A Reality Check With ... Andy Baldwin (ABC's "The Bachelor")

In a recent press conference, bachelor Andy Baldwin took some time to discuss what he likes about Bevin & Tessa and what it's been like to keep everything a secret. He downplays rumors that the woman he proposed to said no & speaks openly about his life since taping The Bachelor.

On what his family thought of him doing the show…
Initially when ABC called me & made the proposition that I be the next bachelor, my mom was like, “Oh gosh Andy, what have you gotten yourself into?” They’re excited but they don’t know who I chose.

On finding someone to settle down with…
I’ve had a very busy life in the military going through medical school & diving school. I’ve been stationed all over the world & the country. It’s not something you can make happen. On this show, I didn’t know how it was going to end. I didn’t know the women that were coming out for it. It’s not a formula … falling in love & marriage & family, it’s not an equation or subjective. It’s just something that happens. I’ve had a number of serious relationships in the past and for whatever reason, it wasn’t meant to be.

On what he likes about Bevin & Tessa…
Bevin & Tessa both, as I say often on the show, are amazing women. They have different stories as to how they go to this point. Bevin is not afraid to show who she really is, she wears her emotions on her sleeve. She’s open with showing her affection & I knew she was in it without a doubt. Tessa, on the other hand, is very grounded. She’s had skepticism & doubt from the beginning. She & Bevin were best friends in the house. That interaction wasn’t shown on the show but it came into play towards the end.

On being able to reveal who he proposed to…
I’m very excited, we’re counting down the days. It’s so hard, not only on her but on me as well. We haven’t gotten to spend much 1-on-1 time together. We’re tired of looking at the past, we want to look to the future. Our love for each other as grown more & more since the finale.

On rumors that the woman he proposed to said no then changed her mind…
I’m not going to comment on that. I proposed, she said yes, and we’re very happy.

On watching the show back with his fiancé…

I know what I did but it’s hard for her because all she lived out was her time with me. I did my best to prep her & let her know what she’s going to see. I told her, “Listen, honey, put yourself in my situation.” The methods & madness and the way this Bachelor format works is that you’re dating several women down to the end. Let’s focus on the future & not the past.

On seeing the girls on the episode…
When I see these episodes every Monday, it’s the first time I’m seeing it too. It was very enlightening and revealing. There were definitely some shockers. I do realize it’s edited & they’re trying to characterize people. Stephanie from South Carolina was so over the top. The footage I was really interested to see was Tahoe – what happened in their suite. That’s when everything hit the fan and it was tough on me with all the drama.

On the show being an accurate representation of him…

There are definitely some times I cringe – every time I say “amazing”. Do I really say it that much? There are times I would use big words & they would say, “No you need to say it another way. People won’t understand you.” A lot of the cheesy lines are my cheesy lines. I’m a romantic guy & that was all me. People can make fun of me as much as they want to.

Tune in to the season finale of ABC's "The Bachelor" this Monday night!

For more Bachelor links, check our sirlinksalot.net

A Reality Check With ... Jaslene (CW's "Top Model" WINNER)

On last night's cycle 8 finale of America's Next Top Model, Jaslene Gonzales was named the winner. She prevailed after not making it past the semi-finals in cycle 7. She consistently took strong photos as well as brought her big personality & passion to everything she did. Jaslene is the first Latina winner of America's Next Top Model. She takes time out of her busy schedule to sound off on everything from why she came back to her favorite photo.

On what it means to be the first Latina Top Model winner…
That means the world to me. Since the show started, I was sitting on the couch with my mom saying, “Mom, I wanna be on that show so bad! I wanna be the first Latina! I wanna be the first Latina!” My Latin community is ecstatic! They are going crazy, very supportive, everybody’s happy for me.

On her favorite model…
I admire Gisele, she’s been an idol of me. I wanna be a Puerto Rican version of her!

On why she came back for cycle 8…
I wanted to go back & they had called me back. It was a mix of both – them wanting me back & me wanting to go back.

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On Renee not being picked for final 2…
Hey, better for me! It was just one more girl to fight & that was easy.

On he favorite photo…
The weirdo – I loved that one!

On who she felt was her biggest competition…
I felt like Brittany was, she takes amazing photos.

On her biggest struggle in the competition…
I would say the acting, that was challenging for me. I’m horrible at that.

On who she’ll stay in touch with…
I talk to everyone. Renee & Dionne call often, Natasha texts all the time. I had a special relationship & kept it cool with all of them.

On what you need for the perfect runway walk…
Posture. Keep your chin up & you’ll have a great walk!

For all Top Model links, check out sirlinksalot.net

* photo courtesy of the CW network

American Idol: Simon Is Shocked! (5/16/07)

In a shocking results show last night, Melinda Doolittle was voted out 3rd and will not be in next week's finale as everyone predicted. I'm not totally surprised that Blake is in the finals - you know all those teen girls voted for him. If you missed it, here's the video:

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Why Idol Is Annoying

Thank you, AOL, for breaking down the annoying things that American Idol does. This article made me laugh out loud ... LITERALLY ... now you can enjoy it too. Which one annoys you the most? I choose "number fingers" as the one I could do without. Read the story here.

