The Best and Worst of the 2011 Golden Globes

 The 2011 Golden Globes were last night in Los Angeles, kicking off the awards season. Of course, the show was full of noteworthy moments. Some were awesome, while others were jaw-droppingly awkward. Frankly, it was the shadiest Golden Globes in history; you would think everybody came there ready to sling at least one pack of mud at one another. Here are my top (and bottom) moments from one of Hollywood's glitziest nights:

BEST
Seeing Glee's Chris Colfer being genuinely shocked at his win for Best Supporting Actor (we weren't, though) was very heartwarming. You also gotta love his quote: "I think I dropped my heart between Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore". No one was more deserving than him. Other awwww moment? Watching Lea Michele almost cry at his win (we're going to assume it wasn't because she knew she was going to lose her category).

The award for Best Shade goes to the producer of Toy Story 3, which won Best Animated Feature. Justin Bieber presented the award (the Hollywood Foreign Press needed an excuse to bring him there for ratings) and when the movie won, Lee Unkrich asked him, "Were you even born when Toy Story came out?" Let's just say that if I was drinking something, I would've spit it out all over my keyboard. That's another lawsuit the Golden Globes doesn't need.

Michael Douglas, who has successfully beaten cancer, was the toast of the night when he came out to present the award of Best Motion Picture - Drama. It was heartwarming to see one of Hollywood's most popular actors still standing after being diagnosed with a horrible disease.

The Social Network, which I believe is the best movie of 2010, took home the big award last night, Best Motion Picture - Drama. The funniest part, though? Unlike every other time a movie or TV show wins, the movie's two stars, Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield, remained sitting, having to be called up to the stage. Surely they weren't mourning their losses in the acting categories, right?

WORST
While some people will have enjoyed Ricky Gervais' second take as the GG host, I thought it was an overall hot mess. He dropped so many bombs that night I was concerned for the auditorium's stability. He went after virtually everyone, including the HFPA President and either Tom Cruise or John Travolta with a really tacky gay Scientology joke. Oh well, good luck next time....if they hire him back.

Justin Bieber's attendance at the show was wrong enough in its own right, but this kid could at least look like he was attending a huge awards ceremony. I mean, the kid didn't even wear dress shoes! Newsflash, Justin: Vans aren't even acceptable prom attire, let alone glamorous awards show attire.

Was it me, or did Robert De Niro seem like he had a bit too many sips of something? The veteran actor, receiving the Cecil B DeMille award, awkwardly shuffled through his speech, trying to attain laughs while only inspiring light chuckles of politeness. Even Ricky Gervais did better.

Soap Sud of the Week: ATWT's Brad and Katie Learning the In and Outs of Marriage

Last week, after a year of Brad Snyder begging and Katie Peretti being a stupid, selfish bitch, the two finally got married in one of the best weddings in recent soap memory. Now that they are, they are REALLY learning about each other.

Hilarity then commences.

On Monday, Brad and Katie had their first big fight as a married duo. Katie was furious that Brad apparently didn't want to have children, so she ran off to Margo to complain. Brad refused to deal with Katie's petulant crap and, in caveman style, threw her over his shoulder and carried her out of the Oakdale Police Department. The crazy antics gave way to an honest and mature discussion of what they both wanted from this marriage. They decided they wanted the same things; a family, stability, fun and excitement, but they wanted to enjoy marriage before getting into all of that. Of course, Brad (the mature one) had to goad Katie's feelings out of her. One reason why I enjoy this couple: Brad doesn't take Katie's s**t, but loves her anyway.

Unfortunately, things will hit a snag once again when its revealed that Brad has a daughter, but I'm sure Oakdale's best couple will work it out in the end.

Best and Worst of the iTunes Chart 3/20

Lil Wayne's Lollipop at #2 - I don't know why the hell this song is #2 at all. At least there is a great distance between this trash and "Bleeding Love". If you haven't bought it yet, please, save your cash. Rating: 3/10

Lil Mama's Shawty Get Loose at #3 - Apart of me believes I shouldn't like this song, but I actually do. I think Chris Brown saves this song from the same thing that made me dislike the hyper -annoying "Lip Gloss". Also, Lil Mama sounds a little less like a petulant child and more like a confident young woman who knows her way around a mic. Rating 6.5/10

Chris Brown's With You at #13 - Surprisingly, I haven't reviewed this song yet, and now, it's currently slipping down the chart. This is one of, if not the, best song he has ever put out. Its romantic without being sleazy, the guitar in the background (a la Irreplacable) is a great addition, and his voice is at its strongest and most versatile. More so that "Kiss Kiss" or "Run It", this song deserved the #1 spot that Flo Rida kept from him for so long. Rating 8/10

Gnarls Barkley's Going On at #22 - Too little fanfare, Gnarls Barkley released their latest album, The Odd Couple. The most popular song is this one, and really really like this song. It's very funky, much like Outkast's Hey Ya. No one can ever call these two boring, and neither is this song! Rating: 7.5/10

David Archuleta's Back!

