I have a confession to make.

I've been cheating on you. Details to come very soon.

iWATCH: Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are Spike Jonze | Dave Eggers & Spike Jonze (October 13th, 2009) [fantasy]

A must see. Period. This film stirred so many emotions within me. From the opening sequence, I was transported back to childhood days - days with no worries. No consequences - just wild abandon. Being a child running around the house screaming used to be commonplace. I think any adult who sees this film, will instantly be taken back to a simpler time in their lives, where they didn't have to apologize for having an imagination. It doesn't make you long for those times necessarily, but you're immediately forced to look at things from the protagonist, Max's, prospective. You're on his side from the very beginning and you experience the entire film as if you're him. When he hurts, you hurt; when he wins, you win.

One major thing I took from this film is all of our need to be in control of something. We all want to be king of something in our lives. When Max's "igloo" is destroyed he feels helpless. When he doesn't like the dinner his mother is preparing, or (I'm assuming) her behavior with a man who isn't his father, he begins to act out. When he meets the Wild Things he is suddenly in control of something. He is their king and he feels needed. Having that control is what will either make or break Max in this new world.

Spike Jonze's work is amazing to watch. The movie is so visually intriguing. The Wild Things kept me guessing. Were they CGI creatures? Were they people in costumes? What were they? I'll let you figure that out for yourself, but the worlds Jonze creates are fascinating to experience. I also love that the film had a constant state of controlled chaos about it. It always felt frantic but calm. I always feared that things would spin violently out of control, but they always seemed to stop just short of it. When Max first meets the Wild Things you don't know whether they're good or bad. That tense unknown filled my viewing experience. I read the children's story so long ago that I didn't remember how it would end. The teetering chaotic feeling kept me interested and cautious. But was that just my adult self taking over for the childlike freedom I was enjoying? That's a major thing I took from the film. How we as adults force ourselves to conform and censor. It sucks.

At the center of the story we have Max (Max Records) who is as free as any of us would like to be. His representation of Max is so uplifting and at times heartbreaking. The Wild Things - Carol (James Gandolfini), Alexander, Ira (Forest Whitaker), Judith (Catherine O'Hara), KW (Lauren Ambrose), Douglas (Chris Cooper), and The Bull - are hilarious. An awesome part about the film, that I was most surprised about, is the writing. The dialogue between the Wild Things is so dry and unexpected. It's like watching The Office on shrooms. The awkward, talking over each other/saying random things under your breath comedy. O'Hara's Judith is definitely my favorite of the monsters. I want Judith to be my best friend. Every time Judith opened her mouth I was in stitches. And most of it was just in O'Hara's delivery. Great work all around for everyone involved.

I WILL SAY - I wanted Max to get popped in the mouth when he came back home. I couldn't believe his mother seemed so calm when he returned home. Maybe he does this often, who knows. Whatever the case may be I know I would have gotten a nice swift pop in the mouth if that was me. Of course this pop would have been followed by a warm embrace, and maybe a few tears from the mother, but this did not happen in the film. Maybe popping him would have suggested the stunting of children's imaginations and another way of forcing them to stay in our "adult" serious world. While I don't 100% agree with that, I think a little discipline is necessary though. That was the only thing that the film left me wanting. Children must be punished. I kid, I kid. Let them run wild.

RECAP: Bloomington, IN & Portland, OR

So, remember way back in March when I went to Blooming, IN with Mamma Mia! No, well that makes sense, because that was so long ago. BUT, I have been meaning to write about it for some time now, and my recent trip to Portland, OR has inspired me to revisit my time in Bloomington. What does Portland have to do with Bloomington, you might ask. Well, it's simple.

CBA (you know I'm all about anonymity) is a friend of mine from home and in the spring he was attending Indiana University Bloomington and my show happened to be performing on the same campus. What a small world right? And the school was all decked out and ready for our arrival. I'm talking huge banners and everything. We were only there for 3 days, but let me tell you, we sure made the most of it. Going out every night, drinking too much, and just having a grand old time. Here's the rundown of the madness.

Friday night was pretty tame. We drank lots of Patron and wandered around the campus aimlessly, looking at the various statues and things. There were lots of statues, let me tell you. They even have their own art museum on campus! We took lots of pictures around the campus, but I'm not going to post them all because it's just me fondling statues or something just as vulgar, and I have young readers. Right.

Saturday I had 2 shows, but I had to save up my energy to party the night away. I mean, I had just turned 21 the weekend before, so I was still getting used to be legal. I am usually not a bar hopper - I usually find one place, get wasted, and stay there for the night. Not Saturday night. CBA, EPG, DS and I decided to tear the night up and go to 4 places. So, if you ever find yourself in Bloomington, IN make sure to check out these fabulous locations:

The Upstairs Pub - The first bar we went to that night. They have a drink called the "AMF" which will ruin you. Which, in my opinion, is the best way to START the night. :)

Kilroy's Bar & Grill - They have a shot wheel that you can spin and get a random shot. The line was too long, so we stuck with Patron while we bopped and swayed. They randomly played "Dancing Queen" which inspired EPG and I to bust into harmony and gay out. Fun times.

