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Las Vegas

Are You There, Chelsea? I’m Not Laughing Yet.

Since the People’s Choice Awards and One Tree Hill aired back to back on Wednesday, both of which I insisted on watching live, I didn’t get a chance to watch NBC’s new sitcom Are You There, Chelsea? until today. Given that the first two of the aforementioned shows were less than satisfactory to say the least, I wondered if I’d made the right decision; maybe the sitcom would’ve brought more cheer to my otherwise lacklustre evening. However, after watching the sitcom, I can’t help but feel cynical because I didn’t even laugh once.

Whenever I occasionally watch reruns of That 70s Show, I always identify with the redhead, Laura Prepon’s character Donna, the most. I don’t remember why anymore, as I prefer watching Two and a Half Men and Seinfeld in syndication now, so I haven’t seen the retro-based comedy in a few years, but that much I know. As such, I was pleased to learn that Laura Prepon would be starring in NBC’s new mid-season show.

In September 2010 I watched Chelsea Handler’s stand up routine at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas confident that she’d make me laugh on my birthday, given her reputation as a comedian and author. Now that some of those same stories she jokingly shared over a year ago now serve as material for the NBC sitcom she produces and has a recurring role in as the protagonist’s catholic sister, I hope the show will exceed expectations, just as Chelsea did when I saw her live.

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January 14, 2012 by

Cher Makes Music History

As the only musician with #1 hits on the Billboard charts in the last six decades, Cher clearly knows what she’s doing. Her most recent hit, “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me”, from Burlesque, won a Golden Globe for best original song on Sunday.

Regardless of what Ricky Gervais thinks, Cher is an incredible performer. Seeing her the night before my last birthday made it a magical and memorable evening.

Whether they’re songs suitable for a couple’s first dance at a wedding, breakup, or something sassier for the dance club, I hope she continues recording more hits.

The plot may be thin, but Burlesque offers a great opportunity to see her if you can’t make it to Las Vegas. With supporting performances by The OC’s Peter Gallagher and Twilight’s Cam Gigandet, as well as the always entertaining Stanley Tucci, be sure to check it out if your’re a fan of Christina or Cher. The movie will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on March 1.

January 19, 2011 by

MTV Presents Brandon Flowers

About 500 fans lined up outside MTV’s Masonic Temple Tuesday night to watch Brandon Flowers showcase songs from his upcoming album, Flamingo. To their surprise, the lead singer of The Killers later stuck around to share insights about the band’s future and the unmistakeable influence of their hometown, Las Vegas.

The intimate atmosphere and giveaways on hand are not the only perks of being there in person. Studio audiences also have the opportunity to see a performer’s range and witness how one do-over can make all the difference. His first performance of ‘Magdalena’ was decent, but he was much more energetic and charismatic the second time around.

While many young girls enthusiastically expressed their love to him, only a select few women in the balcony sang all the words to ‘Crossfire’ by heart. Overall, fans should expect noticeable improvements in Brandon’s songwriting, as he explained that he articulates himself better as he gets older.

After admitting that he can’t keep a beat on the drum, Brandon acknowledged his reliance on his fellow band mates and showed no signs of arrogance. While describing how he included individual members of The Killers on his new record, Brandon noted bass guitarist Mark Stoermer’s absence as an exception. “He’s there in spirit,” he laughed. After commenting that many of his songs take on a whole new life when performed live, Brandon quickly defended himself again, reassuring the audience that the album is a great listen in itself.

As expected, Brandon’s new songs sound much like The Killers’ past releases. His duet with Rilo Kiley singer Jenny Lewis, ‘Hard Enough’, offers a slightly different sound and demonstrates the power of a smart collaboration. After casually describing Tom Jones as “a cool guy”, Brandon added that he remains excited about working with him once they find the right material.

Brandon’s sentiment about it being an unusual recording process comes across in his lyrics when he joins the list of musicians connecting with lonely souls by asking “Is there anybody out there…”. His pre-show nervousness was a hot topic during the interview and it appears that we’ll have to wait and see whether Brandon gains more confidence as an artist.

Originally published on Sympatico’s The Hook.

August 27, 2010 by