SueTube – Let’s talk TV with critic Susan Young

Maybe Kara DioGuardi’s keeping her game a secret until she pops on the judges’ panel tomorrow during the New York auditions.

But the press conference just now was a real yawner. “I have no idea” is her favorite phrase. Followed by “I really can’t comment on that.”

I knew it was downhill when she use the term “authentic” when describing singers she likes and she admitted to using “pitchy” when describing a singer. Not good.

“For me what makes a great artist, or what makes an artist, is someone who is unique. Just because you can sing runs doesn’t mean your voice (will make you a star). It’s not about vocal acrobatics, it’s about being unique and being identifiable to you,” Kara said in one of her rare moments of expanding on her answers.

As to what she’s going to bring to “American Idol,” Kara says simply that “I have my own kind of style and people will have to watch.”

Well, of course we’ll watch. It looks like there might be a train wreck coming down the tracks.

But you can’t deny Kara knows what she’s doing in the song department with Christina Aguilera’s “Ain’t No Other Man,” Kelly Clarkson’s “Walkaway,” Gwen Stefani’s “Rich Girl” and other hits. Check out these YouTube offerings:

Faith Hill’s Greatest Hits single “Lost” performed by co-writers Kara DioGuardi, the newest judge on Fox’s “American Idol” and Mitch Allan, with Dave Hodges on piano.

“Taking Chances” is the title track for Celine’s new album on which Celine sings an official solo version. Fox’s new “American Idol” judge Kara’s solo version is done by her band, Platinum Weird.

Wacky Paula Abdul may be getting some competition on “American Idol.”

Never the most stable of people, Paula has reigned as the queen of “American Idol” until now. Fox announced there will be new judge in the house: songwriter Kara DioGuardi.

Never heard of her? Well how many people knew who Simon Cowell was before he sat down on the judges’ panel? We’ll have to see if Kara’s got the charisma. Or, more importantly, can talk in coherent sentences.

New “American Idol” judge is songwriter Kara DioGuardi.
2007 FOX BROADCASTING CR: FOX

Grammy-nominated songwriter Kara now sits alongside Paula, Simon and Randy Jackson at the judges’ table and will use her background as an award-winning songwriter and producer to praise or critique the wannabe hopefuls throughout the competition. The eighth season of AMERICAN IDOL premieres January, 2009, on FOX.

“We are turning the heat up on ‘Idol’ this year and are thrilled to welcome Kara to the judges’ table,” said creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. “She is a smart, sassy lady, and one of America’s most successful songwriters. We know she will bring a new level of energy and excitement to the show.”

Not that the producers are trying to usurp Paula.

“We had originally intended for AMERICAN IDOL to have four judges,” said executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz. “We’ve seen from our international series that having a fourth judge creates a dynamic that benefits both the contestants and the viewers.”

Mike Darnell, President, Alternative Programming of Fox calls Paula “an island of consideration and gentle criticism between Randy and Simon, offering her invaluable expertise as a performer…with Kara by her side, Paula finally has some back-up and now there is going to be a lot more ‘girl power’ on the show.”

Umm. Maybe.

The press release says that Kara has worked with award-winning artists including Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Santana, and Pink. Scores of major recording artists including Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Pussycat Dolls, Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers, Natasha Bedingfield, Jewel, Ashley Tisdale, Katharine McPhee, Taylor Hicks, Bo Bice, Clay Aiken, Ashlee Simpson, Hilary Duff, Jessica Simpson, Kylie Minogue, Enrique Iglesias, Nick Lachey and Marc Anthony have also released DioGuardi’s songs.

OK. The only recast on J.J. Abrams fall Fox show “Fringe” was the cow. Which makes no sense unless you’ve seen the pilot.

Generally, the only outsiders watching that pilot would have been TV critics, but the pilot was leaked online and who knows how many people picked it up before Fox started the killing trail to get it off the Internet.

Good luck with that. (By the way, if you’re in San Diego next week, check out “Fringe” at Comic Con)

In any case, the We-Are-Not-The-X-Files series about conspiracies, FBI agents and crazy scientific series. The pilot proved entertaining, especially the scenes with “Dawson Creek” alum Joshua Jackson, who’s back in fine form, as the brilliant rebellious son of a fringe scientist; Aussie actress Anna Tory as the spunky FBI agent Olivia and John Noble as the fringy scientist. Think scary flick with a sense of humor.

