I Wish You Well

Academy Award-nominated actor Joaquin Phoenix has announced he will retire from acting after his next movie. He wishes to focus on a singing career, an ambition born from playing Johnny Cash in the biopic "Walk the Line," a role which earned him his second Academy Award nomination. (His first was for "Gladiator"). Good luck with the new career!

Also, actor David Tennant has announced he will be leaving popular British sci-fi show "Doctor Who" in 2010. Tennant has played the tenth incarnation of the time-traveling alien since 2005, taking over for Christopher Eccleston. There will not be a proper series (or season, in American terms) in 2009 due to Tennant's involvement with the Royal Shakespeare company. To accomodate for this, the BBC ordered four specials to be made which will be broadcast throughout 2009 and 2010. When the fifth series/season resumes, creator/producer Russell T. Davies will also be replaced as head writer by Steven Moffatt.

Tennant has been one of my favorite aspects of Doctor Who though I do agree it is time for him to move on. Perhaps though, neither he nor Eccleston will object to a special with whoever the new Doctor is--a la "The Two Doctors" or "The Five Doctors" from the original series. It will be interesting to see how the regeneration occurs...

And of course, who will play Eleven? Any ideas?

Also, Happy Halloween! I'm still waiting for a good ghost story...

Always Respect the Sacred Rule of No Takesies-Backsies.

Some guy, doing his best Harrison Ford, climbs tries to move some really old train. He climbs down a hole and starts digging. He finds something (hence known as the Amulet of Rudy Giuliani) before hearing noises. He hides in the shadows as flashlights come towards him. He decides, “Hey, it worked in the movies,” and goes acrobatic. She climbs along a pipe which is coming apart. His hat drops off before the pipe lets loose a lot of steam. The guy is boasting to a party, claiming his find may lead to solving a cold case. So, it’s not the Amulet of Rudy Giuliani? I’m still calling it that. Flack introduces James Sutton, now shot dead.

Cue the Indiana Jones theme song! Or just stick to Baba O’Riley. John Williams is a bit protective of his music.

Stella and Mac go over the vic. Oh no, the Amulet of Rudy Giuliani is gone! And totally didn’t steal the $500 in Sutton’s wallet. Flack interviews the poor girl who found him, saying she thought the shot was a car back-firing. She was trying to find a cab but found her friend’s dead body instead. She recounts that Sutton was chased after finding the Amulet of Rudy Giuliani but doesn’t know why anyone would kill him. Flack tells her that jealousy is a big motive.

The investigation continues as Stella picks up a blood-soaked piece of parchment. Meanwhile, Sid and Hawkes go over Sutton’s body. They find plastic embedded on his skin. Sid pulls out the bullet, surprised that the bullet was very shallow. The wound would indicate a through-and-through, according to Sid. So Hawkes studies the bullet closer while Stella realizes the parchment was a map. Danny goes over Sutton’s Indy hat. Danny pulls one on Stella, saying they are looking a serial killer—before telling her the victims are rats. Stella remembers a fishing hook was found on Sutton and introduces Danny to a rat fisherman. I’d say I’d understand, but Manhattan is an island…Stella notes he has a new watch—I mean, the Amulet of Rudy Giuliani—and he took it off Sutton. He also provides a necklace worn by Sutton. Now important: the Amulet of Rudy Giuliani was open on the ground.

Stella and Mac talk before spotting Adam tossing paper airplanes. He noted the map was folded into a paper airplane which creates a new map. Adam goes to work on finding where the map is leading so he wouldn’t have to explain why he was flying the airplanes. Stella goes to Sutton’s apartment when she gets pushed down subway stairs. She converses with some guy in another language and fights him…Why does everything always happen to Stella? She gets up and can’t find her attacker.

Flack puts out the information as Stella says that the guy disarmed her and spoke Greek. (I thought so!) And from the accent, Northern Greek. Search Astoria! Wait…never mind. I’ve been to Astoria. Not as Greek as it used to be when I was younger. Hawkes asks after Stella and then goes on to the bullet which tells us nothing. He did find mineral oil on the vic, which may tell us more than the bullet. Which didn’t kill Sutton, who had an old gunshot wound. Someone tried to retrieve that bullet but Sutton didn’t report it. However, the fresh bullet nicked his intestine but an artery blew due to the original bullet wound.

Aww man, the Rat Fisherman got killed. He’s found in Central Park, rather beat up. Stella figures the guy who killed Sutton and the guy who attacked her/killed the Fisherman are two different people. Adam traces a piece of china to a set owned by Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. They also find traces of Pullman trains, not used since 1930s. They go to track 61 at Grand Central, right beneath the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Roosevelt used it when staying in New York. Mac tells them that the press never photographed him in his wheelchair or braces out of respect. Danny’s impressed and wishes Mac had been in his history class. This is also where Sutton found the Amulet of Rudy Giuliani. Flack catches someone in Maureen’s cat burglar outfit running past them. It’s Laura, the friend who found him!

She insists they were lovers and rivals, but she didn’t kill him. Mac and Flack don’t believe it. Laura doesn’t know anything about the Amulet of Rudy Giuliani but that Sutton was looking for the remains of judge who disappeared years ago. Joseph Crater, appointed by Gov. Franklin Roosevelt, owned the Amulet of Rudy Giuliani (really a pocket-watch) and went missing in 1930. Stella figures the Amulet of Rudy Giuliani isn’t what her attacker was after, but the necklace Sutton was wearing. She and Danny find a coin hidden inside.

Sid finds a history of Sutton’s injuries, including a fall that resulted in his spleen being moved. However, the guy on the slab has a spleen. Now they have to figure out who the Indy-wannabe is!

Adam tries to find out who the guy on the slab is. They find a video from a web video. Apparently, after his fiancée treated him like crap, he auctioned his life away to someone else. Adam tracks him down to a lighthouse on Long Island. He says the winner was Mitch Hansen who put in 500,000 bid for Sutton’s life. Sutton hadn’t talked to the guy because of an agreement. He’s surprised to hear of Hansen’s death and takes Mac’s card. They realize Hansen had been shot both times as Sutton.

Laura runs in upset to find out that the person she knew as James wasn’t really James. Flack tells her his name but doesn’t give her anything. She’s understandably upset and reveals he was with her when he was first shot. Flack realizes what I already figured out—she shot him the first time. She was excavating a site in Cyprus for a job but James beat her there. She threatened him and then shot him in a struggle. She says that it was a good thing it didn’t kill him. Flack didn’t have the heart to tell her it did. Mac and Hawkes realize they have to figure out who shot at Hansen the last time.

And I think that Cyprus thing is going to come back to haunt us. They speak Greek in Cyprus, right?

Hawkes asks who is better than him. Mac’s like, “Umm, who you asking?” Hawkes realizes that the killer MacGuyver-ed a gun out of a pen. They fire a test shot, which leaves blue mineral oil. It was also why it was a shallow penetration. The pen is one of those where you can make the boat float on water. Stella notes that Apollo is shown on the coin. If it’s real, it would belong to the Greek government and belong in a museum. Mac pulls in the real James Sutton and finds the MacGuyver-ed pen. James Sutton is broke while Mitch Hansen was getting rich off of Sutton’s work. Hansen disagreed. So Sutton shot Hansen. And this had nothing to do with the Amulet of Rudy Giuliani?

Stella goes to the Greek consulate. The guy at the consulate introduces her to a Greek antiquities guy—who is the guy who attacked Stella. She pretends to forget the picture of the coin. She speaks to her attacker in Greek, gets her gun and leaves. Season arc? Set up for sweeps?

Someone killed drug dealers. And they are letting Adam go? NO! NO! NO!

Will you be mad if Adam goes? What will happen with the Greek guy? Do they speak Greek in Cyprus?

Remember: Vote next week and share your ghost stories!

They Worked on Boats And No One Fell Overboard?

Last week: Americans v. Europeans. Commercials! Joslyn was sent home while the other six girls were sent to Amsterdam! Anyone else hoping that someone accidentally samples a “special” brownie over there?

Any way, six girls remain! Who’ll be returning to the United States on the next flight out?

The girls practice their cheerleading chants for Amsterdam while Elina is relieved to not to have been sent home. McKey notes she, Sheena and Sam are not happy about that but Cage Girl wants a good picture. The girls pack up, board the plane and go to Amsterdam! Some woman meets them, greets them in Dutch and the sound department gets to use the crickets. It is Daphne Deckers, host of Holland’s Next Top Model. She pairs the girls up (Analeigh & Marjorie, Sheena & McKey, Elina & Sam) and they have to go on a scavenger hunt to get to their house and win extra 50 frames. Sam and Elina aren’t so thrilled to work together but they work it out while Marjorie beats herself up for not getting euros.

