Michael Johns

In the biggest shock of the season (and IMO, the biggest shock in American Idol history), Michael Johns was eliminated last week from competition. MJ is gorgeous and insanely talented. He's a rock/soul singer from Australia (yes, Simon...ROCK/soul), and he seriously captured me. If you loved him on the show like I did, be sure to check out his previous bands Film and The Rising. You can find albums for both bands with his beautiful voice singing on iTunes. Also, if you want to hear what a solo album of Michael's might sound like, be sure to head over to Facebook. A solo album that he recorded a couple of years ago can be heard there. I'm particularly fond of "Wash Me" and "Fool's Gold" from that album, as you can hear his voice in all its sexy glory.

Sadly, MJ is no longer on AI, so he's not going to be on my TV screen for the rest of the season. But this week, he's been making the rounds of all the media outlets, with visits to the Today Show, Extra, Access Hollywood, Regis and Kelly, and countless other shows. Look out for him! He's out there. I have no doubt that he will be signed to a record deal and we'll be seeing an album from him around Christmas, or maybe in the early part of next year. And yes, I'll be finding a way to go to the AI Tour, for the first time ever. I've got to see this man live.

In the meanwhile, here are his performances from his time on AI. Enjoy!

Audition:


Hollywood Week: Bohemian Rhapsody


Top 24 Guys: Light My Fire


Top 20 Guys: Go Your Own Way


Top 16 Guys: Don't You (Forget About Me)


Top 12/Beatles: Across the Universe


Top 11/Beatles: A Day in the Life


Top 10/The Year You Were Born: We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions


Top 9/Dolly Parton: It's All Wrong, But It's All Right


Top 8/Inspiration: Dream On


Oh yeah...and since he is no longer in the competition, VOTE FOR DAVID COOK! He is the only other rocker left in the competition. We have to save him.

Will Elizabeth be Golden?

On Friday, a new film will be opening in theaters: Elizabeth The Golden Age. I am probably looking forward to this movie than I have any movie in quite a while. Cate Blanchett will be reprising the role which should have won her an Oscar for her 1998 performance in Elizabeth. I still get upset over that one. Granted, even though I enjoyed Shakespeare in Love, I am not a fan of Gwyneth Paltrow. I thought she stole that one right out of Blanchett's hands.

Needless to say I am thrilled that she will be returning to the same role. Not only that, but Shekhar Kapur returned to direct, and Geoffrey Rush is returning to his role as Sir Francis Walsingham. This is a team that, with the right script, could (and should) turn it into an Oscar for Blanchett, even if it is nearly 10 years late in coming.

I hope that the film lives up to its promise. I will be more than a little bit upset if they let me down.

This sequel to the first film will focus on an era approximatly 30 years after Elizabeth. Clive Owen will be joining the cast to tackle the role of Sir Walter Raleigh, and viewers will also be treated to Samantha Morton in the role of Mary Stuart, better known as Mary, Queen of Scots. I would imagine that the film will tackle, at least in part, the rivalry between Elizabeth and Mary, and I am interested to see the spin Kapur puts on that relationship.