2008 FOX SUMMER TCA: Executive producer and co-creator J.J. Abrams during the FRINGE session of FOX’s 2008 summer press tour Monday, July 14 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA.

But “Lost” producer J.J. promises it won’t get too complicated. He says he learned his lesson from his previous series “Alias.”

“I was at my friend Greg Grunberg’s house. and alias was on, watched a few minutes and I was so confused, it was impenetrable,” J.J. says as he watched a scene play out. “I should know this, but who the fuck is that guy?”

Like “Lost,” J.J. says “Fringe” has an overall story and an end game. Good to know. Better still, he promises each episode will be self-contained for people who don’t want to get into the mythology.

“My point is that you can do a show that has week-to-week stories, but over the course of seasons, there are bigger arcs,” J.J. says. “I’m diligently trying to do a show that doesn’t require insane dedication.”

Yet, for many people that’s exactly the point of watching a series like this. So there are plenty of Easter eggs for the fanatics. Pay attention to the details, like the frogs and leaves shown at the breaks, they will become important down the line says J.J.

“The frogs and leaves work simply as weird imagery, but it is not disconnected to the series,” J.J. says. “It is part of the code of the series.”

As for the cow, when production moved from Toronto to New York City, they couldn’t take the Jersey cow used in the lab scenes with them. So they had to recast.

2008 FOX SUMMER TCA: (L-R) Executive producer Brian Burk, Jeff Pinkner, co-creators and executive producers Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, and J.J. Abrams during the FRINGE session of FOX’s 2008 summer press tour Monday, July 14 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA.

Nigel says he cannot discuss Jessica King’s injury. No, really. Just can’t do it. Legal issues and all that.

Her injury was Comfort Feoke’s gain. Although Comfort was eliminated last week, she won’t miss a step as she returns to the show on Wednesday. Judge Nigel Lythgoe says it’s brave of Comfort to return, knowing she could get booted off a second time.

So why Comfort?

“She’s had some surprisingly beautiful moments, and every dancer can have some bad weeks,” Mary Murphy says. “So maybe this one more shot she’ll be able to knock our socks off.”

But more importantly Mary, how did Hot Tamale Train come about?

“It just flew out of my mouth one day,” says Mary, who also says she’s called hot Latin dancers hot tamales for a long time. “But now Fox owns it.”

As for show quitter Robert Muraine, who couldn’t handle the choreography, the judges were critical of the guy.

“No dancer should quit, ever,” says Nigel Lythgoe. “It’s a really tought life. Have a sprained ankle. strap it up and get on with it.”

There’s no crying in baseball, or dancing.

“You can’t be a victim. You have to be a warrior, ” says Mia Michaels, who talked about breaking two toes and then went back on stage. “Really, quitting? You can be at the top of your game?”

2008 FOX SUMMER TCA: (L-R) finalists Matt Dorame of Glendale, AZ and Kourtni Lind of Forest Lake, MN perform during the SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE session of FOX’s 2008 summer press tour Monday, July 14 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA.

Yeah, no one is surprised to see “American Idol” dominating again. But who would have thought “CSI” would sneak into No. 3 ahead of “Dancing with the Stars”?

Where does your favorite show rank this week?

1 AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY 26120 9.1
2 AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY 24840 8.7
3 CSI 20580 7.2
4 DANCING WITH THE STARS 20560 7.2
5 DANCING W/STARS RESULTS 17280 6.0
6 CSI: MIAMI 15650 5.5
7 WITHOUT A TRACE 15200 5.3
8 TWO AND A HALF MEN 14500 5.1
9 CBS NCAA BSKBL CHAMP SA-2 14440 5.0
10 CSI: MIAMI – TUESDAY SP 14230 5.0
11 SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA 12870 4.5
12 CSI: NY 12850 4.5
13 CRIMINAL MINDS 12810 4.5
14 OLD CHRISTINE 12570 4.4
15 COLD CASE 11930 4.2
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Well, at least Fox decided to cut back on the reality shows, or should we say show?

“When Women Ruled the World” has been shelved for the time being. The reality series would have plunked down some men on a primitive location where the women build a society where they are the power players.
In order to win, the men must accede to the women’s every demand, 24/7. Over the series’ duration, the men will be eliminated by the women until one last man is standing.

On Mondays, Fox will double pump the dramas with the derivative “New Amsterdam,” a stale tale about an immortal and the downbeat “Canterbury’s Law” about a couple dealing with the abduction of their child by leading messy lives.

