episode show and I will be giving my personal points of view. So, if you haven’t finished watching, stop reading as there will be spoilers.

            I can’t say I didn’t like it since I watched each episode religiously; however, I had so many issues with the show! First of all, I was taken away from the experience many times (especially at the beginning when I was figuring out the tone of the show) because it wasn’t strictly shot like a docu-series, and there was a lot of intervention by the crew. Audio was really bad on some scenes, such as Lindsay’s audio when she’s being interviewed by Oprah at Dina’s house on episodes three and four, and the literary agent’s audio in the sixth episode. One of the things that made me laugh took place on the fifth episode. It’s a scene with the personal assistant, AJ, and someone else having a conversation on the street. People are walking by, aware that they’re on camera but not knowing what to do. They look at the camera, try to hide from it, walk quickly, etc. I just thought it was pretty funny, but also wondered where the second camera was.

            Story wise, Lindsay was pretty much a lost cause until the last episode, maybe? I sympathized with many of the people around her who didn’t get the credit they deserved, which are AJ, the sober coach, and the best character of the show, her personal assistant. I am happy though that the show didn’t really take sides and didn’t mind showing Lindsay be a total b****, as the Indonesian lady from the “natural lighting” photo shoot called her. (I love that they showed that).

            This show was a guilty pleasure that kept bringing back the audience to see if Lindsay could ever clean her act. Oprah reminded us she is a total boss with her speeches, and even though it wasn’t great on a technical level as I’ve mentioned already, I think the people in the story department did a good job considering all the footage that was recorded and all the events that took place.

Idol Veteran Leaves and Others Will As Well

            American Idol is undergoing a major facelift for its 13^th season. An article from The Wrap describes the changes as “nuclear,” yet a different source I found at Vulture states it is nothing but a rumor. Regardless if it’s true or not, I see these changes as Idol’s ultimatum, which will determine if it can redeem itself or if its expiration date is reached.

            If you know me personally or have had conversations with me about the entertainment industry, you know I strongly think that Idol got cancer when Simon Cowell left, and it worsened when the panel of judges kept changing constantly. This inconsistency is what may have caused audiences to stop watching the show. Also, a cooler guy named The Voice joined the soccer team, leaving Idol with fewer friends.

            The original panel of judges consisted of Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell, lasting for nine seasons. Kara DioGuardi’s presence in season eight and nine proved to be good. However, I believe the cancer began when Ellen DeGeneres (yes, Ellen) joined season nine. Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez joined Randy Jackson for seasons ten and eleven, and it changed again for this year’s season with the addition of Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj, and Mariah Carey.

            So what is all the nuclear talk about? As I’m writing this blog, Randy Jackson has just announced his departure. "I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry. It's been a life changing opportunity but I am looking forward to focusing on my company Dream Merchant 21 and other business ventures,” he told E! News. Also, a source close to Fox has stated that the company plans to completely change the judging panel. They want to invest less money in the judges and focus more on the talent. Mariah Carey received $18 million this season, the highest salary for a judge on Idol history. (Jennifer Lopez received $15 million and Nicki Minaj $12 million).

             Fox has a lot of work to do in regards to rebuilding their brand, getting back their target audience, and thinking carefully about how to change the show without completely getting rid of its roots. The source close to Fox also stated that longtime executive producer Nigel Lythgoe will be let go.

            Ratings declined 22 percent this season and hit an all-time low last Thursday with only 11 million viewers compared to 30 million viewers on episodes from season six. The cancer hasn’t killed Idol yet. It is a powerhouse for Fox, which brings $836.4 million in ad revenue. As I mentioned above, the show lost its authenticity when Simon Cowell left and a rapidly swap of current or very well known stars happened in the judging panel. Competition, mainly from The Voice, might be another factor, but I don’t think that’s the biggest reason. This season dragged and didn’t flow organically. I was expecting a lot from Mariah Carey; even though her critiques improved from the audition process all the way to the Top 12, she failed to meet my expectations. Keith and Nicki were good judges in the way they got their message across and evaluated the singers technically (although I will say Nicki gave too much importance to outfits). Randy, well, “he’s not in it to win it.”

