Last night on The X Factor, 13-year-old Rachel Crow performed as her “save-me song” the classic “I’d Rather Go Blind,” originally recorded by Etta James. The judges, however, were not able to muster the votes to save her against the talented Marcus Canty, who also was in the bottom two. Because the judges could not decide, the total call-in votes made the ultimate decision. Somewhat surprisingly, Crow was sent packing. When the host announced the news, Crow collapsed in tears. Judge Nicole Scherzinger, who cast the final judge vote that sent the decision to the call-in votes, broke down in tears too.
It was a sad ending on the show for Crow, who was one of the most talented performers on the show and had one of the more interesting back stories, having started out as a neglected crack baby before being adopted into a loving home. Seeing her break down and call out “mommy!” made me wonder whether it was fair that the show had such a low age for contestants, which is lower than the limit on American Idol. Is it fair to put a 13-year-old through this kind of pressure on national television? But I suspect that Crow will be fine and that she will benefit greatly from her experience on the show (a new rumor claims she is already talking to Disney). This morning is another day, and now she can look back on her experience on the show and realize she may be able to follow her dream. How many 13-year-olds get that?
And in the long run, music lovers may benefit from the fact that her appearances may lead to a long career. Crow’s voice and performances often reflected a much older soul. If you have not been following the show, check out her final performance of “I’d Rather Go Blind” below. Note how she channels her own sorrow about being in danger of leaving the show into the emotional lyrics of the song.
What did you think of the show and of Crow’s performance? Leave your two cents in the comments.
Today, the actor Harry Morgan, who played Colonel Sherman T. Potter on the television series M*A*S*H from 1975-1983 passed away at the age of 96. He continued the Col. Potter role in the short-lived series After MASH in 1983-1984, and he also had appeared on earlier episodes of M*A*S*H as Maj. Gen. Bartford Hamilton Steele. Our older readers may remember Morgan as the partner of Joe Friday (Jack Webb) on Dragnet. He was an excellent character actor who appeared in many films, including some of my favorite Westerns such as The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), High Noon (1952), and Bend of the River (1952).
But he always will be Colonel Potter to me, as those M*A*S*H episodes were a constant in my family’s home. In the role, Morgan went from playing character actors to developing a deep role of a man with character. While he often was the straight man (not an easy acting role) to the shenanigans of Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and BJ (Mike Farrell), he also could be funny in his own right.
Before Morgan’s arrival on the show, many wondered how the show could continue without the departing McLean Stevenson as Lt. Colonel Henry Blake. Stevenson was wonderful on the show, but the M*A*S*H writers demonstrated how a show could thrive after replacing one popular character with a completely different character by exploring new directions (writers for The Office, take note). Where Stevenson played the bumbling uncle to the residents of the M*A*S*H 4077, as Col. Potter, Morgan became the sometimes cranky but always wise and loving father. Like real children, we viewers all loved and learned from Col. Potter.
RIP.
What’s your favorite memories of Harry Morgan? Leave your two cents in the comments.
If you have been too busy pepper spraying shoppers trying to grab that toy you want, here are some of the pop culture stories from the week that you might have missed.
——— Music ———
No Depression featured an interesting story about a recent encounter with Garth Hudson of The Band.
No Depression also featured a nice review of Glen Campbell on his final tour. Chimesfreedom sends our best wishes to The Bee Gees’ Robin Gibb, who is fighting liver cancer.
The Rolling Stones are releasing an expanded reissue of Some Girls, including a song with John Fogerty.
“Does this mean I can play whatever I want?” — Ozzy Osbourne on getting his own music channel on SiriusXM Radio.
“What I do is more like a poke in the ribs than a kick in the face.” – Weird Al Yankovic in Chicago Tribune profile.
Influential jazz drummer and bandleader Paul Motian passed away last week. RIP.
“Cracklin’ Rosie, get on board!” Neil Diamond will tour this summer to support a greatest hits CD.
If you are a fan of The Swell Season, check out this interview with Marketa Irglova about The Swell Season, the new documentary on the band, and her new solo CD.
WhatCulture! has a review of William Shatner’s new CD, Seeking Major Tom. Below is Shatner’s version of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” with his face in the sky of this crazy official video.
——— Movies ———-
“He’s an older Bruce Wayne; he’s not in a great state.” — Christopher Nolan revealing some information on the upcomingThe Dark Night Rises, which begins eight years after the last Batman film.
Scarlett Johansson will direct a film adaptation of a Truman Capote novella, Summer Crossing.
A new Woody Allen documentary prompted several stories. One article on the film quoted director Robert Weide on Woody Allen: “He doesn’t think of himself as a great artist.’’ Meanwhile, Salon ranked Woody Allen’s 10 Greatest Films. Personally, I think it is a crime that the list does not include Crimes and Misdemeanors.
