SYTYCD Season 8: Top 16 Perform

This week Kristen Chenoweth and Lil C join the judges panel to comment on the Top 16 performances. If you don’t know who Kristen Chenoweth is, you need to get on Netflix and watch Pushing Daisies. Ok, you back after watching? Good, we’re in some fantastic dancing tonight! Let’s get to it.

Tyce D’iorio Group Broadway Routine

Song: Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles

The chairs were really well incorporated into the choreography and they were really throwing them, which added a bit of danger to the routine. I thought they all did a great job, even though I’m not a fan of Tyce and therefore it’s hard for me to admit that.

Sasha & Alexander

Dee Caspary Contemporary

Song: Belong by Cary Brothers

I loved that Sasha came out of the piano and that ending bit where her hands came out of the piano. Nigel thought Alex needed more of a connection with the audience, Sasha, and the emotion of the piece. Kristen loved that she couldn’t even hear Sasha dance, she was just so graceful and fluid. Lil C loved it and said it so verbosely that I can’t quote him.

Social Media is now the #1 Online Activity

I think the video says it all really. Are you a believer in the Social Media Revolution?

Good Deal: THE PRINCESS BRIDE on Blu-Ray/DVD Combo for only $11.99

Peter Falk passed away this week. What better way to honor his memory than to watch one of his best roles - the narrator/grandfather in THE PRINCESS BRIDE. It's on sale today for only $11.99!



Don't see the image to the left? Buy it from Amazon here. 

COMPLETED GIVEAWAY: Free Postcard Prints from UPrinting.com

I've got another great giveaway for you and this time it's good nationwide! So if you'd like to print some lovely postcards (for thank you cards, christmas cards, acting postcards, innovative resumes for job hunting, 100 secrets to Postsecret, wedding Save the Dates, whatever you can think of!), this giveaway is for you!

The winner gets:
100 5" x 7" Postcards with 14pt Cardstock Gloss
Front and Back Printing
You can check out their postcard designs on their website: UPrinting.com

You can enter one of two ways: 

1. Comment below saying how you'd like to use the postcards. 

OR

     2. Tweet or retweet: I'd like to win some postcards from @kristal_bailey! RT to win. 

Good luck! 

I'll be picking the winner June 29 at 8pm PDT. Enter as many times as you'd like! 

Restriction: Limited to US residents 18 years old and above only.
Disclaimer: Required as per FTC Ruling
This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting.com, an online printing company, no monetary compensation was given for hosting. See more information about postcards and available postcard designs on UPrinting.com.

Music Monday: Super Bass by Nicki Minaj

While VH1 is trying to mathmatically figure out the definitive Song of Summer 2011, I've already decided that this is my personal summer jam. I'm loving Nicki Minaj and Super Bass is just so fun and catchy.

Watch the official video after the break.

Fox's Fall 2011 TV Premiere Schedule: The New Girl gets prime real estate

Fox just announced their fall schedule and I'm really looking forward to their new shows. Last season all the networks had nearly all of their shows debuting within a single week, and I think Fox suffered the most because of that. With Lone Star failing after just two airings, they've learned and have spaced out the debuts so they aren't flooding the audience.

Their new shows that I'm most looking forward to are The New Girl and Terra Nova. The New Girl gets the sweet time slot of being right after Glee, and I think that's going to be a good match given the young, female skewing audience. Also, as Glee's one of their biggest hits, it shows they've got faith in The New Girl to retain and entertain that audience.

It's an interesting choice to have Terra Nova at the 8pm slot. With new shows, I feel it's always better for them to have a strong lead in show, rather than a lead out show. An 8pm slot means people have to seek out Terra Nova specifically in order to catch it. This show is their biggest new show, so I'm sure they'll be doing some big marketing push for it. They're already playing a ton of TV spots for it and since this was supposed to air last fall, critics have been curious about the show for a while. Let's hope that the extra time they took for special effects was enough and that it has a strong story in place. I'll guess we'll find out on Sept 26!

