ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas 2012 Schedule

It is that time of year ago when you just stay inside with a blanket on and watch Christmas specials for a month straight. And ABC Family is happy to accommodate with its 25 Days of Christmas (Harry Potter and Pixar marathons notwithstanding) starting this weekend. Some highlights include new original holiday musical, The Mistle-Tones starring Tia Mowry (The Game) and Tori Spelling (Beverly Hills, 90210). Premiering Sunday, December 9 (8:00 – 10:00 PM ET/PT), “The Mistle-Tones” follows Holly (Mowry), a young woman who decides to create her own Christmas singing group when she is turned down for a spot in legendary group The Snow Belles by the mean spirited Marci (Spelling). Here is the full schedule:


Saturday, December 1

(7:00–8:30 AM ET/PT) Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas
(8:30–10:30 AM ET/PT) Richie Rich's Christmas Wish
(10:30 AM–12:30 PM ET/PT) A Dennis the Menace Christmas
(12:30–3:00 PM ET/PT) Miracle On 34th Street (1994)
(3:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) The Family Man
(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) Jack Frost (1998)
(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) Elf – 25 Days of Christmas Premiere
Encore Presentation (10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT)
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Snowglobe

Sunday, December 2

(7:00–8:30 AM ET/PT) Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas
(8:30–11:00 AM ET/PT) Miracle On 34th Street (1994)
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) The Search For Santa Paws
(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) Jack Frost (1998)
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Elf
(7:00–9:30 PM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Live Action)
Encore Presentation (9:30 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT)

Monday, December 3

(5:00-5:30 PM ET/PT) 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
(5:30–6:30 PM ET/PT) Rudolph's Shiny New Year
(6:30–8:00 PM ET/PT) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys
(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Encore Presentation (10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT)
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Holiday in Handcuffs

Tuesday, December 4

(4:30–5:30 PM ET/PT) Rudolph's Shiny New Year
(5:30–6:00 PM ET/PT) – Mickey's Christmas Carol
(6:00–6:30 PM ET/PT) Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too
(6:30–7:30 PM ET/PT) Jack Frost (1979)
Encore Presentation (1:00–2:00 AM ET/PT)
(7:30–8:00 PM ET/PT) Frosty's Winter Wonderland
(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) – Elf
(10:00 PM–12:30 AM ET/PT) Fred Claus – ABC Family Premiere

Wednesday, December 5

(2:30–5:00 PM ET/PT) – Fred Claus
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Elf
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone – 25 Days of Christmas Premiere
Encore Presentation (12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT)
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) The Polar Express

Thursday, December 6

(4:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) The Polar Express
(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol – Basic Cable Premiere
(10:00 PM-12:00 AM ET/PT) Elf
Encore Presentation (12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT)

Friday, December 7

(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) Elf
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause
(12:00–2:00 AM) 12 Dates of Christmas

Saturday, December 8

(7:00 –10:00 AM ET/PT) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
(10:00 AM–1:30 PM ET/PT) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
(1:30–4:00 PM ET/PT) Fred Claus
(4:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) THE The Santa Clause
(6:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause
(8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT) Despicable Me – Basic Cable Premiere
Encore Presentation (10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT)
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Santa Baby

Sunday, December 9

(7:00–8:00 AM ET/PT) Rudolph's Shiny New Year
(8:00–10:00 AM ET/PT) Snow
(10:00 AM–12:00 PM ET/PT) Snowglobe
(12:00–2:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Baby
(2:00-4:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe
(4:00-6:00 PM ET/PT) 12 Dates of Christmas
(6:00-8:00 PM ET/PT) Holiday in Handcuffs
(8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) The Mistle-Tones - ABC Family Original Musical Premiere
Encore Presentation (10:00 PM-12:00 AM ET/PT)

Monday, December 10

(5:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) A Miser Brothers' Christmas
(6:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Jack Frost (1979)
(7:00–7:30 PM ET/PT) Frosty's Winter Wonderland
(7:30-8:00 PM ET/PT) Mickey's Christmas Carol
(8:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) The Year Without a Santa Claus
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Home Alone: The Holiday Heist