Sam, Elina, Sheena and Cage Girl are in the lead while Analeigh and Marjorie try to get out the train station. Meanwhile, Sam and Sheena note that Amsterdam isn’t has dirty as they thought they it would be. Oh boy. I must say, though, Amsterdam is beautiful. The girls eventually get to the house and Daphne greets winners Sam and Elina. Marjorie and Analeigh come in after them. And that house is beautiful—complete with “Dutch” costumes for the girls to wear. Pictures of Whitney are everywhere and every station shows Analeigh’s commercial.

Sheena and McKey think they’ve won but Daphne informs them they are, in fact, last. They spot a Tyra Mail which is, as Sheena says, “old school.”

TYRA MAIL! “People use to come to play but fashion makes it hot today.” Someone suggests the park. Then Sheena and McKey climb into bed while Elina, Marjorie and Analeigh share what Sam calls “a lesbian bath time” and McKey calls “a Va-Jay-Jay shaving party.” I will note that none of the girls are wearing bathing suits like we used to if we shared showers but these are also the girls that wanted Hannah to be more “open-minded.” Maybe they’re just jealous they weren’t invited into the bath tub. Elina notes she does come off as a bitch as McKey says she hopes neither Sheena and Sam goes home—she doesn’t want to be left alone with those three, who are the best models in the house IMO.

Elina is happy to be back to Europe, saying everything reminds her of the Ukraine. McKey confesses that she wishes Elina would stop comparing it to Russia (okay, someone should give McKey a map before she upsets the Eastern Europeans) and that Elina should just stay here—pretty much the “Why don’t you marry it?” response. The girls met Carlo Wijnands and Ms. J in Amsterdam’s red light district. They are paired up to model outfits in the windows. Marjorie and Sheena are paired up. McKey and Sam are together, leaving Elina and Analeigh in the last grew. Sam says it’s very degrading to sell women in the windows, but it’s more respectable to sell the clothes.

McKey and Sam: Dollhouse. Ms. J praises Sam but the designer likes McKey. They worked as a couple.
Elina and Analeigh: Fancy outfits that are also coats. The designer states that Analeigh can’t find the light but they praise Elina.
Marjorie and Sheena: Freaky and punk. Marjorie gets praised by everyone. Ms. J thinks Sheena isn’t selling the dress.

The challenge winner will get to work international fashion week. Everyone gets their critiques. The winners are McKey and Sam for understanding the designer’s wish the best and working well together.

TYRA MAIL! I mean, TYRA POST! “I know you have just arrived but your voyage to become America’s Next Top Model continues tomorrow.” Everyone looks confused but then Sam goes on about the prostitutes. Elina says she doesn’t care about it and Sam mistakes this as Elina saying that prostitution should be respected. But Elina just doesn’t see why she should discuss it. Sam just wants Elina to agree with her. Sam, shut up.

Whitney’s a Cover Girl! And she gets to dress up! Good lord, why do they take all the amazing girls and suck all the personality out of them for these things?

Elina says she’s not feeling too well but she doesn’t want to think about it. They pass a windmill and then come to a body of water. Analeigh wonders if it’s a lake or ocean. Mr. Jay greets them on a boat and explains Amsterdam’s shipping history. They put girls in 16th century clothing and the girls have a joyful reunion with their stylists. Mr. Jay introduces photographer Andy Tan. They sail the girls out—are they going to throw someone overboard? Like, Sam?

Cage Girl is up first and she’s trying to keep her balance. Mr. Jay says she’s looking editorial and praises her for being creative. Mr. Jay asks if Sam’s been studying her magazines. She says she is…and why are they playing the Alleluia chorus in the background? Oh, for the 25 extra frames. Mr. Jay says she is the girl you love, but not love to shoot. I just don’t love her. Sheena reminds us that she needs to focus on not being too sexy. I do love their outfits…but then straddles something. Oi. Sheena says that’s how she was taught to model. Elina reminds them she has 25 extra frames. Mr. Jay tries to give Elina direction but notes she wasn’t listening to him. She says she was so focused. Cage Girl reminds us she hates Elina. Analeigh doesn’t consciously use her figure skating, but just lets her body do what it knows from her skating. The photographer could not use the world “beautiful” any more. Mr. Jay give Marjorie some criticism and he praised her for using it without feeling reprimanded.

TYRA MAIL! “Tomorrow you will meet with the judges. Only 5 will continue on in the hopes of becoming America’s Next Top Model.” Courtesy of Sam: Wa wa wa…Elina tells Sheena she had a dream of the two of them crying.

PANEL! Tyra tells us that Amsterdam is becoming a fashion capital. Then she launches into prizes, judges, Ms. J’s bling, guest judge is Daphne Decker. Elina is up first. Paulina doesn’t like the hands but the others like it. Tyra says she wants to see her relax more. Sheena is next. Ms. J says her outfit works. She gets praised for her face and dress. But nothing in the body. Analeigh gets praise. She gets praised for actually grasping the rope. McKey has very interesting clothing which the judges are like, “This was in YOUR LUGGAGE?” Cage Girl is told she’s improving. Marjorie is praised for a strong picture and a strong performance in the challenge but told not to be so shy. The panel tries to change Sam’s outfit from soccer mom to model. Ms. J takes of her pants and throws them at Sam. Nothing works. Daphne tells her to dress like a model. But the picture is good!

Top Models in Action. Katarzyna! I loved her last cycle and was so sad she got the “no personality” edit. I’m glad she’s working. Go Kata!

Deliberation! Now time for elimination! The first name called: McKey. Get used to that face for a week, girls. Following her are: Analeigh, Marjorie, and Samantha (another day to get run out of Europe!). Elina is psychic—she and Sheena are in the bottom two. So, who gets to go home to the US? Elina: Takes a pretty picture, but don’t see a model. And that control issue. Sheena: Personality, not consistent in good pictures. Who stays? Elina! And McKey looks like she will knock Elina out. Tyra notes that Elina shows less control now. Tyra hugs Sheena and tells her she is a star. McKey hugs Sheena before she leaves.

She says she won’t be forgotten, it’s a beginning not an ending, blah blah blah… Good-bye, Sheena!

Next: Tyra is the photographer. They have to be versatile. GO-SEES! This is going to be good.

I hope Marjorie gets back up on her awesome horse. I love her and Analeigh. And McKey, you’re slipping off your awesome horse.

Reminder! Election Day is in SIX days. Also, I’m still looking for ghost stories for a scary Halloween!

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble

I love a good ghost story.

I love them so much, I go on ghost tours. I also buy books from areas I've been to about their haunted locations--the Virginia Historic Triangle (Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown), New England, one specifically on Boston and, of course, Staten Island.

So, with Halloween only a few days away, I invite you to share your favorite ghost story. Extra points if they include a personal haunting!


Also, as you can tell from my counter and the news, election day is one week away. This is a reminder for everyone who is of voting age and a registered voter, please go out and vote. I know I will!

A Shadow Past...

The musical hailed as "the new Rent" will not enjoy the same long run of the ground-breaking 1996 show.

"Spring Awakening," the recepient of the 2007 Tony Award for Best New Musical, has posted a closing date of Jan. 18, according to Playbill.com.

The show is taken from an 1881 German play telling the story of teenagers experiencing love, sex and tragedy. The plot revolves around Melchior, a scholarly student who is more informed about relationships than his friends, including Moritz--who is facing difficulties at school. Melchior begins a love affair with local girl Wendla as a series of tragic events unfold.

The show features music by Duncan Sheik, known for his hit single "Barely Breathing," and lyrics by Steven Sater. Both won Tony Awards for Spring Awakening as well as a Grammy Award. Frank Wedekind wrote the original play.

"Monty Python's Spamalot" and "Hairspray" have also announced closing dates in January.

"Spring Awakening" plays at the Eugene O'Neill Theater.

Dolls--Not Just For Little Girls Anymore

According to my sister: We see blood drops then zoom out to see a woman in a suit running into a street fair. She tries to get someone's attention before dying.

Credits!

Mac, Stella and Danny come to the crime scene. Danny finds trace before Mac sends him to get the surveillance videos. Stella finds a wallet with no cash or credit cards, so Flack assumes robbery. Mac wonders why the robber didn’t take the BlackBerry. Flack responds the robber could be stupid. Mac goes through the BlackBerry and finds Chief Wallace was Ann’s (the vic’s) last call. We zoom to Ann’s body in the morgue as Sid chases off someone lurking around the body. He calls Mac and Flack but they don’t have too much footage. And the security guards aren’t police officers due to budget cuts. Chief Wallace argues that while Mac worries about security and reputation. Chief Wallace tells Mac that more budget cuts are on the way and he is pissing off Mac Taylor. That’s never good.