American Idol Season 7's frontrunner David Archuleta returned to form tonight. After last week's disastrous "We Can Work It Out", Archuleta redeemed himself with viewers after delivering a faultless, pitch-perfect version of "The Long and Winding Road".

I was terribly afraid that David Archuleta peaked in the Top 24 after he delivered a stunningly bad performance. It was something that many had predicted would happen. However, not only did he make a comeback, he came back better than before! As Paula said, it shows his character how he rebounded from, under different circumstances, a Idol-ending performance and came back stronger.

As Simon said, it truly was a "masterclass" performance.

American Idol Top 12 Recap!

Well, its Top 12 night on American Idol, and I've gotta say, I'm as confused as ever.

Best of the Night
Carly Smithson - I thought that she was sensational tonight. She sang it powerfully and beautifully all at the same time, and like Simon said, she finally chose the right song.

Brooke White - She sand Let It Be like a pro tonight. I was worried, because Let It Be is an iconic song, the last single from the Beatles. Her interpretation was simply genius; she was able to keep the basics of the song while making it her own. Simply beautiful. Best of the Night - Female.

Chikezie - I didn't think he had it in him. I mean, I saw a glimpse of it the second week, but this was a whole different experience. The fusion of country, rock, and R&B, along with a great Lennon/McCartney song , was unbelievably creative. Before, I simply pegged him as a Ruben knockoff; now, he's definitely his own person. Best of the Night - Male

Michael Johns - I thought that the judges undersold it. I appreciated the simple approach he took with the song, and I believe he did quite well tonight.

Syesha Mercado - I really liked this performance. Syesha has easily been the most consistent female contestant in the competition.

Amanda Overmyer - Amanda has finally returned to her bluesy roots again. Although some of the words were hard to understand, she put her spin on another classic song

Worst of the Night (Note: a few of my favs are here, so this is tough)
Kristy Lee Cook - One thing a contestant must understand: don't take the judges to literally. They say country; it doesn't mean turn a great Beatles song into a old country hoedown! It was simply tragic; from beginning to middle to end. Worst - Female and Overall

David Archuleta - How the mighty have fallen. Just two weeks ago, I was hailing him as the winner of the show? Now, not so sure. He made so many cringe-inducing mistakes I almost couldn't watch. He forgot the words a few times, the song was too low in key for him, and he sang the Stevie Wonder arrangement. Cardinal Sin. Unfortunately, I have to label him Worst of the Night - Male.

Ramiele Mulabay - In My Life is a great song. Its definitely not as boring as Ramiele was singing it. I thought, at first, she was going to break into a big-voiced finale, but she stayed soft and sweet. Equals boring

David Hernandez - He oversang it. Simple.

Jason Castro - After last week's performance, it was very underwhelming.

Who's Going Home? - Kristy Lee Cook (wildcard: Ramiele Mulabay)

Best and Worst of the iTunes Chart 3/7

Here's another look at some of the notables on today's iTunes chart.

Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah at #2 - Leave it to American Idol to bring a song from 1994 back into the mainstream. Although the late singer is certainly not the first (and definitely not the last) artist to benefit from an AI performance, his version of "Hallelujah" is definitely the most successful to do so. But enough about that. I have personally never heard of his version, so I was going in with high expectations (Simon called it one of his favorite songs). To say they were met is an understatement. The subtle, yet powerful vocal is reminiscent of John Lennon's iconic "Imagine". Its simply a shame that drowning accident in '97 took an artist with so much more to say too soon. In death, like Kurt Cobain and James Dean before, Jeff Buckley will definitely be immortalized as one of the greats who never truly blossomed. Rating 10 out of 10 (Also, Today's Download of the Day).

