Starmaker: Not Just Another Diddy Reality Show

MTV premiered a new reality show last tonight. Just like "Making the Band," "Making His Band" and "I Want to Work for Diddy," this show is executive produced by none other than ...

...wait for it ... Diddy!

I was surprised today when a friend told me that Diddy is planning to release an album soon. It's shocking that he'd have time between popping up all over MTV's primetime lineup.

I was also surprised that the show was kinda good. After so many reality show singing competitions, I wasn't expecting anything new, but Diddy's group of wannabes can actually sing. They were entertaining, and no one was up their performing for the sole purpose of being the morning's funniest clip on YouTube. Even those that got negative feedback from the judges were 100 times better than the worst of "American Idol."

Now, will Diddy find someone to turn into a star? After his "Making the Band" failures, I doubt it, but like those other shows, it's entertaining for now, and that's really all that matters from the viewers' standpoint.

Find out more about the show here.
http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/starmaker/series.jhtml

ANTM: The Cycle Continues

A new crop of wannabe models make their way to reality TV history Sept. 9 when "America's Next Top Model" returns. The show is stale but reliable. You know the formula. You know what to expect, but it's still entertaining at times ... like that relative who doesn't know when to turn down that last drink. It's so expected, you're not at all phased, but you still watch and even get a sick sense of comfort in the familiar.

Tyra tried to mix things up this season by featuring hopefuls who are shorter than the average model. I'll give her props for that. I've often wondered why models are required to be so tall. Most folks aren't model height, and it seems designers should produce for the masses. No?

I doubt whether this "twist" will add anything new to the show, but I'll tune in to find out. I wonder if other "demographic" seasons are in the works. Maybe there could be a full figured season, or big boob season ... the possibilities or endless.

What type of seasons would you like to see? More short girls, too tall girls, big butt girls, or guys?

'Curb' Returns!: Be Very Afraid

There aren't too many shows left on TV that are unpredictable and original, especially when it comes to sitcoms, but as usual, HBO delivers on originality (even when the concepts are ill advised, ex: "K Street" ... snooze).

Luckily, "Curb Your Enthusiasm," returning is September is both original and a good idea. Larry David is cluelessly self sabotaging like Dick on "Newhart," but he's got the stinging wit of Dorthy from the "Golden Girls."

Obviously, Larry David, the show's star, is a funny guy. He's co-creator of "Seinfeld." Although, you can see similarities, it's clear that David's sense of humor is darker, drier and more biting than his broadcast network counterpart, Jerry.

He's crazy evil, and I love it. LOL. For those of us who appreciate dry, evil humor, the show's a Heaven sent. It's nice to know there's someone out there who thinks worse thoughts than I do. LOL.

I can't wait to see what the unapologetically sarcastic David gets himself into this season. He can't help but be bluntly honest, but even when he's biting his tongue and trying to abide by the rules of society, he still ends up making a butt out himself.

See it for yourself in September.

http://www.hbo.com/larrydavid/

Celebreality Gone Bad

Sigh. I know I'm not one to talk, but this celebreality stuff is getting out of hand. I think I miss the good ol' days of "Real World" and "Survivor" where regular Joes were the stars.

Two new reality shows, featuring celebrities, recently premiered. I already commented on the Coolio show on Oxygen. WTH? That's about as random as Billy Graham on Cartoon Network.

Last week was the premiere of 50 Cent's new show on MTV. It's basically "I Want to Work for Diddy," starring 50 as Donald Trump. Wait. I mean, it's like "The Apprentice" with Diddy. I'm confused.

Anyway, in honor of these horrible reality mishaps, here's my list of the Top 10 celebrities who never should have had shows. The ratings support my findings, but even if it was a highly-rated show, I think you'll agree. Here's my list:

1. 50 Cent - "The Money and the Power"
2. Coolio - "Coolio's Rules"
3. Tyson Beckford - "Make Me a Supermodel"
4. Paris Hilton - "Simple Life"
5. Flavor Flav - "Flavor of Love" and "Surreal Life"
6. Bobby Brown - "Being Bobby Brown"
7. Ozzy and Sharon - "The Osbournes"
8. Martha Stewart - "The Apprentice"
9. Snoop Dogg - "Fatherhood"
10. Mr. T - "I Pity the Fool"

If you didn't know that these folks ever had reality shows, you're lucky.

