#TheRoundUp by Enzer - No. 45

SPEAK OUT

#Celebs

Ryan Seacrest versus Petra Mede?

Oh please, they both deserve to be equally recognized as the best hosts for the 4th Enzer’s World (E.W.) Year. Which is what they are; the reigning royals of television hosting gigs.

I’ll begin with Ryan Seacrest. 

Ryan and TV lovers like me go way back. Ryan’s evolution as an on-screen host which occurred during his time on FOX’s American Idol (A.I.) is one of the many reasons viewers continue to thank our TV Gods for keeping him on the air. His presenting style is very engaging and his confidence sets him apart from many other male hosts that just can’t GET IT. Give him the red carpet or an awards show, Ryan never disappoints. He is versatile, he speaks clearly and he has the best suits in town. The good looks are the cherry on top. With A.I. now off-the-air, I wonder who will be responsible for the end of Ryan Seacrest’s reign as E.W.’s Top TV Host.

What about Petra Mede?

When I think of Petra Mede, I smile. She has an amazing personality that is fit for the small screen. She hosted the previous edition of the Eurovision Song Contest which was held in her home country and won the E.W. Top Hostess Recognition for that job. She won because she was like-able, well-rehearsed, in the moment, impressively showcased her ability to speak multiple languages and confidently used her God-given humorous side. I’d give her the job on any day.

#Quotes

“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” – VINCE LOMBARDI

“Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you, who will get you where you want to go, no one else.” – LES BROWN

“Next to physical survival, the greatest need of a human being is psychological survival – to be understood, to be affirmed, to be validated, to be appreciated.” – STEPHEN COVEY

“To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” – NELSON MANDELA

“When we blame, we give away our power.” – GREG ANDERSON

HOT ON TV

The 59^th Grammy Awards aired live on CBS this past Sunday from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

The show, which was hosted by James Corden, was the liveliest of all Grammy Awards ceremonies I have watched. The performances by some of pop music’s biggest stars including Bruno Mars, Demi Lovato, Ed Sheeran and The Weeknd passed the test and the presenters cast list for the night added to the evening’s success.

James Corden did a good job. I’m happy that the producers decided to give LL Cool J a well-deserved break. Hiring a comedian was the best decision (for obvious reasons) and the redesigned stage kept most of us glued. 

Overall, it was a memorable night. I hope they’ve already started planning for the upcoming 60^th Grammys.

HOTTER

The 4^th season of Tyler Perry’s The Haves & the Have Nots (airing on OWN) is on FIRE! The series was always packed with insane storylines but the current season takes it over the edge. I am not going to spoil it for you. No, I’m just going to recommend the current season (catch-up if you have to) and hope you get hooked.

Girls on HBO is ending! The 6^th and final season of this provocative series is currently on-air. I guess viewers are now tired of watching Hannah and Adam have sex, hey, LOL.

Another show that isn’t returning is Showtime’s Masters of Sex. It had a good run and there was no better time to let it go. Lead actors Lizzy Caplan and Michael Sheen will not be forgotten. What they did on the show was incredible.

Have you watched the 2017 NFL Superbowl Half-time Show featuring Lady Gaga yet? Ah, it was magnificent. Gaga brought the house down by performing some of her hit singles to a crowd that failed to keep it together. Her performance is up there with Beyonce’s 2013 performance. You better be watching it right now!

NBC could pick up a new version of American Idol! I read that online just now. I cannot believe it! FOX really doesn’t want A.I. anymore, LOL. I am glad that NBC wants to try A.I. and totally dominate (like seal the deal) with these singing competitions. Hey, I can never complain because when A.I. is back on the air, we will be #WINNING again. #EnzerLovesIdol

THROWBACK

Devious Maids aired its series finale on Lifetime in August 2016. The final season left so many questions unanswered leaving fans in a pit of sadness. You know, Devious Maids was THE SERIES that most turned to when Desperate Housewives (which aired on ABC) ended. What’s going to happen now? Is the whole HOUSEWIFE-THEME thing dead for good? I mean even daytime soap-operas are becoming a stale genre.

MUSIC SPOT

THESE ALBUMS ROCK!

This House Is Not For Sale by Bon Jovi

Songs We Like: This House Is Not For Sale; Living With A Ghost; Knockout; Labor Of Love; Born Again Tomorrow; Roller Coaster; New Year’s Day; Scars On This Guitar; God Bless This Mess

Album Name: Is that the subject?

