Thursday, February 24, 2011

Tears, Steers and Adam Lambert 2.0

The Top 24 have been chosen so let the games begin! Both two hour shows were very well done, especially the first night. I believe this is the first season that we got to see this much behind the scenes shenanigans. From that mean old wicked vocal coach to perpetual town cryer Allison's absurd wedding. However, the meat and potatoes of the show was in the last ditch solo performances to give them one final opportunity to show the judges who's best (in an airplane hangar of all places). Then the long and winding walk, which looked like it was about two football field lengths.

I gotta say, I've been pleasantly surprised by the show, as I was pretty close to wringing my hands and snorting "harumphhh" to it last season. Steven Tyler is a fresh of breath air and vice versa. Jenny "down the block" has been sincere and emotionally vested in the performers. Even the old DAWG himself seems to have something other than "it's just aight for me" to say. Let's face it, the chemistry between the judges (and SeaKrust) last season was absent, and yet filled with malice. Cowell was mailing in his efforts and his criticisms were ill-tempered and flaccid. Once the live shows began, Ellen UnGenerous was like a deer in headlice. Kara just wanted to flirt with Casey, and Jackson was just a Jackass.


So here we go with a fresh new season, fresh judges and fresh ingredients. Papa John's Idol! I digest. Everything about the show is better. The performers, collectively, even the 15 yr olds, are oodles better than ghosts of seasons' past. I already mentioned the judges--nuff said. Seakrust's head seems to be getting smaller, or perhaps some of the chowder in his head has left his cranium.

Enough about the production, what about the talent? Gobs of it, let's just hope the right ones go through week to week. This is another area that had me itchin' to cut the ties to the show the last few seasons. This idea of vote for the worst is ludicrous, but has enough momentum to actually impact the results. The producers need to take that foolishness serious and do something about the voting. That said, from what I can tell, the top 24 are solid, not a weak one in the bunch. There were many cuts that didn't seem to make any sense, but when you look at the 24, what can ya do?

Once they start performing live, we'll see how they do on TV, in front of millions. We'll also see about those song choices, which have historically haunted many a contender. The ability to perform live, pick good songs and make them original will again be the lifeline to the next week.

So who's got what it takes to finish strong? I got some ideas, I got favorites (for now)... I admit sometimes I latch on to one too early, and they end up sucking or pissing me off. This season, I think a girl is going to win it. There are so many standouts. Julie Zorilla (the gal from South America with awesome shoes) has the look and the sound to be the next Carrie Underwood (without the country twang). She did the piano duet for Beatles night with Tim Halperin. Karen Rodriquez and Pia Toscano (they did the Can't Buy Me Love duet) look and sound like seasoned professionals already.

The guys are a mixed bag of nuts, but my fave has to be... CASEY ABRAMS! Yes, the standup-bass-playin, mop-headed guy who looks like a cross between Seth Rogan and Cookie Monster. He's a nut like Graylor Hicks with a voice like David Cook. Then there's Lambert 2.0 James Durbin with insane range. Tim Halperin, the guy I mentioned doing the piano duet above, and King of Beards Paul McDonald are also contenders.



I've already picked my goatskis for this season. The Goatski is the person or people that for some reason, I want to see fail. This season it is Karoake Clint June Cleaver Gamboa. Maybe it's the designer glasses that look like 1920s aviator goggles, or his snobbery towards stout little JC . Also among this list is Jersey Shore reject and Shipbuilder Jovanny Barreto. His ego is bigger than Snooki's hair. Am I watching Idol or the Sopranos? And finally, Jordan Dorsey. His overconfidence and delusions of grandeur put him in with the other blowhards who left early. Not one Idol winner has ever been over-the-top egotistical. They have all started with humble beginnings and I don't see that changing anytime soon.


As the shows were finishing up this week, I can't help feeling a little verglempt about the Chris Medina story. This is the guy who has remained committed to his wheelchair-bound fiance through thick and thin. It was tough on the judges to say NO, especially JelLO who was an emotional wreck. Something tells me that this guy is going to end up okay.

Another season of Idol is upon us, and I gotta start making up nicknames, so my work is cut out for me as you see the list of contenders below... Saddle up for a fun ride!