A Reality Check With ... Danna (Bravo's "Shear Genius)

Danna immigrated to the United States alone in 1994. She landed with two suitcases and borrowed money to pay her way here. She truly believes that with determination and hard work one can achieve anything. After suffering injures following a bad car accident in 2003 causing multiple back surgeries, she’s finally fully recovered. She’s going through a bit of a rebirth after recently purchasing her first home, beginning her “Shear Genius” adventure and she says she’s just getting started.

RC: How did you hear about the show & what made you want to apply?

Danna: I work for Allen Edwards who is extremely well known in the industry. He created the Farrah Fawcett hairstyle for Charlie’s Angels. He told me about it & I jumped at the opportunity. I got to be challenged in a way we don’t normally get to in the salon which was completely appealing to me.

RC: Tell us a little about your training & background.
Danna: I’m originally from South Africa & my mother was a hairdresser. I’ve always said it’s in my blood. I practically grew up in the salon. I trained in South Africa & Israel. It’s pretty expensive compared to the American system. When I came to America, I had already been in the salon for years.

RC: What is it about getting your work on the Allure Wall of Fame that gets people sent home the very next week?

Danna: Had I known that, I wouldn’t have done such a fabulous Vanessa Williams style the week before! I learned that that hard way.

RC: It’s interesting that the judges do not consider your body of work but rather eliminate challenge to challenge? Did you know that was how it would be going in?
Danna: Going in, you just focus on your skill, your talent, and doing the best. You don’t know how the judges are going to work so you just do your best. You hope they’ll take into consideration your style before or your body of work but I guess … each challenge … it really was your final cut. There was no room for error, no room for forgiveness. It was do or die. That’s what made it so stressful. It was there & then in that moment.

RC: You guys had a challenge where you had to recreate hair from different eras & you got the 40s. What was your initial reaction?

Danna: When we were first standing there checking out the different eras, I had done era work in the past so I wasn’t really concerned. I wasn’t really anxious about it. That’s why I went on the show – to do fun stuff & challenging stuff. How many times does someone come in to a salon & say, “I want a 40s style today.” I wasn’t excited, I was like, “Oh my God, this is a challenging era because it can be interpreted so many ways.” I wasn’t thinking sexy Hollywood, I was thinking pre-war era.

RC: Were you satisfied with your final product on that challenge or were you worried you might be in the bottom?

Danna: In hindsight, I was like, “Damn what was I thinking?” I should’ve known to go from Hollywood glamour!

RC: What was your favorite challenge to do?

Danna: I loved the hair art challenge. That was so out there, we really go to express a personal taste. The fact that we got to run around like crazy people for 10 minutes then come up with something creative was so much fun. I was completely impressed with my work – I thought it rocked!

RC: Who did you feel was your biggest competition on the show?

Danna: I’m not just saying this to be politically correct but I really felt as time went on, each challenge was going to present its own challenge. There were definitely stylists that I didn’t feel threatened by at all. Tabatha, Anthony, and Daisy were definitely people I respected as stylists.

RC: Where can we find you now & what are you doing?

Danna: I am back in the salon working at Allen Edwards Salon in California. I am just going to continue to pursue the career that I love!

Shear Genius airs on Bravo Wednesday nights at 10pm EST

For more Shear Genius links, visit sirlinksalot.net

American Idol: All About The Threes (5/15/07)

Tonight was all about 3s – 3 finalists singing 3 songs with 3 phone numbers each so you can vote and 3 judges to give their feedback. Each judge picked a song for a contestant, each producer has picked a song for a contestant, and finally, each contestant chooses their third piece.

First up is Simon who chooses “Wishing On A Star” for Jordin Sparks who receives (no surprise) rave reviews from the judges. Simon, however, wished for a different arrangement. Paula picked “Roxanne” for Blake Lewis who gave a solid performance despite having a tough song to sing with big shoes to fill. Randy decided on “I Believe In You & Me” (GREAT SONG) for Melinda Doolittle. I didn’t love it but who cares what I think? Judges all around gave it an A.

It’s time for the producers to choose for the contestants and Jordin’s up first with “She Works Hard For The Money”. I always have to remind myself she’s only 17 years old. Once again, Jordin does well & leaves the judges giddy. Blake goes next, singing “This Love” (nice choice, producers). I’m sick of the Blake cheese factor but he did a good job – the judges agree. Melinda is last this round performing “Nutbush City Limits”, showing her sassy side.

The final songs for each contestant each night are the ones they got to choose themselves. Jordin takes the stage with “I Who Have Nothing”. The judges are happy with it except Simon (of course) who calls the song & performance old fashioned. Blake is up and goes with “When I Get You Alone” who got mixed feedback from Simon, Randy, and Paula. Closing the show is Melinda who has chosen “I’m A Woman” who screws up the words in minute 1. I’m sorry – what was that, Melinda? Apparently, none of the judges want to bring it up. Eh, fine by me.