Starboy by The Weeknd

Songs We Like: Starboy (featuring Daft Punk); Party Monster; False Alarm; I Feel It Coming (featuring Daft Punk)

Album Name: Yea, I get it.

Joanne by Lady Gaga

Songs We Like: A-Yo; Joanne; John Wayne; Perfect Illusion; Million Reasons

Album Name: Ok.

BUZZING MUSIC VIDEOS OF NOW:

* Lights Down Low (Wedding Video) by MAX

* Castle On The Hill by Ed Sheeran

* Poppin’ Tags by Future

* HEAVEN by Troye Sivan ft. Betty Who

* Escobar by Dotman ft Davido

View all of E.W.’s top music videos right now by simply typing in 

‘MUSIC SPOT #SongOfTheDay’

…into your Twitter Search Bar (and then click ‘Search’) and all of the tweets will appear on your screen.

For new music videos, cover versions, classics, lyric videos or live performances type in

‘MUSIC SPOT #FreshVideo’

Or

‘MUSIC SPOT #CoverSongOfTheDay’ 

Or

‘MUSIC SPOT #Classic’

Or

‘MUSIC SPOT #LyricVideo’ 

Or

‘MUSIC SPOT #Live’ 

IN THE NEWS

Travel Ban! Travel Ban! Travel Ban!

The U.S. government’s decision to ban citizens from a number of Islamic countries from entering the United States and the deportation of thousands of immigrants living in the U.S. has been NEWS for days. There are many sides to the story. One of them is that the U.S. government will probably save a lot of money by denying millions of people entry into the U.S. Another side argues that the lives of the deported and banned citizens have been put in danger and all hope of ever living well has been thwarted while another side simply believes that Trump’s era is the best time for America to pull out of international affairs for reasons known to many. 

At the end of the day, the final call is made by either the Republicans or the Democrats. In this case, the Republicans are in charge and will unapologetically do what they think is best for their citizens. 

That is an important part of governance that many are missing: A Government Must Protect the Interests of Its Citizens First. Have you heard of an American getting hurt after Trump took over?

SOCIAL MEDIA

NEW ON E.W.

A new E.W. Blog is launching this June! E.W. Global-West is live on the day after E.W. Day on Twitter and Facebook so be sure to follow that.

New Song Lists have been added on the Blogger Site. Lists of buzzing Reggae/Dancehall, Hip-Hop/Rap and RnB tracks have been added. Other lists featuring the MOST COVERED tracks and the latest hits by American Idol alumni are also available.

Don’t Miss Out On Any Updates By Following E.W. on Twitter & Facebook.

‘Til Next Time

>>> Dude, Totally Unbiased <<<

#TheRoundUp by Enzer - No. 8

Thank you for not being too busy LOL. Here’s #TheRoundUp

HOT ON TV

How impressive is the Winter Season TV Line-up? Out of a hundred percent, I’ll give it a hundred percent plus one! Oh, and if you haven’t noticed the gorgeous actors portraying LGBTI characters popping up everywhere on TV, then you need to wake up! LOL, where are you?

Enzer’s World (EW)’s Outstanding Reality TV Singing Competition Series 2013/14, American Idol (AI) premiered its fourteenth season earlier this month on Fox. I never question the team behind the AI season premieres because they always kill it. The show launched on a high, the contestants that auditioned in front of the judges (Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez (JLo) & Harry Connick Jr.) were well chosen (audition episodes that have aired) and I’m glad that Harry is back on TV because I missed him, so much. He is so good at what he does! I was always annoyed by the bosses at AI whenever Harry guest judged or mentored Idol (back when AI was a sinking ship) because he seemed arrogant and cheeky. I even thought about enrolling in a rehab program when Fox announced that he had got the job as a full-time judge in season thirteen LOL, I was so disappointed. I didn’t get it, but when season thirteen kicked off last January and I got to know the other (better) side of Harry, I vowed to search for a time machine that could send us back in time so that Harry could get his seat at the judges table in season one! (It’s a crazy idea but you gotta admit that it’s amazing, right? LOL). 