Full schedule after the jump...

Linkulous: Kirk vs. Kirk, Cat Deeley, Captain America, and more

‘Midnight in Paris’ becomes Woody Allen’s highest grossing film in years

Cat Deeley Gets a Web Series

Social Media Marketing Brings New Revenues, Customers

New CAPTAIN AMERICA trailer proves that heroes are born in America

75% of women won't marry a man who's unemployed

SYTYCD Season 8: Top 20 Perform AGAIN

This week, living legend Debbie Reynolds is guest judging! Famous for her work in SINGIN' IN THE RAIN and tons of other musical movies, and danced with dancing legend Gene Kelly.

Ricky & Ryan
Mandy Moore Jazz
Song: Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer
Ricky's jump into the splits was impressive. Otherwise, nothing really stood out to me and thought it was just average for the show. Nigel thought they were on the Hot Tamale Train, with it being so hot and raunchy, with huge sexual tension "like something between Mary and [Nigel]." Mary shrieked that she's addicted to them and thought Ryan was a "warrior vixen" while Ricky was in character the whole time. Debbie Reynolds was hilarious: "I've never seen anyone dance sexier, I mean you fell out of your top, you fell out of your bottom, you gave it your all!"

Good Deal: 2001: A Space Odysessy on Blu-Ray for $9.99

This classic science fiction is a steal this week, at only $9.99 from Amazon!

Check out the editorial review from Amazon:

When Stanley Kubrick recruited Arthur C. Clarke to collaborate on "the proverbial intelligent science fiction film," it's a safe bet neither the maverick auteur nor the great science fiction writer knew they would virtually redefine the parameters of the cinema experience. A daring experiment in unconventional narrative inspired by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel," 2001 is a visual tone poem (barely 40 minutes of dialogue in a 139-minute film) that charts a phenomenal history of human evolution. From the dawn-of-man discovery of crude but deadly tools in the film's opening sequence to the journey of the spaceship Discovery and metaphysical birth of the "star child" at film's end, Kubrick's vision is meticulous and precise. In keeping with the director's underlying theme of dehumanization by technology, the notorious, seemingly omniscient computer HAL 9000 has more warmth and personality than the human astronauts it supposedly is serving. (The director also leaves the meaning of the black, rectangular alien monoliths open for discussion.) This theme, in part, is what makes 2001 a film like no other, though dated now that its postmillennial space exploration has proven optimistic compared to reality. Still, the film is timelessly provocative in its pioneering exploration of inner- and outer-space consciousness. With spectacular, painstakingly authentic special effects that have stood the test of time, Kubrick's film is nothing less than a cinematic milestone--puzzling, provocative, and perfect. --Jeff Shannon

This is a must own for any sci-fi completist.






Don't see the image? Click here to buy it on Amazon. 

Music Monday: In For The Kill (Skream Remix) by La Roux

While I had heard this song before, this remix is completely new to me and I am totally loving it. It played on Wednesday's episode of So You Think You Can Dance, during Caitlynn & Robert's jazz routine. It fit perfectly with the story that they were trying to convey and is just a great jam all on its own.

Give it a listen after the break.

SYTYCD Season 8: Top 20 Perform and Wow America

This week the Top 20 perform in 10 awesome partnerships. Megan Mullaly is the guest judge, and just to prove that she does belong there, they went over her previous dance creditials: danced in a ballet company in New York during high school and just after graduating and just recently starred in 3 broadway shows.

Unfortunately, there's already been an injury in the ranks. Mitchell hurt his elbow after his first rehearsal, so he's sitting this episode out and in danger of going home this week. Let's get started with the dancing!

COMPLETED GIVEAWAY: Free Massage from Spaphile.com

UPDATE: The winners have been selected and notified. Thanks to everyone who entered! Hopefully I'll be able to have another giveaway opportunity soon. 

