Xmas special to re-air

Those of you that missed the American Idol Christmas special the first time around have a second chance to see it on December 23rd. Set your Tivos and VCRs. This special has a little bit of everything:

*Cute, well dressed children singing in high pitched angelic voices - that quickly overstay their welcome... I mean they were good and all (haven't we decided somewhere that we couldn't bash these baby divas on principal alone?) but the cuteness factor wore off pretty quickly for me during this show. That's all I'm saying.

*A MUCH improved, stylized K-Lo. Her stylists got it together this time around and she looks great. Sounds FAB as usual! The one thing that struck me about her after watching it over a few times was how truly understated but divafied she really has become compared to the rest of the women on the show. She just does her thing and (I hate this word but...) she oozes class. No fluff about this girl.

*A long awaited duo between Ruben and Tamyra. Loved this! And boy it just reminds me of how ROBBED that girl was last year! Both Ruben and Tamyra sound great in all of their showings on this show. I really enjoyed both of their solo numbers as well. The velvety sound of Ruben and the stylized, soulful belting of Tamyra were perfectly in check and not overdone. Ruben looks great in his well fitting, very good looking wintery get ups. Although he was clearly sweating to death under those lights in a huge white parka trimmed with fur. I would be too. I was not thrilled with the slick hair look Tamyra was sporting, but I think I had grown accustomed to the teenage character transformation we have been subjected to in her Boston Public role. She still sounded good though... no doubt about that!

*Clay... well... I still say the boy can sing. There's no doubt about that and this is finally the perfect venue for his show tune voice. You don't get any closer to right than Mister Broadway doing a fake winter wonderland rendition of White Christmas complete with jumbo screen snow, 50 foot trees with twinkling lights and a a perfect duet partner in K-Lo. But let's not talk about the cheesy show host personality he seems to have suddenly developed.

*Christina Christian.... uuhhmmm... among the weak talent of the first group of Idols this girl seemed so much stronger. I mean I thought she was somewhat good last year. But paired with this year's powerhouses... well she was just mediocre eye candy in super short micro skirts and fur trimmed halters. She mostly fulfills the "pretty girl" qouta for the show.

* and last but not least Kelly Clarkson. Kelly, Kelly, Kelly. You know I am not her biggest fan. You know I said many times during this season when they brought her to the show to perform that it was a mistake. This time she had stepped up her game. Girlfriend belted out some Oh Holy Night with her little choir backup going on and all was good........
EXCEPT her opening number red dress and closing number white pantsuit. If ever there was a stylist mistake, these were 2 of the biggest I've ever seen on t.v.. Shonda has discussed the belly "pooch" issue with great vigor in issues past. This poor young girl might as well have had a message on the jumbo screen that SHOUTED look at my most heinous 5 1/2 month pregnant looking monster pooch ever. Those 2 outfits were so tight and ill fitting that there was actually a SHADOW underneath her stomach in the red dress. Those heavenly, glistening Christmasy lights from above shone down on the angel on stage... and the stomach pooch was so big that it blocked the light to her mid section below. And thus a shadow was cast for all to see and judge. It was just plain freaky and her stylists should be fired with haste. Kelly... we all know girls all over the world have the pooch (including me) and it's nothing to be ashamed of - BUT DON'T LET YOUR STYLIST TELL YOU IT DOESN'T SHOW ON STAGE!!! Play it back Kelly. Rewind, play it back and then go shopping.


All right, enough. Enjoy the show y'all. It's good for what it is. It's a traditionally fluffy, holiday program with lightweight, group choreography, angelic kids and fake snow. All that's good and magical in the holiday season.

I'm out.

Okay. I know I said we wouldn't be posting until January. But RUBEN WAS NOMINATED FOR A GRAMMY!!!!!!!!

Yes. I said GRAMMY! His song Superstar is nominated for Best Male R&B Performance. WHOO! WHOO!

Clay didn't get any nominations. Just an observation...