Nick's English Hut - Where I found most of my cast members playing a game called "sink the biz". I am not much a beer boy, so I passed on the game. They ended up playing for most of the night.

Kilroy's Sports - A cool dance club with multiple bars and different levels. I think EPG almost got into a fight with some frat guy, but I can't remember.

Rockits Famous Pizza - Delicious cheap pizza, that is best consumed after hours of drinking and gyrating.

Sunday morning CBA and I enjoyed brunch at a lovely establishment, but the name is slipping my mind at the moment. Sunday I had 2 shows and there was no drinking that night, but I did enjoy some delicious Steak 'n Shake, which I really not a fan of. Good shakes though.

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So, I'm sure you're saying to yourself - what does any of this have to do with Portland, OR? Well, as fate would have it, CBA just moved to Portland to become a teacher. At the same time, my dear friend RFC is doing a production of Ragtime in Portland right now (which I will write about in a separate entry). I was on vacation last week, so KLG (whom I met RFC through in NYC) and I decided to make a trip across the country to Portland.

Portland was so much fun! Everyone I know that has been loves it and raves about it. I also read about it beforehand in Stuff White People Like but I decided to see for myself. I was going from Friday thru Tuesday morning so I had plenty of time to becoming acquainted with the city. CBA and our new friend CBB picked KLG and I up from the airport. We weren't seeing Ragtime until Saturday night so we had all night Friday to see some of Portland.

Happy hour is a big part of Portland nightlife, which was fun to experience. First we went to a cute establishment called Blue Hour and consumed a few adult beverages before heading over to a restaurant on the top floor of a hotel (I think). I can't remember the name, but I enjoyed a delicious burger for too cheap. After that we hit up a place called Red Cap Garage which is connected to another bar called Boxxes. We MUST discuss the drag queen at Red Cap Garage. Let's just put it this way. I should never be able to say, in ANY context, "I can see her balls". EVER. Thank you and goodnight. Another bar we went to, which was extremely too loud, was called Fez Ballroom. A little ringing in the ears is fine, but this took it to a completely unnecessary level.

Saturday morning CBA, CBB, and I had brunch at Mother's Bistro & Bar. It was absolutely delicious. French toast breaded with corn flakes = DEVINE. That afternoon I hung out with RFC, KLG, CAT (a friend I also saw when I was playing in Tulsa, OK) and wandered around eating snacks. I bought a 1.9 pound bag of Sour Patch Watermelons which would be gone by Tuesday morning. Heifers. That night we all went to see Ragtime and then enjoyed some more adult beverages and dancing afterwards at Boxxes.

Sunday morning CBA, CBB, and I enjoyed another lovely brunch. This time we went to Cup and Saucer and it was also delicious. By this time, CAT had gone back to Tulsa, and RFC had 2 shows on Sunday. We picked up KLG and went to a Rose Garden and enjoyed the scenery. This rose is called About Face. Beauty.

Sunday between RFC's shows we went and had a delicious dinner at Deschutes Brewery. I hate that I didn't get any pictures of all of us hanging out. I only took random pictures of flowers and food. Shame on me.

But doesn't that look DELICIOUS?! After dinner we all parted ways. CBA and CBB are both teachers so they had to get up early the next morning. KLG and I just hung out until I waved him goodbye as he flew back to NYC. Then disaster struck.

So there was this sidewalk and it had two levels. I didn't see that it had two levels. So, I began to walk towards it, COMPLETELY SOBER I might add, and I tripped and rolled my ankle on both sides. It was around 9:30PM and it was very dark and cold. I had to sit on the sidewalk for about 20 minutes before I could stumble back to RFC's place and ice my ankle. As a result I have been out of the show all week, waiting for my ankle to get better. I've been resting, wrapping, and icing it all week. So Monday RFC and I were supposed to explore Portland and have a fun filled day, but instead we sat around her apartment and watched trashy TV. That was fine, but it sucked that I could barely walk. We hung out with some of her cast members that night and chit chatted. Hobbling through the airport on Tuesday morning was unfortunate. Sad story.

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CBA has been mad at me ever since March for not posting a Bloomington, IN entry on here, so I promised that I would do a dual entry about Bloomington and Portland. I hope he enjoys this. But, how did I remember all the details, you may ask. Well, thanks to my trusty Twitter I was able to check back and make sure I had all the right information. Follow me here! :)

Discounted Oleanna tickets.

Hey there readers! If you liked my little blurb about Oleanna starring Bill Pulman and Julia Stiles, and you wanted to check the show out for yourself, I have a special deal for you!

Visit Broadway Offers and enter the code OLMKT93 and you will save over 40% on tickets. Tickets for Tuesday thru Friday are $59, and weekend tickets are $65! There is only a month left (this offer ends November 15th) so get on it!