Tuesday, December 11

(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause
(9:00– 11:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Chasing Christmas

Wednesday, December 12

(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
(12:00-2:00 AM ET/PT) Christmas Do-Over

Thursday, December 13

(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) The Mistle-Tones
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) The Polar Express
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Christmas Everyday

Friday, December 14

(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) The Polar Express
(7:00–8:00 PM ET/PT) The Year Without a Santa Claus
(8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
(9:00-11:00 PM ET/PT) Dinsney∙Pixar’s Toy Story
(12:00-2:00 AM ET/PT) The Christmas List

Saturday, December 15

(7:00–7:30 AM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat
(7:30–8:00 AM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat
(8:00-8:30 AM ET/PT) The Little Drummer Boy
(8:30–9:00 AM ET/PT) Little Drummer Boy Book II
(9:00-9:30 AM ET/PT) Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
(9:30-10:30 AM ET/PT) Pinocchio's Christmas
(10:30-11:30 AM ET/PT) A Miser Brothers' Christmas
(11:30 AM-12:00 PM ET/PT) The Story of the First Christmas Snow
(12:00-12:30 PM ET/PT) 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
(12:30-1:00 PM ET/PT) Frosty's Winter Wonderland
(1:00-2:00 PM ET/PT) Jack Frost (1979)
(2:00-4:00 PM ET/PT) Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
(4:00-6:00 PM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol
(6:00-8:00 PM ET/PT) Dinsney∙Pixar’s Toy Story
(8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story 2
(10:00 -11:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
(11:00 PM-12:00 AM ET/PT) The Year Without a Santa Claus
(12:00-2:00 AM ET/PT) Jack Frost (1998)

Sunday, December 16

(7:00-9:00 AM ET/PT) Richie Rich's Christmas Wish
(9:00-11:00 AM ET/PT) Home Alone: The Holiday Heist
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone 4
(1:00-2:00 PM ET/PT) The Year Without a Santa Claus
(2:00-3:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
(3:00-5:00 PM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol
(5:00-7:00 PM ET/PT) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story 2
(7:00–9:30 PM ET/PT) Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story 3 – ABC Family Premiere

Monday, December 17

(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) Sons of Mistletoe
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) Christmas Everyday
(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) Christmas Do-Over
(5:00–5:30 PM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss on the Loose
(5:30–6:00 PM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' The Lorax
(6:00–6:30 PM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat
(6:30–7:00 PM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat
(7:00–9:30 PM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Encore Presentation (9:30 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT)
(12:00–2:00 PM ET/PT) The Mistle-Tones

Tuesday, December 18

(11:00 AM–12:00 PM ET/PT) Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
(12:00–12:30 PM ET/PT) Frosty's Winter Wonderland
(12:30–2:30 PM ET/PT) Santa Who?
(2:30–4:30 PM ET/PT) The Christmas List
(4:30–5:00 PM ET/PT) Disney Prep & Landing
(5:00–5:30 PM ET/PT) Disney Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice
(5:30–8:00 PM ET/PT) Miracle On 34th Street (1994)
(8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone
(10:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) The Polar Express
(12:00-2:00 AM ET/PT) Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder version)

Wednesday, December 19

(8:00-10:00 AM ET/PT) Christmas in Boston
(10:00 AM-12:00 PM ET/PT) Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder version)
(12:00–2:00 PM ET/PT) Three Days
(2:00-5:00 PM ET/PT) The Family Man
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) The Polar Express
(9:00-11:00 PM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol

Thursday, December 20

(7:00-8:00 AM ET/PT) Beverly Hills, 90210 “Christmas Comes This Time Each Year”
(8:00-9:00 AM ET/PT) Beverly Hills, 90210 “It’s a Totally Happening Life”
(9:00-11:00 AM ET/PT) Beverly Hills, 90210 “Walsh Family Christmas”
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) Christmas Caper
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) Secret Santa
3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) The Mistle-Tones
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) 12 Dates of Christmas
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Santa Baby

Friday, December 21

(9:00–11:00 AM ET/PT) Christmas Cupid
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) Snowglobe
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Baby

(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Holiday in Handcuffs
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Holiday in Handcuffs