            The finale for Season 12 is next week. What are your thoughts on this season and the show through time? Feel free to comment below and share this blog post.

What Would Ryan Lochte Do?

“What would Ryan Lochte do with his own television show?”

            And so this slogan kicks off the first season of the 11-time Olympic medalist’s show, and indeed, we’ll have to see. My post is an honest point of view on E!’s new show, and I must warn you, there are spoilers.

            The viewer is first introduced to his group of close friends, which include his assistant and brother. They do “cool” things like play flag football and drink at Ryan’s place.

            Then, the most annoying element of the show is introduced, and that would be his signature phrase, ”Jeah.” It’s like a bad pop song from a one-hit wonder that you just can’t stop mumbling.

            I must say though that the few scenes that include his swimming life are the most appealing. That’s probably because as someone who swam competitively for many years, they are relatable; from an editor’s point of view, they don’t feel fabricated and they flow smoothly.

            The Lochte clan is then introduced at his family bowling alley and Ryan makes it clear that family is the most important part of his life. It is so important, that an emotional scene could not be absent. Then again, you can’t have a good reality show without some drama and conflict. Ryan Lochte crying for the first time in front of the camera! This completely threw me off. You’re being introduced to this 28 year-old guy who to me, seems like a high school sophomore trapped in a ripped body, and then all of a sudden we’re taken to a crying scene. This should have been left until the end or should have been saved for another episode with more depth and emotion. This completely threw me out, but I must say it made me laugh out loud.

            The sushi date was funny, mainly because we know he is not looking to settle down, even though he claims true love is what he’s looking for. They bring this up way too much to the point that it feels overly manipulated.

            I wrote the first paragraph as I first started watching the show, but I think I got a chance to see in 30 minutes what the show will more than likely be about. Swimmer, wannabe rockstar, trying to find his place. I think I had enough with one episode and I highly doubt this show will get renewed for a second season. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much, but it’s sad to see your high school idol be part of a show that feels like a copy of previously existing shows. Ryan tries too hard to the point that it doesn’t feel real and organic, and it’s obvious that ideas will run short. If you’re a young swimmer trying to get into the life of your role model, this is not the show for you. But if you watched Jersey Shore religiously, be my guest.

             Catch What Would Ryan Lochte Do? every Sunday on E! Entertainment at 10/9c.

Ryan and I at an autograph signing in Orlando, FL. I told him I liked his watch... Jeah!

China, Transformers, and Reality TV? (The Best of Both Worlds)

            

             If you keep up with my blog, you may remember that I’ve mentioned a couple of times the expansion and rise of the industry in China, such as James Cameron’s contributions over there to build new studios and expand the knowledge of 3D technology.

            I’m writing this post because as I was scrolling down through the top news in IMDb this morning, I came across several articles that involve China, Transformers 4, and reality television.

            What? A blockbuster franchise whose last installment generated $165 million in that country and reality television, TV’s hottest market?

            To get to the point of my excitement, it was just announced that a reality show will begin airing this summer in China with the purpose of finding four Chinese actors who will join the cast of Michael Bay’s fourth installment. Two will be experienced actors, and the other couple won’t need to have experience.

The panel of judges will consist of Sid Ganis, former head of the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences; Lorenzo DiBonaventura, producer of the film; Denise Chamian, casting director; and Megan Colligan, the marketing and distribution chief for Paramount.

            In my opinion, this is quite exciting because it’s a project I haven’t seen before. It is smart to merge both worlds, especially in a country where Dark of the Moon ranks as the fourth highest grossing film in the box office. Also, the film will be shot over there.

            This will get fans involved with the entire process even earlier, and having the show will increase awareness of the film, garnering even more fans. This opens more possibilities for new, fresh projects domestically. I wish the show would air in the States, simply because I’d love to see what kinds of challenges the contestants will have to face, the panel of judges is pretty legitimate, and the whole idea is amazing.

            What are your thoughts? Comment below or tweet me. Have a great day!