So, which shows top your list of reality shows that should have never been greenlit?

Real Housewives of ATL: Low Budget What?

So, I think it's official. NeNe and Kim are no longer BFFs. Honestly, I think Kim is upset because when she first shared her singing aspirations with NeNe, Nene joked her. Her feelings were hurt, and she started to question NeNe's friendship. That was magnified when the ladies told Kim how NeNe imitated her, mocking her voice, her looks and even her hair!

I think DeShawn is the one who told Sheree, and Sheree was more than happy to tell Kim; I think. So, Kim retaliated by snubbing NeNe at some lingerie place and then sending her a ghetto-fabulous text in which Kim called NeNe a cheap dog, but not that nicely.

Although I don't think NeNe should have been joking on Kim's skills, I do have to agree that Kim cannot sing. She apparently smokes a pack a day, and is tone deaf, but for some reason she feels she's ready to record an album. NeNe was right to tell her friend the truth, but she could have handled it more maturely, and she should have realized that was a sensitive area for her friend, not fodder for teasing.

So, where does that leave the girls? NeNe's on the outs and stuck with DeShawn. Kim and Sheree are best buds, and Lisa is still about her business.

Will Kim and NeNe reconcile? Will Kim make an album, or will luck smile on us? What do you think?

ANTM: So Long, Sheena

We saw this one coming a mile away. Sheena finally got the boot on the latest "ANTM." The judges said she hadn't yet figured out how to turn down the sexy without going completely bland.

In the bottom two with Sheena, was Elina. If you ask me, it's time for Elina to go. Week after week the judges give her the same criticism, which means she's not improving much. Tyra said her reserved, controlled nature translates into stiff modeling. However, she's been giving yet another chance to prove she can get it.

I know this is nothing new, but I'm tiring of Tyra's contradictions. She stresses personality so much, but then Joslyn and Sheena get sent home. While rigid, cold Elina sticks around.

So, which is it? Is personality the big must-have, or is it really about the modeling? Pick one, Tyra, but let's not continue going back and forth. Cool?

So, what did you think? Should Sheena have been sent home? Will Elina ever loosen up? What was up with the brothel challenge? Did Miss Jay remove his pants, or was I having a nightmare?

Heroes

The latest episode was better than last week's, but still lacking compared to past seasons. There were a few highlights.

• Parkman learns how to better use his powers.
• Sylar saves Peter by throwing him out of a window.
• Miya is "cured" of her strange power.
• Blonds Ellie and Claire unite.
• Papa Petrelli kills Adam in a most horrible way.

Did you watch? What do you think of the new season so far? What is Papa Petrelli's ultimate plan?

The Hills: Empty Words

It's no surprise that Spencer seems to feel that a confrontation between Stephanie's new beau and Brody is warranted. Drama queen Spencer isn't happy unless he has some reason to belittle his sister and cause cattiness. Constantly reminding her about Brody's not-so-chivalrous behavior seems to give Spencer some sort of perverted pleasure, and of course, if he can ruin LC and Brody's evening, that's a cherry on top for Spencer.

Much to Spencer's disappointment, I'm sure, the two fellas did not so much as speak to one another. However, for Stephanie's new fella this may mean it's over before it starts. Her brother has her convinced that any decent fellow would have challenged Brody to a duel and avenged Stephanie for something that happened weeks earlier. He did say that he would confront Brody, and I think that's where he messed up. It's not a big deal that he didn't say anything to Brody. That was the mature move, but he seems like he punked out by not doing what he said he would. Will she break up with the new guy? Probably.