You're welcome. :)

RECAP: Broadway, Fall 2009

The Phantom of the Opera Harold Prince | Andrew Llyod Webber & Charles Hart (January 9th, 1988 - present) [musical] {Majestic Theatre}

Finally. After being on Broadway for 21 years (this show is one month older than me), I finally got around to seeing The Phantom of the Opera. It was just never a show that was at the top of my list of things to see. I didn't even see the film when it came out. JAR has seen it like seven times, so he said he would take me. We bought the $25 cheap seats and I even wore my ruffled shirt for the occasion. I really enjoyed my time. Yeah yeah yeah, so the chandelier was a little slow falling, but you've got to think about how it would have looked 21 years ago. It's all relative. The show still looks clean and pretty, not dusty at all, as JTF would say. "All I Ask of You" melts my heart. Question: if Christine Daaé's high E is pre-recorded, why does she need an alternate? And also, why doesn't Carlotta Giudicelli get an alternate?!

Tony Award wins and nominations

Best Musical

Best Actor in a Musical (Michael Crawford)

Best Costume Design

Best Direction of a Musical

Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Judy Kaye)

Best Lighting Design

Best Scenic Design

Best Book of a Musical

Best Choreography

Best Original Score

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Oleanna Doug Hughes | David Mamet (September 29th, 2009 - present) [play] {John Golden Theatre}

This is some intense shit, here. If you don't know what Oleanna is about, you need to do your research. I am slowly falling in love with David Mamet. I also understand the challenge of his work. All of the interrupted language and choppy speech patterns that his characters have, can be very difficult to execute. But when done correctly, it's magical. You forget you're watching a play because the actors seem to be just speaking to each other, cutting in and out like normal people do. Julia Stiles and Bill Pulman star in this production and have tension that everyone in the audience can feel. I knew very little about this production before I saw it and left the theater with my jaw on the floor. At my performance there was a talkback, and that was very entertaining as well. If your performance has one, check it out. KDD from Theatre Aficionado at Large and I were at the same performance. He discusses his thoughts here.

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Wishful Drinking Tony Taccone | Carrie Fisher (September 22nd, 2009 - present) [special] {Studio 54}

I only knew Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, and nothing else. I had no idea who her parents were, how heavy she was into drugs and alcohol, or how funny she was. I left the theater knowing all of these things, and feeling a little closer to this actress who everyone seem so drawn to. I remember awhile ago stumbling across her blog and thinking how funny it was. I really need to keep up with it, because this lady is a riot. I had no intention of seeing Wishful Drinking. I really wanted to see Superior Donuts but they didn't have any student tickets left, so KLG and I hoofed it over to Studio 54 and were not disappointed. We enjoyed our mezzanine seats and looked down on the cackling elderly below. Be warned, if you're sitting in the front of the orchestra, you are solely at the mercy of Miss Fisher. Buckle your seat belts.

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Memphis Christopher Ashley | Joe DiPietro | David Bryon & Joe DiPietro (September 23rd, 2009 - present) [musical] {Shubert Theatre}

My favorite show of the week BY FAR. I already decided that I am going to see this show multiple times. I can't express how much I enjoyed this show. I thought the music was amazing, the choreography was incredible, and the talent was unbelievable. I fell in love with Montego Glover. Calling her a VOCAL BEAST doesn't even seem to live up to the notes that came out of her mouth. I was being a big old queen in the front row, squirming in my seat, wanting to yell every time she belted a high T#! I can't wait for the cast recording (which they haven't even recorded yet) so I can blast it in my hotel room. Glover and Chad Kimball were a blast to watch together. His characterization was phenomenal. I smell two Tony nominations. Done and done. This love story about the birth of rock and roll is sure to keep people dancing in their seats for some time. And you know I love an interracial love story. Please go see this show NOW!

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Finian's Rainbow Warren Carlyle| E. Y. Harburg & Fred Saidy | Burton Lane (October 8th, 2009 - present) [musical] {St. James Theatre}

It's always been my dream (because I'm a big theater dork) to see the first preview and opening night of all the new Broadway shows, and see how they develop. Well, part of that dream was fulfilled when I got to see the first preview of Finian's Rainbow. This sure didn't feel like a first preview to me! They are ready to open, folks. Kate Baldwin is a DREAM and so beautiful to watch. Her voice is effortless, it's like buttah; and her acting was flawless. Christopher Fitzgerald makes me smile, no matter what I see him in, and this was no exception. I thought the production looked beautiful - the sets, the costumes, everything. And remember when shows had overtures? I loved it, it made me feel like I was sitting down getting ready to enjoy some real theater, for a change. I had a few issues with the story and the show itself, but there's not much you can do about that now. Luckily the music is GORGEOUS so it saves the story.

RECAP: Broadway, Spring 2009

I don't write theater reviews. Let me better explain that statement. I try not to write reviews for shows that I see, because I feel like it is too close to home. I have no problem writing about films or music, because I feel like I am removed from them. Theater though, is a much smaller world, and I don't want to ruin anything for myself in the future by discussing how a certain production sucked balls. I am on the fence about this idea, because this blog is where I come to share my uncensored thoughts, but I think this is the wisest thing to do. Momma didn't raise no fool. I am trying to find a way to share my thoughts about things I have seen, without giving too much away, or saying too much. Call me a cock tease, but I gotta do what I gotta do, right? I could just write about the things that I like in the productions, but that seems a little one-sided to me. Don't you think so?

