There are certain episodes of New Girl where I can't stand Jess. This episode was one of them. Jess finds out from her lesbian gynecologist friend that by the time a woman hits 30, most people lose 90% of her eggs. Fertility goes down the drain, uh oh! Cue dramatic overreaction! Like, throwing out the MICROWAVE? Really? Calm down there, honey. Her overreaction was totally understandable but it felt so exaggerated that I did not feel sad or worried for her. Quite honestly, from the beginning, I wasn't a big fan of the show. I think I only kept watching it for the other characters because I'm more interested in their story lines if anything, which is kind of strange since the show is supposed to be about her.

Show comparison: I just caught up on one of the new shows, The Mindy Project. My co-bloggers didn't seem too enthusiastic about it but I definitely like that show tons more than New Girl at the moment. I'm not saying New Girl is horrible, I'm just saying it's not impressing me. I'm not saying The Mindy Project is impressive, I'm just saying it's better than New Girl. Nevertheless, I will keep watching both shows - keeping low expectations for Jess, and high hopes for Mindy!

I'm going to try my best to keep up with these weekly X Factor posts but I got a job (!) so I can't promise anything.

The background stories they feature on X Factor are getting to be a bit much, no? Let's use the most depressing sob story you've got to get people to vote for you! Oh, you don't have a sob story? Then let's somehow incorporate God or the troops into your package! Man, I get so cynical when I watch The X Factor. On to the singing!

1. Carly Rose Sonenclar - Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Carly Rose has a boring personality and her lips look weird when she sings but she had the best performance this week, hands down. They should also show her brother more often. He's a cutie!


2. Tate Stevens - I'm Already There
Baby Tate is so cute! I'm running out of things to say about Tate each week. He's consistently good but all his performances are starting to sound the same. I want to see him try something different, maybe put a country twang on an unexpected song. Even if he totally bombs it, I think he's got enough fans to stay at the top of the standings.


3. Vino Alan - God Bless the USA
Maybe it's because I'm Canadian but this performance was super cheesy, no? There was an eagle flying behind him! Then again, Americans are super patriotic so singing a song that sounded like an anthem was probably a smart move. I like Vino's voice but he looks so awkward when he performs. His shoulders scrunch up, he hunches, and his hand doesn't stop shaking.


4. Emblem3 - Secrets
Drew's youth leader/mentor gives off a weird vibe to me. Maybe that's why Drew rubs me the wrong way too. As for their performance this week, I liked it (surprisingly!). Getting them to sit down was a smart move since it made them look less spastic. I don't know why they always give the majority of the singing parts to Wesley. I think Keaton actually sounds better - he looks awkward when he's working the stage but he's the only one of the three that doesn't annoy me. (Btw, I had no idea what their names were - I had to look it up online haha)
 

5. Diamond White - Because You Loved Me
I love this song and Diamond rocked it. I think she almost forgot the words for a split second though. "You were my errrrrs when I couldn't see".


6. Paige Thomas - Everytime
Paige's story is heartbreaking. I can't imagine losing my mom at the age of 6. Unfortunately airing her story right before she got on stage ended up harming her performance. Her emotions took over and her voice was pitchy the entire time. It's not easy to sing when you're crying so at least she got to the end of the song. Despite what Britney said, she didn't look amused that Paige was singing her song.


7. Fifth Harmony - I'll Stand By You
Is it bad that I never remember what song they sang? Individually they're good singers but their performances are always so bland. They just stand in a line and sing a few lines each. They need a memorable moment or else they're going to keep slipping down in the standings.




8. SAVED - CeCe Frey - Wind Beneath My Wings
I used to hate the cheetah-print CeCe but I have to say, I kind of miss that sassy, confident girl. I never thought I would say that. There's no doubt that CeCe desperately wants to win but she seems so fragile now and it's affecting her singing. To be fair, she did have a heartbreaking story so I'll give her a pass.
Singing for Survival -  Because Of You
This was absolutely terrible. It sounded like someone singing karaoke. I have no idea how she was saved.



9. ELIMINATED - Beatrice Miller - Chasing Cars
I hate to say this because Beatrice was one of my favourites but she peaked the week of the Judges' Houses. I don't know if it was bad song choices or because Beatrice put so much pressure on herself but she's never sounded as good as she did when she sang "Titanium". 
Singing for Survival - White Flag
Even though she looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment, she still managed to make the song sound good. Way better than CeCe anyway. Gaah, stupid judges. I want to give the poor girl a hug.  