Saturday, December 22

(7:00–8:30 AM ET/PT) Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas
(8:30–10:00 AM ET/PT) Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas
(10:00–10:30 AM ET/PT) Disney Prep & Landing
(10:30–11:00 AM ET/PT) Disney Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice
(11:00–11:30 AM ET/PT) Mickey's Christmas Carol
(11:30 AM–12:00 PM ET/PT) Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too
(12:00-12:30 PM ET/PT) A Chipmunk Christmas
(12:30-2:00 PM ET/PT) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys
(2:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) Rudolph's Shiny New Year
(3:00-4:00 PM ET/PT) A Miser Brothers' Christmas
(4:00-5:00 PM ET/PT) The Year Without a Santa Claus
(5:00-6:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
(6:00-8:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause
(8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Clause 2
Encore Presentation (12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT)
(10:00 PM-12:00 AM ET/PT) The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause

Sunday, December 23

(7:00–8:30 AM ET/PT) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys
(8:30 AM–10:30 PM ET/PT) A Dennis the Menace Christmas
(10:30 AM–12:30 PM ET/PT) Unaccompanied Minors
(12:30–3:00 PM ET/PT) Fred Claus
(3:00–5:00 PM ET/PT) Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder version)
(5:00-7:00 PM ET/PT) The Polar Express
(7:00–9:30 PM ET/PT) Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Encore Presentation (9:30 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT)

Monday, December 24

(9:00–9:30 AM ET/PT) Full House “A Very Tanner Christmas”
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder version)
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) The Polar Express
(3:00–5:00 AM ET/PT) The Santa Clause
(5:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Clause 2
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone
(12:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Tuesday, December 25

(7:00–9:00 AM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol
(9:00–9:30 AM ET/PT) A Chipmunk Christmas
(11:00 AM–1:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause
(1:00–3:00 PM ET/PT) Santa Clause 2
(3:00 –5:00 PM ET/PT) The Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause
(5:00-7:00 PM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol
(7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) Home Alone
(9:00–11:00 PM ET/PT) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Don’t Be Mad, It’s a Brand New Kind of Me

For a decade, Alicia Keys was a picture of class making the best RnB that reminds you of the classics but still kept accessible for modern times with four albums that range between good and great. Then in between album she got caught up in a bit of a scandal where she was accused of being a home wrecking. And looking at the evidence, it is probably true. Granted on the scale of scandals, home wrecking ranks near the bottom of most egregious but it is a bit weird listening to her new music with that nuggets in the back of your mind especially when the guy in the equation, Swizz Beats produced a song on the album. It does not help that New Day may be the weakest track on the album.

It is also a bit odd that she named her fifth album Girl On Fire which shares the name of The Hunger Games sequel that is set to be released next summer but does not seem to share anything with the movie series aside from the name. (Let me quickly add a three word review of the movie: severly over-hyped.) It just seems like a shameless attempt to attach herself to the biggest pop culture phenomenon of the year. It also does not help that the title track is probably the second weakest song on the album that is brought down even further by the always annoying Nicki Minaj. It should be noted that the smoother and Minaj-less Bluelight Version (which is not featured on the album) is significantly better than the Minaj enhanced Inferno Version on the album.

Those mediocre songs aside, Girl on Fire is another solid album by Alicia Keys. Thankfully she washes the bad Minaj taste out of your mouth on the next song by singing duet with Maxwell on Fire We Make with guitar by Gary Clark Jr. while both singers get their smooth falsetto on. But some of her strongest tunes were when Keys did some co-writing with British songstress Emeli Sandé (who was supposed to be this year’s Adele but never caught on stateside) on Brand New Me, Not Even the King, and 101.

Keys also brought in uber-nineties writer / producer Babyface for That’s When I Knew which drops Keys traditional piano for a beautiful acoustic guitar based ballad. But it was Bruno Mars and his The Smeezingtons production team (who is best known for The Song Otherwise Known as Forget You) that contributed the best track on the album Tears Always Win. A modern throwback that Mars and his boys are best known for and ranks as one of her best track in her career. It almost makes you forget any past transgressions.