So, you'll take this. And you'll like it. A quick review of things I have seen recently. And by recently, I mean in the spring. I have weird issues with closure, and even though this entry is extremely late, I feel it important to write. Too bad 5/6 shows listed are closed now.

Mary Stuart Phyllida Llyod | Friedrich Schiller (March 30th, 2009 - August 16th, 2009) [play] {Broadhurst Theatre}

Okay, let me start by saying I need to give myself more credit. I always say that, but it's true. Before Mary Stuart I had only seen two other plays on Broadway (August: Osage County and Macbeth). I love seeing plays now. Let me tell you, Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter were giving me ACTING, like none I had ever seen. I realized that I am a fan of HIGH drama. It doesn't matter if it takes place between the royal or kids on a playground. Backstabbing, entitlement, and family feuds are things that I hold near and dear to my heart. I want to thank Mary Stuart for not making me afraid of plays. I loved the costume design of the show - the men in business suits and the women in formal costumes. Also, I got a kick out of the fact that Mary Stuart shares it's director with Mamma Mia!

Tony Award win and nominations

Best Costume Design of a Play

Best Revival of a Play

Best Actress in a Play (Janet McTeer)

Best Actress in a Play (Harriet Walter)

Best Direction of a Play

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Best Sound Design of a Play

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Rock of Ages Kristin Hanggi | Chris D'Arienzo | Ethan Popp (March 17th, 2009 - present) [musical] {Brooks Atkinson Theatre}

What a fun night at the theater! The fact that the ushers double as waiters and bring you drinks to your seat, is OUT OF CONTROL. I love that this show has been called "the straight man's Mamma Mia!", which would be an accurate description. Thanks to Rock of Ages I fell back in love with "Don't Stop Believing" (before Glee had everyone singing it). The standouts to me were Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger, and Wesley Taylor. I fall more and more in love with Spanger every time I see her onstage. I was sad to hear that she left the production earlier than scheduled. Taylor kept me laughing throughout the whole production and practically peeing out my overpriced Malibu and cranberry in my seat. A great night at the theater.

Tony Award nominations

Best Musical

Best Actor in a Musical (Constantine Maroulis)

Best Direction of a Musical

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Best Sound Design of a Musical

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9 to 5 Joe Mantello | Patricia Resnick | Dolly Parton (April 7th, 2009 - September 6th, 2009) [musical] {Marquis Theatre}

The three leading ladies in this production were phenomenal - Stephanie J. Block, Megan Hilty, and Allison Janney. Block is what we would like to call a VOCAL BEAST. I loved Hilty so much in Wicked and she worked it out in 9 to 5, she was exceptional. Everything down to her walk, was such a treat to watch. Last but definitely not least, we have Miss Janney who rounded out the trio beautifully. She had so much heart and was such a blast to watch. I always say that I want to be a performer with a resume for DAYS. I love going to see shows and knowing half the cast from other productions. Call me a theater dork, but I love that. There were so many actors in this show that had been in so many things I had seen before. A few of these people being Ann Harada, Maia Nkenge Wilson, and Andy Karl. I did have one major problem with the production, but I'll keep that to myself. (See, isn't that no fun?)

Tony Award nominations

Best Actress in a Musical (Allison Janney)

Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Marc Kudisch)

Best Choreography

Best Original Score Written for the Theatre

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reasons to be pretty Terry Kinney | Neil LaBute (March 13th, 2009 - June 14th, 2009) [play] {Lyceum Theatre}

Yes, I know they eventually capitalized the title, but since this is how it started I'm keeping it that way. Phenomenal production. Neil LaBute is a genius and I throughly enjoyed my time at this play. I was so impacted by the stories and the journeys of the characters. Beauty has such a huge influence on our lives (especially those of us in the entertainment industry) and it was good to see the issues that we all face day to day, plainly in front of us. We all seek approval (whether you want to admit it or not) and especially from those we are romantically involved with. What happens when you're confronted with the fact that the person you're with may not think you're attractive? Or at least not as attractive as other people? This is some intense stuff, folks. I am also in love with shows that have really small casts. Anything 10 and under, is awesome to me. The four actors in this production - Marin Ireland, Steven Pasquale, Piper Parbo, and Thomas Sadoski- where incredible. I was so invested in all of them, which is the point, right?

Tony Award nominations

Best Play

Best Actor in a Play (Thomas Sadoski)

Best Featured Actress in a Play (Marin Ireland)

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Blithe Spirit Michael Blakemore | Noël Coward (February 26th, 2009 - July 19th, 2009) [play] {Shubert Theatre}

Anyone that knows me, knows that I have many pet peeves. One of them is tardiness. I don't like being late for things and I definitely don't like missing the beginning of things, it really annoys me; but that's a completely different story. I did end up enjoying what I saw after my mood changed. I was so happy that I got to see Angela Lansbury in something, finally. I hope to catch her in A Little Night Music in the spring with Catherine Zeta-Jones. That would be amazing. Christine Ebersole was also a blast in this production. I am still upset that I missed Grey Gardens. I don't have much to say about this production. I liked it and I'm glad I got to catch it before it closed.