While Stephanie contemplates breaking up, it seems Audrina and JB may be making things official. Was his "I want to be with you" some sort of commitment? Can he stick to it? Can he treat Audrina the way she deserves? I won't be negative. We'll just have to wait and see. Hopefully, he can back up his words better than Stephanie's boyfriend.

ANTM: The Cover Girl Challenge

This week, the wannabes tackled an "ANTM" challenge staple ... the dreaded Cover Girl commercial. However, this year the ladies were able to read from a prompt and weren't required to memorize lines. As a result, the spots were much, much better.

Analeigh won the challenge. Tyra said her commercial was the best in the history of the show. Joslyn did not fair so well. She was sent home. Although she was violently ill and sucked it up to complete the challenge, Tyra told her she wasn't getting rewarded for that. So, there are no brown-skinned contestants left. However, Sheena is still representin'. LOL.

Elina also won a challenge, but that didn't keep her from ending up in the bottom two. Next week may be her last chance to prove to the judges that she isn't too controlled or reserved to be what they want her to be. Maybe she should have saved the emotion and tears she shed in the house for the judging.

So, what do you think? Is it really Elina and Marjorie vs. the world? Should Joslyn have gone home? Was Analeigh's commercial really that great? Is it just me, or are those twisty twins a little unsettling?

Real Housewives of Atlanta: Baby Daddy Drama

I really don't even know what to say about NeNe's latest drama. Actually, "drama" makes it seem like a petty thing -- like the NeNe vs. Sheree drama, but that seems like small potatoes in comparison to what NeNe's dealing with now.

She has reason to question who her father is after getting a letter from a relative. She thought Curtis was her father. That's what her mother (now deceased) had always told her. However, when she asked Curtis his opinion. He confesses that he's always had his doubts. So, NeNe is on the hunt to find out who her father is. Interesting.

It does make you wonder about the timing. Did someone set this in motion in time to be filmed and aired on TV, or is this just pure coincidence. Mmmmm.

In other news, Deshawn thinks it's a realistic goal to raise $1 million in charity in one evening. I did the math. That means 500 people would have to give $2K a piece, or 2,000 people would have to give $500. Either way, I don't see that happening. We shall see; I guess.

Funny line worth mentioning: "Maybe you can hum and get a Grammy," said NeNe after first learning of Kim's aspirations to be a country singer.

Speaking of Kim, it looks like Kim's going to befriend Sheree next week. Where does that leave NeNe? Will NeNe be too wrapped up in her daddy searching to care? Will Deshawn raise all that money? Will Lisa remain the only truly sane one? What do you think?

The Hills: Has Audrina Moved On?

I want to be Brody's best friend. None of my current BFFs have private planes in which to fly me to Cabo. What am I doing wrong?

Anyway, during their getaway, Audrina and Justin have an awkward time. Apparently, Justin is upset that Audrina is dating. Audrina is upset that Justin's not her boyfriend. I understand all too well, so I'm siding with Audrina, and quoting a line from one of Beyonce's latest tunes, "If you liked it, you should have put a ring on it."

The Pratt's continued to be dysfunctional as ever. Stephanie has a boyfriend, and Heidi suggests the two couples double date. Bad idea. Stephanie and her boyfriend show up late -- 40 minutes to be exact -- and Spencer decides to retaliate by ruining everyone's evening. He's rude to his sister's date, and he suggests that Stephanie and Doug may still be seeing one another.

With family like that, who needs enemies? He didn't apologize, but why would he? He never does.

So, what do you think? Will Audrina and Justin reconcile, or is it over? Will Stephanie stop trying to be friends to her brother? Will Lauren ruin another friendship by offering too much man advice? Will Audrina ever get her scrunchie back?

Heroes: Where Have All the Good Guys Gone?

I can't speak for everyone, but there's a certain reason I enjoy superheros. In addition to their extraordinary abilities, they're on the side of good. They have high morals. You can trust them. They're salt-of-the earth people -- even those like Kalel, who's originally from Krypton.

So, that's why this season of "Heroes" is really starting to irk me. Who are the good guys? Who am I supposed to root for? Who can I trust? I know this season is about villains, but I would have preferred Peter, Mohinder and the rest be absent this season than evil.