Song to Download - Tears Always Win

Girl on Fire gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Previewing the Mid-Seasons of Rizzoli & Isles and Leverage

Rizzoli and Isles returns tonight (followed by Leverage, more on that later) for its final five episodes of the season (yes the finale will air Christmas night). Where we left off over the summer, Rizzoli saved Isles from becoming the next victim of Eddie Cibrian while Jane’s little brother may or may have not knocked up Alexandra Holden who left their possible love child at her front door.

Tonight murder hits close to home when a man dies Division 1 Café from rat poison. And yes Jane’s least favorite restaurant owner becomes a suspect. And the victim turns out to know someone from one of the detective’s past. While next year, more ghosts from the past haunts another detective while the author of Suicide Boy is found hung in his office. We do learn the paternity of baby Tommy Jr. while Jane’s mom gets some action. Also Maura has to put her office in code red after a body is brought in, but that is not before sharing another one of nuggets in that you are less likely to get lime disease hiking without clothes.

Rizzoli and Isles airs Tuesdays at 9:00 on TNT. You can also download Rizzoli & Isles on iTunes.



Following Rizzoli and Isles is the continuation of the Leverage season and the team returns to take on what may be their biggest mark, which is saying a lot considering they once took down an entire nation. Tonight the team will be taking on Wal-Mart. Well, a Wal-Mart stand-in called Value More. If you live in a small town you know the story, a big box store moves in, crushing all the local business and then flexes it’s cooperate muscle to keep their employees from unionizing. Value More is so big, Nate has avoided taking them on, that is until Elliot cozies up to a local shopkeeper in the form of Willa Ford.

The team may actually be more ambitious next week when the Leverage Team tries to steal a dream. And to do so, they build something that looks like something Abed from Community would build if he had limitless funds to create a bigger dreamatorium. They will also be taking down a shady vinery owner and try to get a corrupt toy maker to buy a doll so creepy that it makes Chuck look like a Cabbage Patch Doll before his dangerous product its shelves before Christmas. And Nate’s nemesis insurance –investigator-turned-InterPol-agent Jim Sterling will make an appearance before the season ends.

Leverage airs Tuesdays at 10:00 on TNT. You can also download Leverage on iTunes.

I Want My Music Television - 11/26/12

There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I thought I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.

Stars - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals


I listen to the latest Grace Potter & The Nocturnals album when it came out and I do not remember anything really sticking out to give it another listen. Yeah I messed up on that one after hearing Amanda Brown perform the song last week on The Voice. Not only did Amanda get herself into the top twenty with her performance, she vaulted the original almost as high. I wonder if the exposure will stat getting airplay because of this, it definite does deserve it.


Mama Told Me – Big Boi featuring Kelly Rowland



When I saw Big Boi had a new song entitles Mama Told Me I fully expected a Mama Told Me (Not to Come) sample. No Three Dog Night, but it definitely has a retro (eighties not seventies) vibe to it.


Telescope – Hayden Panettiere


I find it interesting that they are attributing the songs from Nashville to the actors not the characters on the show. There even produced an actually music video for Hayden Panettiere that is different from the one that we saw Juliet Barnes filmed on the show. I guess that is smart because Juliet Barnes on the show is a horrible singer that is heavily auto-tunes (though Hayden could actually be the same too) Apparently it is working because the song charted on the Country charts.


Curtain – Eve 6


I am always a fan of backwards music videos, so thank you Eve 6 for another entertaining one.