Out of all the experts that have worked on the show as judges (excluding Simon Cowell), I think Harry is the only one that actually helps in molding the contestants in preparation for both the Idol title and life after the competition has ended. I’m not saying that the other judges are clueless, but they don’t seem invested in the show, it’s like they don’t care. I know that it’s not their duty to care, but I mean, if someone out there hadn’t given them an opportunity and a terrific mentorship program (which is what some of the lucky hopefuls only need) they wouldn’t be where they are today (we all know how hard it is to make it in Hollywood). On the other hand, maybe they just don’t know how to effectively pass on their wealth of experience to the ‘next generation.’ In the end, we can’t all be good teachers, even if we all have the same qualifications and experience in a particular field.

You’re probably wondering why I’m bashing the AI Expert Panel when the E.W. Board recognizes Keith, JLo, Harry and Randy Jackson as the Outstanding Expert Panel in a Reality TV Singing Competition Series 2013/14. Well, truth is, though the AI Expert Panel had very visible weaknesses which need immediate attention, they still performed better than The Voice USA and X-Factor UK’s Expert Panels for the previous E.W. Year. Those other two shows didn’t even have a “Harry” but…that’s history – let’s get that straight! Find out which Reality TV Singing Competition Series wins top recognitions in the 3^rd edition of the E.W. Independent Online Recognitions 2015 coming up after the current E.W. Year has ended. Don’t miss out! SIDENOTE: Be on the lookout for E.W.’s weekly reviews of the AI live shows, coming soon!

Channel Fox’s Glee also premiered its sixth and final season earlier this month and after watching the few episodes that have aired, I wasn’t moved. The writing team didn’t do justice for the loyal global audience and I hate to say this but maybe the decision to can the series was not such a bad move after all. On a lighter note, E.W. is continuing with its little Glee tribute on Twitter. Be on the lookout for the hashtag #EnzerLovesGlee in which a selection of our favorite moments, scenes and songs, etc. from all six seasons of Glee will be shared randomly on E.W.’s timeline.

A new TV series that premiered in the fall that I am crazy in love with at the moment is Red Band Society, also on Fox. Red Band Society is a Teen Medical Dramedy (Comedy-Drama) series that follows a group of youngsters from different backgrounds that are stuck in a pretty good hospital but are up to no good. I like the way that the diverse storylines mesh to form a really enjoyable series and I am also in awe of the little known, superb, young and good looking talent. Yes, a bunch of good looking young actors equals hope for Hollywood. It’s sad how the show was marketed to TV lovers with Oscar winner Octavia Spencer at the forefront. Why is it an issue? It’s an issue because her role is not really the center of the series. The younger talent that has me raving for days seems to be the real deal in this series. If the writers hoped that Octavia would be the star of the show, according to Enzer, they failed dismally.

Did you enjoy The 2015 Critics Choice Movie Awards which aired on A&E this past week? (I know I did). The ceremony was hosted by Michael Strahan (host of Live! With Kelly & Michael) who did a very good job. The stage, the lighting, the presenters, the strip tease (courtesy of the host himself who is one of Magic Mike’s newest cast members, #Yummy) and everything else was on point. Sadly Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston didn’t “pull each other’s hair” during the show. Who knew WORLD PEACE was a thing nowadays, LOL. Anyways, well done to A&E for pulling that one off, I hope we get to watch more!

The Oscars which will air on ABC are less than a month away, the nominees were revealed a few days ago and I am not excited at all. Hopefully Neil Patrick Harris will liven up the ceremony and help us move on from Ellen DeGeneres’s exceptional hosting of last year’s unforgettable edition of The Oscars Telecast. On the other hand, there’s word on social media about how massively ‘white’ both the Grammy and Oscar nominations lists are. Excuse me? Hello: America’s population is over eighty percent white! Do the math. What did you expect? NEXT! Lol.

In another world where “decency” is a foreign concept, Girls on HBO is back! Back with a bang, bang, bang! (Excuse the pun.) One thing that makes Girls stand out is its level of spontaneity. I cannot think of any other TV series that matches up to Girls’ edge. The producers keep me (and I’m sure millions of other viewers) guessing, all the time. The series has revolutionized TV and has challenged purists who I hope have been inspired to let loose once in a while LOL.