“The Muppets are sweet and subversive.” — Los Angeles Times review. In another Muppets-related story, Slate discussed “Mahna Mahna” and how music from an Italian soft-core film became the Muppets’ catchiest song.
——— Television ———
Elizabeth Shue will become a regular on “CSI” starting in February, replacing Marg Helgenberger.
CBS signed up Survivorfor two more seasons with Jeff Probst as host and executive producer.
In case you were overwhelmed last week worrying about the NBA lockout or who is the sexiest man alive or the latest on Ashton Kutcher’s problems, below are some of the pop culture stories you might have missed.
———-Music———-
The heart-stopping, earth-shaking,…legendary E Street Band will tour with Bruce Springsteen in 2012 supporting a new album.
In a new interview, Michael Stipe explained why REM called it a day. “The horror was if somebody Twittered or leaked it.”
Brad Pitt plans to quit acting in three years. I guess they need to hurry up and film Oceans Fourteen.
Officials are investigating actress Natalie Wood’s drowning death from 30 years ago. Although initial reports claimed a yacht captain was blaming Woods’ then-husband actor Robert Wagner for the death, recent reports note that Wagner is not a suspect. But Christopher Walken, who was on the boat with the couple the night Woods died, has hired a lawyer.
Illumination Entertainment is planning a Woody Woodpecker film. (Thanks @VeryAw.) I grew up with the cartoons, so I’m excited that this overlooked character may be revived.
The Atlas Shrugged DVD was released with a back cover mistakenly saying the movie was from a novel of “self-sacrifice” instead of author Ayn Rand’s contrary philosophy of self-interest. Oops!
Andy Buckle’s Film Emporium blog wrote an interesting comparison between two epic World War II films, The Thin Red Line vs. Saving Private Ryan. (Thanks @buckle22.)
Johnny B. Goode! Last weekend, Michael J. Fox reenacted his guitar playing from Back to the Future at a charity event.
“Sticks Like Magic!” CNN reports on the interesting background of the toy Colorforms, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this month. I had forgot about Colorforms, which I had as a kid.
Seven years after the release of the excellent film Sideways director Alexander Payne released his follow-up film, The Descendants. I hear Oscar buzzing. . . .
Slate reconsidered Blue Velvet 25 years after the film’s release.
For Veterans Day, the Los Angeles Times chose the best war films from American cinema for each war.
The “Atlas Shrugged, Part 1″ producer is planning Part 2 despite the poor box office for the first movie.
Television Piers Morgan quit “America’s Got Talent” to focus on another talent show: the 2012 presidential election. In related news, Howard Stern might join “America’s Got Talent.”
The producer of next year’s Oscar telecast, Brett Ratner, stepped down after making a stupid gay slur. After Ratner’s announcement, the Oscar host, Eddie Murphy, announced he would no longer host the show, apparently because he had only agreed to do the show because he had worked with Ratner on Tower Heist. Vegas just announced that the payout on bets for “Eddie Murphy wins an Oscar in the next decade” went up 1000%.
Regis Philbin’s last week on Live! with Regis and Kelly will include guests Kathie Lee Gifford, David Letterman and Tony Bennett.
13-year-old “X Factor” singer Rachel Crow started out life in a crack house before she was adopted. Although I had been favoring Josh Krajcik to win, Crow’s performance this week was probably the best of the group.
Other News ‘Family Circus’ creator Bil Keane died at age 89.
Slate had an interesting discussion of “The New Classics,” enduring books, films, ideas, etc. since 2000.
“This is Nixon unplugged“is how Historian Stanley Kutler described new recordings of the former president available online for the first time, including Nixon’s grand jury testimony.
In honor of Joe Frazier, who passed away, Life magazine presented a slideshow of never-seen photos from “The Fight of the Century” of Ali vs. Frazier in 1971
Two new biographies about Charles Dickens are out. In related news, I have had a two-volume Dickens biography on my shelf for more than a decade that I have yet to read. Now, I do not know where to start. Maybe I will watch a movie. . .
What was your favorite pop culture story this week? Leave your two cents in the comments.
Last night on The X Factor, 13-year-old Rachel Crow performed as her “save-me song” the classic “I’d Rather Go Blind,” originally recorded by Etta James. The judges, however, were not able to muster the votes to save her against the talented Marcus Canty, who also was in the bottom two. Because the judges could not decide, the total call-in votes made the ultimate decision. Somewhat surprisingly, Crow was sent packing. When the host announced the news, Crow collapsed in tears. Judge Nicole Scherzinger, who cast the final judge vote that sent the decision to the call-in votes, broke down in tears too.
