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have seen several performances on singer Josh Groban (2 were live and the others on tv). None of those performances let me down as much as his performance on the Emmy awards on 9/21/08 were he did snippets of tv theme songs (leaving out some of the best, such as "Frasier" and "The Flintstones"). I give the performance a "C+" because Josh is capable of doing better things than he did on that show. He did not really get to showcase his voice or his talent on drums or piano. I have to put this performance in the "what was he thinking?" category. It is beneath what he is capable of doing. Why did Josh do this? Was it really necessary? What is he being reduced to? Has he "gone commercial" or "sold out on" us? And has he lost his originality? Because anyone could have done those snippets. Needless to say, I am a bit concerned after seeing the emmys with Josh. I discovered him in 2003 about the time his album "Closer" came out. I liked his voice and started listening more and I went to his concert in 2005 and became a fan. I still am a fan but his appearance on the emmys makes me go "hmmm". I worry about what is happening to our Josh Groban.
Another telenovela (soap opera) had its "gran final" (grand final) on the Spanish language channel Univision on Friday 9/19/08. This show had the somewhat droll title "Al diablo con los guapos" which means "to hell with all the handsome ones!" or "damn the handsome ones!". This is a phrase uttered by the telenovela's main character, a young woman named Milagros (meaning "miracles"; played by Allisson Lozz). This is the story of a poor orphaned girl named Milagros, who is also known as Mili or Miligol, because she loves soccer and is good at the game (soccer is the most popular sport in Mexico, which is were the novela takes place). Mili grows up in a convent but at 18 must leave and go to work. She happens upon a young man named Alejandro Belmonte (Eugenio Siller)whose father is a business tycoon named Constancio Belmonte (Cesar Evora), an extremely proud ambitious man whose career goes before his family. At first when Alejandro expresses his interest in Mili, she refuses him. But soon his persistance pays off as Mili ends up going to work for the elder Belmonte and for his wife; Alejandro's mother Luciana (Laura Flores). Mili falls in love with Alejandro as he does with her, but there are numerous obstacles: Alejandro's girlfriend Andrea (Tania Vezquez), a very ambitious, ruthless woman whose only interest is money so she pursues Alejandro and Constancio; Alejandro's mother also does not want them together and collaborates with Andrea to seperate them, Alejandro's cousin Hugo Arango (Andres Zuno)who also falls in love with Mili and tries to win her--somettimes going to extremes. Alejandro's sister Valeria (Altair Jarabo) also does not approve of Alejandro loving "una sirvienta" ( " a servent" or "maid"). Constancio also does not want them together.
The biggest obstacle to Alejandro and Mili being together, however, is that they could be brother and sister! Mili soon learns that that is not true, although she discovers her actual relationship to Alejandro's father. But alas Alejandro has married Florencia, whose father is also an important business man and he leaves the country with her. So Mili decides to give a chance to Hugo. She does not see Alejandro again for three years and even then does not tell him the truth right away as she discovers Florencia is pregnant. By the time the truth comes out that Mili and Alejandro are not brother and sister, Mili is married to Hugo and Hugo is reluctant to let her go and Mili does not want to hurt Hugo. But the love of Mili and her "guapito" as she calls Alejandro is too intense so finally Hugo and Florencia have to give them up. They do get together after their divorces as everybody realizes that they cannot fight the love of Mili and Alejandro. Luciana, Constancio, Valeria come to accept their relationship. Valeria herself falls for her chauffeur Rocky or "Morgan"(Ricardo Margaleff) as she calls him. She marries him and Mili and Alejandro get married. And the novela ends showing the happy couples together as many years pass and finally Mili and Alejandro are in their 90s and still together in love!
This is a likable, charming soap opera, though I believe this sort of "Cinderella" story has been done before. Like all telenovelas, it has its serious moments, such as dealing with Luciana's alcoholism, but, as is evident by its title, it has some humorous parts, too. The actors playing Mili and Alejandro show potential in their telenovela debuts on this show, except I thought at times that they could tone down their screaming and crying. Also I think the singing done by Allisson and Eugenio was rather unneccessary. I thought it took too much time from the story. Plus, I think their acting was better than their singing. Allisson sang ok. She did the show's theme song with a group K-Paz but the song did not measure up to the theme song of the telenovela "Pasion" and of course she is no Sarah Brightman. Some of the other cast members sang too and I think that was overdone. Veteran telenovela actors Cesar Evora and Laura Flores were excellent in their roles (Cesar Evora is one of the few who does not sing on this show), as was another veteran actress (Alicia Rodriguez) who appeared early in the novela as Constancio's mother Regina Belmonte. Overall, I give this novela a "B". Like I said, it had charm but not a lot of originality. And too much singing and slowing down of the plot. And I didn't see as many handsome men as in "Pasion" although I found the actor who played Hugo rather attractive:)
A Lifehouse petition
Jul 23, 2008 | 3:16 PM PST
Category:
Entertainment
I have created yet another petition in favor of my favorite band Lifehouse. The petition is located at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/lhattheq/petition.html
They are a brilliant, talented band from California consisting of 3 down-to-earth, affable, funny young men who enjoy playing in Cleveland and are always well-received when they come here. I have been a fan of them since their first album and had the good fortune to meet them last year. They, especially frontman Jason Wade, always speak highly of this city when they come and Jason always talks about he is fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers and of Lebron James. I think this group deserves the best venue Cleveland has to offer and I have seen concerts in at least 3 venues and I think the best is the "Q" arena in this town so I feel strongly that their next show in Cleveland should be at the "Q". I hope other Lifehouse fans will join me in signing this petition to get their concert at the "Q".
