Who is up for a movie this weekend?  We’re planning on seeing PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN AT WORLD’S END.  I figure it will be a great treat after I finish my edits.  Will you be going to see it as well?

I really loved the first two films. As to predictions, it’s already been said that there may be a fourth film. I have no doubt that Captain Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann will survive.  Will Turner’s fate may be less certain.  Rumors have surfaced that Orlando Bloom may be killed off but I don’t believe them.  I think Will is going to survive and end up with Elizabeth.  If not, he’ll survive and their relationship will need to be repaired in an upcoming film. 

I happen to love Orlando as Will.  It’s not easy to compete with the incredibly talented Johnny Depp, yet he’s done a great job.  His character really came into his own in the second film, DEAD MAN’S CHEST.  If there is another sequel, I hope Orlando is a part of it.

As for Johnny Depp, he’s perfect as Captain Jack.  I still can’t believe that Disney once told him that he was ruining their first PIRATES film.  In my opinion, Johnny Depp made that first film as popular as it was.  I can’t see the franchise being as successful without him.  Johnny’s Jack is funny and charismatic.  He’s somehow sexy in spite of his filthy appearance.  How is that possible?  It can’t only be Johnny Depp.

Another actor I’m glad to see back in the third film is Jack Davenport who plays Captain Norrington.  I adore this actor!  You may also remember him in the Debra Messing/Dermott Mulroney film THE WEDDING DATE.  Tom Hollander also returns as Lord Cutler Beckett.  He worked with Keira Knightley in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE where he portrayed Mr. Collins.  It’s a small world after all … oh, sorry!  That’s a different Disney ride.

So, you know what I’ll be doing this Memorial Day weekend … edits and PIRATES.  How about you?  Share your plans and have a safe holiday!

It’s finale week for AMERICAN IDOL and DANCING WITH THE STARS!  Let’s talk IDOL first.  Jordin Sparks has a fantastic voice.  Blake Lewis is a great performer (and I love his voice). Who did better last night?  In the end, it was Jordin.  To be honest, the final song each contestant was to sing was taylor-made for Jordin.  Who will win?  Can Blake pull it off?  Tonight we’ll know the answer.

Meanwhile, Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough won DANCING WITH THE STARS. The two have been consistent, are extremely talented and work beautifully together.  Can you say chemistry?  Talented Joey Fatone came in second (I can see the headlines now … fans say Bye, Bye, Bye to N*Sync’s Joey.  Both men and their partners gave it their all and it was a close final two.  Joey should be proud. 

One surprise was the appearance of Clay Aiken.  Did you see him?  It wasn’t on the show you’d expect.  Clay wasn’t featured on AMERICAN IDOL but rather DANCING WITH THE STARS in a funny bit with Jimmy Kimmel.  Clay is a great sport and the skit made me laugh out loud.

That’s TV news from here.  As I’m working on my edits, LOST’s finale may wait until this weekend.  We’ll see …

A fire engulfed the Cutty Sark the day before yesterday.  What an amazing history this ship has!  She is one of the last sailing ships to be builtand was undergoing a renovation at the time of the blaze.

The ship was built in Scotland in 1869 and is in dry dock in Greenwich England.  She is the only surviving extreme clipper, and the only tea clipper still in existence.

 For mor information, check out the following sites:  http://www.cuttysark.org.uk/index.cfm  and http://www.cuttysark.org.uk/index.cfm?fa=contentGeneric.fdvmyqknhxemnmvz

It’s so sad to see such rich history go up in flames!

Oh, my goodness!  UGLY BETTY’s season finale made me laugh, cry and want to throw something at my TV set!

Betty and Henry were about to have their first date.  YEAY!  His ex-girlfriend barges in and interrupts said first date claiming pregnancy.  Dang!  Then Henry leaves town with horrid ex-girlfriend.  UGH!  Talk about frustrating!

What else happened?  Alex’s plan to kill her father placed her and Daniel in danger.  And their mother escaped jail as Willie and Bradford became engaged.  In addition, there was the revelation that Amanda is Fey’s daughter.  Very intriguing plot twist!  Ashley Jensen was hilarious as Christina (we now know that Christina has a husband that she hasn’t seen in years … hmmmm).  And there was an amusing, heart-warming moment between Marc and Willie.  We even heard Vanessa Williams’ beautiful vocals. 

By the end of the episode there was a heartbreaking turn of events for Hilda’s fiance, Santos.  You knew as soon as he said he wouldn’t miss his son’s performance in WEST SIDE STORY that something was going to deter him.  Jump to a scene where he is being held at gunpoint, in a convenience store. 

