HOLLYWOOD —With 15 million Americans out of work, and major industries on the brink, America’s array of government aid, including unemployment insurance, cash welfare and food stamps, are being tested like never before. According to reports, one in 50 Americans is living in a household with a reported income that consists of nothing but a food-stamp card. It’s no wonder we are anticipating the annual State of the Union address, by President Obama. The only problem here is that the White House has reportedly floated two dates: January 26 and February 2, as possibilities for the 90-minute speech on future policy.
So why are those two dates important? The first is the beginning of week three of “American Idol” and the second is the season premiere of “Lost.” Now, the dilemma for the networks is to juggle around the programs, just in case, to make room for the speech. Unless you live with wolves or were abducted, you joined the rest of us and watched the season premiere of “American Idol” on January 12. Now, that “Idol” is back, it’s like getting a visit from a rich old aunt. Of course, it’s not the same since Ellen Degeneres replaced Paula. Now, that Simon finally confirmed that he was leaving “Idol” in 2011 to judge his new show, the rumors are swirling that Paula Abdul is headed to Simon Cowell’s X Factor.
While, Paula has been hotly pursued for several shows, this one would make sense. The 150 hopeful “Idols” all want a shot to standout, when the show hits the road for the audition round. It began in Boston on January 12, and on the 13 it was off to Atlanta. Then on January 19, it’s off to Chicago, and on January 20, it’s the Orlando auditions. On January 26, it’s off to Dallas, and the LA auditions are on the 27. It was no surprise here, about Simon leaving the show. His brother, Tony had spilled the beans, a while back ago, on his weekly podcast. Since, we all know that Simon and Paula made the show. Will “American Idol” survive without Paula and Simon?
Another one waving goodbye is Miley. It’s official, teen star Miley Cyrus will stop being Hannah Montana sometime this summer. Cyrus plays Miley Stewart, a down-to-earth girl in high school, who leads a secret double life as pop star Hannah Montana. The show averages an estimated five million viewers a week. The upcoming fourth season will be its last. Production on the fourth season is scheduled to begin on January 18 and end sometime this summer, after Miley takes a short hiatus in April to promote her upcoming big-screen movie, “The Last Song.” Miley Cyrus will be playing the character of Veronica Miller, and it will be interesting to see how well she portrays her. The novel is written by Nicolas Sparks. Some facts about the novel: Miley Cyrus chose the name Ronnie for the main character. Nicolas Sparks wrote the screenplay before he wrote the novel. “The Last Song” is the longest novel written by Sparks.
The novel is both a love story and a coming of age novel. The novel tells the story of a 17-year-old Ronnie Miller whose life changes dramatically when her parents divorce, and her father moves away from New York City to North Carolina. Three years later, Ronnie visits her father for the summer where she learns about the love between a parent and a child and first love.
Rose’s Scoop: Speaking of love, where is the love between Cablevision and Scripps-Howard, which has yanked two of its networks, HGTV and Food Network, off Cablevision systems?
Remember Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 18!