Exciting news! Thanks to Spaphile.com, I'm hosting the blog's first giveaway!

Spaphile.com is a niche deal site dedicated to salon and spa services in Los Angeles. Though there are lots of deal sites out there (like LivingSocial, which I love too), few cater their deals to such a specific field as Spaphile. Spaphile ONLY focuses on deals like massages, manicures and pedicures, facials, and hair treatments.

I'm giving away two vouchers for their current deal: a 1-hour massage at Muse Atelier on Melrose.  

This swanky establishment has highly experienced and talented Certified Massage Therapists, who will deliver the best treatment for your needs, whether that's Swedish, Shiatsu, Sports, Hot Stone, or Energy Work. Massages include organic treatment products, aroma-therapeutic oils, candles, and hot towels.

Not only do you get a fantastic massage, you will receive a complimentary glass of wine, or choice of fresh juice, coffee, or premium organic tea, before or after your treatment to provide a truly relaxing spa experience.

Now, how do you enter to win?

It's super easy! Tweet this:

I just entered to win a free massage from @spaphile. http://bit.ly/lutIUO Thanks @kristal_bailey! Find out how to enter http://bit.ly/ilzI9I 

Be sure you're following me @kristal_bailey so I can DM you should you win it! And since this is for an Los Angeles-area spa, you have to actually be in LA to get the massage.

Don't have Twitter? Well get one! Or you can enter by leaving a comment here, telling me why you deserve a massage. Easy stuff!

I'm super excited about this giveaway! Good luck to all who enter!

Linkulous: AOL Hell, I fall in love with Chris Evans again, Spoilers, and more

AOL Hell: An AOL Content Slave Speaks Out

Are Spoilers Flipping the Script?
Would THE SIXTH SENSE ever get made in this internet age?

American Marvel: A weekend with Chris Evans
My favorite part:

Chris is “kind of a big dork,” his mother told me. “At 30 he still knows all the words to songs from The Little Mermaid.”

Yep, swooon.


My writing elsewhere on the net:

Best and Worst Celebrity Makeup and Fashion of the MTV Movie Awards

21 Best Hair Treatments

First look at Tom Cruise rocking out in ROCK OF AGES

Ben Stiller Could Team with SNL Veteran for Sci-fi Comedy

Elodie Yung in Talks to Join GI JOE sequel

Have a great weekend! Be sure to check back as I'll be posting the blog's FIRST GIVEAWAY EVER before Monday. So keep your eyes peeled.

SYTYCD Fantasy League: Join Me!

I'm fairly new to fantasy leagues in general. I've only started in the past couple years thanks to my fiance's activity and enthusiasm about them. But now there's a fantasy league that I actually am just as passionate about: So You Think You Can Dance Fantasy League!

I just signed up and created my own league in addition to joining the public one. If you read my blog and are a fan of SYTYCD, please join me!

League Name: Too Interesting For Twitter
Password: Twitch

It'll be fun!

The Walking Dead: Season 1 on DVD for $14.99

The critically-acclaimed zombie show is on sale on Amazon so it's the perfect time to buy it and catch up.

Don't know what I'm talking about? Have you been living under a rock?! Well, here's out the official synopsis to job some memory cells.

Waking up in an empty hospital after weeks in a coma, County Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) finds himself utterly alone. The world as he knows it is gone, ravaged by a zombie epidemic. The Walking Dead tells the story of the weeks and months that follow after the apocalypse. Based on Robert Kirkman's hugely successful and popular comic book series, AMC's new original series, The Walking Dead, premieres with a 90-minute episode on Halloween night: Oct. 31 at 10/9c. Written and executive produced by three-time Academy® Award-nominee Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile), who also directs the pilot, and executive produced by Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator, Aliens), the series debuts during AMC Fearfest, the network's annual blockbuster marathon of thriller and horror films.

