Details, with the winner, after the jump …

(more…)

I've been seeing some things referring to the judges' having the final say. Yes and no. The judges will cast the final votes, but the viewers will still carry a lot of weight. Here's the official explanation of how it works:

On Tuesday, November 27 (the "Finale Episode"), the couple who received the lowest score on Monday will be announced, and the two remaining couples will compete in one final dance. Each judge will deliver an individual score for this dance. The winner will be the couple with the highest total numerical score (to two decimal places), calculated as the sum of the "Judges' Finale Score" and the "Public Finale Score," as those terms are defined below.

Determination of Winner
After the judges score the remaining couples' final dance on November 27, the producers will calculate the total Judges' Finale Score and Public Finale Score for each couple. The couple with the higher total numerical score will be declared the winner of the competition.

You can find more at www.abc.go.com. But the bottom line is that even with the judges' scores tonight, the viewer votes are used to calculate half the final score.

After a spectacular episode a week ago, this one was a letdown …

(more…)

I’m hoping that (the winning team) is Mel and I, but I’m not sure that is going to happen. History shows it’s either a cute man or somebody with a huge fan base and I think Marie has both Helio and Mel’s fan base combined times five.
— Maksim Chmerkovskiy to "Extra"

Well, let's still see how the dancing itself went, after the jump …

(more…)

It's back on Jan. 14. Details after the jump …

(more…)

Will I look any nastier in Blu-ray?
(Photo from TVGuide.com)

The first season of the Glenn Close series arrives on Jan. 29 in standard DVD and Blu-ray. The series has also been renewed for two more seasons, although I don't expect to watch much.

Details after the jump …

(more…)

What do you mean, you didn't see my movie until today?

Pleasant enough weekend and I'm hoping to post at greater length later today. But a few thoughts for now. …

(more…)

I feel it in my fingers. I feel it in my toes. (Feel it in my toes.)

Well, the bride and I did not do the 4 a.m. thing at local stores but we were out and about by about 7. And had the expected mix of successful shopping and mental screaming of "THIS IS MADNESS! STOP IT!" Even some online efforts were for naught.

But that is not exactly what I am thinking about at this moment. I am thinking, first of all, that with Thanksgiving done, I can now play Christmas songs as much as possible for the next many weeks. And have been doing so.

While Malcolm X Abram and I will have some thoughts about Christmas songs we're sick of in Sunday's Beacon Journal, there are some I do not expect to be sick of, ever. And one of those is "Christmas Is All Around" by Billy Mack.

Bill Nighy, above, plays Billy Mack in "Love Actually," the ensemble comedy-drama that is the finest Christmas movie of the 21st Century. I know, it's early in the century. But didn't you know the first time you saw it that "It's a Wonderful Life" and "A Christmas Story" were holiday movies of the highest order?

So we're watching "Love Actually" right now. I recommend you do likewise soon. And, after the jump, find a rather startling, extended "Christmas Is All Around."

(more…)

The House of Heldenfels is settled in for the holiday. I've been doing some viewing, including Tuesday's "House" and last night's "Private Practice," and I may be posting here and there. But I hope all of you are having a grand day, with the joy of good food and gathered family.

Details after the jump …

(more…)