Sigh.

With that said, I hope the family angle that results from Papa Petrelli's return distracts me from the horrifically, dark story lines.

What do you think? Is this feeling like "Superman III" to you, too?

Making the Band: ... And Then There Were Three

In a flash, the quintet becomes a trio.

When we last saw the girls, Diddy made it clear that he no longer wanted Aubrey in Danity Kane. Viewers were left with a cliffhanger. Would Diddy change his mind?

No. Diddy did not change his mind and on top of that, D-Woods decided to leave the group, too! Later, Diddy admitted that he wouldn't have cut D-Woods from the group, but I think she was taking a stand for her friend. She and Aubrey were obviously the closest pair in the group. That might not have been the best decision on her part. However, I'm thinking D-Woods will be working towards a solo career soon.

So, where does that leave Aubrey and the rest of the girls? Shook! During the live finale show, Aundrea, Shannon and Dawn were visibly distressed. Maybe they should have had some alcohol on stage to calm the nerves. Aubrey seemed her usual self, but since she always seems to be playing to the cameras, I'm not sure her "usual self" is the real deal.

That may be exactly why Diddy eliminated her. He said she was not the girl he selected for the band years ago. Will that girl return? Who knows, but rumors of another season are swirling. So, we shall see.

Do you think Aubrey and D-Woods will return to the band? Do you want them to?

Daddy's Girls: Angela and Vanessa on Their Own

Rumor has it that Angela and Vanessa Simmons of "Run's House" fame will be getting their own TV show on MTV!

I won't be tuning in. Honestly, the girls annoy me just a little ... more so Angela than Vanessa. I wonder what the show will chronicle. Will it be about Angela as Editor-in-Chief with no degree, or will it be about Vanessa's cameos on low-rated soaps? Maybe it will be about the girls' shoe line, anchored by Uncle Russell.

I'd rather watch Lauren and Whitney hang clothes and dress models on "The Hills." I can relate more to women struggling in the workforce. We already know Vanessa and Angela can't go wrong with their family name behind them, so what's the point in tuning in?

The Hills: The Ultimatum

I sort of missed Lauren this episode, but her friends (and ex-friend Heidi) more than made up for her peripheral presence.

Audrina is playing the field and meeting some really nice guys, but it seems her heart is still with Justin Bobby. Isn't that always the way? He ruins a sultry evening with Audrina and proves that he's not just a jerk, but he's an idiot. The two are in the pool nearly naked, and he decides to assert his freedom and remind her that he's free to date other people. Ummm. OK. His timing seemed awkward to me, but I understand little about men, so whatever...

Spencer is a man few people understand. As a matter of fact, Heidi may be the only one to have unlocked that mystery, which may be why he holds on so tightly to his lady love. After weeks of living with Heidi and Holly, Spencer decides to give his girlfriend an ultimatum. Someone's leaving the house, and if it's not Holly, Spencer will oblige.

Of course, Heidi caves and basically kicks her sister out of the house. Where will homeless Holly end up? My guess is she will reach out to Lauren, but we'll see.

What did you think of Spencer's ultimatum? Was it necessary? Was Holly mooching? Do you find Spencer scary possessive of Heidi? Should Audrina make it work with JB or move on with a more attentive dude?

Heroes: Villains All Around

Which heroes are good? Which are bad? The line is becoming more and more blurred from week to week. The long list of murderous heroes is growing. Even Claire attempted to pull the trigger on Vortex Man, but she didn't have the heart.

Claire did have the heart to stand up to her father, who tried to force a man to kill Sylar. Instead, Vortex Man sacrificed himself. However, the whole troublesome event forced Claire to see her father in a different light. Will Noah ever see the humanity of those people with powers? Sylar suggests not.

Poor Mohinder. I'm not sure what he's turning into, but it conjures images of "The Fly," and I think we're finally rid of Maya ... thank goodness.