The Walking Dead is an epic, edge-of-your-seat drama where personal struggles are magnified against a backdrop of moment-to-moment survival. A survivalist story at its core, the series explores how the living are changed by the overwhelming realization that those who survive can be far more dangerous than the mindless walkers roaming the earth. They themselves have become the walking dead.

Shot on location in Atlanta, The Walking Dead is led by a cast that includes Lincoln (Teachers, Love Actually) as Rick Grimes, Jon Bernthal (The Pacific, The Ghost Writer) as Shane Walsh, Sarah Wayne Callies (Prison Break) as Lori Grimes, Laurie Holden (The Shield, Stephen King's The Mist) as Andrea, Jeffrey DeMunn (Stephen King's The Mist, The Green Mile) as Dale, Steven Yeun (The Big Bang Theory) as Glen, Emma Bell (The Bedford Diaries) as Amy and Chandler Riggs (Get Low) as Carl Grimes.

Joining Darabont and Hurd as executive producers are Kirkman; David Alpert from Circle of Confusion; and Charles "Chic" Eglee (Dexter, The Shield). Jack LoGiudice (Sons of Anarchy, Resurrection Blvd) serves as co-executive producer with Denise Huth (Stephen King's The Mist) as producer. The Walking Dead was written by Darabont, Eglee, LoGiudice, Kirkman, Glen Mazzara and Adam E. Fierro. In addition to Darabont, directors for the series include Michelle MacLaren, Gwyneth Horder Payton, Johan Renck, Ernest Dickerson and Guy Ferland.

Buy The Walking Dead: Season 1 DVD Box Set below:




Don't see the image to the left? Click here to buy it. 

I know famous people! Watch "Fire" by The Submarines

My roommate (going on six years now) is heavily featured in this lovely music video by The Submarines! It's a fun, upbeat tune with such a cute video. My roommate is the girl in the young couple, looking up at the night sky. She's done a couple indie features, so be sure you keep an eye out for this rising star, Sarah Newswanger.

Check it out after the break.

Broadway's Not Just for Gays Anymore!

I missed the Tony Awards last night thanks to a long drive to Las Vegas, but all of twitter was a buzz over the fantastic opening number and hosting duties by Neil Patrick Harris. Seriously, can he just host the Oscars already?

To open the award show, he sang how theater is not just for gays and liberals anymore, it's for red states and blue states, businessmen and their wives, and just about everyone under the sun. Check out the video after the break and let me know your favorite part in the comments.

Music Monday: Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People

This song has been on the LA radio stations for a while, but I'm still totally digging it. It's got a pretty dark message, but the hook is just so catchy and light! Check out the official video after the break.

Linkulous: Groupon, JJ Abrams, Accidental Chinese Hipsters, and more

Above: It was all just a big misunderstanding

Groupon has been the single worst decision I have ever made as a business owner thus far… 

Accidental Chinese Hipsters

/Film Interview: JJ Abrams Talks ‘Super 8′, Bad Robot, Lens Flares, LOST, Spielberg and the Mystery Box

Bad news for Nielsen: TV ads to be bought more like online ads

Also, The Book of Mormon Broadway Soundtrack is on sale today! But it here:


Don't see the image? Click here: The Book Of Mormon [Explicit] [+Digital Booklet]

STYTCD Season 8: Top 20 Revealed!

This season the format gets changed up again. They're taking the best of both worlds and having a Top 20 where the contestants will have a steady partner until they are eliminated or until the Top 10. Then, the Top 10 will partner up with a new All-Star each week. So we get to see some great chemistry and partnerships form while the contestents grow, but then we also get to see our favorite dancers from previous seasons return! They won't announce the All-Stars until the Top 10 are revealed, but who do you think they'll bring back? I'm hoping Twitch and Courtney will return, but since they came back last season they might get all new All-Stars.

And now, we see who of the final 31 contestants gets to become - Season 8 Top 20. 