Tony Award win and nomination

Best Featured Actress in a Play (Angela Lansbury)

Best Costume Design of a Play

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The Norman Conquests: Round and Round the Garden Matthew Warchus | Alan Ayckbourn (April 7th, 2009 - July 26th, 2009) [play] {Circle in the Square Theatre}

I can't remember the last time I laughed this hard in a show. Ever. There was so much going on, I couldn't handle my life. I loved the way the characters effortlessly weaved in and out of each other's stories and situations. For those of you who don't know, Norman is a man searching for something. I guess those would be his "conquests". Read it, damnit. I remember sitting in a bar and watching a news segment on The Norman Conquests and I knew I wanted to see it. And, the TV was on MUTE. That's how funny it looked; and I was certainly not disappointed. My only regret is not being able to see the other two plays. Oh, and on a final note, I just have four words: Paul Ritter white pants. Period.

Tony Award win and nominations

Best Revival of a Play

Best Featured Actor in a Play (Stephen Mangan)

Best Featured Actor in a Play (Paul Ritter)

Best Featured Actress in a Play (Jessica Hynes)

Best Featured Actress in a Play (Amanda Root)

Best Direction of a Play

Best Senie Design of a Play

The DJF 2.0

Well, as some of you may have noticed, we're trying to do big things here. I introduce you to The DJF 2.0, the new experience. I have purchased my own domain name, because we're getting legit. I am spending more time on my entries and really working on them. Quality over quantity, I say. So expect some more kick ass entries coming your way. I was very proud of my Ugly Betty and Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel entries. Those are the types of entries I want to write more of.

I am on vacation this week, so you know what that means. See you NEXT week! For updates, follow me on Twitter - http://twitter.com/TheDJF. See you there!

EDIT: (Which kind of defeats the purpose...) You will be seeing some different formatting things going on around here. Unlike in the past, I will not be editing old entries to adjust, I will just move forward. Here goes nothing.

iLISTEN: Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel

Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel Mariah Carey (September 29th, 2009) [r&b/pop]: Betcha Gon' Know (The Prologue) | Obsessed | H.A.T.E.U. | Candy Bling | Ribbon | Inseparable | Standing O | It's a Wrap | Up Out My Face | Up Out My Face (The Reprise) | More Than Just Friends | The Impossible | The Impossible (The Reprise) | Angel (The Prelude) | Angels Cry | Languishing (The Interlude) | I Want to Know What Love Is

It was my dream to be the first person to write about Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, but of course fourfour beat me to it. I knew I should have posted this yesterday. Side note: I think it goes without saying that Mariah's breasts look amazing on the cover of this album.

Mariah is back with her 12th studio album, and I think I may be one of the only people that likes it. That is to say, I like it more than her most recent work. The reviews have been pretty mixed so far. I think it goes without saying that I will be a Lamb until my dying day (those are the die hard Mariah fans, for those of you who don't know), so yes I am biased when it comes to her music. Just know that from the gate. That also being said, I can be very hard on Mariah when it comes to the songs that I hate.

A major thing people have been saying about this album is that despite it's title, it's produced within an inch of its life, to say Mariah is definitely looking for perfection. Now, while I will not argue that point, I think there is a good reason for it. Let's face it, Mariah doesn't have the voice she used to. It's a fact that we can all agree on. I call "My All" the beginning of the end. Around this time was when the air slowly began to creep further and further into her voice. Every note she sang became covered in breathiness and it hasn't been the same since. So, that being said, I think Mariah needs to be overproduced, for our sake and for hers.

My major criticism of Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel is that the middle of the album definitely hits a stand still. There are a good 6 songs I could do without ("Ribbon", "Inseparable", "Standing O", "It's a Wrap", "Up Out My Face", and "More Than Just Friends). She could have totally gotten away with a simple 11 track album. It actually would have been nice to have something shorter from her, going back to her Mariah Carey and Emotions days. Hold the filler tracks, I want the meat.

Lets talk about what I like about the album:

• I was discussing the other day with my friend DAR, "What happened to r&b? Nobody sings r&b anymore". And to my surprise that's exactly what this album is. "Obsessed" is the fastest song on the album, by far. All of the other songs are mid-tempos or ballads, which I love. See, unlike most people I can appreciate a themed album. Most of the album is produced by The-Dream and Tricky, so it has a very distinct sound. Grind worthy mid-tempos. Mariah kept saying that with Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel she was going to go back to her Butterfly days (crazy to think that was 12 years ago), which I totally appreciate. I've always felt that Mariah's hip-hop up-tempos felt a tad forced. Don't get me wrong, I love most of them, but she can tear up a ballad like no one else.

• No fucking guest artists. As Mariah progressed in her career and moved more towards a hip-hop influenced sound, she would constantly have guest rappers on many of her songs. It's whatever, but after awhile it gets obnoxious. This album has ZERO rappers and I am in love with Mariah for that. She hasn't had zero rappers on an album since the mid-90s. Thank you.

