OK, Let's Try This Again

OK, let's try this again. I'm back on the blog, and you will be able to be on it, too. But this is my blog, and we’re going to keep an eye on the posts. I love seeing your feedback -- and I know you do too -- and want to keep it up. It's fun to read your take on things, and see what interests you. Just keep it clean. You know what I mean.
So let's try this again.
Moving on, as Stephen Colbert would say...

We're still a reality TV hotbed
We're still a reality TV hotbed, and the networks know it. The latest: Robert Hatcher, 26 of Westwood on "American Idol" premering Tuesday (8-10 p.m.,, Chs. 19, 45). He's got a ticket to the Hollywood round next month in a story we just posted.
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070115/ENT/70115013/
Hatcher is throwing a viewing party at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Jazz in the Park II, 1180 W. Kemper Road, Forest Park (in the Promendae Shopping Center at Kemper & Winton). But if Fox shows his audition on "American Idol" this season, it will be in the Birmingham auditions episode on Jan. 30 (8-9 p.m., Chs. 19, 45).
And we’ve got Michelle Yi, a UC fashion design student on "Survivor: Fiji" premiereing Feb. 8.
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070113/ENT/701130348/-1/back01
Do you know her?
And I need your help on a couple of others: Did you watch NBC Sunday night? Is P&G's Surya Yalamanchili still on "The Apprentice: Los Angeles?" Did you see Kate Rockwell (Wilfong) from Sycamore High School and Blue Ash on "Grease: You’re The One That I Want?" Did she make it through to Grease Academy for next week? Lemme know.

Clooneys tonight
You’ve probably seen clips of George and Nick Clooney's Darfur visit last April when they appeared on the Today show or other network news programs. If you have Insight or Time Warner’s digital-level cable, you can see their documenary on their trip in "A Journey to Darfur" at 8 p.m. today on Americanlife TV Network (Insight Channel 182, Time Warner Channel 141). Nick hosts this half-hour program. (It's on Americanlife, of all places, because Nick does periodic "Moments That Changed Us" interview shows for that channel.)
Nick covers a lot of ground in 30 minutes. He explains that George suggested they go over in March, after winning an Oscar, to use his clout to get some publicity about the genocide. And the documentary shows how it led to George addressing the United Nations Security Council in September.
It's a little weird seeing Nick formally interview George in a hotel room, but overall the show is a good overview of their campaign in the past year. With all the bad news or goofy things that some celebrities generate, it's impressive to see how one megastar and his father, a newsman living in tiny Augusta, Ky., are using their juice and skills to help end a truly awful situation half-way around the world.

Dancing with the Stars returns
For the first time, ABC will do two "Dancing with the Stars" series in one year, following the "Survivor" model for success. A new "DWTS" debuts Monday March 19, instead of Tuesday, to avoid going head-on with "American Idol." Results will air 9-10 p.m. Tuesday, which could compete with the "American Idol" performances on nights that "Idol" goes two hours. ("Idol" will be down to the top 12 finalists starting Tuesday, March 13. )
No cast announced yet for "DWTS."
And don’t forget that Drew Lachey & Cherly Burke, Jerry Springer and Kym Johnson, and others will be here with the "DWTS" tour at US Bank Arena Wednesday night.