Good Deal: ROCKY: The Undisputed Collection on Blu-Ray for $31.99

To prepare for the ROCKY musical that is being developed, you might as well re-live Rocky Balboa's greatest victories and must crushing defeats. 


Not only does this box set include all 6 films, it's got a ton of special features. Check out the full listing below: 

Disc 1: Rocky Blu-rayDisc 2: Rocky 2 Blu-rayDisc 3: Rocky 3 Blu-rayDisc 4: Rocky 4 Blu-rayDisc 5: Rocky 5 Blu-rayDisc 6: Rocky Balboa Blu-ray Disc 7: Rocky Anthology Bonus Disc

• Feeling Strong Now! Game

• Rocky Featurettes:

• Three Rounds with Legendary Trainer Lou Duva

• Interview with a Legend - Bert Sugar: Author/Commentator and Historian

• The Opponents

• In the Ring: Three-Part Making-Of Documentary

• Steadicam: Then and Now with Garrett Brown

• Make Up! The Art and Form with Michael Westmore

• Staccato: A Composer’s Notebook with Bill Conti

• The Ring of Truth

• Behind the Scenes with John Avildsen

• Tribute to Burgess Meredith

• Tribute to James Crabe

• Video Commentary with Sylvester Stallone

• Sylvester Stallone on Dinah! (1976)

• Stallone Meets Rocky

• Rocky Anthology Trailers: Rocky Theatrical Trailer, Rocky Teaser Trailer, Rocky II Theatrical Trailer, Rocky III Theatrical Trailer, Rocky IV Theatrical Trailer, Rocky V Theatrical Trailer, Rocky Balboa Theatrical Trailer

• Rocky TV Spots: Introducing Sylvester Stallone Critical Acclaim #1 Critical Acclaim #2

Hurry up and get this deal before it's back to regular price! Buy it from Amazon here:









Don't see the image to the left? Click here: Rocky: The Undisputed Collection (Rocky / Rocky II / Rocky III / Rocky IV / Rocky V / Rocky Balboa) [Blu-ray]

BONUS Music Monday: Monster by Kanye West featuring Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, & Jay-Z

From Entertainment Weekly's Tumblr:

“The following content is in no way to be interpreted as misogynistic or negative towards any groups of people. It is an art piece and should be taken as such.”

As EW’s Kyle Anderson writes, “In reality, that opening sentence”—which precedes the full video for Kanye West’s “Monster”—”will be way more incendiary than anything in the actual clip. Just because something is ‘an art piece’ doesn’t let it off the hook for misogyny. And not allowing people to even enter into a conversation about whether or not it offends women is, in itself, sort of misogynistic.” Do you agree?

See the video for yourself, after the break.

Music Monday: I'm Walking on Sunshine by Katrina & The Waves

Given my recent real life development (new job!!), I feel like this is a pretty appropriate song to kick off week.

After the break, take a listen and get excited. It's a whole new week to make as awesome as you can imagine.

ABDC Season 6: And the Winner is...

Tonight it all ends. Either IaMmE wins or I may just give up on this show forever and stick with So You Think You Can Dance only. I guess we'll see tonight! Over 50 million votes were cast, breaking all previous records for this show. Along with crowning a winner, all five previous champions are back to perform again. We'll get amazing routines from Jabbawockeez, Super Crew, Quest Crew, We are Heroes, and Poreotix.

Opening Number: IaMmE and Iconic Boyz
Raise Your Glass by Pink
The two final crews performed together in a rocking opening number and I was very impressed with how well the integrated the two crews style. My favorite move was Marvelous Moon's little slide and rock and roll move, front and center.

Read about the other performances after the break.

TV Upfronts: "The Ringer" Brings Sarah Michelle Gellar back to TV

If you've read my blog, you probably already know I'm a huge fan of Buffy. So needless to say, I'm super stoked that Sarah Michelle Gellar is returning to television. She'll even be back on her old network, well sort of since the CW replaced The WB, and in her hold timeslot on Tuesdays.

