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Just when I doubted this show, it came back from the writer’s strike hiatus with the biggest bang EVER! I was getting so bored of the characters and storylines, that I started to tivo it only out of pity. Seriously. I would even go so far as to fast forward through anything that resembled boring. But those days are long gone. Since it’s mid season premiere, this show has been kicking butt, especially my big ol’ butt! Great character developments, great medical storylines — just everything that made this show so great in the first place. I have to admit that the McDreamy/Meredith storyline was on my last nerve when last season ended, but now I’m rooting for them again! Lacey no longer annoys me. Christina’s trippin’. Cassie might be butch. George and Izzy are better when they’re not together. I love that Meredith’s finally seeking some therapy and getting her crap served to her each week by her AWESOME therapist! I love getting lost in this show — you know, where you get so caught up in a medical story that your heart just gets so heavy for the patient one minute and the next minute, your eyes just well up? That’s what I missed about this show, and I’m glad the writers found their way back. Looking forward to the 2-hour finale next week! :-0

OK… is it just me, or did Lo go from being like sweet, sensible friend to Lauren to like Miss Hater Bitch of The Hills??!! Hel-lo?? Did my tivo skip a few episodes? Or did Lo just switch up to freakin’ snooty bitch overnight? Or now that she’s actually living with Lauren, are we finally led to see Lo for whom she really is: OC Queen Biatch? Not a title I thought I’d ever call someone outside of Spencer or Stephanie. Hell, she’s making Stephanie seem like a real good friend option right about now. Poor Audrina…. good for her for looking for other places on her own! She needs to rid herself of that horrrible situation. Hel-lo? They put you out in the guest house and wonder why they never see you anymore? The freakin’ puppy gets better treatment, and he was just recently adopted! You’ve been Lauren’s friend for the past couple of years. I just want to strangle Lo every time she gives her constipated “can we leave now?” look to Lauren. And Lauren — how disappointing to see you go from strong independent woman to Lo’s sappy sidekick?! Could someone please page Whitney? I think she’s the only person with her head screwed on straight these days. Even Justin Bobby is making more sense than these girls! :-0

It’s hard to believe the American Idol finale is already here. And no surprise that both Davids ended up in the top 2. I actually wish there could’ve been some sort of upset or at least an inkling of surprise, but no such luck. America voted exactly the way I predicted. I’ve been on David Cook’s jock from the get go, so I’m lovin’ the fact that he’s in the finals. I’ve realized the two Davids are like the Clay and Ruben of this season. David Archuleta’s the new Clay — the harmless, shy, yet extremely talented underdog. David Cook’s the resident cutie pie with all the charm and showmanship. Which is why I feel David Cook should be the overall winner, since David Archuleta would undoubtedly follow in Clay’s footsteps as the successful runner-up kid. I felt bad for Syesha since it was obvious she had no chance in going against the two Davids and their massive followings. Then again, she is beautiful and talented and will no doubt be signed like many a losing contestant before her. Watching the results show, you couldn’t help but get a little weepy eyed watching each of them get emotional and overwhelmed during their homecoming segments. The true highlight of the evening for me came when Fantasia hit the stage and gave her usual high energy performance. Dressed in a tight black outfit and fiery red (yes, red!) hair, Fantasia was all over the place. So much so, that when the camera panned to Simon, he obviously didn’t realize that he was literally sitting there with this look of shock and his mouth wide open! PRICELESS! Then he tried to play it off when he noticed the camera was on him. Good Stuff!

