Not watching The Price is Right; but instead… May 19, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Comedy, Game Shows, Media, Personal, Theatre, TV.add a comment
This season, The Price is Right went in a direction that I did not like: they decided to go with guest announcers that had little or no announcing experience. The guest announcer they felt was best was made permanent. The result is a stilted delivery with caricatured announcer emphasis. I don’t want to name the announcer because if I decide to watch regularly again, he may grow on me. In that case, I will update this post with the good news. Until then, I watch three shows with professional announcers:
- Jeopardy! with Johnny Gilbert
- Wheel of Fortune with a series of guest announcers trying to fill the late Charlie O’Donnell’s shoes; as I type, Jim Thornton is guest announcing for the third week in a row
- Drew Carey’s Improv-A-Ganza with former TPiR announcer, the last pro, Rich Fields
In the case of Improv-A-Ganza, it appears Drew has finally found a successful successor to Whose Line is it Anyway? I love nearly every second of the show. The best game so far was Forward/Reverse on last Monday’s episode. Jonathan Mangum, part of the Improv-A-Ganza performer rotation, is a good announcer/sidekick to Wayne Brady on Let’s Make a Deal, a show I watched (despite not airing in HD) until I could no longer take poor decisions by contestants. Wayne has appeared as a special guest in select Improv-A-Ganza episodes.
With Wheel, it helps if there are as little dud letters called and as little Bankrupts and Lose-A-Turns spun as possible. A successful bonus round solve doesn’t hurt either.
Jeopardy! is at its best when the two rounds are completed without the annoying bip-bip-bip-bip indicating time has run out and clues will remain hidden.
Mindi Abair on American Idol! April 16, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Media, Music, TV.add a comment
NOTE: Abair is pronounced “AY-bare.”
I am subscribed to saxophonist Mindi Abair‘s newsletter. Last weekend, the newsletter noted that Mindi would be on American Idol on Wednesday night performing with an undisclosed contestant on a song produced by Don Was:
Visitors to her website were also informed of her upcoming appearance:
Mindi recorded a track with producer Don Was for one of the American Idol finalists this weekend, and she will be performing it live on American Idol Wednesday, April 13th. Tune in to your local Fox listings and cheer her on. It might be the first sax solo ever in American Idol history.
Not a regular viewer of the show, I DVR’d it while watching a different show in the 8:00 hour. Later, I skimmed through the recording to see where Mindi showed up. I wasn’t skimming for long. Five minutes in, there she was with Paul McDonald on “Old Time Rock and Roll.” Again from her website:
Mindi rocked out with Paul McDonald on American Idol last night to open the show. Steven Tyler remarked “Who’s that sax player?” and Ryan Seacrest said if you’d like to vote for “Sax with Paul”, call in.
What a performance it was! Watch:
You can buy the single, produced by Don Was at iTunes!
Katherine Gilraine liked it, too, writing about the exposure Mindi’s appearance gave smooth/contemporary jazz:
If you caught American Idol recently, then you may have seen something different. And if you’re not part of the jazz scene, then you may be asking yourself, “Who is that sax player? She is good!”
From what I saw on FB and Youtube, Mindi Abair all but upstaged the contestant, and people are absolutely amazed, asking why they hadn’t seen her before. Why they hadn’t known that someone can play the saxophone like that. And I say to them, “Are you of the people who dismisses smooth jazz as ‘not real music’? Then that’s why. You dismissed the very music that you’re finding yourself noticing as great and enjoyable.”
Oh, the power of perception and exposure that shatters it.
You can read the rest here.
4/28 UPDATE: From Mindi’s website:
Mindi back on American Idol
Tuesday, 26 April 2011 21:49
Mindi will be back with her saxophone on American Idol this Wednesday night 4/27/11, this time playing with the horn section. Tune in and cheer her on.
I wish I had known of this sooner. I’m sorry I missed it.
Smooth no more March 8, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio.add a comment
A few days before scheduled to occur, the Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards were canceled. My friend Katherine Gilraine, who was supposed to co-present, is rightfully perturbed:
…
To say that I’m angry is an understatement, and not just because they have canceled the event so close to the wire. Generally, you don’t cancel shows this close in advance. Bad ticket sales are one thing, but if it’s obvious that the ticket sales are dismal – which, believe me, is not something that a promoter misses over an extended period of time – you let people know in advance. Because that way, they can plan on alternatives.What really raised my hackles is the way that the advertising was – or in this case, wasn’t – done for this event, and the producers are pulling out the “smooth jazz radio is dead” card as the reason why ticket sales were bottomed. Similarly, it pisses me off that the article above [This article. –MC] suggests that the artists drop the “smooth” moniker and “start making real music.”
What part of this music isn’t real, I ask? Seriously. What part of this music isn’t real if the cruises are booked a year in advance to the gills, the festivals are a hit, new artists are voluntarily entering the genre, and the listeners have gotten involved in more than one grassroots petition to bring the stations back?