• Touching back on the overproduced sound of the album - Mariah isn't really singing like she used to. The music is noticeably lower and there really aren't that many BELT YOUR TITTIES OFF moments, and I am really happy about this. Unlike about complaining about it, I understand why. Mariah can't really do that stuff anymore. I would rather her music be written easier, than have her reaching for notes that she can't hit.

• Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel is better than E=MC2. Period. I was not really a fan of that album and this is much better. Overall, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel has gotten better reviews than E=MC2 and The Emancipation of Mimi, but I don't agree with the latter. This album is a more cohesive and flows a lot better than E=MC2, but I loved The Emancipation of Mimi. Mariah definitely has a sound she is going for on this album and a theme she is sticking with. I like that a lot more than giving me a bunch of random selections.

Here are some things that stuck out to me on Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel:

#3. "H.A.T.E.U." - This is second favorite song on the album. Get ready for those winter heartbreaks. Classic breakup song with a dirty '09 feel to it. As soon as the pre-chorus kicks in the song takes a rougher turn, which I love. Mariah's voice becomes darker and distorted and the song takes control over your hips. A baby making beat combined with a breakup context is a very interesting mixture. I doubt it'll be a single, but it'll definitely be a fan favorite. I actually wish they would release this as a single. I'm interested to see how it would do. [EDIT: It has been announced that "H.A.T.E.U." will be the third single from Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.]

#4. "Candy Bling" - This is my favorite song on the album. I would even say it's the best song on the album. It definitely displays the sound Mariah was going for with this album. I still don't really know what the title means, but I am OBSESSED with this song. I haven't listened to a song on repeat in ages and this one was on heavy rotation the first 24 hours I had this album. I got the same feeling when I heard this as I did when I heard "Bliss" from Rainbow. I could listen to it all day. It's very similar to "Bliss" in it's repetitive nature, but combine snaps and a old hip-hop sampled chorus ("Back in the Day"), and my mouth waters. I can't stop listening to this song (40 play count in less than 24 hours).

#12/13. "The Impossible/(The Reprise)" - Yes, lord. First, clearly I am OBSESSED with the "Forever My Lady" sample. Done and done. I wish these tracks weren't separated into two though, because I think it would have been dope if the last 2 and half minutes were just a breakdown. That would have been so sexy. I don't think it'll be a single, but it might be a good risk to release it. Maybe someone will leak it to the radio. The simple partner-flattering is something people like in songs, because they can easily write down the lyrics and give it to someone they like, high school style. The groove is great too - not quite baby making music, but slow enough to cuddle and caress to.

#17. "I Want to Know What Love Is" - This has been released as the second single from Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. I really didn't know how to feel about Mariah (1) doing a cover, and (2) doing a Foreigner cover. I was very skeptical of how the album would do since "Obsessed" did not live up to expectations, and Mariah releasing a cover as the second single. It didn't sound too promising to me. This is Mariah's try at getting back to her "Thank God I Found You" days (which, I still can't believe that was a #1 single). I like this rendition and the ending definitely sells the slow beginning for me. The first breathy chorus makes me want to poke my ears out until I'm deaf, but once you get to that key change it's all worth it. Trust me.

At the end of the day, I am not sure whether Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel is going to be a commercial success. My gut tells me no. It'll probably be one of those albums that don't sell that well, but fans love. This album isn't screaming SINGLES SINGLES SINGLES to me, which I actually am not too upset about. I like this album for Mariah and as a fan I am liking the subtly that this album gives me. E=MC2 was too much about the singles for me, and it ended up falling flat anyway. Only time will tell (the album's only been out for 2 days) but we'll see. I am glad that Mariah pushed the album back from it's original release date and tweaked it. I am a fan, and will definitely be listening to this album for some time.

Why Ugly Betty should last past season 4.

Ever since my eyes landed on it, I have been a huge fan of Ugly Betty. The show began airing my freshman year of college, but it wasn't until I went on tour with Hairspray that I finally watched it. I remember sitting on the bus with my friend JSH and not being able to turn it off. We quickly made our way through season 1 and I couldn't wait for more. So after that I made it my duty to make sure I was up to speed whenever the DVDs came out. Being on tour means I can never watch TV; only on DVD or steam it online (which takes too long, and I like owning things). For the past 2 weeks I have made my way through season 3 of Ugly Betty. I was so into it that last night I watched 8 episodes and finished the last 4 this morning. It was beautiful and inspired me to write this here blog entry.

But I have a problem. I am asking for your help. It seems that Ugly Betty is about to enter a very dangerous place. Friday nights. I am not happy about this, because basically it means that the show is going to be cancelled. Who watches TV on Friday nights? I damn sure don't. This is the same thing that happened to Popular in 2001. They moved it from Thursday nights to Friday nights and the show was canceled. People refer to Friday nights on TV as the "death slot". Please don't let this happen to Ugly Betty. I don't think DVR counts when it comes to ratings so this makes me very nervous.