10. ELIMINATED - Arin Ray - Hero
The minute I heard Arin was singing Enrique Iglesias' "Hero", I knew he was a goner. That's a terrible song to dedicate to your brother! I was rooting for Arin but it was obvious he didn't have a large fan base and was never going to win. I'm going to console myself by re-watching his "American Girl" performance. It's the one week everything went right for him.

This week on The X Factor was "Diva Week". I'm not a big fan of having specific themes on singing competitions. It forces some of the competitors to perform a song out of their comfort zone that doesn't necessarily show off their best skills. It gives an advantage to the singers who can pull off the diva songs but I suppose it forces the artists to get creative.

I've recently caught up on Cougar Town. I had given up on the show a while back because while it had its memorably awesome moments in Season 1 and 2, it got QUITE boring in Season 3. No lie, I honestly fell asleep watching it once. But on the bright side, it's a good show to watch when you are bored out of your mind and you just want to mindlessly do something! Somehow, I ended up being okay with the show again nearing the end of its third season. I'm kind of surprised it's still on air, but I think they barely made it into Season 4. I hope they start redeeming themselves!

For example, this Alice Cooper joke was pretty damn hilarious. I saw it coming, but it still cracked me up. See, that's the thing about this show. It's so chill that it makes you feel like life is easy and great! And everything is so bright that it makes you feel relaxed and happy! And the houses are so grand and pretty that you wish you could own one! I love the relationships between the characters and it has got me wanting my own cul-de-sac crew for my future life as a middle-aged woman! Is that weird?

Anyway, I just want to say that the best character of this show is definitely Ellie Torres (Christa Miller). I love her, she is awesome.


That scene with the cookie sheet cracks me up every time!! And I love that DJ Ellie remix of Grayson!

I apologize right away if anyone has not watched the episode yet, so SPOILER ALERT! Oh wait, I don't think that will help because it's a picture. Oops.

ABOUT TIME!!! Emily (real Amanda) has got tons of guys around her! Daniel clearly still has a thing for her. Jack is the childhood sweetheart that is temporarily blinded by the illusion of Fauxmanda, otherwise they'd be together (not that I am fond of that idea). Nolan is like a big brother watching out for her and is even willing to risk giving up his (SPOILER ALERT AGAIN) company for her! Now there's Aiden (Barry Sloane), the sexy sidekick. He is hot stuff!! Between him, Daniel, and Jack, he is BY FAR the best option. Besides, who doesn't like a sexy accent on a sexy man? Therefore, I say again....ABOUT TIME!!!

Needless to say though, this show is all about its twists and turns, so I am really hoping that Aiden is not going to end up as some traitor! I'd like to see Nolan try to kick his butt if that happens, like he so claimed this episode. So cute, that Nolan.

I know Michelle already wrote a post about this week's episode of The X Factor but I have a lot of thoughts on the show and I'm thinking of making this a weekly thing. Of course, being Canadian means I can't vote and I can't sing to save my life but that's not going to stop me! I'm liking the addition of announcing the rankings each week. It'll be interesting to see if it affects the voting in the coming weeks. I also may have watched One Direction's performances on results night 3 or 4 times...and I may have been singing along each time. I can't help it, they're adorable! But enough about the puppy-faced Liam or the baby-faced Niall, on to the contestants!

1. Tate Stevens - Dead or Alive
I'm both surprised and not surprised that he was ranked first this week. I'm not surprised because I know how much Americans love their country music (e.g. Scotty McCreery winning American Idol). I just wasn't expecting Tate to get that many fans so quick. His version of "Dead or Alive" wasn't anything spectacular but country music is more about authenticity than the voice anyway. If he can continue bringing that southern charm and get people to fall in love with his hard-working, family man persona I'm thinking he's going to get pretty far. There's not a lot of white dudes in this competition either...


2. Carly Rose Sonenclar - It Will Rain
I don't understand the hype for this girl. She's a 13 year old girl who acts like a 30 year old. I'm not denying that she has an incredible voice, I'm just not sure what kind of artist she can be. I don't find her relatable and she seems pretty dull.


3. Vino Alan - When A Man Loves A Woman
I'm so happy that Vino was ranked in the Top 3! I loved his rendition of the song and couldn't help but fall slightly in love with him. Simon's suggestion for Vino to sing soul music was the best advice since LA Reid clearly had no idea what to do with Vino after last week's Nickelback disaster. I'm worried that "When A Man Loves A Woman" will be his best performance and it'll go downhill from here but we'll see. And Vino, please always wear a hat or the hat and bandana combo is pretty hot too. I'm worried your head tattoos will scare the children and scare away the votes.