Mac pulls the Chief in to question him about Ann. He said she made her living making connections and she knew more powerful people then him, but he could make her tickets disappear. The Chief says he’ll deal with the politics so Mac can deal with the science. And we go to the science as Lindsay and Stella work in the lab. Stella finds a synthetic fiber while Lindsay finds human hair in the stockings. Flack comes in to take Stella to the person using Ann’s credit card. They find a hair artist who took her credit cards when Ann died. Nice.

Danny and Hawkes watch footage of the street party. They spot a woman in a building who had a perfect view of the murder. They go to the apartment where the occupant says he picked her up at a bar. And they keep interrogating him. Flack, Danny, I don’t think he’s going to recall much. But they give him a card in case she calls back. Meanwhile, Hawkes runs into a lawyer friend of his. They swap updates—dad’s had bypass, Hawkes is now a CSI. Lawyer friend tells us Ann has files on important people and then invites Hawkes out to a bar. Maybe they’ll find drunk occupant’s friend!

Meanwhile, Mac’s been talking a lot. People are panicking. I guess those files are importing. Lindsay gets a match—to a missing girl from Connecticut. However, after finding that an analysis of the hair shows the girl had been living in Boston, Lindsay finds out from Boston PD that she died. From a drug overdose a year ago. Mac wants to know how a dead girl’s hair got on Ann’s stockings. Have you ever tried to get hair off stockings? It’s like Velcro! She might have met the girl a year ago and still have hair! Of course, I would like to know her secret for not getting a run after a week or two if that’s the case…

Adam finds cholesterol and oil—skin, synthetic skin from Japan—in the fiber pulled from Ann’s bracelet. He goes to figure out why it was there. Meanwhile, Hawkes puts together the plastic pieces Danny found. It was the cover of an USB drive. They realize they need to find that drive. Flack and Danny go to Ann’s apartment at the Wakefield, using her key car. They hear something and go in with guns drawn. Looks like someone tossed her place. Flack catches a guy trying to run and Danny cuffs him. He’s a Private Investigator named Anthony Martino. Flack hauls him into interrogation. Martino left for the money. Danny notices the shoes and Martino smart-asses his way with Flack and Danny. He says he’s working for people who will make sure he “doesn’t go down for this.”

Mac brings the Chief up to speed. He tells the Chief someone has to be pulling the strings. He mentions a sexual harassment charge that disappeared. The Chief says that he was innocent, has kids and good marriage. He tells Mac to not let the drive fall into the wrong hands. Meanwhile, Adam combines the fake skin and the dead girl’s hair. It turns out the mortuary in Boston where the dead girl was laid out was under investigation for selling body parts, including hair. And one of the companies found buying was one that creates designer dolls. And not the ones I played with when I was a little girl. Flack flirts with one as Stella and Lindsay look incredulous.

We cut back to the doll factory. The lady gives Stella and Lindsay a spiel as they try to get her customer list. The lady says there is a confidentiality issues but Flack produces a warrant. They go to meet a guy with three dolls. He assures Lindsay he doesn’t sleep with them. Flack notices that none of dolls are blonde. He says that was Tiffany who had an “attitude problem.” So he swapped her online for Melanie. Lindsay and Flack take her to get DNA from Melanie’s last owner. As they wheel her out, Lindsay pretends that Flack is her husband who is leaving her for a doll. It’s great to see them goof off.

Adam comes in and marvels at the dolls. I love AJ Buckley but I could totally see Adam buying a doll. They match a print off of Melanie to our drunk occupant friend—turns out the blonde mystery witness was Tiffany, a doll. Flack shows the warrant and tells him that if they match Tiffany to evidence found on Ann, they’d have to have a talk. Meanwhile, Hawkes and his lawyer friend go to a bar. Lawyer friend spots a cute brunette and then tries to pump Hawkes for info on Ann. Turns out Lawyer’s dad was a client and he wants daddy dearest’s files. Hawkes doesn’t like to tamper with evidence. The friend reveals his dad paid for Hawkes’ last year of medical school. Oh man, a moral conundrum. Looks like Hawkes is standing his ground—you go, Hawkes!

Flack talks to Trevor, our drunk friend. Tiffany matches the trace on Ann. Trevor remembers meeting her at a bar, brought her back to his place, went to get some wine and then Ann spotted Tiffany. She figures he’s a pervert and leaves. Trevor, who works for the Attorney General, notes that they can’t prove he killed Ann. Danny says “Not yet.”

And then Hawkes gets beat up! NO! But he gets hair.

Back at the lab, Hawkes runs the hair as Danny is worried about his friend’s wounds. Then he worries about Trevor walking. They try to find the drive and X-Ray Tiffany the Doll to see if he hid it there. Lo and behold, they find it. And a print! Hawkes finds a print and runs the drive. He gives it to Mac, telling his boss that he ran into a wall. Mac sees through it and Hawkes tells him about his lawyer friend.

Mac goes back at Trevor, pointing out that Ann purposefully picked him in the bar to get his files. Trevor continues to deny he killed her until Mac points out the print is his and the blood proved he picked it up after she killed him. Trevor is more upset that the people in Ann’s files will get off. But Trevor’s going down for murder.

Hawkes meets up with his buddy to give him a check—the amount daddy paid for Hawkes’ last year of med school. He tells his ex-buddy to give it to dad before going to jail. Back at the lab, the Chief asks where the file is. Mac says its at the warehouse since security is lax and gets mad at the Chief for covering up the sexual harassment. However, the Chief reveals he told his wife, who is filing for divorce. It was just the excuse she was looking for. Mac apologizes.

We then see a police officer put the evidence away but he takes out the drive. He puts it on a box. An arm takes it and disappears. Dun dun dun!

Next week: Indiana Jones! And Stella going down the stairs!

Easy, Breezy, Beautiful...

Last week: Clip show! The week before that: Tyra teach! Signature poses! Fiercee awards! Lauren Brie went home!

Seven models remain, who will be packing their Prada bag tonight?

On the bus, Sheena is recovering from being in the bottom two while Elina complains about Tyra not thinking she completely let-go. She bonds with Marjorie over being from Europe and how they were raised differed from the Americans. Sam once again shows why the rest of the world hates us when she asks if the girls moved here when they were younger so didn’t they have 11 years to adjust? Umm, Sam, it’s how they’re parents raised you—their parents are going to stop being European because they moved to America. The other girls tell them to stop using “immigrant” as an excuse.

Tyra Mail! “Work it, Sell it, Own it. Love, Tyra.” It’s the Aswirl Twins! They will once again teach the girls to work an accessory. They demonstrate their technique and then the models give it a shot. Marjorie is reminded to make sure she can get out of the skirt she tries on. The girls smell a challenge. And then some guy comes out in one of those motion capture suit—so on the screen you just see the clothes. The person takes off the hood to reveal James St. James! Wow, first the aswirl twins and now James St. James? He introduces Nony Tochtermann, whose outfits they will be modeling in the motion capture suits. She reminds them to sell the outfits. REMEMBER THAT SAM!

James St. James trades the motion capture suit for Wilma Flintstone’s rocks to introduce Ann Shoket, Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen magazine. She says she is the judge and the winner will be featured in a holiday spread. Elina has problems breathing in the motion capture suit and she says she starts to panic. Maybe that’s what Tyra wants—for her to let go!

However, Elina says it was all forgotten once the music started and she walked down the runway. The others girl continue—Nony doesn’t look too thrilled. She scolds Joslyn for looking like a strip show. Sheena did too much movement. Marjorie’s dress fell down. Elina was praised. And Ann says the winner is Elina! She chooses Analeigh and Marjorie to share the prize. Samantha is upset and says that Elina is an atheist and doesn’t like the holidays like she does! But Elina, Marjorie and Analeigh have a fun shoot—and look good.

Tyra Mail! “A well-read model is always prompt. Love, Tyra.” The girls figure out it must be commercials. My sister thinks they are getting easier with these clues.

Joslyn says she wasn’t feeling well—My sister thinks she looks like a cross between Furonda and Tiffany. And then Sheena starts yelling at Marjorie and Elina because Marjorie laughed. Elina is confrontational and so is Sheena, so this is good but not as good as the Whitney v. Dominique battle from last cycle.

Whitney is a Cover Girl and doing photo shoots!