And the troubled comedy by “Gilmore Girls” creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, “The Return of Jezebel James,” gets a shot on the schedule in March following a sneak preview after “American Idol” on March 12.

“Encore” episodes – better known as repeats to you and me – of “Bones” and “House” return to the schedule as well.

FOX WINTER/SPRING SCHEDULE

MONDAY

Monday, Feb. 18:

8:00-9:00 PM PRISON BREAK (Season Finale)

9:00-10:00 PM TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES

Monday, Feb. 25:

8:00-9:00 PM THE MOMENT OF TRUTH

9:00-10:00 PM TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES

Monday, March 3:

8:00-10:00 PM TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES (Two-Hour Season Finale)

Mondays, beginning March 10:

8:00-9:00 PM HOUSE (Time Period Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM NEW AMSTERDAM (Series Premiere)

Monday, April 7:

8:00-10:00 PM NEW AMSTERDAM (Two-Hour Season Finale)

Mondays, beginning April 14:

8:00-9:00 PM HOUSE

9:00-10:00 PM CANTERBURY’S LAW (Series Premiere)

***************************

TUESDAY

Tuesday, Feb. 26 & March 25:

8:00-9:30 PM AMERICAN IDOL

9:30-10:00 PM BACK TO YOU

Tuesday, March 4:

8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL

9:00-10:00 PM NEW AMSTERDAM (Series Preview)

Tuesday, March 11 & 18:

8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL

Tuesdays, beginning April 1:

8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL

9:00-10:00 PM HELL’S KITCHEN (Season Premiere)

***************************

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday, Feb. 27:

8:00-9:30 PM AMERICAN IDOL

9:30-10:00 PM BACK TO YOU

Wednesday, March 12:

8:00-9:00 PM THE MOMENT OF TRUTH

9:00-9:30 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Time Period Premiere)

9:30-10:00 PM THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES (Series Preview)

Wednesdays, beginning March 19:

8:00-9:00 PM THE MOMENT OF TRUTH

9:00-9:30 PM AMERICAN IDOL

9:30-10:00 PM BACK TO YOU (Time Period Premiere)

***************************

THURSDAY

Thursday, Feb. 21:

8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL

9:00-10:00 PM ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER?

Thursday, Feb. 28:

8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL

9:00-10:00 PM DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS!

Thursday, March 6:

8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL

9:00-10:00 PM NEW AMSTERDAM (Series Preview)

Thursdays, beginning March 13:

8:00-9:00 PM ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER?

9:00-10:00 PM DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS!

***************************

FRIDAY

Fridays, Feb. 22, 29 & March 7:

8:00-9:00 PM BONES

9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE

Fridays, beginning March 14:

8:00-8:30 PM ‘TIL DEATH (Time Period Premiere)

8:30-9:00 PM THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES

(Series Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM BONES (Time Period Premiere)

Nope. Not even going Code Blue could save the Emmy telecast, which weighed in with only 13.1 million viewers. The only time fewer folks tuned in was the 1990 telecast on Fox.

Compare that to the dazzle of the Oscars, which lured 40.2 million viewers to the telecast. Heck, even the Country Music Awards brought in 16 million people.

GIDGET GETS BLEEPED

We have two words for you: Ryan Seacrest.

There’s nothing special or flashy about Ryan, and he brought the same amateur hour spirit to the Emmys normally reserved for “American Idol.”

RYAN MAKES EVERYONE UNCOMFORTABLE

And James Spader over James Gandolfini for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series? Emmy deserved the hit.

BAD PRESENTERS. BAD, BAD…and then there was James…

Well, at least you can’t say Fox didn’t use their turn at bat to flog their new fall line-up.

I’ll admit I laughed at parts of the opening song, “If you want it you can find it on TV’,” with animated “Family Guy” stars Stewie and Brian.

Loved the slam on “Cavemen,” but no one left unscathed. The hit on “Sopranos” when they same “and you never know how it’s going to (black screen).” Host Ryan Seacrest kept things moving along nicely, giving shots out to the crowd both in the audience and viewers.

The thing I like the most about Ryan hosting is that he doesn’t do a lot of it. Ellen DeGeneres is the best, so if Fox had to put “American Idol” in the spotlight, at least they let Ryan have as little airtime as any host in recent history.

The bang-bang we get four big awards: the Supporting Actor in a Comedy/Drama then Supporting Actress in a Comedy, followed by Supporting Actor in movie/miniseries before the first half hour has passed.