4. Diamond White - I Have Nothing
This was not her strongest performance despite the ranking. When she's not singing, Diamond's got the perfect Disney star personality but she looks more comfortable singing songs that were released before she was even born. If she were 5 years older, I'd be cool with her song choices but as a 13 year old, I don't know if she can become a successful artist this way. The young'uns like the fun, poppy dance hits. Maybe she can channel Willow Smith but with a stronger voice.


5. Fifth Harmony - A Thousand Years
Thank God for the name change because 1432 was the stupidest name ever. I wanted them out last week based solely on their name. I'm not a fan of them passing each verse to a different girl. What's the point of being a group if you're not going to sing together? That being said, I think they did a better job with the harmonies this week. It sounds really pretty when they all sing together. I don't know how successful a girl group can be post X Factor though. The only one I can really think of is Destiny's Child and that was a long time ago. I think girl groups are more popular in the UK.



6. Emblem 3 - My Girl & California Gurls Mashup
I was pleasantly surprised to see them ranked 6th. They're not as popular as you thought they would be Simon! *evil laugh* These boys annoy the heck out of me. You would think I would be a fan since I'm all for the rapping + singing combo like Down With Webster's style but Emblem 3 is not as talented as they think they are and they're not as good-looking as they think they are either. The over confidence is a turn off for me. And sly move Simon Cowell putting in One Direction music in the background. Are you trying to send a subliminal message to get people to vote?


7. Jennel Garcia - I Love Rock N' Roll
I used to love Jennel. I'm all for the rocker chick and I like her voice but the styling, oh God, the STYLING! It's just so obvious and expected. I liked when Jennel looked carefree and innocent and then she would shock you with her sexy stage presence. Now when she steps on stage and sings rock, it's like "of course" and it's not as shocking anymore. Can you please get rid of the bangs and lighten your hair colour please?


8. Paige Thomas - Take My Breath Away
Out of everyone, I think she's the one that looks the most like a current artist. I love the theatrics of her performances and it's exciting to see what she's going to do each week and what she's going to be wearing. However, I think the stage sets and her outfits are outshining her voice. Her vocals are sounding a bit weak. She needs a big, memorable vocal moment next week or try to do something more creative with the song arrangements.


9. Lyric 145 - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
I'm not usually a fan of rap but I do love seeing what Lyric 145 are going to sing each week. Lyriq da Queen is clearly a star and she's got creativity and balls for choosing this song. I thought they would be ranked higher but I'm thinking their performances may be turning off some of the American viewers. Everything about it is very overstimulating and in-your-face - their outfits, the crazy screens behind them, and all the dancers on the stage. It's like a giant mess of lights and colour on stage but they somehow make it work for me.



10. Beatrice Miller - Iris
I really like Beatrice and out of all the girls in Britney's team, she's my favourite. This week though just wasn't working for me. I still love the tone of her voice but "Iris" was such a boring, overdone song choice and her outfit looked like it added an extra 10 pounds. I'm hoping this was just an off day because her vocal cords were slightly damaged.


11. Arin Ray - American Boy
I'm honestly shocked that Arin was ranked so low. I really liked his performance and the song choice. It looked like something Justin Bieber would perform. And Arin is cute! Why aren't the girls voting for him? Last week, I was saying that he needed to learn to dance and this week he showed off some moves! He's got some swag and I'm ready for someone to take over Chris Brown and kick him off the charts.


12. CeCe Frey - Eye of the Tiger
I think Demi is sabotaging CeCe. The song choices for her have been terrible! CeCe already has the unfortunate editing of making her out like a bitch. These dance routines are not helping her look any better. I get the kind of artist she wants to be but I think she needs a week where she does something that shows her vulnerable side and her strong voice. She can sing! She's just not showing it off when it matters.


13. ELIMINATED - Jason Brock - I Believe I Can Fly
He seemed like a nice guy but there was no way he could have ever won. Every time I saw him I pictured him performing on a cruise ship. Sorry buddy. I will forever love him for asking Mario Lopez if he could pinch his butt though hahahaha.

First off, I believe that whoever does Demi Lovato's hair and makeup has got to cool it down a notch, or maybe more like ten. She morphs every episode into something different, and it is not necessarily attractive either. Don't get me wrong, I think she is an attractive woman but when you got crazy hairstyles, morphing eyebrows, and pounds of makeup on, "less is more" immediately comes to mind.