And we’re back! I missed the first part after the commercials because my sister needed my help going in the attic. I came back to hear Joslyn complaining about how she’s too sick to focus on her lines. So it is commercial time! Elina goes first and needs Jay to remind her to be conversational. McKey goes past the cue line. Is it bad I wish she fell down the stairs? Analeigh nails it—it looks like a Cover Girl commercial.

And then Joslyn is sick in a trash can.

Marjorie is next. Jay’s worried about her nerves. Jay calls cut and Marjorie starts to cry. Jay reminds her that the judges will get pickier and not coddle her for the rest of the competition. She nails it though. Sheena’s next. She likes turquoise and believes in the product. The director praises her. Jay tells Joslyn that if she feels sick to stop him and he won’t hold it against her. And she keeps laughing. I know usually yawn when I’m nauseous. Maybe Joslyn laughs? But it wraps. Jay and the Director hug!

Tyra Mail! “Tomorrow you will meet with the judges. Only six will continue on in the hopes of becoming America’s Next Top Model.” Sheena wishes Elina or Marjorie will go because they are hateful towards her. Marjorie worries about her breakdown on set.

PANEL! Prizes, judges, Mr. J’s bling, guest judge Frank Ockenfels, the commercial director. OH MY GOD IT’S A JUDGING CHALLENGE! INVOLVING CLOGS! I miss the judging challenge. Sam struggles a bit and you hear her fall off camera. And the clogs are important because the girls are going to AMSTERDAM! And the aswirl twins come in as windmills and the panel dresses up like Heidi. However, only six will go to Holland. Sam is first on the chopping block: She’s told to watch her annunciation and connect with the words. Marjorie: She sped right through that. Ms. J imitates a chicken to mock Marjorie’s head movements. Analeigh: Tyra praises her. She says it’s the best in the history of the show. She’s cited for using the product. Joslyn: Noted for a fake left, using her arms to inflect. Elina: Told to maintain eye contact. And is once again told to let go. Sheena: Ms. J makes fun of her movement. McKey: Gets the good picture, bad commercial comment.

Top Models in Action: Jaslene, Cycle 8’s winner. She continues to get photo shoots, walks the runway and does campaigns for Lot 29.

The judges deliberate. Tyra gets cuddly with Nigel. Paulina forgets Joslyn while Nigel doesn’t like the wink. Sheena is compared to a rattlesnake. Paulina says they don’t have models in the competition that are both photo and commercial models, except her and Tyra. Tyra says they should come out of retirement.

ELIMINATION! The first name called: Analeigh. Also going overseas are: Sheena, Samantha (oh good lord), Marjorie, and McKey. That leaves Joslyn and Elina in the bottom two. Oh boy, this is hard to call. Elina takes great pictures but isn’t so forthcoming with her personality. Joslyn has personality but has been sliding for weeks. But we all know Tyra loves her some personality. Joslyn is called a survivor but Elina is chosen to go to Amsterdam. Elina starts crying and looks genuinely happy. Tyra hugs Joslyn and tells her there is no pity points. She is told to practice. Then there is a group hug. Joslyn says she’ll survive and we’ll see her again.

Next: The girls go to Amsterdam! And do more running than on an episode of Doctor Who. They model in the red light district.

So, is Sheena going to be the new bitch of the house? Will Sam be chased out of Amsterdam for being the stereotypical American? Anyone else hoping that either Marjorie or Elina tells someone who complains about their complaining and say, “Guess what? We’re in Europe now!”?

You Can Stop the Beat *UPDATE*

It's official.

Playbill is reporting that smash Broadway musical "Hairspray" will play it's last performance on January 4, 2009--closing two weeks before "Monty Python's Spamalot."

Harvey Fierstein will rejoin the cast as Edna Turnblad next month and play through to the show's end. Fierstein won a Tony Award for Best Actor for the role.

"Hairspray" tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, a teenage girl who wants to dance on "The Corny Collins Show"--an American Bandstandesque show--in 1960s Baltimore, Md. Despite being "pleasantly plump," she becomes a break-out star, finds love and changes the world. Her mother helps guide her. It is based on the John Waters film of the same name.

The show opened in August of 2002 and took home several awards at the 2003 Tony Awards. Besides Fierstein's win, "Hairspray" also won for Best Actress among others. It took home the coveted "Best New Musical" Tony as well. A movie version of the musical opened in 2007, starring John Travolta as Edna Turnblad.

A sequel to the movie is in the works.

The show currently plays at the Neil Simon Theater.

The Knights Who Say "Closing Date!"

As the Broadway community prepares to bid adieu to the über-pink Legally Blonde the Musical tomorrow (Oct. 19), Monty Python's Spamalot has announced it will close this January.

Spamalot, as the playbill says, is "lovingly ripped-off" Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail. Original Monty Python member Eric Idle wrote the lyics and music with John Du Prez. The story retells the legend of King Arthur and his quest for the mystical Holy Grail--filled with Knights Who Say Ni, killer rabbits, and spam.

The show won the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical and recouped its investment before its first year was out. The opening night cast included Tim Curry as King Arthur, Hank Azaria (The Simpsons) as Sir Lancelot, David Hyde Pierce (Frasier) as Sir Robin, and Sara Ramirez (Grey's Anatomy) as the Lady of the Lake. Other famous cast members include Stephen Collins (7th Heaven), Drew Lachey (98˚, Dancing With the Stars) and recently outed American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken.

In another sign of the economy, Spamalot's closing notice leaves me to wonder: Will ANYTHING be open come Tony time?

Let's Play Catch-Up

Oh, Hannah’s moose story.

Yes, it’s the clip show…In case you missed it. Tyra’s brought us back to the Top Model Industries, Alpha J and Beta Jay. We some shots of Sheena posing and saying she obviously started copying the Kama Sutra. Well, that explains the hooch designation.

Ooh, unknown scene. The girls get a clutch. One contains a key. The girl who gets that bag gets to have her choice of bed—even if someone claimed it. There would only be 13 beds. Nikeysha—she of the talking—gets the key. Hannah is amazed by the bed while Samantha realizes she’s odd-woman-out when it comes to beds. She claims a rug. Don’t worry, Sam, you’ll get ShaRaun’s bed soon enough.

Remember Ed Alonzo? Well, he pulls Joslyn up on stage and borrows her shoes. He makes them disappear…on to the floor. BUSTED! “My name is Sharaun and I am America’s Next Top Model.” Seeing that again, she definitely deserved the Miss America title more than Whitney or even Cassanda (Cycle 5—and she was a beauty pageant contest!). And we say good-bye to ShaRaun…Hey Sam, there’s a bed!

Elina v. Sheena! Elina tries to argue that meat is eating a dead body while Sheena points out we become the soil when we die. Elina brushes her off as Sheena says she’ll respect Elina’s opinion—only if Elina respects hers. Elina leaves. The girls then start rapping in the pool which leads to a “sisterly” fight between Brittany and Isis. Eventually, baby powder keeps going while Brittany insists they are sisters.

McKey explains that she doesn’t like to be girly, which Brittany says means she doesn’t want to be a model. Cage Girl correctly argues that models don’t have to be girly-girls. She decides to make friends by cooking for everyone. It works on everybody except Clark, who says she sees right through it. Oh and Nikeysha’s talking…including over the credits. Still my favorite part of this cycle!

Oh, Snow Tyra. I hope they show this entire thing again because it was hilarious. Hannah asks how to “smile with your eyes,” leading to a demonstration. And making her Tyra’s new best friend. And then she gets to talk about being ugly pretty. Aww…no Prince Couture? What’s Ms. J doing with Tyra in the magical mirror? Hey, bring her back! She has better ideas! Wow, they really all cried. WHY DIDN’T WE SEE THIS? I LOVE a good makeover meltdown. They started to dye Sheena’s hair but it was falling out. Ms. J is shocked. And Elina decided her hair looked like a cat named Sherry.

Party time! And Sam wears one of the tiaras. That’s great. Sheena starts to dance, leading to a hysterical confessional from Brittany and Isis. Tyra recounts the bathing suit photo shoot and Brittany’s elimination. Wasted potential? Harsh, Tyra voiceover, harsh.

Hannah had a jar of Alaska Pixie Dust that gets the girls curious. Sam thinks she’s supporting “her state of…ice.” Hannah explains that her mom made it to protect her from mean girls and getting her feelings hurt. I guess that didn’t work when she was being accused of being a racist. Or from this runway challenge. Oh no, do we have to listen to Jeremy Scott rant about Samantha’s walk again? Hannah is sent home and she says her walk can only improve. Elina talks about the other contestants while Marjorie confesses she feels Elina is arrogant.