The purpose of this here entry is to explain the awesomeness I enjoyed during season 3 and convince you to wait to go out and drink on Friday nights until after you watch Ugly Betty. I still won't be able to watch it (shows every Friday night) but I can ask this little favor of you. Below I have listed some "awesomeness" points to convince you to keep the show afloat past the fourth season:

Awesomeness Point #1: Cameos

Adele, Christine Baranski, Nigel Barker, Joy Behar, Nikki Blonsky, Eddie Cibrian, Rachel Dratch, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Christian Hoff, Jordan Gelber, Cheyenne Jackson, Nikki M. James, Billie Jean King, Aaron Lazar, Adriana Lima, Lindsay Lohan, Ralph Macchio, Rachael Maddow, Bernadette Peters, Regis Philbin, Kate Reinders, Kelly Rippa, Mo Rocca, Anthony Sabato Jr., Thomas Sadoski, and Lauren Velez (and I'm sure I forgot some) all made cameos in season 3. Every time an episode would start I would make sure to pay attention at which names scrolled across the screen and I was always pleasantly surprised. Every guest star was great, EXCEPT for Billie Jean King. I guess the acting coach didn't really work for her. Adriana Lima was the most impressive cameo, because I rarely trust models with acting and she was quite good. I am not going to list the links to every person listed above; only my favorites or people I feel you should know.

Awesomeness Point #2: Sarah Lafleur

I was so happy with this addition to the cast for this season. At first when the character of Molly was introduced I said to myself, "something isn't right about her...", then I realized. SHE'S THE BEST ACTRESS ON THE SHOW. Period. I stand behind my statement, done and done. I couldn't take my eyes off of Lafleur when she was on screen. Her character was so full and lived in which was such a breath of fresh air. The problem I have with Ugly Betty is that, because some of the character are so "CHARACTER-Y" they don't seem like real people. Lafleur's Molly was amazingly likable and real. I am hoping there is some loophole in the writing and that she comes back in season 4, even if it is only in flashbacks. I need her in my viewing life.

Awesomeness Point #3: Location

This is a personal favorite of mine. Ugly Betty is now filmed in NYC and that's awesome because I live there, but also because most of the outdoor shots are filmed downtown right outside of the Pace University campus, where I lived my freshman year. My headshots were taken in the park that Betty frequents throughout the season. That was a major plus for me. To know exactly where they were filming gave me such a little tickle inside. I hated when they would have still shots of NYC but the show was filmed in LA. This is a much better fit. Speaking of the park that Betty frequents - she happens to run into a certain feller there that I am in love with...

Awesomeness Point #4: Christopher Gorham

Since I saw him on Popular and he used his adorable eye-rolling skills, Gorham has been one of my future baby daddies. Very close to the top of the list, I might add (especially since Kanye is on punishment). Too bad he doesn't roll his eyes on Ugly Betty. I was sad to see him go in the finale of season 2 but I am forever grateful to the Ugly Betty gods for allowing him to grace the screen again towards the end of season 3, even if just for a moment. This was an extra special treat for me and brought a huge smile to my face. I doubt he'll be making any cameos in season 4 which makes me sad, but I'll always have the past. Damn, this mad is SO attractive. He looks so skinny now though. His shoulders are so broad and his waist is so tiny. I still love him though.

Awesomeness Point #5: Grey

So many people on this show have grey eyes - Ashley Jensen, Michael Urie, and Vanessa Williams. I know I am forgetting a character, because I counted four when watching the show, but of course I didn't write it down. I don't know if I even know four people with grey eyes, and to have one show with four people on it is amazing. They're so pretty. Watching scenes between Urie and Williams is a treat because they both have those pretty grey pools.

Awesomeness Point #6: Vanessa Williams

I don't think I need to discuss this one. She is BEAUTIFUL and deliciously evil to watch. I hope she stays on this show forever (if it lasts past season 4) because I don't know what it would be without her. When is she going to get her Emmy, damnit?! She has such delicious quips and outfits. If you haven't seen her on this show, you haven't seen a thing. Sadly, because her character is such an evil witch, the one serious scene she has in the season doesn't come off as it should. I wanted to feel for her but I couldn't muster up the pity. Wilhelmena Slater is a fan favorite because of her evil; you don't need to sympathize with her. But back to that one serious scene - I was convinced that she was joking, so she didn't win my sympathy. Unlike Meryl Streep's vulnerable moment in The Devil Wears Prada, Williams's doesn't land as well. [I can't find a clip of Steep's scene, but you know which one I'm talking about.]

I was discussing Ugly Betty today with AMK and I was recommending that he check out season 3. I will say that season 2 got a little silly with the story lines. A little too outrageous for my liking. There were times I was like, "umm...really?" because it was getting out of hand. Luckily they got it together and this season seems a little more grounded. I am hoping that with season 4 they take Betty to new places. Also, I hope they change up the episode format - funny opening, Betty is given an assignment (either personal or professional), she messes it up, confesses to messing it up, fixes it, dramatic middle of the episode, cliffhanger ending. Okay, I get it. Please change it up a little bit. Thanks.