57 Channels and Only This Is On - 11/25/12

The Walking Dead: I was going to yell at Rick for not dialing *69 when the people on the other line hung up, but I guess that is not possible when the other line is calling from Heaven. I had a feeling it was all in his mind when Hershel picked up the phone and we could not hear a dial tone. But the rest of the episode was a bit of a yawn as it looks like it was just an episode to set up what hopes to be an epic showdown between Rick and the Governor with Merle taking Glen and Maggie and Michonne finding her way to the prison (with only two episodes until a break I have a feeling next week will just be the travel to Woodbury with the confrontation in the last episode of the year). Sure it is absurd that Michonne and Andrea never ran into Rick and the group in the six or so months after being separated, but Michonne was able to find them in about an hour after Glen gets kidnapped, but whatever.
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Homeland: This is the first episode I watched since the Saturday Night Live sketch and watching Saul listen to Carrie having sex with Brody while he has to explain to the other dude her motives, all I could think about was, when is Saul going to say, “when has she ever let me down aside from every time?” But anyway. Brody not surprisingly finally snapped this episode after being pulled in every direction, but I have a feeling he will have a bigger snap from reality later this season when he just snaps and kills someone. Maybe Roya, Maybe Peter. Maybe even himself. But that will be down the line. This week ended with one heck of a cliffhanger. Sure Abu Nazir, the number one terrorist in the world, in America is up there as one of the least plausible plot point on the show (assuming the helicopter did not go all of the way to Syria, even going to Canada is a stretch). But if he is here, the attack has to close, hopefully they do not spread it out over the final four episodes. Speaking of which, I just saw the penultimate episode of the season is entitled The Mother(expletive deleted) with a Turban, so that should be epic. But not as epic is if they continue the Dana hit and run storyline. Really there is no where left to go unless Dana just blows everything up and still go to the police, or worse, the press. Really that may be the only good way to end the storyline.

The Voice: Last Week I scoffed at the new rule where your iTunes votes get multiplied by ten if they make it into the Top 10 of the iTunes charts because that has rarely happened. But when I woke up not only was Cassadee in the top 10, she was number one, only the third time a song from The Voice occupied the top spot (two of which were on Blake’s Team). I am not sure just how impressive that is considering she overtook Gangnam Style (강남스타일) (seriously, who is still buying that song?). There were also three artists that came close as Melanie (who did get to number 8), Amanda, and Nicholas got into the top twenty, all charting higher than the Christina Aguilera / Blake Shelton duet that was performed the same night.

Another thing I was thinking about last week was how simplistic the staging was this season, no background dancer (or as Blake likes to refer to them: mimes or male strippers), dudes on stilts, or even the severely overused smoke machine. They have not even been the overly literal video screen images like all the eyeballs that flashed on the screen when Tony Lucca sang In Your Eyes. Well they finally recruited some dancers this week this week but the theatrics have still been to a minimum this season.


1. Cassadee Pope – Cassadee nabbed the top spot on the Power Ranking last week for the first time if only by default. Not this week, she earned it with the second best performance of the season. With that one performance she has been elevated to I can’t wait to see what they do next status.

2. Amanda Brown – If everything went right in this world, Amanda and Cassadee would be going head to head with Cassadee for the season three crown (with Nicholas playing spoiler). Unfortunately I do not trust America to ever vote correctly.

3. Nicholas David – Holy buckets, that looked like a Grammy legend performing this week. It is a shame this is not the seventies because St. Nick would have been a massive star by now.

4. Melanie Martinez – Her first performance of hers that I did not find annoying. Maybe a little too late because I still would like to see her go home next week.

5. Terry McDermott – If this was the first season where there were only three weeks of Live Shows, Terry would be sitting pretty, but with week four next week, it is time to adventure outside of the box a little.

6. Trevin Hunte – I take back what I said last week, go back to the Michael Bolton catalogue.

7. Cody Belew – The biggest surprise for me so far in the Live Shows was Cody advancing this week. He was not saved by America earlier this season, spent this week daninching more when he should have been singing, and he was selling poorly on iTunes. I guess America does enjoy a little bam-bam more than I thought they would.

8. Dez Duron – The pretty boy skated by thanks to less attractive fodder the first three weeks, but if he advances next week over the people above him on the list, it will be a crime against humanity. It is his time to go.


You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download songs from The Voice by clicking the artists name.

How I Met Your Mother: Really Ted, your big recommendation was Dishwalla, a crappy one hit wonder that did not even deserve that one hit? Could you not get the licensing for Deep Blue Something?
You can stream recent episodes over at CBS.com. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.

Castle: It is pretty absurd in this day and age to have an entire story built around the inability to make a phone call and the writers went to some pretty big lengths to keep Beckett and Castle from being able to contact the police. But it was so absurd that it ended up being entertaining. They even managed to do it without using the biggest trope when it comes to the the inability to make a call: no signal, which I guess would be too absurd for a show set in New York City.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Castle on iTunes.

