Dec 01 2008
Lost Without “Dancing,” But Other Goings-On to Watch
What’s one to do when the “It” show of the week takes a hiatus?
If anybody knows, pass it on. Now that ABC’s Dancing With the Stars’ seventh season is kaput, no longer do we have a series to provide that steady water cooler discussion. FOX’s American Idol probably is the only other reality/competition shows to rival DWTS on that level, which makes sense, given that it’s the only such series to earn higher ratings.
It’s not like there’s not plenty of other fodder out there to dissect- in movies, the Vince Vaughn-Reese Witherspoon holiday comedy Four Christmases racked up $31.1 million at the box office over the weekend ($46.1million in its first five days since opening last Wednesday). Disney’s animated Bolt actually increased slightly from last week, up to $26.6 million, good enough for second place.
Last week’s champion, Twilight, dropped 62 percent to $26.3 million, understandable since the vampire flick isn’t exactly tailor-made for family audiences that retreated to movie theaters over the holiday weekend. Quantum of Solace, the latest James Bond adventure, pulled in another $18.8 million, for a to-date cume of $141.4 million. And, the epic Australia, starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman, grossed $14.8 million in fifth place ($20 million since opening Wednesday).
In music, this week heralds the release of Britney Spears’ sixth studio album, Circus. The effort is poised to open higher than her last 2007 release, Blackout, but is it anything we haven’t heard before? That, and more Britney musings, shall be discussed sometime within the next week-and-a-half (my apologies for the delay in dissecting Ms. Spears- no fears, it’s coming).
So, definitely some alternatives to dishing the latest DWTS news and results- but, something I never thought I’d say prior to this season- March’s season eight premiere can’t come soon enough.
In the meantime, the launch of Karaoke- erm, American Idol kicks off next month. Stronger earplugs may be needed- four judges now will compete for airtime, and you just now the crop of hopefuls (and jokers who just want to get on TV) is going to have as much trouble- if not more- staying in tune at the auditions. Oy…