…
You can read the rest at the link on the words “rightfully perturbed.” She goes on to say that smooth or contemporary jazz is real music. And I agree. But her post hit close to home because I relied heavily on contemporary jazz in my time at Evening Jazz on WCWP, a format that is supposed to be perhaps a little c-jazz, but mostly other sub-genres of jazz and jazz-inspired music from other genres. I got by for seven months without incorporating all of that, but chose to step down when I was told I had to.
Outside of c-jazz fan friends and musician friends, few people I know believe the genre Kat and I love is real music. They think it’s elevator music, it sucks, it gives them a headache, they hate it and the artists, they whine about a lack of vocals (“where are the words?”), it’s lovemaking music, and other complaints. Some of it could be considered lovemaking music, but I don’t think of that when I listen or talk about it on the air. If I hadn’t been introduced to c-jazz, new age, and traditional jazz in the Local Forecast on The Weather Channel when I was young, I’d probably think the same way as those that bash it. I’m glad I discovered it.
While on the subject, I have good news. I’ll be heading back to the Boulton Center in Bay Shore on Tuesday, March 22, to see Eric Marienthal, and to Houndstooth Pub in Manhattan on Saturday, April 16, for Brian Simpson. Expect recaps of both.
3/9 UPDATE: It appears Kat’s dark cloud has a silver lining:
Not 24 hours past since I put up my last post regarding the abrupt cancellation of the Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards, and already the wheels have been set into motion. Before Tuesday elapsed, Ken Levinson, Bruce Nazarian, the artists, the people at Anthology, the people at Spaghettini’s, and everyone else who was left in the lurch by this turn of events had pulled together and engineered what has become known now as the Lemonade Weekend.
This astounds me, in the very best of ways. This is exactly why I call jazz “Our Music” when I’m with fellow fans. We took a failed, poorly-marketed event, and turned it into a makeshift festival. I’m not sure who will be part of this makeshift festival, but there is much to be said for the tenacity, gumption, and love that we have for the artists.
We, the fans, made this happen.
…
New computer, Blu-ray Disc player February 25, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Media, Personal, Technology.add a comment
Earlier this month, I upgraded to a new desktop computer and Blu-ray Disc player.
The computer is a Dell Inspiron 560. It includes an Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5500 processor running at 2.80 GHz, 4 GB of DDR3 SDRAM, the Intel G45 Express Chipset, Intel HD audio, and Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. I bought a 20″ Dell widescreen monitor to go with it. It took a couple of days to personalize it by getting the programs I had installed on the old computer on this one. It’s working great thus far.
The same can be said for the Blu-ray Disc player: a Panasonic DMP-BD45. In fact, it’s working much better than my old Toshiba upconverting DVD player. In fact, the reason I bought the new player is because that old player suddenly broke down. I haven’t played any Blu-ray Discs yet, but I ordered one a couple of days ago. It’ll be interesting to see and hear the difference between upconverted widescreen DVDs and BDs.
While on the subject of new electronics, you’ll remember a few years ago I mentioned I got a “new old laptop.” Well, last March, I got a new new laptop. It’s a 15.6″ eMachines E725. This laptop includes an Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4400 processor running at 2.2 GHz, 3 GB of RAM, Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset, Realtek HD audio, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. I bought a wireless mouse to go with it. I haven’t used it too much as I haven’t been away from home too often, but I have no complaints.
9:55 PM UPDATE: I foolishly installed Service Pack 1 on the desktop computer. In the middle of the update, I get “Error C000009A …” The computer is inaccessible as I type (from my pre-SP1 laptop). I’m trying desperately to repair the problem, but having no luck.
2/26, 10:15 AM UPDATE: After eight hours of sleep, I tried again. I opened in safe mode and was successful: Windows 7 Ultimate reverted back to the way it was before the update. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the right product key. So, I had to pay $216 for a new one, but I’m hoping it’ll be worth it.
2/27 UPDATE: So far, it’s worth it, but not completely. Windows Media Player won’t open because the DLL version is newer than it should be. Windows Installer won’t work, either. I’m talking to tech support as I type. If I were you, I wouldn’t install SP1.
I’m not writing anymore posts about computers I own. It’s clear I jinxed myself.
Dave Koz and winter storms February 6, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio, Weather.2 comments
Four years ago next Monday, Valentine’s Day, I was supposed to see Dave Koz perform at the Best Buy Theater (then the Nokia Theater) in Times Square. Unfortunately, there was a winter storm that day. So, rather than risk taking the LIRR to Penn Station and walk through the snow and ice on the way to the theater, my parents and I stayed home. We figured the show would be canceled. I’m sure it wasn’t.
This Friday, Dave returns to that theater. Though only a few snow showers are in the forecast, the friend with whom I was going to Dave’s concert had plans come up that night. So, once again, I miss out on him. Maybe next time.
I highly recommend Dave’s current album, “Hello Tomorrow.” You can buy it here. I played a few cuts from the album on CJazzPlus, my recent Live365 station.
Here’s hoping less snow and ice are in the forecast for the rest of the winter.
2/14 UPDATE: I may not have gone to Dave’s concert, but Katherine Gilraine did.