Happy Endings: I hate to break it to you Max, MTV did not air your season of The Real World not because someone burned down the house, but because it looked extremely boring. There is a reason ten years later and you still have not been invited to participate in a season of The Challenge.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Happy Endings on iTunes.

Sons of Anarchy: So who exactly is Donal Logue? (A second question is what is with all the weird stunt casting this season: Ashley Tisdale, Joel McHale). Is it too easy to assume that he is the husband of the nurse wow died?
You can download Sons of Anarchy on iTunes.

Survivor: Philippines: I was really hoping Malcolm would get voted out. I really hate when people hold on to theory Idols longer than they should. All it would have taken would be one person to switch, or even mess up and accidentally voted for the wrong person.
You can stream recent episodes over at CBS.com. You can also download Survivor: Philippines on iTunes.

Best of the Week - 11/24/12

Quote of the Week: She sent us a biter-gram yo. (Merle, The Walking Dead)

Song of the Week: Love Hurts – Nazareth (Go On)

Scene of the Week:


Big News of the Week: Chevy Chase Leaves Community: Although this begs the question is it really leaving the show two episodes before the presumed series finale is filmed? That is like a teacher retiring during finals week.

Preview Picture of the Week:


Free Download of the Week: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Norah Jones (iTunes)

Deal of the Week:



New Album Release of the Week: Girl On Fire - Alicia Keys

New DVD Release of the Week: Men in Black 3

Video of the Week: The latest chapters debuted last night and and as soon as they hit the internets, I will post them here.

Next Week Pick of the Week: Leverage, Tuesday at 10:00 on TNT: Leverage returns this week, on a Tuesday instead of its usual Sundays following Rizzoli and Isles, to air the final five episodes of its fifth season going up against a big box company that is destroying a small town. For those that do the math, yes that means the season finale will fall on Christmas night. If my memory serves me correctly, it aired on Christmas (and New Year's Day) last year too.

2012 Holiday Schedule

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, or as those outside the U.S. like to call it, Thursday. So I hope you have (or had depending on when you read this) a great Turkey Day. Just a heads up with the holidays upon us, here’s a look at the schedule the 9th Green will be taking the next couple weeks as well as a list of the best of 2012 and on day that are not listed, they will be filled by the regular reviews and such you have come to find at the 9th Green (card subject to change):


November 22-23 - Off for Thanksgiving
November 30 – ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas Schedule
December 1 - Induction into the Scooter Hall of Fame
December 15 - Lyrics Quiz: Best of 2012
December 20 - Worst Songs of 2012
December 22 – Best Performances of 2012
December 23 - Best Albums of 2012
December 24-25 - Off for Christmas
December 26 - Best Videos of 2012
December 27 - Best Mash-ups of 2012
December 28 - The Most Entertaining People of 2012
December 29 – 9th Green’s Reader’s Favorite Songs of 2012*
December 30 - 100 Best Songs of 2012
December 31/January 1 - Off for New Years
January 2 - Induction into the Scooter Hall of Fame
January 3 - Best Movies of 2012


*As you may have noticed, on the 29th I will have a Reader’s poll on what you all thought were the best songs of the year.

All you have to do is fill out the form below. If you have problems with it, feel free to e-mail me, ScooterKSU(at)aol(dot)com, your list. So if you would sometime time before Christmas fill out the form below, I will put a link at the top of the sidebar if you want to think about it. And as an added bonus, if you send me your list this year you can win a $5 Gift Certificate to Amazon MP3. Please note, only people with American accounts can win but foreigners are still welcome to voice their opinions. Winners will be contacted sometime between Christmas and New Years.

This poll is closed.


If you need a refresher of songs from the last twelve months, check out the list of the albums I reviewed, just look at the labels in the side bar. All the songs from those albums are eligible, look through the music videos I highlighted the past year and of course any song released this year is okay too even if I didn’t talk about it. Your nominations will be confidential and I won’t disclose it here at the 9th Green, so if you enjoy the 9th Green please fill out the form by December 26.