So it is my plea to you to watch season 4 of Ugly Betty. Please don't let this great show die. Oh...

Bonus Awesomeness: America Ferrara

First let me say, if you haven't seen how STUNNING America Ferrara is in real life, PLEASE click here and here. I wasn't going to talk about Ferrara but, since you brought her up, I have a few things to say. I think she is BRILLIANT. But I also think that she heavily stunted. Betty makes Ferrara stunted. What I mean by this is - where else can she go (not in life, just on the show)?. In 2007 she won the Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG awards for her portrayal of Betty in the show's first year. Now what? And she's only 25! We've already seen and fallen in love with Betty. She does change a little over the seasons which is nice to watch, but how much is Betty really going to change? It seems like when something changes in her life, it changes for a little bit, and then goes back to the way it was before (relationships, apartments, work, etc.). I want something dramatic to happen to her to challenge Ferrara's performance. Please, something. Don't let America fade into the background. Fall in love with Ferrara here.

iLISTEN: "Halo" vs. "Already Gone"

Hey you music lover, you! Have you heard the songs “Halo” and “Already Gone”? If so, I’m sure your ears probably did a double take. If you haven’t heard them, both songs are co-written and produced by Ryan Tedder and have extremely similar sounds, including the same chord progressions. If that wasn’t bad enough they even begin with the same word, “remember”. (Does anyone remember Whitney Houston’s “I Learned from the Best” and En Vogue’s “Too Gone, Too Long” – both of which were written by Diane Warren and began with the lyrics, “Did you really think that…” and “Did I hear you say that…”. Shady). Which brings me to my next point.

Remember when producers didn’t just recycle the same old tracks and actually wrote different songs? I mean, it's in their title – produce. Not duplicate? That is what I feel like happened here. Someone got lazy and decided to take the easy way out. For some reason this problem has really made its presence known on I Am… Sasha Fierce; it can also be seen if you compare Beyonce's “Diva” with Lil Wayne’s “A Milli”. Tsk tsk.

Here’s a little of the back story for you. “Already Gone” was written before “Halo” and was already set to appear on Kelly Clarkson’s All I Ever Wanted. “Halo”, because Beyonce has super powers, was recorded and released in record speed. Sadly for Clarkson it was too late for “Already Gone” to be taken off All I Ever Wanted. Finally she said it would be alright to keep the track on the album, as long as it wasn’t released as a single. Well the label gave a big eff you to Clarkson and said, we’re releasing it anyway. Clarkson, who just can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to her label (remember the whole My December drama?), released a statement saying how upset she was over what happened and expressed her disappointment in Tedder for producing such similar tracks. This is Tedder's statement:

"'Already Gone' is one of the best songs I've written or produced since 'Bleeding Love' and stands tall on it's [sic] own merits apart from 'Halo.' They are two entirely different songs conceptually, melodically, [and] lyrically and I would never try to dupe an artist such as Kelly Clarkson or Beyoncé into recording over the same musical track, the idea is both hurtful [and] absurd. I think when people hear 'Already Gone' they will hear what I hear—one of the greatest female vocalists on earth giving her most haunting and heart-breaking performance on a song she helped write. I challenge people to listen and form their own opinions."

The only true statements are - (1) it is one of the best songs he's written since "Bleeding Love", (2) conceptually the songs are different, and (3) Clarkson does sound flawless on the track. That's all.

So basically the only person that comes out of this looking stupid in the public eye is Clarkson. Sorry, boo. The general public isn’t going to do the research, or really care to, to find out which song was written and produced first and give credit where credit is due. Everyone will just assume that Clarkson was trying to ride on the coattails of “Halo”; since for some reason people seem to believe that songs are written and recorded the DAY before they’re released. Come on, people.

But (finally, to the point) THIS is the problem I have with the situation: I really like “Already Gone”. I actually think that "Already Gone" is a BETTER song than "Halo" (I better watch out for people throwing rocks). It sucks because "Already Gone" will forever be tainted and live in the shadow of “Halo”, even though it was around first and in fact is better than "Halo". My brain (and I think it’s pretty safe to say the brains of the general music consuming public) has a really hard time accepting things against chronological order. What I mean by this is, “Halo” was released first. Which means it reached the mass public before “Already Gone” did. Sadly, “Already Gone” was recorded first (which technically means that “Halo” is a copy of “Already Gone”, not the other way around) but no one will accept that because “Halo” graced our ears first.

I think what it comes down to is that anyone who hears “Already Gone” and “Halo” can clearly agree that these two songs are highly similar in their sound and production. Sadly, Clarkson was given the shitty side of the deal by having her single released after Beyonce’s. I kind of want Beyonce and Clarkson to use this mess for publicity (even though this is so early summer, and no one cares anymore). I am waiting for them to perform a mash up together; I think that would be fun.

In closing, I will restate this thought – producers should try a little harder to distinguish between the songs they create. It’s one thing to have a “signature sound”. But to copy yourself is completely unacceptable. Ryan Tedder isn’t fooling anyone. We all have ears.