I have to give props to Kevin Alejandro.  The actor didn’t say a word yet through the expression in his eyes we could see that Santos had everything to live for.  He’d finally put his life back together, his family was happy and whole.  He knew what he was risking in trying to save the convenience store owner.  Then he’s shot, just as his son’s character is shot on stage.  It was such a poignant scene, as was Betty breaking the news to her sister.

I loved this season of UGLY BETTY and can’t wait until next year.  Will Santos survive?  Will Daniel and Alex be unharmed?  And what will jailbird Mrs. Meade have up her sleeve when she learns her husband is marrying Willie?  We’ll have to wait and see.

Now, I believe the only season finales left for me are DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, BOSTON LEGAL and LOST.  Oh, there is also THE TUDORS. 

Are there any others that you’re looking forward to or is your TV season finished?  What shows left you wanting more?  Do share.

Have a great Saturday! 

I predicted a Blake Lewis upset on AMERICAN IDOL and, alas, there was one.  The results weren’t entirely what I expected as Melinda was booted off. 

Ugh!  The agony!

I’m a huge fan of Blake’s however his advancement is bitter sweet as it knocked my other favorite out of the running.  In IDOLland, we can’t always get what we want, I suppose.

This past TV week has been rough.  First John Locke seems to be killed off on LOST and now Melinda gets booted.  All I’ve got to say is that UGLY BETTY better not get rid of Henry tonight or I’ll swear off season finales all together.

Speaking of finales … what is your all time favorite?  Two stick out in my mind. 

The first is who shot JR on DALLAS.  That was the beginning of the shocking season finales, I believe, and I was so hooked on DALLAS (the photo of me in front of Jock Ewing’s portrait at the real South Fork Ranch proves that).

The second ending I remember vividly is from MELROSE PLACE and I can’t remember if it was a season finale or simply the end of a regular episode.  I remember Marcia Cross as Kimberly returning from the dead then taking her wig off, revealing the huge scar on her head.  The PSYCHO-like music and her creepy expression will forever be ingrained in my memory.  Have I told you what a great actress Marcia Cross is?  She can play a psycho like Kimberly and still garner sympathy.  Brilliant!

Now it’s your turn.  What are your favorite finales?

I’m on a campaign today.  Children’s author Kat Michaels is competing for REDBOOK MAGAZINE’S Hot Mama contest.  Check out the site at http://www.redbookmag.com/hotmamas and if you think Kat is hot (how could you not?), place your vote for her.

Kat is the author of the lovely children’s book, WILLOWS BEND.  To learn more about Kat or her book, visit her MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/kats_tales or, to purchase an autographed copy, please visit her website http://www.kattales.com.

In the interest of full disclosure, Kat’s a MySpace pal and one of April’s contest winners.  Now, I know what you’re thinking … isn’t winning the TracyGoodwin.net contest enough?  LOL!  Seriously, let’s keep Kat’s winning streak going.

Go Kat!
 

It was down to the final three on last night’s AMERICAN IDOL and I have my fingers crossed for Melinda Doolittle.  She has a fantastic voice, is sweet as can be, and has been the most consistent contestant of this season.  Simon said he’s rooting for “my girl Melinda” and I couldn’t have agreed more.

What surprised me last night?  Blake Lewis.  I’ve been a fan of his throughout this competition yet never thought he’d be in the finals.  With his final two performances last night, I began to think an upset was possible.  His second song, Maroon 5’s “This Love” was awesome and the Robin Thicke song he sang last blew me away.  Perhaps his last song was even more powerful because it was the first time he sang it on the show, while Jordin Sparks and Melinda chose to sing encores of previous performances?  I don’t know.  The bottom line is that Blake came with his game on and I’m hoping that, if there is an upset, it won’t knock Melinda out of the competition.

Jordin did what she always does, sang well.  She has a terrific voice, a great personality, and is downright gorgeous. Man, this season is tough to call.  We still haven’t really seen an upset and I keep thinking tonight is the night.

As for who will be in the finals, if it were left to voices, I’d say Melinda and Jordin.  Hands down, these women have powerhouse voices.  But Blake sings well, can interpret the music, switch songs up, and takes big risks.  I think there’s a big chance the risk will pay off this evening. 

My prediction: Melinda and Blake will be in the finals.  Although, no matter who’s in the finals, each of these performers are getting recording contracts.  And I’ll be standing in line to purchase their CDs or I’ll be downloading them on iTunes.

Until tomorrow …