Meanwhile, we relive through Joslyn’s near-drowning while Nigel is like, “LOOK SEXY WHILE DROWNING!” as well as Isis trying to hide her junk. Her nerves show on her face. Oh, right, this was Clark’s only fantastic shoot. And take it away, Jeremy Scott… Once he is done, Isis is sent home. Oh, Isis and your crazy earrings.

Top Models in Action: Nicole, Cycle 5 winner! She looks good—and I’ll be looking up some new Sketcher ads to see her.

Tyra says that ANTM cares about the environment and shows Clark, Sam and Lauren Brie taking a bath together. Sam says she enjoys the bonding and goes with the flow. However, they don’t want to bond with bees. Cage Girl doesn’t like bees but doesn’t want them killed in an inhumane condition. Clark tries to kill it but Cage Girl tries to save it. She sits with it as it dies. Aww. Back to the Attack of the 60 Foot Model, with Jay trying to coach Joslyn and Clark. The judges worry about Joslyn but send Clark home. She wore the tiara as well? Now we revisit Kim and Sarah Round Two? Elina confesses how much she misses Clark. She says she’s angry but doesn’t…really…come across as angry. Must be those control issues.

But apparently Clark and Elina weren’t the only Kim and Sarah Round Two. Sam is upset at how close Analeigh and Marjorie are. We cut from Sam slapping a cut screen of Analeigh and Marjorie being all buddy-buddy to McKey keeping up her fitness regime, including squats across the lawn. We go back to last week’s episode, the awards show shoot. And Lauren Brie became the latest model on the chopping block. Good-bye, Cari Dee 2.

Seven remain: Marjorie, Sheena, Elina, Samantha, Analeigh, Joslyn and McKey. Who will be America’s Next Top Model? I’m rooting for Marjorie. I’m going to say it’ll be and Elina, Marjorie and Joslyn top three, Elina and Marjorie in the top two.

Who are your picks for top three, final two and the winner? Talk to me.

Until We Meet Again...

Mattel and American Girl will retire Samantha Parkington, her best friend Nellie and all their clothing/accessories from the stories and catalogues according to a press release on Mattel's website.

Samantha is one of the original girls introduced in the American Girl collection when it debuted in 1986. She is a young orphan growing in 1904 New York, being raised by her wealthy Victorian grandmother. Through her eyes, girls learn about the deep divide between the wealthy and the poor at the turn of the century. She also experiences deplorable factory conditions through her friendship with Nellie and watches as the twentieth century proves to already be one of change.

In the press release, American Girl president Ellen L. Brothers addresses Samantha's retirement: "Moving Samantha to the American Girl Archives allows us to preserve her honored place in American Girl's history and make it possible for us to introduce new characters and product offerings for our customers to enjoy."

The company does stress that the Samantha book series will still be available at stores, allowing girls to read her story. Fans of the doll can share memories of Samantha on the American Girl website.

Dreaming My Christmas Dreams Early

I know it's a bit early to honestly be thinking about Christmas (though ads for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular are running), but I have been. For some reason, I cannot get in the Halloween spirit. Sure, I have a party already lined up and am costume-shopping, but my iTunes library is set to only play Christmas music. I've been having Christmas-related dreams. And I have be waiting for the release of this: Carols for a Cure Vol. 10.

This CD is made every year by cast members in running shows on Broadway to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA). I first heard about Carols for a Cure about two years ago, when I began lurking around BroadwayWorld's message boards. Last year, toward the end of October, I went to Legally Blonde for the second time (Side note: The musical does close this coming Sunday, October 19th, so if you can get to the Palace Theatre to see it, I encourage you to). As the busy holiday tourist season starts, BCEFA has a collection at the end of shows. They also sell the CDs then as well, so I bought one.

The CD contains a mixture of traditional carols (such as Xanadu's Kerry Butler singing a beautiful "Away in a Manager"), to redone carols (The Little Mermaid's "Joy to the World"), to new songs (Avenue Q's "At the North Pole Global Warming Surfing Party"). It soon became one of my favorite CDs and I had to try hard not to listen to the CD before Halloween was over (Alright, so I've had this "Getting into the Christmas spirit early" problem for a few years). Though I retired all my Christmas songs in January, I would still listen to some of the carols from this CD from time to time.

The tenth volume's track list looks quite promising and I hope it lives up to how wonderful I found the ninth volume. I would encourage anyone looking for a good Christmas CD and/or who loves Broadway musicals to buy this CD. All the proceeds go to a good cause and you get some wonderful music. All ten volumes are available, but I would say get the 10th volume as it also includes songs from the previous CDs.

If You Are Going to Hijack a Plane, Make Sure Mac Taylor Isn't Aboard

Mac’s on a plane, suffering through a gabby companion when he sees the flight attendants looking worried. He goes back and tells them he is a cop. They show him a dead body. Mac realizes he was stabbed but they didn’t see anyone suspicious. Dead guy is a federal air marshal with a missing gun. The flight attendant is worried about someone hijacking the plane. I admit when I saw this dealt with a dead guy on a plane, I thought “Didn’t CSI do this a bazillion seasons ago?” but this looks different.

Mac’s gabby companion is a nervous one. He hears a passenger is sick but thinks it is code for “engine about to explode.” Mac tells him the passenger is dead and the murderer took his gun. The guy’s like “Why are you telling me this?” but Mac explains gabby companion is the only one Mac knows DIDN’T do it because gabby companion was sitting next to him, telling stories, the entire time. He brings him to the back to watch the cabin while Mac looks at the manifest. Brunette flight attendant tells Mac our dead flight marshal sat in Seat 6A because she gave him a magazine. Mac tells her to have the pilot contact the Federal Air Marshal to find out more about our dead flight marshal. Mac notices a woman who is a sloppy eater, a guy who cut himself shaving and an empty seat with a spilled cup. Blonde flight attendant says there was a guy there, who was agitated and needed soda, but has since moved to row 12. He’s calmly reading the newspaper.

Brunette flight attendant comes back to tell us the Marshals said this isn’t the guy—Roger Stockwell--he claims to be. So Mac borrows the pilot’s satellite phone to take a picture of the guy’s prints (lifted with lipstick and airsickness bags) and of the dead guy. Meanwhile, Stella’s at batting practice and banters with a fireman how NYPD is going to stick it to FDNY during a ballgame. Mac interrupts this, tells her to have Lindsay run the prints, get a hangar and get ready for a crime scene that flies.

Lindsay says that the dead guy is Antoine, a convicted drug smuggler on his way to Sing-Sing who used to work at JFK as a baggage handler. Marshals say the real Stockwell checked into his hotel but not with them. Flack and Danny go to investigate. I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you he’s dead, but he is. Guy was beaten but fought back. The bullet won though. Danny finds duct tape, Flack finds a gun. Flack wins! Danny finds a stuffed panda that may have been used as a silencer, making it so no one heard the shots. That bastard used a stuffed panda?

The plane lands at JFK. Hawkes, Stella and Adam meet it. The passengers, if returning for an emergency landing didn’t make them nervous, armed officers certainly did. Mac explains what’s been going on for the first 20 minutes and first escorts our friend from row 12, James Turner, off the plane. The officers escort everyone off row at a time. Stella says that the air marshals feel this is isolated and turn everything over to Mac, but they can’t get warrants to search everyone. So they have to hope people cooperate. Stella gets information about Turner, who is hostile. And he admits he has a second…family…in… Did they steal this off Fossella, my Congressman? Mac though wants the blood on Turner’s shirt tested.

Hawkes looks over Antoine. Stella finds blood, so they look for trace. But it’s worse than when they light up a hotel. But no blood. Adam is looking over airline garbage. But he does find gun in the bathroom trash. Mac wonders who would remove the gun but not use it? Adam only finds a cute pez dispenser and then Mac tells him to look in toilet waste. Remember the case from the first season where the guy died due to falling waste from an airplane? I wish there was a callback to that.

Hawkes finds a life vest stuffed with money, including Canadian money, and blood sputter. Stella and Hawkes figure it means a bad robbery occurred. Sid confirms that Antoine killed Stockwell. But he can’t tell Lindsay what killed Antoine, but knows that he had sex—most likely in the bathroom. Because joining the Mile High Club is more excited than he got laid before getting on the plane. They also find writing on his hand. Lindsay runs it.

Mac eliminates the gabby companion (Ed) and the pilots. Flack wonders why someone had sex then killed Antoine. Turner, our Fossella rip-off, is cleared. The blood was his own. Stella and Lindsay realize the writing is a GPS code—turns out to be an abandoned air field in Montreal, Canada. They realize Antoine WAS going to hijack the plane to avoid Canadian officials. Stella wonders: “Who would kill a hijacker and then return to their seat to watch the in-flight movie?” Who watches the in-flight movie?

