Oprah Winfrey began her show today by saying, “I love it when somebody’s dream gets to come true,” thus imposing her trademark positive-thinking message onto a sometimes-impressive, sometimes-ridiculous variety hour. The theme was “The World’s Got Talent,” and its draws were “the number-one talent scout in the world” (that would be Simon Cowell, sitting next to Oprah and grinning like a Cheshire cat) and a satellite interview with Susan Boyle.
The Boyle interview was no headline-maker. Yes, Oprah asked whether she’d had a makeover; Boyle said she’d just “tidied myself up like any female would do.” She didn’t sing for Winfrey. The whole chat lasted about three minutes.
The rest of the hour offered acts from all over the world, including Escala, a string quartet consisting of Brit babes in short skirts and heels. Cowell thinks they have “it” (they’re his clients). Judge for yourself:
Oprah presented performances by Jane Zhang, a Chinese singer known as “the dolphin princess” for the high notes she hits (ouch). There was also a Germany-based act competing in the current Eurovision Song Contest called Alex Swings Oscar Sings. Oscar is a transplanted American with a lounge-singer ooze; Alex arranges the songs. “Miss Kiss Kiss Bang” is the name of their hit, complete with nonsense lyrics like, “Do the heedee hi ho” copped straight from Cab Calloway (ask your grandparents, kids):
Oh, yeah: Simon predicted Adam Lambert will win American Idol because “he’s got that ‘it’… he’s got swagger.” Well, duh.
Did you watch? Are you suddenly yearning to buy an Escala album, or to download “Miss Kiss Kiss Bang”?
Adam is AMAZING@! Vote for Adam!
I work for the VA and I am so proud that Adam Lambert went to Mirarmar while he was home and sang for the troops and their families. He has my vote for American Idol!
Could Simon’s prediction be the kiss of death for Adam? I certainly hope not.
Escala schmala – not an inking of “it” for me.
Don’t ask the grandparents about Cab Calloway – watch the Blues Brothers movie and then get a hold of Bobby Darin’s version of Minnie the Moocher. Bobby Darin certainly had “IT”.
The string quartet was unimpressive and Miss Kiss Kiss Bang reminds me of Ricky Martin only suddenly played at half the pace. And Ricky Martin was better.
I love both of these acts. You can see the $$$ in Simon’s eyes while he’s watching Escala. And rightly so. I’ll be the first in line for their album. Really liked Oscar and the whole performance. Both of these go to show you how important “visual presentation” is. That’s why I think Adam can go far. He has that stage presence that will make for great concerts and music videos — which in turn should sell a lot of albums.
The German guy reminded me of Taco or whatever the name is of the guy who sings putting on the Ritz. Maybe it’s because I’ve been watching that 80s one hit wonder countdown.
The violins remind me of something I saw in Reno around the time Riverdance was popular. I guess they are pretty but violins are never going to top the charts.
Both of them equal yawn for me.
HOLD IT JUST A SECOND!! A couple of weeks ago in TV Guide, Simon Cowell said that DANNY WOULD WIN!! His quote was that it would be a close race to the end, but America would pick Danny because he is a “safe choice”.
AND NOW HE’S PICKING ADAM?!?!?!? The truth of the matter is that Simon Cowell has NO IDEA who’s going to win this, and he’s covering his butt no matter what happens. That way he can say, “I guessed it correctly…”
For Simon to even attempt to guess is nothing but “self-indulgent nonsense” (to use one of his favorite sayings).
What a surprise–and EW put Adam alone on the cover. Why should anybody bother to watch the finale of Idol? I hope that they realize how close he is to Taylor Hicks.
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adam definitely has it. Every week I look forward to him.
I certainly hope that Simon saying that Adam will win doesn’t hurt Adam’s chances. To sam, Adam is NOTHING like Taylor Hicks! Adam is extremely talented. Someone with an amazing voice like his, along with being genuinely sweet, doesn’t come along very often. Go Adam!!!
Ummm, the Escala group is just a rip off of Bond. You can check it out on Youtube. Nothing new or original here.
Ryan J: actually, Simon Cowell probably knows who is going to win because the producers see the vote totals each week. He can safely predict an Adam victory because Adam most likely has the lead. But, has the American public ever been given accurate vote totals? Nope.
“Simon. Simon. Simon.” (said in my best JAN BRADY voice) ADAM doesn’t only have “swagger,” ADAM HAS SEX APPEAL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE!!! Yeah, ADAM!!!!!! You WILL win Season 8 American Idol. You are fulfilling your dreams! Good for you!! And thanks for all your great singing & entertaining for now & years to come!!
The only person whose “dream gets to come true”, Oprah, is Simon Cowells. Escala, for example, is signed to his label. They are not “original” as he claims. They are a rip off of Bond. He already knows they sold millions and wants Escala to go the same route. We are ALL suckers!