So Long, Uncle Frank: We Will Miss You

Uncle Frank and Jimmy

Uncle Frank, 1933-2011

Over the past few years, I have grown to love the Jimmy Kimmel Live show.  I remember watching Jimmy when he was the goofy sidekick to Ben Stein on the gameshow Win Ben Stein's Money.  He had an irreverent brand of humor even back then, but it seems that in the past decade, Jimmy has really honed his hosting skills.  He is great with guests and manages to be both biting and kind, which can be a tricky feat.  Many of Jimmy's family members are employees of the show; most work behind the scenes but one in particular, Jimmy's Uncle Frank, could always be seen in front of the camera.

Footloose Reboot: Everybody Cut... Again?

Kevin Bacon, Original Ren

Kenny Wormald, Reboot Ren

I remember the first time I saw the movie Footloose (1984).  I was ten years old and had an insta-crush on Kevin Bacon.  He seemed so earnest yet cool as Ren: a Chicago boy forced to move to Beaumont, Texas, a fictionalized town that has banned rock music and dancing.  Footloose was not well received by critics, but it did become a classic dance movie with a cult following, similar to Flashdance and Dirty Dancing.

British X-Factor Auditions- Personality Counts

I was perusing the new British X-Factor Auditions this morning and besides being distracted by the new judging panel (Kelly Rowland?), I came across Janet Devlin, a sixteen year old girl from Northern Ireland. 

At first glance, Janet appears far out of her element on stage.  However, it is this very attitude that wins you over and makes you root for her success before she even begins to sing.

During her first notes of Elton John's Your Song, you're not quite sure if Janet is going to let nerves get the best of her.  As she continues on however, she gets stronger, and you can hear how brilliant and haunting her voice actually is- no frills or runs necessary.  Watch her whole mesmerizing audition here.  If you only want to listen to her singing, it begins at 2:24.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22R3FYWSG4Q&feature=related

Janet Devlin