Still on LGBTI-Friendly TV, I am glad that Hollywood is finally assisting in burying some nasty stereotypes by appreciating good looking gay characters. Confused? Well, usually when a gay character is part of the mix, a not so traditionally good looking (or bigger, weird in a good way) actor is cast e.g. Stephen Wallem who portrays the role of Thor Lundgren on Showtime’s Nurse Jackie as well as Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet who portray gay couple Mitchell Pritchett and Cameron Tucker on ABC’s Modern Family. It’s as if there are absolutely no “traditionally” good looking, “normal” gay people out there LOL! Thank God that practice is becoming old

news because the newest (and somewhat new) actors playing gay characters on TV this E.W. Year are God’s gift and a half to humanity. I’m talking about the cast of Looking on HBO (especially Murray Bartlett who plays the role of Dom), How to Get Away with Murder on ABC’s Jack Falahee who stars as Connor Walsh and, TV’s darling – Taylor Schilling who portrays the role of Piper Chapman in the hit Netflix series, Orange Is The New Black. 

The producers, writers, etc. of these LGBTI-Friendly shows must be commended for attempting to alter the image of LGBTI people across the board. Though to some, these interesting characters are simply a tool to win over more viewers, for the LGBTI community, they are an inspiration. They give us hope for a ‘tomorrow’ where pre-conceived stereotypes of the LGBTI community are a thing of the past. Thank you, Hollywood. Thank you.

MUSIC SPOT

MUSIC ALBUMS ROCKING OUR WORLD RIGHT NOW:-

Meet the Vamps by the Vamps

Songs we like: Oh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart) (featuring Shawn Mendes) & Somebody to you (featuring Demi Lovato).

In The Lonely Hour by Sam Smith

Songs we like: Money on my mind, Like I can, La la la (featuring Naughty Boy), Stay With Me & I’m not the only one.

ARTIST TO WATCH:-

RnB newbie August Alsina is a force to be reckoned with. His music is not filled with wisdom and stories about life (he’s young anyway) but it is catchy and is doing well on the pop radio charts. Two songs stood out from his discography: Benediction (featuring Rick Ross) and No Love Remix (featuring Nicki Minaj).

DAILY INSPIRATION

A leader has the ability to learn from everyone. A leader is a decision maker, has the courage to take calculated risks, the confidence to make decisive resolutions and the determination to follow through. The qualities and status of leadership do not automatically ensure success. While knowledge and experience usually help a person to make good judgments, they do not guarantee the absence of mistakes. It is worthwhile to consult experts where appropriate, but a good leader appreciates that he is ultimately responsible for his decisions. An effective leader needs to be reliable and dependable to him-self and to others.

Define yourself by what you do, how you treat others and how they see you.

SPEAK OUT

Quotes:-

“Leadership is not a right of passage…Leadership is a state of mind, a philosophy, an attitude. Understanding this, you can recognize and develop the key traits that will enhance and improve your personal capacity for leadership.” – ANDREW WOOD

“Outstanding leaders have a sense of mission, a belief in them-selves and the value of their work.” – BRIAN TRACY

CARRENSDALE –BLOG DRAMA SERIES

Chapter One -Part One and Part Two are available to read online. The links are available on the E.W. Network bar at the top of the blog. Chapter One, Part Three will be available on Monday.

E.W. INDEPENDENT ONLINE RECOGNITIONS 2015

Two new exciting categories will be added to the category list this year! For the first time in E.W. history, two of the Best Music Collaborations whose videos were released during the current E.W.-Year (23 June 2014 – 22 June 2015) will be recognized by the E.W. Board as the E.W. Collaboration of the Year (Enzer’s World & E.W. Xtra – one of each). 

Videos that have been shared on E.W.’s @enzer_tweets & @EW_Xtra Twitter timelines are eligible for this honor. This is the first time that the E.W. Board is placing special emphasis on music videos (it makes so much sense considering the countless number of music videos shared on all E.W. platforms all year round). The recognition will be the highest honor of the year in music and the shortlisted music videos and artists will be revealed in each edition of #TheRoundUp, only available at E.W. on Blogger. 

The final list of nominated videos will then be released alongside other nominees at the end of the E.W. Year. If you want to get familiar with the E.W. Independent Online Recognitions, scroll up to the E.W. Network bar were all the necessary info is available.

NEW TO ENZER’S WORLD

E.W. has a new Twitter page! The new Twitter handle is dedicated to showcasing all that our Christian side can’t get enough of. Music, inspirational messages, meaningful scriptures, tweets from some of our favorite men and women of God, etc. all in one! 

Check out ‘E.W. Christian’ @EW_Christian.

Don’t miss out on the fun! Follow EW on twitter @enzer_tweets ; @EW_Xtra ; @ew_queer ; @EW_Christian

‘til next time

>>>Dude, Totally Unbiased<<<