5 Things To Keep You In The Loop

By Clint McLeod
Looped Correspondent

This week was composed of big elections, big changes and of course it wouldn’t be a good week if we didn’t have yet another Britney Spears story. So I’ve dug through the muddle and present to you 5 Things To Keep You In The Loop.

BRITNEY SPEARS:
Britney’s True Hollywood Story added another chapter as the songstress came out of the psych ward earlier than many had hoped. Now her parents, attorneys, so-called insiders and experts, and viewers of every celebrity news program wonder and worry what her next unpredictable move will be. At what point does this tragedy no longer qualify as entertainment?

KITT’S NEW VOICE:
Earlier in the week Val Kilmer replaced Will Arnett of Arrested Development as the voice of Kitt in NBC’s resurrected 80s hit Knight Rider. While the former Batman is a more upscale and serious replacement of Arnett, I still prefer my Kitt with an accent and a holier than thou attitude. Call me crazy, but I could completely envision Darrell Hammond’s Sean Connery voice as the new Kitt. Having a sassy Scotsman berating Michael with insults and threatening to give him phony GPS directions would create a dynamic worthy of Oscar and Felix.

AMERICAN IDOL:
The first round of auditions are over. I applaud Idol this year for airing more of the talent rather than the fame seeking rejects that often clutter the initial weeks. Emphasis on quality. Got it. Now comes my favorite week, the week of the Hollywood auditions. It’s during this week that we get to watch what happens when talent teamed with ambition crash against the inability to remember lyrics and getting along. Hopefully at the end of next week, I’ll have a better idea at who will be garnering my votes and secret crushes during the next few months.

SUPER TUESDAY:
Super Tuesday came and went and we were left with an uber-satisfying draw for the Democrats while the Republicans began to coronate John McCain. Politics aside, I was gripped that night by the election night coverage itself. I’ve found that election coverage in these big primaries can be like watching the NFL draft in slow motion. The top of the hour rolls around, the network makes their bold projections and then we’re left with an hour of mind numbing analysis. Forty minutes in and you’re dying for anything but watching Olberman and Matthews exchanging historical quips like they’re on a VH1 show called “I Love The 1880’s”. Despite my complaints, I couldn’t turn the coverage off. After all, I’ll take Democracy over QVC any night of the week!

THE GRAMMYS:
This Sunday night, the music industry will convene at the Staples Center for the annual chance to give itself a rousing pat on the back for a job well done. However, many in the media are wondering if the Grammys are even relevant any more. Do people buy albums anymore? Does radio play anything but the same 15 songs? Critics point to the lack of star power in the nominees as a potential downfall for this year’s show. Lack of stars? You’d be hard press to find a household that won’t be holding its collective breath to see if Ottmar Liebert can pull off the Grammy for Best New Age Album. In all seriousness, I think the Grammys bridge the generational music gap. On the occasion of the show’s 50th anniversary, Sunday night will be an occasion for parents and children to discuss and listen to favorites from Fergie to Aretha Franklin and the Foo Fighters to John Fogerty. This may be family television at its best.