Miley Cyrus's See You Again at #8 - I have avoided this song for a reason. I am definitely not into the whole Disney pop craze at all (don't believe me, go back a page for my review of the Jonas Brothers). I don't get High School Musical, I think the Jonas Brothers are boring, I haven't been able to sit through a whole episode of Hannah Montana without rolling my eyes a bit. With all that said, I am honestly stunned to say that I don't hate this song. The lyrics are kind of blah, but its obvious why Miley Cyrus can outsell most singers these days: she has a lot of personality, charisma, and talent. The whole-rock vibe is an interesting touch, since she could've went the bubblegum route like her predecessors Britney or Jessica. My only other gripe is that it sounds suspiciously similar to "I Wear My Glasses at Night" by one-hit wonder Corey Hart. Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Linkin Park's Shadow of the Day at #17 - It's a great song. It's nice to hear something a bit softer than the usually hyper-emo group. Rating 7 out of 10

Colbie Caillat's Realize at #33 -Another artist I didn't get. Until now. I didn't like Bubbly at all, so for me anyway, this song is a major improvement. It's not annoying (like Bubbly), you won't get tired of it after 20 consecutive listens (like Bubbly), and it won't sound dated and boring next year (guess the reference). I wish the MySpace sensation released this song first. Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Sleeping With Eyes Open: American Idol Top 8 Boys

Man, was I bored by tonight's American Idol!

I shouldn't have been, especially since this is the last chance they have to impress the audience before we decided the Top 12. Despite a number of lackluster performances, here's my Best and Worst of the night:

Best:
David Archuleta (Another Day in Paradise) - It is virtually impossible to top the pitch-perfect performance he delivered last week with "Imagine", and he didn't. It was still easily the best of the night, even though the song was a bit dreary. I agreed with Simon; lighten it up for next week (there's no way in H-E-L-L he's not going to the Top 12)

Jason Castro (Hallelujah) - Originally, I though it was pretty uninteresting. Then, after listening to it again (and seeing Jeff Buckley's version skyrocket to the top 5 on iTunes) I realized something; Jason just had a genius performance. It had some wobbly notes, but all in all, it was vulnerable, yet powerful moment for someone who's been in Idol limbo these last few weeks. He's also one of the only people who has consistently chosen the right song for his voice.

Michael Johns (Don't You Forget About Me) - Interesting choice of song. I happen to like The Breakfast Club, so it was kind of cool seeing him do it. He sang it well, although he still really hasn't wowed me just yet. He's definitely an in.

Chikezie (All The Woman That I Need) - Although he sang it in the auditions, and its a Whitney song (a HUGE no-no), it was still great, although not as good as last week's performance. I think he just coasted a bit here. Still, expect to see him next Tuesday

David Cook (Hello) - He gets my "Best of the Night", not just because he gave a truly great performance. He took a sappy 29-year old Lionel Richie song and made it something that could be playing on the radio right now. I absolutely loved it, and he can definitely step up near Archuleta for front-runner status if he continues like that.

Worst:
Luke Menard (Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go) - This SOB has inspired me to write a list of songs you shouldn't sing for my new post. Is he freaking kidding me? George Michael? It was horrible, and he proved that last night's voting results were wrong. Worst of the Night.

David Hernandez (It's All Coming Back To Me Now) - Although the song was originally releases in 1989, the song was made famous by Celine Dion. Celine Dion. For heaven's sake, AI contestants, don't sing her songs! Period! The mighty definitely have fallen here. After a blockbuster performance last week, he fell right back to where he was two weeks ago. I think he'll be safe, but still, it wasn't good. (BTW, I will comment on his gay stripper thing later)

Danny Noriega (Tainted Love) - For me, he's this year's Sanjaya. Why? Because I swear, in the beginning, he was good. For someone reason now, however, he's bombing, consistently. The arrangement made it impossible to recognize; plus, the vocals just weren't there again. I think it's time to pull out the ponyhawk.