Britney on the other hand, can probably use more makeup because she looks aged, exhausted, and colourless! Not to mention, she doesn't really have much to say on the show, and keeps giving the same comments over and over again.

Then there's LA Reid who gets angry at other judges randomly and just bashes whoever he is mad at indirectly through the contestants, which is horrible! He is definitely not afraid to be completely biased and is probably in this more for winning the competition between the judges.

Simon can actually be the most reasonable judge on the show it seems (I find myself agreeing with him most of the time), but he has his pervy moments. Khloe Kardashian, please stop flirting with him on live television. I don't care what your marital status is, but I can see that hand of yours repeatedly reaching out for him and stroking him. It's really disturbing to watch.

And to sum it all up, the live shows are like a massive production mess because nobody knows what they're doing, or where they should be, what they should say, or even when they should say it! I believe even the people working the cameras get a little confused! That or they're just really good at catching the moments they're not supposed to. I mean, yeah it's live, but come on, at least try to make it look like you know what you're doing!

But that's not what the show is all about. Let's discuss contestants in the order of current rank!

• Tate Stevens: He's adorable but I wonder if he's ever going to do something other than country because it's getting repetitive...or maybe just turn some pop song into country. That might be cool too.
• Carly Rose Sonenclar: Amazing voice, but there's something about her that I just don't really like. I don't know what it is though. Regardless, she's killing it!
• Vino Alan: I'm thinking he's kinda a boring performer, but I liked his performance of "When a Man Loves a Woman"! And I like him for who he is, so I hope he does well still!
• Diamond White: Sings really well, but doesn't really compare to Carly. I can hear her straining her voice. Is it just me who hears this??
• Fifth Harmony: I'm on the fence on whether I find this group pretty good or pretty annoying. They have moments where they sound great together but also moments when it sounds really off. But it's cute how much they seem to have bonded, what with their hand-holding and hugs and whatnot.
• Emblem3: While it seems like they are collectively lacking some IQ, and they talk like stereotypical surfer dudes, I actually really like them! Besides, it's true that they're kinda hot.
• Jennel Garcia: Fireball of fun! I love her! But I agree with Simon, and don't like this new image. It's as if Demi decided to share her hair and makeup artist with her. Yikes.
• Paige Thomas: Loved her performance of "Take My Breath Away". I like her, but her performances are lacking. Also, she reminds me of Rihanna.
• LYRIC145: So different from everything else!! Rapper group! Pretty awesome. Their last performance's style, both physically- and musically-speaking, reminded me a little bit of 2NE1. The girl rapper, Lyric, is killing it.
• Beatrice Miller: I didn't even remember her until I heard her sing "Titanium" at the judge's house, which was sooooo good! I really want her to kill it just as much as Carly is, but clearly she's not really putting in a good enough of a fight.
• Arin Ray: He's looks and sounds like a little Chris Brown/Ne-yo.
• Cece Frey: While she was definitely a bitch at the beginning of the show, I think the editing emphasized it a little too much and brought her to quite a disadvantage - so yeah, I feel bad for her. But honestly, her singing isn't really turning out so well. I can hear her straining her voice too. Is it really just me who thinks this? She does have the look though, and I like her with blonde hair!

I  don't watch many half-hour comedies but I'm starting to appreciate their lightheartedness. Half-hour sitcoms are the easiest to watch after a long, hard day at work. That being said, I gave two of Kelly's shows a shot.

Guys with Kids
I love it! I have to admit, the premise of the show doesn't sound all that enticing. Three dads taking care of babies? What's so good about that? I was picturing episodes about struggling to change a baby's diaper or trying to get some sleep. But the show doesn't dwell too much on the babies at all. Mostly, it's about the friendship that these three guys have, and how that has changed after they've become dads. All three have their funny quirks, but my favorite would have to be Nick (Zach Cregger), who's like a 30-year old kid.

Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23
I actually tried to watch this before Guys with Kids, but she show didn't stick with me. I liked Krysten Ritter and her weirdness, and I liked how the show constantly made fun of James van der Beek being forever linked with his role as Dawson. But that's where the appeal stopped for me. To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the character June (Dreama Walker), who's one of the two leads. I gave the show a shot, but lasted three episodes. I'm sad that I'll miss out on all the cool cameos they got so far and will get in the future.