Hawkes goes over Antoine’s jacket, discovering secret pockets to fit the money he found earlier. Hawkes also found cocaine and leopard hair. They wonder where the leopard hair, but Danny thinks Antoine had a partner. The gun had the prints of a Terrence Davis, a club owner who was busted. I’m guessing this is Nelly’s character. Danny and Flack go to the club and we learn Flack is allergic to cats. Danny spots the leopard. Oh look, it’s Nelly. Flack has Nelly bring them to his office. He and Antoine got chummy at JFK and Nelly tries to look surprised at hearing he is dead. Nelly says he saw Antoine the day before because he was holding letters for his buddy and leant the guy his old jacket. Nelly keeps insisting that he didn’t do it, he didn’t shoot anyone, and then “acts” surprised that his gun is gone. I don’t know if it is Nelly’s acting or the character is supposed to feign it.

Lindsay looks over Antoine’s wound. She has everything from the plane that could’ve done it. Lindsay marvels at her collection: “How do people get on board with this stuff? I had my toothpaste confiscated!” Ah, airport security. Adam runs in, with a condom wrapper and reeking of “eww,” but found lipstick. He found out what color and brand, then goes to shower. Flack talks to Nelly, breaking the news it was used to kill a federal agent. Flack offers to keep the charges local and to work off the time as an informant. Nelly doesn’t look too thrilled. He accepts but the camera gets all slow as Nelly nods. That’s never good.

Back at the hangar, it’s been 24 hours. The people have to be released. Turner asks for his clothes back, Mac says after the investigation is over. He threatens to sic his lawyer on them. Mac goes to try to find the murderer, because you don’t piss off Mac Taylor, when Stella calls with a warrant for the women’s lipsticks—two minutes, too late. They have the passenger manifest. Can’t they just rundown every woman on it?

Preview for tomorrow’s CSI premiere. Why Warrick? Why?

Hawkes calls and says he found nickel and brass in the wound, but it didn’t match anything taking from the plane. Mac realizes that the flight attendant’s wings may have been the murder weapon. Brunette flight attendant did it? Oh, wait, it was blonde flight attendant who is currently trying to hop a flight to Paris. Mac corners her on the flight and she lifts up her arms, knowing she is caught. Flack takes her off. So the one who found him, killed him. Of course. And they knew each other when Antoine worked there. And she converted the money into Canadian currency. She loved him, of course. But not enough to love him when he killed an air marshal and hijack the plane. She could’ve been a hero, but she chose to steal the money. So she’s a prisoner.

And the music came off Nelly’s new album!

Another CSI preview…where’s the CSI:NY preview? Guess there’s no new episode next week.

And the Award Goes To...

Last week: Marjorie was the victim of the week for being so negative. But all the confidence and positivity in the world couldn’t save Clark and she was sent home. Today: I just realized that in the next few weeks, the girls go abroad! Where did half the cycle go? Also, someone will be sent home tonight.

The girls are cooking and Sam says that parents who control their kids raise the crazy. Elina says her European mom was that controlling and that’s why she has control issues. Lauren Brie is worried that she will get sent home due to a lack of personality while Sheena says she won’t. I don’t know, a lack of personality is one of their favorite reasons to boot someone. Some of the other girls think Analeigh won’t go far and she wonders where her niche is.

Sheena says they got on the bus and “This is cycle eleven and you just don’t know what’s going to happen any more.” Seriously? I find it quite predictable.

TYRA MAIL! Delivered by Tyra herself! “Neither rain nor sleet nor my achy, achy feet will keep you from your Tyra Mail this week…” Yeah, this is too long for me to transcribe. But the bottom line is that Tyra will help the girls find their signature lines. Tyra says Giselle is always known for her back while Tyra was known for her eyes. Tyra says the girls will take 20 frames, get to see how they are doing with Tyra commenting and then doing another 20 frames.

Analeigh works her ice skating skills but Tyra feels she takes it too literal. Likewise, Cage Girl uses her boxing skills but rocks it, particularly focusing on her neck. Sam focuses on her hands. The girls bash Lauren Brie now that they know Clark won’t beat them up. Tyra declares Lauren Brie surfer girl. Cari Dee 2 needs Cari Dee’s 1 crazy personality and she knows it. She cries she’s afraid she’ll go home if she doesn’t. I fear the bottom two will be Analeigh and Lauren Brie at the end. Keep that in mind!

Oooh, Nigel Barker will be a guest on Privileged playing himself.

Sheena is next, focusing on more diva and less hooch but they cue up the burlesque music. However, Tyra tells her the signature is a cultural dance. Joslyn’s next and really doesn’t have one. So Tyra tells her to work her profile. Elina is “top model of the world.” And is told to exaggerate and Tyra poses her, confessing that she needs to let go. Marjorie comes out to the French music and decides to use the Hunchback of Notre Dame (???) She is told to mind her neck but Tyra is impressed how Marjorie makes it work.

Tyra announces this was a challenge. The winner was Marjorie! Yay! Marjorie picks BFF Analeigh to share her prize. They go to Rafinity to pick a piece of diamond-gold jewelry. Analeigh goes for a diamond version of her piece sign. Marjorie picks a lovely square designed necklace.

TYRA MAIL! “You better bring it or you’re never going to work in this town again!” Sam admires her picture and reminds us she was called first.

They got to a theatre headlining “The Fiercee Awards.” They sit down and Mr. Jay comes out in a tux. The girls will be modeling with hot men and be shot by Mike Rosenthal from their first vote shoot. Mr. Jay reminds us that Tyra had the Fiercee awards on her show with the other Top Models but their shoot will be those moments where things go wrong, like being in the bathroom when you win the award!

Marjorie (Can’t get out of the gown to pee): She uses her awkwardness to work it in the bathroom stall. Mr. Jay is in love.

Samantha (Can’t read the cue card due to the lighting): She tries to use her hands but has more bad pictures than good.

Elina is worried she won’t be able to lose control.

Whitney is a Cover Girl living a busy life in New York City running around with the same shopping bag and the same outfit. She goes on about her make up. NEXT!

Elina (Won’t stop crying after winning): She knows this will be tough. Mr. Jay has to put on his Dr. Jay hat to pull out her tears. She does so, she gets praise and a hug from Dr. Jay.

Lauren Brie (She trips coming up): She is told to work on her awkwardness, but to make it natural and graceful. Mr. Jay tries to pull her away from being posey. He says he couldn’t make her look any less than a mannequin falling down and then imitates it.

McKey (Actress who thought she would win but didn’t): she gets a male model and tries to focus on her face.

Sheena (Person steps on her dress): Works it. My sister says all she needed to do was mouth the word “Bitch” and it’ll be perfect.

Joslyn (Another woman shows up in the same dress): Focuses on the profile.

Analeigh (Bored interviewer): Takes also a condescending poses and gets good remarks.

TYRA MAIL! “Tomorrow you will meet with the judges. Only seven will continue in the hopes of becoming America’s Next Top Model.” And then Sam celebrates her picture. The girls are nervous, particularly Lauren Brie and Analeigh. I’m telling you, the bottom two, right there.

PANEL! What’s with the hood? Prizes, judges, Ms. J’s bling, and guest judge Mike Rosenthal. Apparently the hood is supposed to correspond with the photo shoot—she’s Little Black Ridinghood. Okay, Tyra, WHATEVER you say. The judges praise Cage Girl’s pictures. Tyra loves Sheena’s panel outfit but her eyes were too far out of range. Analeigh is praised by Mike and the Tyra. Sam not so much. Joslyn admits she hates her nose and cries about it. Tyra loves this! Nigel admires her flexibility. Tyra’s glad someone used her lessons! Tyra tells Lauren Brie she needs to let go too and Paulina says she needs to get better, not worse. Elina doesn’t get raves and starts to cry. Tyra tells her to think of Halle Berry winning her Academy Award.

Top Models in Action! Dani(elle)! Oh, I miss you, Dani(elle)! You were so beautiful even if you beat out my favorite Joanie.

The judges deliberate. Well, you can tell it’s getting down—they are getting harder on the girls. But I may be wrong about Analeigh in the bottom two—the judges LOVE her. Mike loves Marjorie as much as I do. Uh oh, “pretty girl” and “coasting” have been mentioned for Lauren Brie.

