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The The Sing-Off live show sounded better than the three pre-recorded shows combined — and all three groups really did sound outstanding.

[According to scuttlebutt, NBC pulled in a few sound people that are big in a cappella circles to make what was supposed to be a throw-away talent show a little shinier because, as it turns out, the ratings were surprisingly good for the relatively small price tag attached.]

And can I just say: What a nice, feel good show! With the sole exception of Noteworthy's so-obvious-everyone's-remarking-on-it entitlement issues, all of the groups genuinely seemed to be having a good time and seemed to be genuinely supportive of each other, complete with rounds of hugs.

In any case, I think everyone going into the live show pretty much knew NOTA was going to be crowned. I called them the winners during the opening night, in large part because they do Latin-flavored pop very well, they were better than most of the other groups on the stage, and a lot of their weaknesses can be overcome via technology in the recording booth and improvements in their stage show for live performances.

And unlike some people on the NBC boards (and a couple of other chat boards I've poked my nose into), I think NOTA won the popular vote fair and square for those reasons.

(Note to my geography-challenged fellow Americans on the various chat boards I've poked my nose into: Puerto Rico is a protectorate of the United States, which means that Puerto Ricans are Americans citizens, which also means that the members of NOTA are Americans. They are not "foreigners", nor are they "illegals", nor do they need "green cards". In short: Die in a fire, you racist asswipes.)

I definitely didn't get the impression that the Tufts Beelzebubs (My homies came in second! Go 'Bubs!) were in the least bit shocked that the NOTA won. Besides, 'Bubs (and Voices of Lee) would've been looking at a fuckload of headdaches if they won the Sony contract (they were planning to split the money if they won). Does it go to the group that performed on stage? The a cappella groups as a student organizations where the membership changes year in and year out? To the universities these groups are associated with?

So, not only do I think the right group won on talent, I would also say that the right group won on "ease of dealing with the legal world of Sony for the recording contract". As a bonus, both the 'Bubs and Voices of Lee got a fantastic shot in the arm publicity-wise and financially, since a lot of people were on the boards asking for CD recommendations. Both groups will be fine,

In other news, I was shocked to spot celebrities in the audience:

• Harry Connick Jr.
  
  
• Masi Oka (aka Hiro of Heroes). As it turns out was the musical director of Brown University's all-male a cappella group The Bear Necessities when he was an undergrad student at Brown. I don't know why that makes me happy to know, but it does.
  
  
• Jack Black. Or at least someone who looked a lot like him.
  
  
• Peter Gallaggher of The OC. Turns out that he's a Tufts Beelzebubs alumni, which explains why he was sitting in the 'Bubs cheering section. Heh.
  

I also saw that the SoCals stuck around, and were clapping and cheering for the three finalists in the audience, which was really nice to see.

While there were parts of last night's show that I did fast-forward through (thank you DVR!), there was plenty I watched.

Put me on the list of people who'd like to see this show pop up again next year.

In the meantime, here's a video capture from the Sing-Off of the 'Bubs singing their melody of The Who from the second night:



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I woke up this morning with my lower back going into full-on bitch mode at me.

I of course blame this on the Plow Snot that had been dumped at the end of my driveway that came up to — OhSweetJeezus — my chest. Now, I admit I be short (5-feet, 1-inch in my stocking feet to be precise), but that's a fuckload of snow.

Even in snow that wasn't pushed into a tiny mount of Plow Snot, it came up to my knees, which is roughly 16 inches (I have long legs for my shortness). I figure...drifting snow. And I'm being a baby about this (I mean literally, because I was whining the entire time I cut through the Plow Snot just so I could see my car, let alone reach it.)

Thanks to my local paper, I can now officially say that I was not being a baby. My town got whammed with 14 inches of snow. So there.

And my lower back is still in full-on bitch mode, although giving myself a nice big stretch seems to make it happy and calm it down for an hour or two.

In other news, Sing-Off Live Finale Tonight! Go Beelzebubs! Okay, not a chance in hell you're gonna win, but I'll be happy if you beat Voice of Lee, if only because their fans over on the NBC community are kind of ass-hatty.

[Side note: Stay the hell away from from the NBC boards for this show if you want to prevent cranial trauma by head-desk. The FAIL is great there. And I mean FAIL on a scale that I never thought I'd witness this side of a newspaper comments section.]

This entry was originally posted at http://liz-marcs.dreamwidth.org/386310.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

That I have some snowflake cookies on my user page! Yes, I am that dense. Thanks mabiana, entrenous88, and denyce! They're so fun and pretty and make me want to eat cookies RIGHT NOW!

Still suffering from my migraine, if it's not gone by Friday I'll call the Dr and see if I can go in and get a shot to break the cycle. For some reason my pills aren't working which is very unusual.

I got a christmas card from libco! Thanks so much sweetie.

Okay, it's 10:45 now and I need to try again to get some sleep as I have to get up at 4:30 so I can be at work on time. Night all!

Last weekend was spent baking. Started this weekend off with decorating the house, doing the last of the shopping - only I still have to go out at least once more as one of the big presents for DH will have to be ordered - and doing my Christmas cards for work. I had other plans for today but the migraine that's been hanging at the fringes for the last week settled in to stay today. DH was wonderful about making sure I took my meds and took it easy but I still feel bad. I guess I scared him a bit, he kept asking me how I was doing and told me I was super pale. I'd like to take another pill now but that would most likely mean no sleep tonight and I need to get my rest.

Tomorrow we go back to the surgeon to make sure DH is okay for the second surgery. If all looks good they'll start the process to get it scheduled. He's in a really positive frame of mind right now, I hope that holds through the actual surgery.

It was rather cold here last week but it's warming up nicely now. We're expecting rain most of this week. I'd rather have some snow but I could pass on the ice. It was so cold our fish pond froze over with several inches of ice. We have a small opening for the pump so the fish can get oxygen but that's it. The sooner that melts the better. The plug for the main pump blew in the cold and froze while we were sleeping. Once it thaws we'll check it out and see if it was ruined by freezing. I sure hope not as those are super expensive. And this one is brand new! Not even a year old yet I don't think.

Night all, stay warm and safe!