And with Christmas coming fast upon us, check out Amazon's Black Friday page for your loved ones:

Previewing Unlikely Animal Friends

Anyone who was five at some point in their lives remember The Fox and the Hound, but who would have guessed that the two specials could get along as well in real life as they did in animated form? That is the basis of Unlikely Animal Friends which is airing its third set of specials over the course of four episodes this Thanksgiving weekend. The first two episodes air Friday at 8:00, while the other two episodes at 8:00 on Saturday.

Each episode is dedicated to a species animal group, starting with Dogs Gone Wild (featuring commentary from Nat Geo’s resident dog expert Cesar Millan) which will be followed by Hello Kitty which features felines big and small. Then The Wild Bunch is dedicated to some of the wild’s friendliest animals. And the last episode is Man’s Other Best Friend which features some of the weirdest human pets.

Some other bizarre pairing you will see are a fog who takes a swim with his dolphin friend, a housecat that plays with an owl, a wild boar who joins a herd of cattle, and a goose that follows around a human whenever he takes a walk in the park, or even a ride on a scooter. Unlikely Animal Friends is perfect for any parent with small children who will get a kick at all the wield and wild pairings.

Unlikely Animal Friends airs back to back episodes this Friday and Saturday starting at 8:00 on Nat Geo Wild.

It’s True What You Heard, I am a Freak, I’m Disturbed

Two years ago Christina Aguilera released Bionic and it sank like a rock. It features songs where it sounded like Christina was trying to out-Gaga Lady GaGa at a time when most people were already tiring of Lady Gaga. It mirrored her debut album where she was riding the teen pop coattails of Britney Spears. But the thing is, Christina Aguilera, unlike the two other pop star (and many that populate the charts for the past decade) can sing. She is even the lynchpin coach on a show called The Voice. A half a year after Bionic dropped off the charts, Adele released 21 showing that people who can sing without all the trappings of a modern day pop singer. I thought to myself, Christina Aguilera should not be competing with the Britney Spears and Lady Gaga’s of the world; she should be competing with Adele.

So how does Christina Aguilera start her first album, Lotus, in the post-Adele era? With a heavy dose of auto-tune. Not only that, the first single was co-written and produced by Max Martin, the pop maestro who have us Baby One More Time. And like most songs from the Max Martin catalogue, Your Body is ultra catchy, but you think less of yourself when you catchy yourself singing along. I guess after three seasons of The Voice I should have seen this coming as everyone on her team have been bland pop singer with the exception of Jesse Campbell and Lindsey Pavao (neither of who inexplicably made the finales of her team) leading her to two straight last place finishes and with the new rule change this season will probably have her entire team voted off before the finals.

Christina did recruit two of her fellow coaches from The Voice to her new album (apparently Moves Like Jagger was enough studio time with Adam Levine). Cee Lo Green shows up on Make the World Move where Cee-Lo plays a glorified hype-man for the club ready track. Just a Fool is the closest thing Christina has ever come to country so it is not surprising she trades verses with the resident country voice on her show Blake Shelton, but I was left after the song was over wishing that Christina would had kept the song for herself as it could have been her one of her strongest ballads.

Even though she goes the ultra-pop route for most of the album, there is a quick Adele-type interlude for two songs in the middle of album starting with Sing for Me where Aguilera shows she is still the best voice of her generation. That is followed by Blank Page, which goes the stripped down Someone Like You route where it is just Christina and a piano (and some subtle strings flourishes). I would much rather have had a whole album like this especially where a song latter she starts a weird reggae segment includes pair of songs, Cease Fire and Circles.

But Lotus, for better or worse, is a pure pop album. Of course the album is littered with self empowering anthems, about half the tracks. While Red Hot Kind of Love harkens back to her Genie in the Bottle days. Army of Me and Make the World Move are good old school dance songs that thankfully do not utilize any of that annoying dub-stop or EDM trends that every pop song has to have these days (unfortunately Let There Be Love does jump on the annoying trend). It is clear from her choices on The Voice, Christina Aguilera still loves pop music, I just wished she would put out a record that rivals Adele.

Song to Download – Blank Page

Lotus gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.