ELIMINATION! And the first called and the one who gets to stare at herself all week long is: Marjorie (YAY!). Next: Analeigh, Cage Girl, Samantha, Elina, and Joslyn. The bottom two is Sheena and Lauren Brie. My sister predicts Cari Dee 2 is going home. I’m torn. I agree—Sheena’s personality will save her. Tyra even focuses on that for Sheena while Lauren Brie gets a praise for having a beautiful, classic look. But as we know, personality wins out and Sheena gets to stay. She’s so happy as she accepts her picture. Tyra talks to Lauren Brie and says it’s not about how many friends she has at home, but how she acts to the public. Bye, Lauren Brie!

Next: The first commercial! I love these. And we get a house fight.

However, I think next week is the clip show. Do you want me to recap that or take the week off? Is anyone reading these anyway? Hello? Talk to me!

The Monstrous Models?

Last week: Runway! Joslyn won, Hannah got sent home. Sam pissed off the designer. Nigel shot the girls in a pool, focusing on just their eyes. The designer was still pissed off at Sam, landing her in the bottom two with Isis. However, our favorite transgendered model was sent packing for not standing out. Nine girls remain! Who gets the stiletto-heeled boot tonight?

The girls come home to Clark’s picture. Elina, whose face graced the screen the week before, ask her how it feels. Clark says it feels awesome. She confesses that being so low made her throw caution to the wind and just go for it. And now she gets to stare at herself while the girls keep asking her how it feels. She jokes that it’s lonely at the top, but in a way that makes you wonder just how much of it is a jest. Meanwhile, Sam reminds us that she pissed off the designer last time and she went from the top to the bottom. But she says she can’t focus on that and has to remain positive.

You know who isn’t remaining positive? Marjorie. She talks with BFF Analeigh, who says she’s trying to remain positive. Marjorie says she can’t and thinks it is cultural. She knows she has the potential and she knows the judges see her potential, but she psyches herself out. She—correctly—points out its hard not to be nervous, especially around the judges. But Analeigh—correctly—points out Marjorie has to think herself as one of them. Joslyn isn’t so confident either as she calls home to her…sister? Seriously. Sounds like her mom. Anyway, sister tells her to do better. Brilliant advice.

TYRA MAIL! “Just because it doesn’t fit, doesn’t mean you should be closed-minded.” The girls wonder what that means before loading up the bus. They go to a construction site and watch a shadowed figure come down on the freight elevator. Ooh, is it Janice? Anyone else miss her? No, it’s Paulina wearing…something that would look good if it wasn’t ten sizes too big. She tells the girls that they will be doing catalogue mostly and have to wear clothes that don’t fit. She reaches into her Mary Poppins bag to pull out things that will help—shoulder pads, water bottle, and duct tape. Duct tape solves everything. She tells the girls to get ready and meet her upstairs.

The girls troop upstairs in hot pink hard hats and tool belts. Paulina tells them they have five minutes to change into their assigned outfits and then make them fit. They do so as Marjorie looks nervous just to be in the same room as Paulina. She says she can’t see the judges as people she can talk to. Paulina calls time and looks at the girl. She’s impressed with Lauren Brie and McKey. She notes where Elina and Sam changed the look of the outfit. Clark confesses she was thinking of her grandmother, looking in the catalogue, which is why she left her outfit a bit loose. And then Paulina gets to Marjorie, pointing out where our favorite Frenchwoman could’ve tightened the outfit up. Marjorie interviews that she felt awkward there and after Paulina’s done, goes back to her corner. Paulina says she has to figure out who did the best, but is more concerned for Marjorie. She says the girl looks like she’s going to throw up. Commercials.

When we come back, we get shots of LA and then a lone shoe. Did a cameraman get fancy? Anyway, Paulina is still trying to figure out what is wrong with Marjorie. The girls say it’s nerves, but once Marjorie starts to explain, Paulina understands. She explains to the girls that in Europe, there is more of a rejection mentality—you’re just going to reject me anyway, so I’ll do it for you. We don’t have that here in America, in fact, we bust into a room and go, “I’m here, love me!” Paulina tells Marjorie to fake it like she does while the girls still don’t seem to get it. Sam confesses that Marjorie has to stop it and that she’s in America now so act like it. And then people wonder why the rest of the world hates us.

Paulina gets back on track, telling Sam she did the worst. But the winner is Cage Girl! She gets 50 extra frames in the next photo shoot. She’s excited. Paulina explains why Cage Girl won and then leaves. The girls glare at McKey, who smiles.

TYRA MAIL! “Are you a force natural, a devastating beauty or a total disaster? Love, Tyra.” The girls figure they will be natural disasters, like tornadoes. Anyone else think that if that’s the case, it’s a bit insensitive, even for Tyra?

Anyway, the house decides to gang up on Marjorie because that’s SO going to get her confidence up. She tries to explain that it’s just part of who she is. The others say that that means she doesn’t want to be there. Marjorie counters that if she didn’t want it, she wouldn’t be so stressed. Makes perfect sense to me. She says she’d continue to explain it, but Paulina did so and the girls are still ignoring it. Sam even admits it. Honestly, can we send Sam to Europe and see how well she adapts to a different culture? No wait, that might start a war. Never mind. And they thought Hannah was a bigot.

The girls go for their photo shoot. There’s a cardboard city, much like the set for all of the battles in Power Rangers (remember the first time you noticed they were cardboard?). The lights cut out and then…Cousin Itt from Cycle 5 comes looking for Lisa. Sam says it is like a cross between Alien and Predator. Ehh, more looks like a cross between Wild Thing and It Came From the Black Lagoon. Oh, wait, it’s just Mr. Jay. He says the girls will be dressed as monsters destroying LA. Sounds like fun and not as insensitive. He says the goal is to still shine through no matter how much hair and makeup they have on. He introduces their photographer, Brian Edwards, and sends them to hair and make up. Christian Marc makes sure they know about ‘60s fashion. They nod, especially Elina. Hey, who is Analeigh hugging back there?

Elina (Earthquake): Jay tries to get Elina out of her comfort zone. And that is…punching a Hot Wheels race track. Huh.

Sheena (Sandstorm): Not much. Jay was just glad for variety, though he said it kinda flatly.

Clark (Blackout): That’s hard to pull off. No wonder Clark is struggling. He tells us he would rather have some come with too much energy than too little.

Lauren Brie (Snowstorm): Jay tells her to not “throw then pose” but “throw and pose.” While he doesn’t say too much after, he doesn’t look too thrilled.

Joslyn (Rockslide): Jay wants Joslyn to get the variety she had back. She says she’s trying really hard.

Analeigh (Santa Ana Winds): Actually blows Jay away—figuratively speaking, of course. She rocks a blow drier.

McKey (Heat wave): After some jokes about how short her outfit is, she brings it to the set. Mr. Jay is ecstatic.

Samantha (Tidal Wave): She splashes around in a pool and Jay loves it. Sam’s happy since she was in the bottom two last week and needs to get a good shot.

Marjorie (Traffic Jam): Not the best of the day. Mr. Jay is upset he had to position her, but he did tell her to drop the broke-down Barbie look. That’s her trademark, Jay! Don’t you watch panel footage?

She comes back, all depressed. Sam isn’t too sympathetic. Marjorie mopes some more. The girls go home and fritter about who will go home. Clark says she hopes it isn’t her and then reminds us she had the first photo last week. At least she admits she’s been staring at it. She says Lauren Brie, apparently her BFF, can’t go home either. Marjorie asks Joslyn if she’s nervous. Joslyn says she is, just because she feels she’s slipping. The girls load up the bus as Sam says she knows she’s staying but it’s up to the judges. The cameraman and the editing department are both getting fancy. Wow.

The girls file in. Tyra starts singing at them. She says there are prizes, there are judges, Ms. J’s bling can be seen from the International Space Station, and the guest judge is Brian Edwards. He got the job because Tyra was hanging around Elite Model Management and saw his pictures of Cycle 8 winner Jaslene (hi, Jaslene!). Marjorie is first and the judges L-O-V-E her shot, though Tyra notes that it took a while to find it and tells her to not stay in pretty so long if it doesn’t work. Lauren Brie needs to vary her poses. After around of charades, Sam gets good remarks all around. Clark doesn’t get good remarks and is told she acts too pretty. Elina gets praised for being “ugly pretty” (right up there with “smiling with your eyes”). Nigel likes Sheena’s picture, Tyra doesn’t like Sheena’s shirt. Brian Edwards tells her to not let her energy die out. Analeigh gets praised but told to do more with her face. Tyra praises her for great film. Ms. J notes that Joslyn has been slipping while Brian says he struggled with her shoot. Nigel didn’t like Cage Girl’s photo but Tyra loved it. But she would’ve loved it more if McKey had really exaggerated.

Top Models in Action! Nigel tells s about Eugena, from Cycle 7, she of the dead eyes. However, she managed to get to the top 3 and now works ad campaigns and fashion shows. Way to go, Eugena. Almost makes up for the fact you were friends with Crazy Monique.