WOMEN

1.Naima Adedapo
2.Lauren Alaina
3.Kendra Campbell
4.Ashthon Jones
5.Thia Megia
6.Haley Reinhart
7.Karen Rodriguez
8.Pia Toscano
9.Lauren Turner
10.Tatynisa Wilson
11.Rachel Zevita
12.Julie Zorilla

MEN

1.Casey Abrams
2.Jovany Barreto
3.Jordan Dorsey
4.James Durbin
5.Clint Jun Gamboa
6.Tim Halperin
7.Stefano Langone
8.Brett Loewenstern
9.Jacob Lusk
10.Scotty McCreery
11.Paul McDonald
12.Robbie Rosen

OUT

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Breakin’ the Chains

A few months ago, the local paper ran a series of stories about the state of locally owned restaurants in Cedar Rapids. With the downtown area being a ghost of its former self, the threat was imminent that locally owned restaurants were in danger of closing down. The lack of traffic and advertising crunches put these businesses at serious risk.

However, the articles also chimed in on how the national chain restaurants were thriving and continuing to do good business. Was this due to the economies of scale, in which product was purchased for cheap in throngs? Was it because most chains have prime locations and national advertising dollars to market the business? Or is it because the food and service are actually superior?




I have been to most chain and local restaurants in the Cedar Rapids area and I can say that my experiences have been all over the map in each venue. There are chains I will not set foot in, and there are local restaurants that have lost my interest as well. I consider only two criteria when I ask myself, “Would I go back to this place?”

Food and Service

Simple as that, really. If a restaurant consistently serves a quality product that tastes great and is prepared as the customer expects, that restaurant will keep customers and gain new ones. That is, provided that the SERVICE that goes along with it is better than average. Most chains have decent food at decent prices, and sometimes, their service is pretty darn good. There are some chains, however, that have horrible service, despite their delusions in thinking they offer a “WOW” experience.




For a local restaurant owner to thrive, they must embrace the highest quality service possible and instill this into each person on staff. From the Assistant Manager to the busboy. Complacency will lose you more customers than you can imagine as bad word of mouth far exceeds good. It is very difficult to rebound in this poisoned environment as advertising dollars just aren’t in the cards.

The bottom line is that I believe local residents would LOVE to support local restaurants and would do so enthusiastically if their experiences were consistently a cut above the chains. I will pay an extra few dollars for a real “wow” experience and not some gimmicky, commercialized funhouse with average food and servers that would rather be on smoke break then serve customers.

For local businesses to thrive, we all have to do our part. If you give us a reason to come, we will be there.

Monday, February 7, 2011

The Big Ten – Legends and Losers

2010 was a landmark year for football in the Big Ten. Not only did the Big Ten seduce the big red corn machine Nebraska to join the conference, but also decided to add a new look complete with gimmicky conference names. The abrupt and premature monikers for the conference were “Legends” and “Leaders.” The names were universally panned by fans and critics alike. Recent polls that came out after the fact told the story: 90% Disapproval.

Now I don’t claim to be a marketing guru, but shouldn’t some research have been done prior to boldly claiming what the conference names are going to be? Too late, and the only damage control to be done is to stick your tail between your legs, admit the mistake and do it over. In this case, that is what Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany is planning on doing.




Perhaps Jim should also look into firing the marketing firm that came up with the new Big Ten logo as well. It says “Big Ten” in the colors of white and sky blue. Wow. I’m sure some serious creativity was afoot in those offices. I’m sure the millions spent on the marketing firm went to good use as some intern spent 30 seconds whipping that bad boy up.

Creative and marketing blunders aside, the Big Ten can still boast a superior product on the field, right? I mean having eight out of 11 teams make bowl games this season is an amazing feat, isn’t it? Not when only one out of the top five Big Ten teams wins. The Ohio State University saved what would have been a colossal conference flopfest as it won its game vs. Arkansas.




Wisconsin, who bullied and badgered its way to the top of the conference and a Rose Bowl berth caved in when punched in the mouth by TCU. Michigan lost by 38 points to a Mississippi State team that barely scored 38 points all season. And a one-loss Michigan State team took it in the shorts and lost by 42 points to Alabama (that’s six touchdowns, folks).

The Big Ten went OH for FIVE on New Year’s Day and the left the league’s reputation in tatters again, even after last year’s strong showing. No amount of marketing is going to fix this, other than “just win, baby.”

The Big Ten needs to step up its efforts carefully in establishing a new image this next season. Not only in marketing its brand, but in how the teams handle the opposition in Bowl games. Because at the end of the day, the bowls are what you are playing for.