The love has been lost for Blake who spends way too much time trying to be a comedian (I’ll seriously never let that tuxedo t-shirt last week go). The guy absolutely should put out a Maroon 5 style album. In any case, I’m lookin for Melinda & Jordin in a hell of a showdown next week. I’ll keep my money on Jordin – I won’t waver. I'm gonna go dial in.

Wanna catch up or get some info before next week's finale? Get all your Idol links on sirlinksalot.net!

The Bachelor: The Psychic Was Wrong (5/14/07)

The field has been narrowed to three as Bevin, Danielle, and Tessa fight for the man they … love? Tonight, he brought the girls to Hawaii to share his life with them. He begins his dates with each woman by showing them Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona. He speaks so passionately about this & it’s a very poignant moment in the episode – something real in a very surreal environment.

Andy’s first 1-on-1 date is with Tessa who meets him in Kauai to have a little fun & do a zipline over a ravine. They also went over a suspension bridge & took a romantic walk. They end their evening with a picnic. It seems Tessa & Andy are really falling for each other, more than I expected them to. He has really been fighting for her all along – it’s nice to see her let her guard down. At dinner, Tessa lets Andy know just how she feels & he offers her the fantasy suite card. She accepts to have more time alone with him & uses the time to talk to Andy about their relationship. Don’t worry, people, they got lots of kissing in too! J

The bachelor’s next date is with Danielle who meets him aboard a catamaran for a day on the ocean. On the way, they see dolphins & whales – what is better than that? And while we’re on the subject of questions … who knew snorkels & goggles were sexy? Andy & Danielle played in the water, swimming with the fish, and stealing some kisses along the way. Afterwards, they sat together while the sun set but I couldn’t help but giggle at the musak version of “Up Where We Belong” playing in the background (notably off the “Office & A Gentleman” soundtrack). At dinner, Andy brings in a psychic to talk to Danielle who brings up the loss she suffered with her college boyfriend. This blows Danielle away who wonders if she still needs to deal with the issues she has. The fantasy card is offered at the end of the evening & Danielle also accepts.

The final date for Andy takes place with Bevin. They start the day off with a kayak ride & then on an “adventure hike” as Andy called it. They end their hike at a waterfall where the bachelor scores again with some fun & some love! Their evening leads them a romantic luau where fire & hula dancers perform for them. At the dinner, Andy spends time trying to get to know Bevin better & find out if she’s here for the right reasons. He also brings up his insecurities again about her previous divorce. She reassures him that she wants him to know everything about her & love her for who she is. No surprise that at the end of the evening, Bevin accepts her fantasy suite card.

Before the rose ceremony, Andy struggles with his decision so his friend flies out to help him talk through it. It is a stressful time for Andy as this will impact the rest of his life. Not surprisingly, the first rose goes to Bevin (who is my pick to win this whole thing). The last rose is given to Tessa whose relationship with Andy has grown over the last few dates. This leaves Danielle without a rose & on her way back to Connecticut. He gave her the “you’re gonna make some man really happy” speech & sent her on her way. Andy & Danielle both took it hard though, getting emotional about it after saying goodbye.

Later in the week, I’ll be talking to Any Baldwin himself as he struggles with his final decision to choose the woman he’ll spend his life with. The season finale of The Bachelor airs next Monday on ABC.

For all the Bachelor links you can handle, check out sirlinksalot.net

Survivor: I Think My Heart Just Broke

Not since Johnny Fairplay orchestrated the ousting of Rupert has a Survivor done something as despicable as what Dreamz did last night. Last night’s season finale of Survivor: Fiji started with an immunity challenge featuring a maze that needed to be completed blindfolded. Once again, Yau-Man won immunity and Bula Bula stuck to their plan to vote out Boo. This proved to affect the entire outcome of the game as Boo had tried last minute to get everyone to vote Dreamz.

At the final 4 immunity challenge, it became a test of willpower & endurance. Survivors had to hang from a bar while water dripped on them. Whoever lasted the longest won. Simple as that. As promised to Yau-Man, Dreamz won immunity but after learning three people would be vying for the million, he refused to keep his end of the deal and kept the necklace for himself. This prompted everyone at tribal council to switch votes and Dreamz, Earl, and Cassandra voted out Yau-Man. My heart literally broke.

This left Dreamz, Cassandra, and Earl to vie for the grand prize. The final tribal council became awkward & uncomfortable as survivor after survivor berated the remaining 3. Dreamz & Cassandra took most of the beating – Dreamz for not keeping his word & basically stealing a truck from Yau-Man & Cassandra for doing pretty much nothing. In the end, in a unanimous decision, Earl was awarded the million dollar prize. With no votes for second place, there was no mention of the $100,000 consolation prize.

We’ll get some inside dirt from members of the jury this week on RealityCheckByGina so check back for updates! I want the whole story … don’t you? We'll be talking to Edgardo, Mookie, and Michelle to find out what went down on & off the island.

For more Survivor links, check out sirlinksalot.net