Singapore Idol Rocks!

First off, let me just say what how pleasantly surprised I was by the fact that SI is actually a lot funnier than its American counterpart. Last night's pilot had me in stitches, and I haven't laughed this hard since a priceless episode of Nip/Tuck last month ( the one where Christian Troy was hunting down his stalker ).

Anyhow, the next installment airs tomorrow at 8:30pm. In the meantime, check out the forum. ( The official website address doesn't seem to work. )

Classic moments popped up every few minutes: the mainland China guy with operatic training but attempted to sound pop ( and failed ), then bawled his eyes out in Gurmit Singh's arms when he got rejected; the dude who announced he was going to sing "Clay Aiken's Somewhere Over The Rainbow", then launched into Somewhere Out There ( d-uh ); the girl who sang while flicking some hand-held bell-thingies, prompting Dick Lee to comment that she sounded "like a bunch of cows going to get milked" ( hahaha! ); the nut who literally whispered George Michael's "Careless Whisper", then humbly told the incredulous judges that he was "self-taught" ( William Hung-wannabe alert! "I have no formal training whatsoever..." ). But the star, hands down, was Lemon Tree Guy, a bespectacled, slightly chubby 20-something who came up with his own dance routine for the already Ah-Beng song, sending the audition panel ( and the entire TV audience ) into fits of convulsive laughter.

Judges-wise, watch out for Dick Lee and Ken Lim, whose barbs come fast and furious. Lim, in particular, always looks black-faced, unlike Lee who delivers criticisms with a smile. "Sounded like Mandy got into a car accident / has diarrhoea," he shoots at the hapless contestants' renditions of the Barry Manilow favourite.

The Idol franchise, as a rule ( set by its producers at Fremantle media ), have a strict format that no-one is allowed to deviate from, so don't be bothered by the huge similarities it shares with American Idol. I, for one, am completely supportive of this move, and seeing the Idol logo bearing the word "Singapore" gave me goosebumps. The final will be held on December 1st a the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Marking my calendar in case I successfully get tickets for that!


Sex And The City - A Second Look

Okay, I've figured out how to get through this show without gagging -- it's easy: just concentrate on the guys instead of the gals. Watching the most recent episodes, I thoroughly enjoyed the male characters parading through -- Nathan Lane as a homo-turned-hetero, a bald-and-sweaty Jewish lawyer who somehow manages to snag the affections of socialite-beauty Charlotte, some familiar-looking biker dude whose name I can't recall filling in as Carrie's new beau, and last but not least, the legendary ( and very cute ) Mr. Big.

Though their appearances are brief, they're nevertheless delicately drawn, exuding their own brand of likeable charm, complete with quirks and personal hang-ups. My main interest, though, revolves around the John Corbett character ( what's his name again? ) from earlier seasons -- described as a very sweet man who ultimately gets dumped by Carrie. Corbett may be better remembered as sensitive, brainy radio DJ Chris in Northern Exposure ( LOVED him in that! ), or Nia Vardalos' husband in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Oh well, there's a Sex And The City Season 5 marathon tonight. Looks like I've got something to do once I finish studying for the day. :)