It seems like ESPN has been around forever, doesn't it? Can you even remember a time when there hasn't been an ESPN to turn to for a score or breaking news or updates? I can't. But along with the news ESPN provides, the ESPN brand has expanded to include a bunch of networks, a magazine, restaurants and lots of tchotchkes. But let's just look at the TV shows, shall we? One note: SportsCenter is not included because it's more of a daily news show as opposed to the programs that are more talk and game-oriented. Here's the top ten ESPN created shows, from the worst to the first.
10. Sports Nation
This is a relatively new daily show on ESPN with radio talker Colin Cowherd and Michelle Beadle co-hosting. It's supposedly an interactive program with surveys that include the fans, but all the bells and whistles can't change the fact that Cowherd is an obnoxious know-it-all that dominates the conversation – when they have one. It's new and shiny, but it's a mess.
A U.S. tracking group, the Global Language Monitor, has compiled their sixth annual list of Top 10 Telewords (that is, the words or phrases that were the most influential on television). Topping the list off was "ObamaVision". Despite Obama's recent appearance on the show, I don't think David Letterman's writing staff had anything to do with this one.
The next three words were "Financial Meltdown", "Michael Jackson" and "Susan Boyle". I wonder if that means that the three words are interrelated. Could Susan Boyle have been responsible for MJ's death and the Financial Meltdown? Um ... probably not. Okay, let's move on.
(S04E26) This is it, people. The time has come to name the winner of America's Got Talent, the world's biggest talent search. The two-hour (!) final results bash included performances from Britain's Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle, The X Factor's Leona Lewis, Thelma Houston, Cirque du Soleil, Rascal Flatts, and Shakira. Sadly, none of the previous AGT winners performed.
Based on the TV Squad poll I've included in my review of the Top 10 performance show, 35.1% of the voters, including myself, said Barbara Padilla would win. Kevin Skinner received 22.2% of your votes, while Recycled Percussion placed third in our poll with 19.4%. The other contestants all got under 7% of your votes. (Note that these results were accurate at the beginning of the results show.)
Did the TV Squad poll results match reality? Official results coming up! If you haven't watched the finale yet and do not want to be spoiled as to who won the competition, it's time to click elsewhere now!
(S04E25) The biggest talent search in the world started its competition three months ago. After a summer of questionable judges decisions, talent performances and Hoff-isms, it's time to crown the winner of the show's fourth season.
But before the America's Got Talent winner can be announced in the live season finale to air on Wednesday, featuring a guest appearance by Susan Boyle, the Top 10 acts needed to perform one last time for America's votes. My comments and predictions coming up!
(S04E24) Nick asked the crowd who they'd like to see in the finals, and of course, it was impossible to tell which names they yelled out, since all of the acts have their fans at this point.
Tonight we learn who's taking the last five spots in the finals. Nick also reminded us that the next show will air Monday, Sept. 14, and that there's no judge's pick tonight. The five who go through will be the five that America voted for. As it should be, in my view.
After a brief recap of last night's show, Nick asked Piers why he X'd the acts he did. Piers said it's a simple formula -- a game of the good and the not-so-good. Sharon gave another shout out to Barbara Padilla, whom she absolutely loves. Hoff said, "I'm Hoff crazy!" He also reminded us that they've seen a hundred thousand acts and it's getting down to the wire.
(S04E23) There were mixed feelings amongst viewers last week when the America's Got Talent judges announced that they couldn't decide who, between Voices of Glory and Fab 5, should get the fourth place in what was supposed to be a final round of the top eight acts of the summer.
It wasn't much of a surprise when Nick announced at the beginning of this week's performance show that there would be no judges' pick. It wouldn't make sense to have a Top 9, eh? I'm happy that more acts -- aka the same number as last year -- will get to perform in the finals. But what I'm happier for is that America will pick the final five acts to enter the next round. No judges' pick. The results will be solely based on the number of votes.
How did the ten remaining acts perform this week? Which acts should move on? My two cents, Piers' many Xs, and your comments coming up!
This week's results show featured a special performance from The Hoff himself. Did he give a performance worthy to be Xed, or did he deliver the goods? My two cents, as well as which first four acts are moving to the final round coming up!
Were you as shocked as I was that when the results of the American IdolTop 10 Motown performances were announced that the blonde with the tattoo on her arm was safe?
Her enthusiastic, but lamentable, version of Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life" was a "train wreck" according to Randy Jackson (and he's rarely that critical), while Simon Cowell labeled her singing "atrocious." So, yes, I was stunned when she wasn't in the bottom three. By the way, I'm not being insulting by not calling her by her name, I'm just not sure what it is.
If you tuned in last night -- and before the overnight ratings are even announced, I'm thinking that a lot of you did (taping Lost, like I did) -- you know now that we are down to the American Idol Top 10. These are the ten who will be touring the country doing American Idol concerts later this year and one of these contestants will be the next big AI winner. The next Kelly or Carrie or Clay (oh, wait, he didn't win).
So, who has the best chance and what does he or she have to do to get to the winner's circle? I've a prescription for each one of them -- free, unsolicited advice based on how the judges' view them and, more importantly, how the American public might be rating them.
In a departure from past CBS specials, which spotlighted the Top 100 movies either of all time or in some specific category, the AFI has decided that this summer's special would be ten different Top 10 lists. We've already seen 100 Years ... 100 Movies, 100 Stars, Laughs, Thrills, Passions, Heroes & Villains, Songs, Movie Quotes, Cheers and 100 Years ... 100 Movies--10th Anniversary Edition. I guess it gets harder and harder to find 100 worthy entries in specific categories, so this is the compromise.
Yesterday, AFI sent out the ballots with 50 selections in the 10 categories to a pool of 1,500 industry leaders. These categories are animation, courtroom dramas, epic films, fantasy, gangster, mystery, romantic comedy, science fiction, sports and western. I think they made the right call, because if some of those specials had struggled a bit in the ratings already, that's nothing to what 100 Sports Movies or 100 Gangster Movies would do.
It seems like ESPN has been around forever, doesn't it? Can you even remember a time when there hasn't been an ESPN to turn to for a score or breaking news or updates? I can't. But along with the news ESPN provides, the ESPN brand has expanded to include a bunch of networks, a magazine, restaurants and lots of tchotchkes. But let's just look at the TV shows, shall we? One note: SportsCenter is not included because it's more of a daily news show as opposed to the programs that are more talk and game-oriented. Here's the top ten ESPN created shows, from the worst to the first. 
A U.S. tracking group, the Global Language Monitor, has 
(S04E24)
(S04E23) There were mixed feelings amongst viewers 
(S04E22) It's time to narrow down the talent field to the Top 8 acts who will perform in the final round of this season's 
Were you as shocked as I was that when the results of the 
In a departure from past CBS specials, which spotlighted the Top 100 movies either of all time or in some specific category, 
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