I am writing this many many days after the actual airing because I was on vacation so I’m going to keep it very brief.

The ladies are still in Anguilla. All the women have seemingly solid relationships so Kenya Moore felt pressure to keep up with the Jones with her alleged boyfriend Walter Jackson.

Jackson teased Kenya needlessly three days earlier about a possible elopement, raising her “hopes” that she’d get a ring on it.

At a dinner, the others talked about how their proposals went, making Kenya feel left out. Peter, Cynthia’s hubby, teased Walter about the possible engagement/elopement. Walter ultimately said it wasn’t going to happen to the group, then to Kenya herself. Kenya, all tears, goes off in a corner and Phaedra and Apollo coax her back. It’s hard to say how much of this is Kenya “acting” and how much is her really feeling, well, anything.

Earlier, she attempted an apology for calling Porsha a b—- in last week’s “Gone With the Wind” episode but Porsha Stewart …

Continue reading “Real Housewives of Atlanta” recap: season 5, episode 8 »

J.R. Martinez earlier this year taping a Yahoo show at Andretti's in Roswell. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

As a kid, J.R. Martinez was scared of Freddy Krueger, the disfigured menace in the “Nightmare on Elm Street” film series.

After a bomb in Iraq ripped through his Humvee and burned one-third of his body including part of his face, Martinez felt like he had become the living embodiment of Krueger. He was horrified and for a brief time, suicidal.

Nine years later, the former Dalton resident is very much alive. While in the hospital, he began sharing his story with other burn victims and became a regular fixture on the speaking circuit as an inspirational war survivor. His gift for gab and zest for life led to a regular role on the soap “All My Children” and a crowning victory last year on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.’

He’s now written a memoir about his life so far called “Full of Heart.” (Hyperion).

“Writing a book has been floating around in my head for …

Continue reading Former Dalton resident J.R. Martinez writes a book about his war injuries, TV experience »

Carly Rose with host Mario Lopez on the finale. Credit: Ray Mickshaw/Fox

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Country singer Tate Stevens took home the second “X Factor” $5 million prize tonight, just edging out Carly Rose Sonenclar by 1/3 of 1 percentage point in the vote.

You have to wonder if that rather awful duet with b really hurt Carly. Then again, Tate has been No. 1 more weeks than Carly Rose so this is not a surprise victory.

Tate, a family man, has a strong, indelibly country voice and look. He brought his all consistently week in and week out. “Best day of my life,” he said, ever understated.

“You represent the X Factor really well,” said his mentor L.A. Reid, who i s leaving the show after two seasons.

Will he be able to parlay this into a genuine country career?  Hard to say.  He is older than most who break in and lacks the looks of many of the pretty boys rising in the …

Continue reading Who won ‘The X Factor,’ season two? »

In the wake of the Newtown, CT. shootings, three Atlanta stations have pulled Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” from rotation.

The song is written from the perspective of a troubled, isolated teen with homicidal thoughts. The lyrics warn people to “outrun my gun” and “you better run, better run, faster than my bullet.”

Star 94 and Q100 both dropped the song immediately after the shooting. B98.5 last spun it once in the wee hours early Tuesday morning but has also taken the song off its playlist and it has not been heard in the daytime for a week.

The deceptively cheerful song was a huge hit in 2011, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Nationally, airplay of the song dropped by more than half after very steady airplay the previous few weeks.

Ke$ha’s No. 1 top 40 hit with the untimely title “Die Young” also saw sizable airplay drops after the shooting and has fallen to No. 3. As expected, drop offs were especially sharp in New York and New England. Locally, both …

Continue reading Newtown shootings inspire radio stations to pull Foster the People’s ‘Pumped Up Kicks,’ Ke$ha’s ‘Die Young’ »

Carrie Underwood wore some pretty ugly dresses but managed to make them look good because she's, well, Carrie Underwood! CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

Carrie Underwood is seven years removed from her triumphant “American Idol” victory but 16 hits later, multiple concert tours and enough awards to fill a mansion, she is still classy enough to credit the show for her presence on the Gwinnett Arena stage last night.