I know Hiro has the power to go back in time, so maybe that's why he failed to give a second thought before killing his BFF Ando. Will Hiro go back and undo what he did? He has to. Right?

What do you think? Will Hiro and Ando be reunited, and if so, will they be friends? What the heck is going on with Mohinder? Where has Papa Patrelli been all this time? Will Nathan turn to the dark side now that he knows his powers are divine? Will everyone from "The Wire" be making appearances this season?

I Love Money: Reunion Show

The "I Love Money" reunion show was anti-climactic. I guess I've become accustomed to chairs and weaves flying through the air, punches being thrown and security bombarding the stage. So, this reunion show was tame ... a nice change of pace.

Highlights:
1) Everyone hates Heather for playing the game the best.
2) Hoopz and Real are not getting married. Surprise! Not.
3) White Boy and the Stallionaires have reconciled.
4) Pumkin has lost weight, but still has the filthiest mouth on TV.
5) The Entertainer is STILL living at home.

That was about it. See?

ANTM: Awkward Girl Wins Awkward Challenge

On the latest episode, the ladies were taught about signature poses. It seemed like an awkward concept, since models have to have several different poses in their repertoire. However, Marjorie seemed to grasp the idea better than most, and she won the first challenge. She was also called first at elimination, and her "urinating" picture was one of the best. She makes her awkwardness work for her. Kudos!

Lauren Brie was eliminated. There's not much to say. She wasn't doing a great job, and she was cut. Sheena, who has been added to the Model Portfolio on the CW site, was in the bottom two this week. She's caught somewhere between trying not to look "hoochie" but still letting loose. We know the judges can't stand reserved or controlled (as Elina can attest to). So, will their advise backfire for Sheena? We shall see.

McKey seems to be wow-ing the judges, and they also liked Joslyn's photo this week; although, I think her week one photo was her best, but who asked me?

What do you think? Should Lauren Brie or Sheena have been sent home? Will Sheena be able to tone down the sexy? Will Marjorie's awkwardness take her to the top? What was up with Little Black Riding Hood?

Housewives of ATL: Ghetto Fabulousness

Loved it. Loved it. That was the most entertaining and authentic demonstration of ghetto fabulousness I've seen since "Being Bobby Brown."

The series premiere of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" was better than I expected. I will be tuning in next week to find out if Sheree and NeNe are going to come to blows. LOL. It seems the two had some beef from before the show aired, but Sheree invited NeNe to her birthday party -- a social event -- to bury the hatchet, sort of speak.

Instead, the hatchet got buried in NeNe's back. She was obviously excited about the party and reconciling with Sheree, but after getting prepped and primped, NeNe found herself dissed! Her name was not on the guest list, and she was not allowed into the party.

How awful!

To make things worse, Sheree didn't even come out to speak to her humiliated friend. NeNe left in a hurry, and it's obvious this feud is not over.

The most sensible, and therefore my favorite, housewife seems to be Lisa. She's happily married and seems very comfortable with herself. We'll see, though. At this point, it's too early to pledge allegiance to any character.

So, did you watch the premiere? What did you think? Will you be tuning in? Did Sheree purposely leave NeNe off the list, or was it an oversight? Will the ladies be able to patch things up? Am I the only woman not getting her makeup airbrushed on each morning?

Making the Band: Is Aubrey Out?

Did you see that coming?

Diddy sat down with the ladies of Danity Kane to discuss the future of the band. I didn't notice the tension within the group, but I did notice that Aubrey was hanging out more with D-Woods than Aundrea, who was once her BFF.

Anyway, after the girls talked about rumors, mistrust and insecurities, Diddy told them that he was ready to kick Aubrey out of the group. He said, "There will be a Danity Kane," but will it include Aubrey? That is the question.

Aubrey does seem to be marching to her own beat a lot of the times. Like when the ladies went horseback riding, she was the only one trying to be fabulous (and failing, in my opinion).

What do you think? Is Aubrey extra? Will she be let go? Will any other girls roll out with her? If she goes, should the group still be called Danity Kane? Will Diddy make her a solo artist?