sherri's blog

Last night Food Network aired the final episode of the new show Ultimate Recipe Showdown. Being a FN junkie I did'nt miss a single episode. I can't wait for a new season to begin. All the contestants brought some mighty impressive and might I say tasty looking recipes to the competition. Several of the entries, for me at least made me want to run out to the supermarket and buy those needed ingredients that I did't already have in my kitchen cupboard.

Those dishes I can't wait to try are: fried chicken drumetts with barbecue sauce, chipotle fried chicken tenders, chocolate layer cake, lime/coconut cake and the oaxaca fudge bars. While these aren't actually the full names given to the contestant's dishes you get the drift.

Might I also point out that when I saw one of the contestants last night, Camilla Saulsbury I knew that her competitors didn't stand a chance. For those of you who don't know Ms. Saulsbury has been entering competitions for some time and has produced a plethora of mouthwatering recipes in addition to a cookbook. I have watched her cook her winning recipes in the Sutter Build a Better Burger contest and also the National Chicken Cooking Contest. She was the top prize winner in both. I hope that Ms. Saulsbury will not rest on her laurels and continue to come up with more creative recipes that the rest of us will be able to add to our menus list.

Satellite TV has added, as of March 23 the Gospel Music Channel which is the country's first and only 24/7 all Gospel/Christian music tv network to their lineup. The GMC is located on channel 338.

Satellite TV subscribers who tune in to the GMC will be able to not only listen to the soulful sounds of the music but also get a glimpse of the history and the many artists who comprise the Gospel/Christian Music genre. The melodious sounds from these artists run the gamut from rock to rap, country to soul and a host of other musical genre. In addition to the music the network will also feature music specials, concerts, biographies of the artists and hosted music videos which are appropriate for fans of all ages.

While I am not too familiar with Gospel/Christian music I am definitely going to give the Country Music Channel a look-see as some of the music stars I like, namely Tim McGraw and the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin will be showcased. Even if you're like me and not up to speed on Gospel/Christian music you still might want to tune in. It' s always nice to step outside the box and see what else is going on in the world of music.  

Last night ABC premiered a new comedy series called Miss Guided. It's about a woman Becky Freeley who returns to her old high school as a guidance counselor. In addition to remembering some of her more unpleasant moments during her high school years she now has to deal with her old high nemesis Lisa Geramin. It's not bad enough that Lisa is now working at the school but she has designs on Becky dream man, Tim who's the Spanish teacher

I watched this show and let me tell you that when it ended I set my DVR to record all the episodes because it was that funny. If you're looking for a show that refreshingly entertaining then this is the one to watch.

Last night the ladies took to the dance floor to strut their stuff and what strutting they did. There was not a sloucher or slacker among them. They all turned in an excellent performance. This might be the season that a woman takes home the trophy.

They lovely and talented Kristi Yamaguchi was just superb last night. Her combined form, technique and hand positioning gave the appearance of her gliding effortlessly across the floor. Among all the women she will definitely be the one to beat as she can only get better as the competition continues. 

While it is always nerve racking to be the first one to take to the dance floor you would have never known it by the performance actress Shannon Elizabeth delivered. She appeared to cool and calm. While her form is lacking somewhat her routine was very nice.

Marissa Jaret Winokur while not be as graceful as some of the othe competitors was definitely fun to watch. She brought so much enthusiasm to the competition last night that it was hard not to get caught up in it with her. I think with a little more disciplne should could be a contender.

Academy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin gave an excellent performance. In spite of her handicap, she was able to bring the elements of form, technique, rhythm and choreograpy together for an exciting dance routine.

What can one say about the lovely Priscilla Presley. After last night's performance she proved that age is purely a state of mind.

Finally there's tennis champ Monica Seles. Clearly ballroom dancing is not her strong point however with a little more practice and because she is a true competitor I feel that she can definitely be the dark horse and perhaps pull off a win in the end.   

While flipping through the pages of tv guide something on the Movie Hot List  page caught my eye. Underneath the Saturday caption was a picture I had seen many times over the years. The picture was of Charlton Heston as he appeared when he portrayed Moses in the classic movie epic "The Ten Commandments".

The movie  covers the life and times of Moses from his early days as an Egyptian prince to his later years when he leads the Hebrew people out of Egypt. While long in duration this movie should not be missed. The story line, costuming, cinematography and special effects were cutting edge back in the earlier days of Hollywood (1956 to be exact).

Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brenner as Ramses both gave stellar performances in this movie. Rather than writng a movie and auditioning actors for the main characters, the Ten Commandments seemed to be expressely written for the actors themselves. Their remarkable talents is what gave creedence to their characters. While these 2 fine actors brought a lot to the movie they were not the only ones to make it the success it was.

Edward G. Robinson, Anne Baxter, Yvonne De Carlo, Debra Paget and Vincent Price to name a few of Hollywoods most accomplished and bankable actors and actresses were equally responsible for making The Ten Commandments not only a huge success when it was first released but also the classic it is today.

Last night on Dancing With the Stars the men were the only ones to compete. Some brought their A-game to the competition last night while others, sadly left theirs back home.

The youngest competitor to strut his stuff was R&B Artist Mario. Might I say that his moves last night is what puts the "siz" in the sizzling. He was smoking hot and it was only the first dance. Were I a tad younger I might have needed a fan to cool myself off after all the gyrating he did. If last night is any indication of the performances we can expect to see from Mario and his partner Karina, then I think they will be the team to beat. Perhaps this Mario can bring home the gold er' silver ball for Karina.