David Cook should be the next American Idol. Why? Consistency. Even though Simon dissed his first performance of Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like the Wolf”, I still found it very entertaining. Then in true playoff fashion, he pulls it off in the last half with his rendition of The Who’s “Baba O’Reilly”. Simon welcomes him back into the competition, although it’s obvious the guy never left. A part of me wants him to come in 3rd Place, just so he can fall into the “Daughtry Curse” where AI losers prove to be far more succesful than that season’s winner. On top of being the most talented of the bunch, I think what also draws me to David Cook is that he’s the least annoying contestant. Wish I could say the same for David Archuleta. Don’t get me wrong — this kid did his thing tonight. He’s got the chops and great song choice. As a performer, he’s just okay. As a pop idol persona, he bores the living crap out of me! I have no doubt in my mind that he will be in the top 2, if not the overall winner. He has obviously won the hearts of the tween set. I’m also a little tired of his “aww, shucks” attitude after every judging. It annoyed me when Melinda Doolittle did it last season, and frankly, he has overdone it at this point. Syesha Mercado has a beautiful voice and has come ever so far in this competition, but let’s face it — I doubt she has the fans to overcome these guys. The weakest link of the evening — no suprise here — is undoubtedly Jason Castro. Bob Marley’s “I Shot The Sheriff” is definitely not AI Finale material, nor is it a song that should be remixed from the original. I’m a Marley fan, but bad choice all around. If Jason were on Dancing With The Stars, I’d be giving him a ‘5′ for that performance. Horrible. Then the resident hippie decides to really bring it home with his version of “Tamborine Man”. Yikes. We all knew you were a pothead, Jason, but you’ve never given us a reason to question your judgment until tonight. Like Simon said, pack your bags, ’cause you’re definitely going home this week. Then again, this IS American Idol. That crappy performance could’ve bought him a chance to advance to the final. Tomorrow’s final will be judged like all AI finals in the past — by the popular vote. If only it were that easy in the presidential race!

Yes, it’s true… Ironman has won me over! And not that it’s a surprise, since I’ve been waiting forever for this movie to come out. The minute I saw that Robert Downey Jr. was on board, I was immediately reeled in for the ride! This movie is pure entertainment. Good political story, great acting, great special effects. But nothing made it more worth my time than RDJ’s performance. He slides in to the role of Tony Stark as if it were custom tailored for him. He just sort of glides seamlessly throughout the film and is on point for every cue. He’s charming when it’s time to be a womanizer, he’s sarcastic when it’s time to be intelligent, he’s sensitive when it comes to the sexual tension wiht his assistant Pepper, and he’s cocky when it comes to being the superhero! I’ve read that he even went so far as to throw out part of the script at times, but I think this display of ‘divadom’ may have worked to everyone’s benefit. RDJ kicks ass in this movie! He’s the best thing about it, and I think with the staggering opening numbers (estimated $200 million worldwide), it’s proven that he’s worthy and confirmed for a sequel. If you are among the millions who didn’t catch it this weekend, be sure to stay to watch the ’secret scene’ after the ending credits.

Just got word that one of my favorite TV shows is returning next season: Friday Night Lights. People of the world… I know it’s corny whenever you read these reviews about how this show is the “best show on tv” or “the best show you should be watching”, but trust me when I say that it’s all TRUE when it comes to FNL!!! Great cast, great acting, superb writing, and consistently GOOD week after week! Grey’s Anatomy WISH they had a track record as good as these guys! I love Peter Berg for bringing a wonderful TV adaptation from his original movie. All of the qualities we loved from the movie are packed into a wonderful 1-hour episode each week. Not to mention, FNL has the BEST LOOKING cast on television, hands down. Throw in some exciting football into the mix, and you’ve got the perfect mix of TV viewing pleasure to make anyone wanna stay home on a Friday night.

I get goosebumps whenever I watch The Hills… and that’s not out of excitement…. it’s out of sheer horror that two people as annoying and clueless as the infamous Heidi and Spencer could even exist in this world. They’ve got to be the most desperate duo to come along since JLo & Affleck! Recent articles in the NY Post placed the two at a recent White House dinner where they were supposely invited and then uninvited themselves after Heidi realized she couldn’t score an expense paid trip for Spencer. It’s also rumored that the two were calling photographers in advance of their whereabouts during their visit. I mean, honestly…. do they REALLY think we care about them?? And the horror continues with news that MTV is in talks with them to develop their OWN series. Gimme a break! Half the time I want to jump into the TV screen and strangle Spencer and his creepy blonde beard. And Heidi’s ditzy blonde routine is getting soooo OLD, that I doubt she’s even pretending. So sad! I’ll always have love for Lauren, although the fact that these young single girls moved into a beautiful Hollywood home as if they’d saved up for it all their lives had me a bit sick with envy. Yes, this L.A. girl LOVES to hate on the O.C. girls! Nevertheless… the girls were gracious enough to put the sweet Audrina into the ‘guest house’. It’s the least the could do, right? Still not sure what to make of Stephanie Pratt, but let’s just pray that she didn’t inherit the heart of stone gene from her beloved evil brother. I do wish she’d grow a spine and tell Spencer and Heidi to get a life. Ohhhh…. why oh why do I continue to watch this show? Consider it my weekly torture! :-0