Who's Going Home: Luke Menard, Danny Noriega

Best and Worst of the iTunes Chart 3/3

It's only been a few days, but there have been some major shifts on the iTunes chart. Here's a look at 4 new songs making their mark on the chart:

Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown's No Air at #3 - For those of you who don't know, Jordin Sparks was last year's winner of American Idol. She's also the least successful of them all, her album barely selling half a million. With three ex-Idols being cut from their labels, including 2 winners, its safe to say that this new single could be her final chance to prove her bankability as a artist. Pulling in the big guns, she decided to work with Chris Brown, whose no stranger to the top of the charts. So, the results of two young, talented artists singing about asphyxiation without their loved one? It's a nice mid-tempo ballad that will definitely be overplayed on the radio. There's nothing truly amazing about it, but I believe it will be the success that Jordin is looking for.
Rating: 7

Ray J's Sexy Can I at #11 - Seriously, why is Ray J still making music? I figured he would've gotten the memo when his last album flopped and he ended up becoming a celebrity porn director. Like most hip-hop music these days, it has a nice beat. Other than that, it REALLY boring. Rating: 4

John Mayer's Say at #30 - If you happen to watch VH1 early in the morning, you probably have seen the video for this song, paired with clips from the movie The Bucket List. I've never been a fan of John Mayer, but this is a great song. Everything works, from the simple guitar in the background to the great message of the lyrics. If promoted enough, this could be Mayer's biggest song since Your Body is a Wonderland. Rating: 8

Dragonforce's Through The Fire and Flames at #74 - Many of my friends know I don't like metal. At all. That being said, I decided to listen to Dragonforce's new song, mostly because I remember one of my friends mentioning them. Objectively, I think its a song many metal fans will like. Surprisingly, the lead vocals were strong, which made me like it more. I probably wouldn't download it, but it's got my seal of approval. Rating: 7.5

The Best and Worst of the iTunes Chart 2/28

Here's a look at some of the best and worst songs making their way up the iTunes 100 chart today!

Usher's Love In This Club at #1. When I first heard that Usher had a new song on Z100 (New York's biggest radio station), I had some pretty high expectations. Fortunately for him, he's met them. I definitely like this song and apparently so does the rest of the country. It's already at #1 after a few days! Good job , Usher! Rating: 8

Flo Rida's Elevator at #4. While his first insipid single "Low" still reigns the iTunes and Hot 100 charts (Ten weeks!), he debuted a single, this time working with the ever-reliable Timbaland. It's not terrible, but it simply sounds like everything else on the radio right now, which to no one's surprise, is all produced by Timbaland himself. We know that he can make a mean hip-hop song, so maybe its time for something new. Rating: 6.5

Jonas Brothers' When You Look Me In The Eyes at #1o. It's hard to believe that 10 years ago, the Backstreet Boys were pretty much the kings of the world, launching the new wave of teen pop that would help define the early new millennium. It seems as if the Jonas Brothers are looking to pick up where they picked off (technically, they're still together...). The only problem is that they are, exactly, picking up where they left off. The song is a near carbon-copy of I Want It That Way, missing the clever ambiguous lyrics and the seamless vocal harmonies. Although it will probably send tween girls into a frenzy, chances are it will do nothing for the rest of us. Rating: 4

Lupe Fiasco's Superstar at #13. This is what I call refreshing! After Soulja Boy made a significantly ugly dent in rap music, Lupe Fiasco proves that lyrically interesting hip-hop still exists and that Kanye isn't the only relevant rapper (Thank God!). Hopefully, we'll see more of him around. Rating: 8

Paula Abdul's Dance Like There's No Tomorrow at #17. Proof that American Idol rules music charts these days: nice judge Paula's first single in over 15 years shoots up to a peak of #12 after her video premieres on last week's result show. So, is it worth the sudden spike? I wouldn't call it genius, or even great for that matter. However, it is a fun, dance-pop record, which put Paula on the map in the 80s and early 90s (BTW, she had 6 #1 Singles, so she really does have the props to judge. Rating: 7

Leona Lewis's Bleeding Love at #21. I have known about his girl for a long while now, thanks to YouTube, and the British singer is finally get her chance to shine here in the States. She is a vocal powerhouse, ranging from soft and sweet, to strong beautiful, and of course, those unbelievable high notes. All of her vocal talents are showcased in this song, which is currently burning up European charts and beyond. I strongly believe she'll do the same. Rating: 9.5

Soulja Boy's Yahhh! at #36. I honestly believed that this kid couldn't do worse than Crank That". If I had any idea that he could do something this horrific, I wouldn't have spoken so soon. This song, if it can be called that, is an atrocity. From the asinine lyrics (there are times where he is actually yelling unintelligible sounds) to the cheap beat that any monkey with a mouse and Garage Band could make, this makes a mockery of not just hip-hop and rap, but of the whole damn medium! Hopefully, this is its peak position, because if this song follows its predecessor to the top of the Hot 100, then we can say bye, bye, bye to the music industry as we know it. Rating: 0