Football Star Jason Taylor proved that he is capable of dare I say it elegance. His performance last night was excellent. His line and form were definitely something to watch. I can only see him getting better as the competition progresses. If anyone were to be able to give Mario a run for the gold it will definitely be Jason and his partner Edyta.

The remainder of the men were no slouches either. Penn Jillette while not as graceful as some of the others still managed to pull off a respectable performance. His slide across the floor was definitely a sight to behold. Definitely a showman of the highest caliber.

Cristian De La Fuente, he of the classic good looks did not fare so well last night. His dance techniques were somewhat wooden. If he wants to have any chance at winning he'll definitely have to reach deep within and pull out all the stops with regard to his training. After all a handsome face does not a winner make. Especially on Dancing With the Stars. It's a near perfect performance and viewer votes that count.

Steve Guttenberg, even though his performance was nothing to rave about was still a joy to watch.He truly looked to be enjoying himself and this is what made him stand out. When he came before the judges he  graciously accepted their criticism. This action gave him high marks in my book. While I don't think he will win the coveted disco ball trophy I do hope he will make it to at leat the final 4.

Funny man Adam Carolla, sad to say gave a somewhat lackluster performance last night. Should he somehow manage to survive the first round of elimination he's definitely going to have to step up the pace. His partner Julianne can only do so much. 

The hit series Dexter which first appeared on Showtime in October 2006 is now a part of the CBS lineup on Sunday nights. I will admit that when I first watched this show on Showtime I wasn't all that impressed. However, once it actually began airing on CBS I thought I would just give it another shot. I'm hooked. 

How can anyone who watches this show not love the title character Dexter Morgan, a serial killer himself, who works as a blood pattern analyst for the Miami Police Department. What perfect irony. A killer who occasionally causes some blood spatter himself providing information on those  individuals who share some of his same, might I say eccentricities. 

Actor Michael C. Hall who plays the quirky, dark but loveable character of Dexter does a superb job. His facial expression or lack thereof that he exhibits while you the viewer listen in on his thoughts are so in keeping with his character. He is able to portray  perfectly, in my humble opinion, all the complexities that make Dexter the man he is. The man who while incapable of giving of himself emotionally in any relationship constantly helps his sister, a policewoman, solve all her cases. Go figure.

If you haven't already seen this show then walk don't run to your TV this Sunday and see what you've been missing. If you're not going to be home then set your DVR to record it. For those of you who have been Dexter fans since the first episode aired on Showtime, remember that all new episodes will be coming to Showtime this year (2008).

The sixth season of Dancing with the Stars will be airing tonight March 17 on ABC. tonight. While I am not a big fan of most reality tv shows I have been a mega fan of this one since it first premiered. I don't know what it is about the show that keeps pulling me back. Is it the stars themselves, who are totally out of their element , the lavish costumes or the fact that it's great entertainment. After careful consideration I've determined that the reason I watch Dancing With the Stars is all of the above. The fact that I love to dance doesn't hurt any either.

With all the sex and violence that proliferates tv it's nice to be able to watch a show that provides nothing but good, clean entertainment for the entire family regardless of one's age.

Verizon Fios the newcomer in the business of bundling their services, namely phone, internet and cable has certainly not let the moss grow under their feet with regard to rate hikes. I am going to go out on a limb here and guess that the driving force behind these hikes is either a strong need or desire to increase company profits. You can never have to much money in the coffers.

According to an article I read on Broadband Reports.com it seems that Verizon has implemented some new fees. The first and it would seem to be the most expensive is a $75.00 disconnect fee. Next is their rate hike for services which in some areas have risen by as much as 12%.  Lastly in many areas Verizon Fios has increased the price of a hd-dvr rental from a somewhat high I think, price of $12.99 to an even ridiculously higher $15.99 a month.

Some of the current prices for Verizon Fios customers at least in some Massachusetts areas, who have FIOS 5Mbps/2Mbps + Fios Tv Premier saw their monthly rates increase from $85.98 to $101.97( that's definitely more than 12%). Now I might not be a genius when it comes to math but I do know how to subtract numbers. Fios customers with this package will be paying $15.99 more per month or the equivalent, roughly of 4 gallons of gas.

Now I am not opposed to paying a fair price for services but I hate having to pay more for the same level and quality of service. Seems to be only fair that if I pay more, then the product or service I am receiving should also increase to a higher level and not lay stagnant. 

Whether you're a repeat subscriber or a new one this is definitely the year to sign up for Mega March Madness with Satellite TV. This year all 37 games played in the NCAA basketball tournament will be aired in glorious HD. Could there be anything better for all you basketball fans.

Included with the package this year besides the HD will be the subscribers/fans ability to have access to scores and statistics via the on screen L-wrap. The package also includes another interactive feature which is the Game Mix Channel. This feature allows the viewer to watch 4 games simultaneously on a single channel. 

Satellite TV will also have with the Mega March Madness package an on screen tournament bracket which will allow fans to input info and track their own game picks.

Lastly don't forget the new free service that Satellite TV has. The DVR Scheduler which lets you remotely set you DVR to record with either your cell phone or computer. This new feature will come in handy if you forgot to set your DVR and you're working late. You won't have the missed the tip off. You'll be able to see the game in all it's HD glory when you get home.