A Josh petition
Jul 23, 2008 | 3:13 PM PST
Category:
Entertainment
I have created a new petition that I hope my fellow fans of Josh Groban will join me in signing at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/joshespy/petition.html
I feel he should host this awards show because seeing him in concert I have noticed that he is a charismatic, affable, funny young man ( I have seen him perform but haven't met him but I hope to someday). I also watched him on singer Michael Buble's special "Caught in the act" on the dvd and he was hilarious. I think he'd do a fine job hosting the show. After seeing the brilliant work of Justin Timberlake hosting on 7/20/2008, I felt Josh would be great as well. And I know Josh is a sports fan and has sung at several sporting events.
So I attended a wedding
Jun 25, 2008 | 2:51 PM PST
Category:
Entertainment
On June 20, 2008, for the first time ever, I attended a wedding. This was the wedding of a good friend from high school; a woman I have known for 18 years. The ceremony was nice and simple; in a church in Cleveland. There was a mass along with the ceremony. It was lovely. My friend and her new husband seem happy. I wish them the best. She's a great friend--been supportive of me and my family through happy times and sad ones as well. I have not met her husband yet but he seems a nice young man. My only quibble with the ceremony was the music. It was bit mellow and sad for a joyous occassion such as a wedding. And the cantor left something to be desired. I have heard better ones. And I think that it would have been sweet if the cantor had been a singer like Josh, or Sarah Brightman, or Jason, the lead singer of Lifehouse. I think if and when I get married, I will try to incorporate Josh songs, Lifehouse songs, along with other favorites into the actual ceremony if possible and definitely after the ceremony. For example, when me and my new husband walk out of the church and everyone is applauding and waiting to greet us, I'd like to have a song like Sarah Brightman's "Pasion", or "All'improvisso amore" or "Canto alla vita" by Josh or "everything" by Lifehouse playing. My friend did not have anything like that. And I was sorry that I did not get to greet her and her husband after the ceremony. They did not stick around very long at the church. If I get married, I hope that me and my husband will stay and greet the family and friends who have come to share this special day with us. There was also this part where we had to blow bubbles when the bride and groom walked out of the church (in lieu of throwing rice, I suppose). That would have been awesome if everyone had done it right at the same time. But it was all in all a pleasant afternoon ceremony. Interesting experience. And as I said the first wedding I have been to. I am happy for her. She and her family are good people and her husband seems to be as well. I'm glad she found someone. I hope I will soon, too.
The telanovela (or "soap opera") "Pasion" had its "gran final" (grand final)on Friday, April 25, 2008 on Spanish-speaking network Univision. The show was excellent;had something for everyone: adventure, mystery, intrigue, romance, sex. It also had very good actors, especially those who played the title roles of Camila (Susana Gonzalez) and Ricardo (Fernando Colunga).
The story of "Pasion" takes place in the 18th century. A young woman named Camila Darien is engaged to a young man Santiago (Sebastian Rulli) from her small town of San Fernando (in Mexico; before Mexico declared its independence from Spain). But events the night before her wedding change the course of her life. A short time later, she meets a pirate called Ricardo de Salamanca when she is captured by his group. At first she does not know his name and she despises him. She is sold as a slave and purchased by Ricardo's cruel uncle Timiteo de Salamanca who persuades Camila to marry him to gain her freedom. She ultimately does get her freedom and the old man's money, too. Camila returns to her hometown where she finds her fiance married to her sister. She is devastated by this but Ricardo then comes to her village. She and Ricardo fall in love and Ricardo wants to quit being a pirate but he and Camila face many obstacles, including Santiago who continues to be in love with Camila and Ricardo's blind cousin Lizabeta (Daniela Castro) who is obssessed with Ricardo.
I give this telenovela an "A+" not only for the brilliant acting, but for the costumes, and the storyline, and the theme song "Pasion" performed by singers Sarah Brightman and Fernando Lima.
I do recommend this show highly. I would watch it again. I hope it will be repeated or be on dvd in the near future.
Besides everything else I mentioned, the novela has some very handsome men (and they can act): Fernando Colunga, Sebastian Rulli (whom I already have mentioned and Sebastian bears a resemblance to the lead singer of my favorite band), William Levy (he played Camila's brother Vasco Darien and he was excellent). I hope to see these guys in novelas again soon.:)
Recently a telenovela (soap opera) that I watched on the network Univision had its "gran final" (finale). It was called "Amar sin limites" ("love without limits"). It was on of the better telenovelas I watched. It's the story of a young man called Diego who returns to his home town after being away from it for some time and he goes to work in a fashion store and meets a young woman called Azul with whom he falls in love and she falls in love with him, too. There are of course complications: Azul is engaged to another man--an unscrupuluous businessman called Mauricio and two other woman are in love with Diego: a businesswoman in charge of Mauricio's company called Eva and a woman called Silvana both of whom have troubles of their own. Further complicating Diego and Azul's relationship is that Diego is working for Eva and Mauricio's illness (which he has inflicted on himself) and uses this to obligate Azul to marry him. Azul does but then learns the truth about Mauricio and she is rescued by Diego and divorces Mauricio (who goes to prison). Azul and Diego get married but just when you think their troubles are over--there is still more to come! For Mauricio comes into their lives one last time. What happens next tests the love of Azul and Diego as well as the strength of their marriage.
I found it a good show because first of all I liked the theme song that was sung by Laura Pausini. I think it's called "Dispare, Disparame" and I can't find it any of her cds. I thought there was a good plot, too, for a relationship is not always easy but when it is "meant to be" like Azul and Diego's it will ultimately triumph. I thought the actors were excellent, too, especially the ones who played the main roles of Diego, Azul, and Mauricio.
I give the telenovela an "A" and I'd watch it again and hope it comes out on DVD. Good work and thank you, Univision, for bringing "Amar sin limites" to your network.