She is so sweet and likable, that she could probably sit on a stool and sing a capella and the crowd would love her. But she had a full-blown band, of course, and a full-blown stage set up, including a mid-concert liftoff on a faux balloon ride with her band to the center of the arena (sans the lonely drummer). There was confetti, dry ice, massive odd-angled high-def screens and Carrie’s incredible voice. Even though she was clearly suffering from a cold, that couldn’t stop her from gunning through 21 songs. The huskiness in her voice at times gave the …

Continue reading Carrie Underwood sweetly entertains sold-out Gwinnett Arena »

Frank and Wanda started at V-103 in 1998. Their final day was today, Dec. 20. CREDIT: CBS

Today was Frank and Wanda’s final show on V-103 after 14 years.

But they didn’t turn this final day into a funeral (despite a call from funeral director Willie Watkins). They made it a celebration with champagne and many visitors special to V-103.

Among those who stopped by the studio: Frank Ski’s predecessor Mike Roberts, his replacement Ryan Cameron, night jock Greg Street and former co-host Chuck Smith. Former producer Tara Thomas called in from Cleveland. And Frank’s mom even stopped by.

Ski couldn’t come to agreement with CBS Radio, owner of V-103, for a new contract. His cohost Wanda Smith is leaving as well. Future plans are unknown in either case. (More details here from last week’s entry.)

Wanda thanked Roberts for teaching her how to do radio.

Roberts acknowledged how surreal it was to be behind a V-103 mike after 14 years. “It’s bigger than when I was here!” he noted. “We …

Continue reading Frank and Wanda’s classy final show on V-103 Dec. 20 »

Bo Bice wraps gifts at Lenox Square Mall Tuesday, Dec. 18. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

Season four runner up and Alabama native Bo Bice recently moved to Covington with his family from Nashville.

We’ve been in touch since 2005, more than seven years now. He’s always been a class act.

A few weeks back, Alex Gillespie - a publicist from day one with “American Idol” – asked me if I knew of “Idol” contestants who live local. I came up with three that I figured were local: Vanessa Olivarez (season two), Anoop Desai (season and Bice.

I found out why she asked last week: they were holding a free “Idol” wrapping promotion at the Lenox Square mall from Dec. 18 through Dec. 23 and wanted an alumni appearance. Bice said yes to show up Tuesday and meet fans, promote season 12 of “Idol” and talk about his new Broadway gig in the lead role of “Pump Boys and Dinettes.”

He was joyful and festive to all the customers who came up to get gifts wrapped whether they knew who he was or not. If …

Continue reading Covington’s Bo Bice talks about his new gig on Broadway while gift wrapping »

I’m at the Carrie Underwood concert. Here’s the holding spot for “X Factor” tonight. Have fun!

Continue reading “X Factor” performance recap for finale »

CineStars’ Brittany Umar and I discuss “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” rumors of Walton High School’s Malcolm Freberg returning to “Survivor” and V-103’s morning show changes.

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Continue reading Video: talking ‘Real Housewives,’ ‘Survivor,’ Frank Ski »

Can Terry McDermott get votes over favorite Cassadee Pope? CREDIT: NBC

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It came down to the 1980s-style rocker dude and the pretty pop singer.

And pop won. Cassadee Pope,23, of Team Blake Shelton had been selling more downloads than the other singers all through the weeks. She was the favorite and the favorite won. She is the first female to win “The Voice.”

Pope had a crystal clear power voice and a sweet persona. Her cover of Faith Hill’s “Cry” was No. 1 on iTunes earlier today.

Of course, the past two winners of “The Voice” have not had much success. In fact, not a single “Voice” single has had a genuine radio hit to date. Pope certainly has a shot over her retro competitors Nicholas David and Terry McDermott.

And just like that, “The Voice” will be back in a couple months but Cee Lo Green will be replaced by fellow Atlantan Usher and Christina Aguilera will …

Continue reading ‘The Voice’: who won season 3? »