Sweet.

We’ll talk winners after the West Coast portion airs. But I can say that so far, my predictions have flopped miserably. Now I know why I don’t go to Vegas.

Wow. About 50 minutes in and it’s moving right along. Now we’ve got Tony Bennett and Christina Aguilera singing “Stepping Out with My Baby.’‘ X-tina shows what happens when you do things right in your career, Britney. Oh, and there’s def a baby bump there.

What I like is we have some serious moments that work, like the “Roots” tribute with the regal Queen Latifah, then some chuckle moments with “The Office.” Still, the acceptance speeches have left a bit to be desired.

Oh boy, Jersey Boys coming up…This is the first time in memory I haven’t looked at my watch after the first 90 minutes of an Emmy show and wished someone would put me out of my misery…I’m not saying this is a fantastic show, but at least it seems to be moving along at a fairly brisk clip and not taking itself too seriously.

But is that a good thing?

The Jersey Boys are here. “Walk Like a Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You,” and OK, I don’t know the title to the next song…“Who Loves You Baby?” Maybe. Help me out.
The songs come with clips from “The Sopranos.” An hour and 45 minutes and I’m actually tapping my toes. Maybe I’m just going delirious.

Now the “Sopranos” cast is on the stage. That’s one big cast. Lots of applause. Then commercial…that’s it? Just a bow? Odd little filler that….and when we come back, everyone seems a little surprised. I’m just wondering what it was all about.

Resident ranger Louis Black on my favorite topic _ those horrid promo crawls telling you what show is coming on next that ruin our viewing experience of what’s going on NOW.

There have been a lot of awards handed out, yet I repeat that in respect to no spoilers, I’m not going to start posting the winners until after they are announced on the West Coast…like you couldn’t get them early….

Oops. Bad sign. Ryan just showed up in a period costume. As Wayne Brady says, “looking like a medievel pimp.” Oh, now Wayne has selected Rainn Wilson and Kanye as the “randomly selected” participants to see who will win the opportunity to give out an Emmy. The category: “Songs of Kanye West.”

Fox keeps on flogging its shows. This is starting to look more like amateur night as things roll along.

Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart, together again. Gotta love it. They’re talking about the “Green Emmys.”
“This baby runs on alternative fuel…Al Gore tears,” says Stephen with his leaf blower in hand.
Is bastard allowed on broadcast television? Guess we’ll find out on the West Coast broadcast. And the boys? Not as funny was we thought…

The roll of those no longer with us always gets to me.
Wow, only 10 more minutes until we’ve hit the three-hour mark. Will they bring it in on time?
Nah…

OK, the guy I never thought would win, just won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama, but by golly he gave great speech….It’s now 8 our time, 11 back east. So much for an early curtain.

Hey. Only 11 minutes over. Must be a record.

Fox’s “Nashville” had a few fun moments in it, but I’m just not sure what’s going on. Everyone seems to be looking for a career in country music, except the one dude whose dad rents/sells jets.

Looks like slimey Clint Moseley is just a guy trying to get lucky in front of the cameras. And by lucky, I mean get a little action with the ladies. And so far, he’s been pretty gosh darn lucky.

I’m wondering what former quarterback Terry Bradshaw thinks about his little girl Rachel getting played by this guy? I keep thinking there’s going to be a major tackle in his future.

And poor Matt Jenkins, who got dropped from his record label and now seems to be getting the boot from Mika Combs, who has a boyfriend back home in Kentucky. Yet, she seems awfully cozy with ol’ Clint.

So, right now I’m testing out embedding a non-You Tube clip here. Let’s see how it works. Should it be lower resolution? How long does it take to load?

The first one introduces the cast:

This one tells you what Nashville is all about…for them.

Help me out here, OK?

Hot breaking news: We can confirm that Zachary Quinto will be a regular character this year on “Heroes,” although he’ll be taking some time off to play Spock in the upcoming “Star Trek’’ movie.

OK, so there’s no real official word, but it’s almost a done deal.

Moving on.

A few days earlier at the Television Critics Awards, I made the mistake of asking Zachary, who plays the evil Sylar, if he was really a cockroach _ the insect seen crawling out of the gutter after Sylar was supposedly killed

“I am not a cockroach,’’ he says in a low snarl. “It was a metaphor for evolution.’’

ZACHARY QUINTO AS SYLAR – NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth

Sylar, we can safely say, has not been killed. Although I’m a little afraid Zachary may be out to get me.