21st Century Gold Rush

             Start-Ups: SiliconValley premiered tonight on BravoTV. The reality show, which is executive produced by Mark Zuckerberg’s sister, Randi Zuckerberg, follows a group of six geeky, partiers in their late twenties as they try to make it big in Silicon Valley, the most technologically advanced place in the world. Companies such as Facebook and Google were founded here.

             Susan Levison, an executive producer of reality television once told me that the key ingredients to a successful reality show are strong characters and conflict. Based on this first episode, this show has proven to have both elements.

             Even though all six characters have very similar goals and work in the same industry realm, they are distinct and they all have different characteristics that will either make them likeable or unlikeable. First, we are introduced to siblings Ben and Hermione who are originally from the UK. They do business together and are trying to get an investor for their new app named “Ignite.” We then have Sarah, a blogger who reminded me of the “pretty mean girl of the club.” Her connections in Silicon Valley have made her very successful, and one should not be fooled only by her looks. Our fourth character is Kim, a tough-looking digital sales director who does online advertising. She is not afraid to express what she feels to her co-workers. Dwight is a determined software engineer who breathes, eats, and sleeps his work, so it’s not rare to see him turn into a party animal every now and then to release the stress. Last but not least, we have David, a software engineer who happens to be gay. Being bullied when he was younger led him to develop an app called “Gosponsors,” which helps you keep track of your goals.

             The episode keeps you interested. After we’re introduced to the characters, they all go to a Toga party at Ben and Hermione’s. It is here that we learn that Hermione and Sarah have a past. Their differences are causing tension not only between them two, but also between Ben, who happens to be interested in Sarah. The next day, the British duo deliver their first pitch to Dave McClure, a venture capitalist. They hope that he’ll invest on the “Ignite” app, only to find out that he wasn’t interested and that they had to face their first rejection.

             I can’t wait to see what will happen with Ben and Hermione as they keep  pitching, because I’m sure some arguments will come up between the two and some drama might ruin their partnership. I’m also looking forward to seeing more of Kim and David. I feel like they were not portrayed that much on this episode, but hopefully we can learn more about them and their intentions.

A Different Kind of Competition Reality TV Show

A Different Kind of Competition Reality TV Show

            In a day and age when most competition reality TV shows are a plethora of singing races to find the newest “pop star,” I was ecstatic to learn about a new and fresh project, with not so new and fresh people, but anyway, that’s not the point.

            I read a few weeks ago while scrolling down the “news” section on the IMDb website that talent scout Simon Cowell and producer/recording artist Will.I.am will be collaborating on a new show. Instead of looking for aspiring singers, they will be seeking entrepreneurs and talented individuals with new technology ideas.

            “Singing and performance create a couple of jobs, but this will create lots. It’s about getting in touch with youth and giving them a platform to express themselves, whether that’s in science or mathematics,” said Will.I.am at a tech conference in London.

           

            From a producer (and even a viewer) stand point of view, it’s great that an effort is being made not just to create a new type of competition show, but to bring awareness in math and science to this country. It may not be a coincidence that this is taking place during a deciding time when the world has yet to see if President Barack Obama will be reelected.

            “We’re starting to see gains in math and science in some of the schools that are the toughest for kids,” said the President during the second Presidential debate two days ago. To narrow it down, the point I’m trying to make is that there is a possibility that pop culture is slowly starting to shift more towards a political and “down-to-earth” perspective. I mean, there are two other shows with similar concepts. There is Shark Tank which airs on ABC and an upcoming show starring Mark Zuckerberg's sister which will air on Bravo. 

            Many question if Will.I.am is adequate for this type of show, and I say yes. According to article written by Emi Kolawole for The Washington Post, The first song to ever be broadcast from Mars was composed by him, and has worked closely with Segway inventor and For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) founder Dean Kamen. He collaborated last year with Kamen to air the FIRST Robotics Competition on ABC.

            Titled X Factor for Tech, the new show may contribute to the growth of job creations if it is done right and meets its purpose. The big question is if viewers may be interested in watching unknown scientists, mathematicians, and engineers every week.