The Ringer was originally optioned for CBS, but when they didn't have room in their schedule the CW snapped it up. Gellar plays both twin sisters, one with a seemingly perfect life and the other a recovering drug addict struggling to piece her life back together. When the rich and perfect twin Siobhan, suddenly disappears, Bridgette things she's kills herself and takes this opportunity to start a new and better life. However, Siobhan was leading a very different life than she let on. Affairs, dirty money, and a whole lot more are exposed as Bridgette pretends to be her sister.

Watch the CW's trailer for the show after the break.

ABDC and SYTYCD collide: Hiro McRae of We Are Heroes heads to Vegas

There has already been a good amount of cross-pollination between the two shows,  and it looks like that trend will only continue. In the LA auditions, a young japanese hip hopper looked so familiar to me. She did some fantastic popping and as I watching, I recognized her style. It was Hiro from We Are Heroes, winners of America's Best Dance Crew Season 4!

Watch her audition and learn more about other ABDC/SYTYCD crossovers after the break.

ABDC Season 6: The Battle of the Final Two

What's the point of this episode? I thought their last routine was the "last chance dance" that traditionally ends the competition and we just wait to crown the victor. But I guess they wanted to add another episode to the season, so tonight the crews are doing one last episode of "no holds barred" dancing to show America what they've got.

If Phunk Phenomenon had made it to the finale, I would care about this episode a lot more. I don't really care to see Iconic Boyz dance three more times. I just want to see them lose already!

For the first routine, the judges picked their most stunning performance from each crew for them to recreate and kick up a notch. See what routines the judges picked, after the break.

So You Think You Can Dance drops by Ellen

So You Think You Can Dance is in full swing with the auditions continuing tonight at 8pm on Fox. While the auditions are my least favorite part of the show, I do love the hype machine that starts and gets former contestants back on TV.

Ellen has been a huge fan of the show since the beginning, even standing in for Alex Wong in last year's finale doing a surprise hip-hop performance with Twitch. She had a few members of previous seasons on her daytime show yesterday to remind everyone just how amazing these dancers are.

See Alex Wong do an amazing jumping spin into a split -- along with great dancing by Comfort, Brandon, and more! -- after the break.

Good Deal: The X-MEN Trilogy on Blu-Ray for $7.99 each

UPDATE: Looks like if you didn't act fast enough, this deal is over! The first two films (the far superior films) are back up to full-price, but THE LAST STAND is still discounted a bit.

With X-MEN: FIRST CLASS opening this weekend, it only seems appropriate that you should stock up on its predecessors. You can buy the box set for $32.99, but who really wants to own the third one anyway? And with the deal, it actually ends up cheaper to buy them all seperately.

X-MEN




While SPIDER-MAN gets a lot of credit for bringing in this era of the superhero, X-MEN was first and did it splendidly. I grew up watching the X-Men cartoon and this movie was pitch perfect for me. I loved the casting and the general allegory of mutants as societal outsiders. Plus, it introduced us all to Hugh Jackman and I'm so glad for that!









X2: X-Men United



The superhero film market has become flooded with some quality films since this was released, SPIDER-MAN 2, IRON MAN, and THE DARK KNIGHT, but this remains my favorite of them all. They did everything that made the first one great and just made it better - deeper mythology, bigger bad, and a heck of a love triangle. This is the movie I measure all other superhero films against.








X-MEN 3: THE LAST STAND





Well, this is better than the Wolverine spin-off. It's a strong enough effort that I'll rewatch it when I marathon threw these films this week, but it's definitely the weakest link. Brett Ratner just never captured what made the first two great, but he did a passable job at making an entertaining flick.









Which X-MEN film is your favorite? Are you as excited for X-MEN: FIRST CLASS as I am?