"Hell's Kitchen" TV spoof

I had to plug this because I love my actor-friend, Reggie De Leon, who did the national tour with me in 2000 in the "Selena Forever" musical. Anyhew, he did a skit shown earlier this week on the Late, Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. I always try to support my fellow actors and I laughed extra-hard at this one because it's a spoof of "Hell's Kitchen" - I watched the 1st season anyway. Also, Reggie got tons of screen time - cus he is that good! Click link below and watch "Coming Soon: Hell's Kitchenette". Be sure to watch it soon, because I am not sure how long the link stays up on the TV show website...

http://www.cbs.com/latenight/latelate/comedy/

** Special-added Bulletin - it's up on youtube so you can watch it easier below!!!

Elsa's Foray into Reality TV- Part 1: "PopStars"

Long, long ago, before there was American Idol, Country Idol, Dances with Stars, So u Think u can Dance and all those numerous song and dance reality shows - there was PopStars . We are talking circa 1999, if I remember correctly.

This show had auditions in LA and NYC for an all-girl group of 5 that would get a recording contract. I, being a singer/model/actress, of course went to the LA auditions. It was exciting. This was the first reality talent show of it's kind - there was no American Idol yet! I made it to the 2nd callbacks before being told I was too old and too tall (I think I was about 28 at the time). I was pretty bummed, but excited that when the TV show aired a couple months later, I got featured 3x on the first episode!! In other words: I may not have been what they were looking for - but my Basque nose and big Mexican hips were deemed camera worthy amongst thousands of auditioners. Gay snap to that!!!


Sure enough, though, I remember Nicole Herzinger (now Nicole Kea) was there and she was eventually selected to be in the group. Not unlike the Pussycat Dolls (which she now sings in): she was featured (not intentionally; she was, simply, the best of the 5) prominently as the lead singer in what was supposed to be an ensemble group. (Can we say Beyonce??) And yes, some of the girls in the group experienced green envy as no doubt the less-pretty, talent-less backup dancers (they don’t even sing really) Dolls feel now.


All I can say is GO, Nicole! Work it out! I gotta find that first episode tape with me on it and you know when I do, I'll put it on youtube and on here!

"What's Happening?" in the Martinez TVLand

Growing up we were not allowed to watch much TV. That was fine - we all loved reading and were certainly good at cultivating our imaginations while playing with so many siblings. Also, my parents were strict on what we could watch. As far as cartoons we watched: The Transformers, Bugs Bunny cartoons, G-Force and Thundercats. As far as regular shows we watched "Little House on the Prairie", "The Land of the Lost", "Battlestar Galatica", "The Cosby Show", "The A-Team", "Family Ties" and surprisingly enough: "The Dukes of Hazard". No racy shows likes "The Facts of Life" or "Three's Company" for the sweet Martinez kids - HECK NO!

But, hands down, the funniest show we watched during 1976-1979 was, "What's Happening!!!" From uber-skinny Roger to jolly dance wiz, beret-wearing Re-Run to hilarious deadpan younger tattle-tail sister, Dee - my siblings and I laughed our flat Mexican asses off!

It's good to know the innocent Martinez kids got exposed to such cool 70s funk!

"Dancing" Supermodel is robbed!!

Banner night tonite as I adjusted the rabbit ears that Patrick lent me (I don't have cable) that are attached to my flat screen TV so I can watch American Idol and alternated that with "Dancing with the Stars'. As far as the latter I felt compelled to blog (after they shamelessly dragged out the voting long) by the injustice brought upon a model hero of mine - Paulina Poriskova, who was the first to be booted out of the competition.

Firstly, allow me to comment that, overall, this year has the best naturally gifted group of contestants. Leila Ali was fabulous, I still can't get over her mambo and her grace - I mean, she is a muscular prize fighter for Pete's sake! She can probably crush cans in her hands he he he! I have a crush on Olympic skater Apollo (also a great job) and from "90210", Ian Z. - who has, as I always remark: aged wonderfully at the age of 40 - such a yummy age for men. I also am going to be a fan of the older "Cheers" guy, John R., who did a splendid job performing and selling it. Major kudos to Heather Mills and her fake leg - hello! Awesome back walk-over!

Meanwhile, back to Paulina. She was so beautiful, oozing class and grace - she ain't no spring chicken either, and I have to also point out that the taller you are and longer your limbs, the harder it is for a dancer. She has the same body as she did 20 years ago as a supermodel - hello!!! She has been my first and ultimately favorite model through the years (she is long retired, of course) but she was amazing back in the 80s with her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers and appearing as the original face of Estee Lauder. My sisters and I just adored her. She was so foreign and beautiful (from the Czech Republic) but not overtly sexy like top models are nowadays. She had class, humility and grace and it reflected in a lot of her editorials - even when posing in a tiny swimsuit. It's easy to be just "hot" and stick out your boobs - the difference with her was her character, sense of humour and brains behind her beauty. Myself being an a-typical model, I can say that she was a lesson in relying on something else besides the external.

I was so pleased to see her on this show and she actually was well-received by the judges - placing 5th out of 11 couples by their scores. That said: the public votes on the other half and this is where it becomes a popularity contest. Like she said, "Her fan base is her family at this point and it's not extensive enough." No one under 30 probably knows who she is at this point or how huge she was. Kids are voting for fat Joey from N'Sync and Billy Ray Cyrus (who SHOULD have left) because he is dad to Nikolodean's "Hannah Montana".

She was robbed!! But she is still stunning!!

AI makes E so happeeeeeee!!!

I have 2 words to say: American Idol.

ok ok I have a little more to say (becus I got the Gift to Gab!)

Melissa Doolittle - work...it...out.
Sundance Head: I did the gay man shocked gasp when Simon Cowell commented in a daze, "Blew (last year's winner) Taylor Hicks out of the water..."