The judges deliberate as Nigel points out that Paulina always defends Marjorie. With that hair, does anyone think Sam’s shot reminds them of Twiggy back in her hey-day? Tyra feels Clark is a mediocre good.

ELIMINATION! First person called and the mug the girls get to stare out next week: Samantha’s. Seriously? I thought Cage Girl did better. Followed by: Analeigh, McKey, Elina, Marjorie, Lauren Brie, and Sheena. Clark and Joslyn are in the bottom two. Joslyn’s been slipping as the competition goes on. Clark was okay, gave a great photo, but not fantastic work. Who goes home? Clark. Joslyn’s personality save her. Clark is told to stop being pretty and then leaves.

I wish I could say I was sad, but I never did care for Clark. However, she was the closest thing to being the cycle bitch. Now someone else will have to step it up. I’m thinking Sam could do it.

Next week: Tyra teaches the girls about “signature posing” and Elina has difficulty at the photo shoot.

You Can Stop The Beat

According to this Playbill.com article, not only is original Edna Harvey Fierstein returning to the smash musical, he's returning to send it off. It looks like Hairspray is "likely" to be the next victim in the musical-closing marathon. Though the writer of this article makes a good point that it is just a ploy to buoy a sinking box office. When Rent announced it was closing, there was a rush on the box office which kept the musical open until last month. If the same thing happens, Hairspray could stay open another year. Though they can't just keep pulling the "We're going to close" card. Eventually, people will get suspicious and the show will have to close.

But if it's Hairspray's final bow, who will be next? I love Disney, but will they be the only shows on the Great White Way if the economy continues to go down the drain? Or will Disney have to give up its hold on Broadway as well?

A Few Notes

1. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I will be writing all my posts in pink!

2. I was out tonight, so my review for the new season of "Private Practice" will have to wait until ABC puts it up on their website.

3. Same reason, Top Model recap will not be up until tomorrow, when some nice person on YouTube puts it up.

Leave Sid Alone!

Maroon 5 performs as everyone creates a mosh pit. There are signs, there are drunken brawls. Why can’t there ever be fun drunks, like the guy I met at Zootopia 2002 who had our tier of Giants Stadium try to do the wave faster than the tier below us. Good fun until he got ejected for being a little too inebriated. The riot squad shoots bean bags at the rioters as a Woodstock escapee stumbles around. She gets hit and then nearly gets hit by a bus. Flack, Stella and Mac look at her dead body.

Credits! I hate the fact they cut out the line “I don’t need to fight/To prove I’m right/I don’t need to be forgiven.” I thought that line was utterly perfect for the show. Also, anyone else want to see Appalosa?

Mac and Stella wonder if the riot police had anything to do with it, Flack isn’t particularly thrilled at this. Our Woodstock friend goes to Sid. He washes off the body paint and reveals either a bad case of acne or a rash. As he pulls hair out while brushing it, Sid sets off the panic button. Hawkes, Stella and Mac rush down. Sid confirms that she’s radioactive. Hawkes suits up and babbles on about proper channels while Sid passes out. Not Sid! The CDC rushes Sid to the hospital as Danny clears Mac and Stella, who also tells them the CDC has Woodstock’s clothes. Mac has Danny and Stella check out if the paint was radioactive. Adam analyzes her body paint. He tells Stella she was part of “shriiimping.” They find the body artist off his graffiti tags.

They go to his studio, looking like something out of a movie set in some dictatorship. But it’s Stella and the CDC to examine for radioactivity. He’s clear as Danny and Stella talk to the artist, Kenneth. He says the vic wasn’t unusual except for an odd complexion. He tries to hit on Stella, but she isn’t having any of it. Meanwhile, Mac and Lindsay go to the hospital. They don’t know what he has, but Lindsay and the close-up cam show us what can happen with radiation. Oh, the vic has a name—Eliza.

Back at the lab, everyone is walking around looking like droids. Eliza has more radiation on her skin than inside, so she had to absorb it in. She had thallium 201 in her system. Hawkes calls the hospital to tell them how to treat Sid. Oh please, save him! It would suck that he just made it to the opening credits in time to be killed off. Stella and Danny finally get her clothes and find mold on her shoes. They hope it’ll help them retrace Eliza’s steps. Stella gets a call—someone else with Eliza’s symptoms has died. At a horror film festival. Appropriate. The vic was supposed to receive a lifetime achievement award at this event but arrived late, suffering from dementia and hair loss. The droids check the hotel room—all clear. Then their doohickeys go off and find a razor. Hawkes also finds a paper, kinda old. Hawkes wonders if it was liquid thallium.

Droid!Stella studies the razor blade. Oh wait, it’s an EM Soft Tag according to the computer. Everyone wonders where the vics got the thallium while Adam tells us about it. Danny wants to check to see who got the thallium. The paper was from the 1930s and went through treatment after water damage. Danny notes that Eliza’s mold was black toxic mold, which comes from buildings with water damage. Stella and Mac go to the NY Public Library. CDC droids!

Droid! Mac and Droid! Stella lead the droids into the bowels of the NY Public Library. Mac picks up radiation coming off a red book—The Tibetan Book of the Dead. Cheery. Droid! Stella notices the same mark Eliza was wearing and that the paper was the same as the one found on Gunthar. No wonder he was getting a horror film award. Droid!Danny finds the mold and they believe the vics were chosen at random. But Mac wonders what killer doesn’t wonder about his victims. Back at the hospital, the docs are trying to heal Sid. A lawyer on TV announces he will be filing a wrongful death suit against the city and the library for the deaths of Eliza, Gunthar and some woman named Molly. Turns out to be the lawyer’s dead wife who worked in the library in the section with the radiation. The doctor thought she had lupus, which she did but was in remission. Hubby believes it had to be thallium. He gives permission to exhume Molly’s body.

Stella gets good news. Sid is alert and responsive. Flack gives some good news. No one can check out books from the special collections, duh, so the person had to poison the book in the library. The only non-clean guy is named Timothy and has a history of chemical company breaks in. His address is the same one found on Gunthar’s page and is a Buddhist monastery. They ask for Timothy Pram and is told he no longer exists. Turns out the Buddhist monk used to be Timothy. He says he was talking with Gunthar about what to do when people die, he was doing a film. He apologizes for his mistakes and insists it’s all in the past. Stella checks him for radiation.

Lindsay found sea sponge in the murder weapon. Adam looks at the trace found on the trace. He predicts it might be a bug. Meanwhile, Hawkes looks at a 3-D hologram of Molly’s body. She did die of radiation. Mac and Hawkes end up in her stomach, which is seriously damaged. Unlike Eliza and Gunthar, Molly ingested the radiation. Now the question is: Who wanted Molly dead?

Stella and Danny figure out that Molly was an intended target. Eliza and Gunthar must’ve been collateral damage. Flack tells the duo about Molly’s assistant, whom she wrote up thrice and who hasn’t been seen in awhile. Radiation comes off his desk but is low enough for lead gloves. Danny is glad—he doesn’t like Droid!Danny much. Danny finds a collection of smoke detectors in the desk. He was also taking iodine, which could be used to protect against certain radiation. It was taken after Chernobyl. The Droid patrol goes to find Larry the assistant, who looks moments away from death himself. He asks to be droided up. He tells Droid!Stella that he was building a reactor so we could have cheaper energy. Larry says he’s a scientist, Mac says he’s a quack, and Hawkes says he’s innocent.

Danny tells us the radioactive metals found at Larry’s but no thallium. Lindsay says that the trace found on the trace was from a beetle used for red paint. Stella and Danny think the “shriiimper” but Mac realizes it is Molly’s hubby. He was an amateur painter. He killed his poor sick wife and then got greedy. Killed a few other people to file a lawsuit. And since it affected Sid, Mac’s pissed off. That’s the theme of this season—Don’t piss off Mac Taylor. Hubby didn’t want to practice law, not after the chemical plant case. He wanted to be on Easy Street. Don’t we all.

Hawkes goes to visit and awake Sid, who is reading. He says he knows how a microwavable burrito feels and thanks Hawkes. Hawkes uses the “You would’ve done the same for me.” Mac brings him the Tibetan Book of the Dead (“A clean copy, I presume?”) and then Flack brings chips for the Ranger game. All that’s missing is Danny for a guys party complete with chips and water, which bums Sid out. He wants beer.

Well, at least Sid’s okay. Next week deals with a guy found dead on a plane…Didn’t CSI: already do this back in season 2? Oh, and Nelly. If I liked hip hop, I’d care.