Christmas Eve TPiR Double Showcase Winner December 24, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Game Shows, Media, TV.add a comment
Just in time for Christmas, there was a double showcase winner on “The Price is Right.” Judy Ho was the last contestant to come on down. And once she was in contestants’ row, she won a lot:
- One Bid: Linea Pele accessories
- Secret “X”: Trip to Athens
- Showcase 1: Price is Right Christmas Stocking: Trip to Cancun, trip to Oslo, Sanibel 18′ sailboat
- Showcase 2: Fun Christmas Gifts: 32 GB iPod Touch, 8 GB iPod Nano, 2 GB iPod Shuffle, Apple TV, XBOX360 Kinect plus six games, 42″ JVC 1080p LCD HDTV, Acura ZDX
In all, Judy won $101,244 in prizes. She was the third-highest daytime winner in the history of “The Price is Right.” Merry Christmas!
You can watch the show here. If you want to skip ahead, Judy’s winning run begins at 23:19.
As a side note, congratulations to host Drew Carey on his weight loss. I hope he can maintain it. After losing close to 100 pounds in 2007, and being as low as 134 in early 2008, I’m currently hovering in the mid 140s.
Last day of CJazzPlus tomorrow December 1, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio.add a comment
Tomorrow is the last day of operation for my Live365 internet radio station, CJazzPlus (station link). Listen in from 12PM to 12AM Eastern.
In its two-month existence, CJazzPlus (blog page link) has struggled to get listeners, but it’s been an honor (I know, I always say that) to run it, playing my favorite instrumentals from my personal collection. I don’t know what will come next for me, but there must be something.
News Corp-Cablevision impasse over October 31, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Media, Personal, TV.add a comment
Our long regional nightmare ended last night. After two weeks, News Corporation and Cablevision reached a new retransimssion deal. The channels kept from customers were Fox, MyNetwork TV, Fox Business Network, Fox Deportes, and Nat Geo (National Geographic) Wild.
Many of the early posts at this blog were requests for Cablevision to add FBN to its lineup. It was finally added last November.
Nine years in radio October 12, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Airchecks, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio.2 comments
October 5, 2001, was the day that launched my radio career. I hosted “The Mike Chimeri Show” on WebRadio WCWP (now myWCWP). I didn’t think of recording my shows until a week later, October 12. Here’s how that show sounded.
I’ve come a long way since that second “Mike Chimeri Show,” as you’ll hear when you listen to my last “Evening Jazz” show a few months ago.
MikeChimeri.com 
Suddenly off the air: Olby and me January 21, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Commentary, Jazz, Media, Music, News, Personal, Politics, Radio, TV.1 comment so far
Shortly after 9PM, I learned that Keith Olbermann had done his last show with MSNBC. At first, I was in denial. Without knowing the details, I figured he wouldn’t be gone long, as was the case when he was suspended in November. But there won’t be a reprieve for him this time. This is really the end.
It came as swiftly as my end came at WCWP last August. On a Wednesday afternoon, August 4, hours before going on the Spirit of New York’s Smooth Cruise, it was Rick Braun and Richard Elliot that week, I got an e-mail that stopped me in my tracks. Long story short, six days later, I wrote the following:
I stand by what I said then. I will admit that I’ve had bitter moments since the decision. No one likes to step away from something they love, but that’s the business of media. I wouldn’t have been part of “Evening Jazz” had it not been for Martin Phillips, who I trust has done a fine job in my place.
There is one glaring difference between Olby and me: I didn’t use my show to lob personal attacks at my competition or people I disagreed with politically. For that, I did not like Keith, after loving his work at ESPN and Fox Sports earlier in his career. I’ll never forget how listening to the audiobook for The Big Show by Keith and Dan Patrick got me and my family through the car ride to Florida in December 1997, or how listening to the same audiobook got me through an hours-long power outage in September 1998 (though not days long like last March’s Nor’easter). That made it hard for me to suddenly dislike him beginning in 2006 when he took liberal blog-inspired shots at Bill O’Reilly. Then, I discovered Olbermann Watch, where Keith’s misinformation and embellishments were questioned and debunked. It dulled the pain of the personal attacks, unless I witnessed them while recapping segments for the site.
To the chagrin of his fans, to recap what I said at the top of this post, tonight was the end of the line for Keith Olbermann at MSNBC. You can watch his farewell here.
I don’t know where either of us will end up next, but for my sake, there must be some place out there for me. I hope I don’t regret posting this.
11:32 PM UPDATE: Here’s a supportive tweet from Johnny Dollar:
I replied by thanking him for the support. Check out his site’s links for today. Since the announcement, it’s been Olbycentric.
1/22, 12:55 AM UPDATE: J$’s weekend thread has more Olbycentric links.
1/22, 5:39 PM UPDATE: The final Olbermann Watch post…for now.
1/23 UPDATE: J$’s Fox Haters Week in Review closed with a segment on Olbermann. Here’s a preview:
1/24 UPDATE: The Olbermann reportage carried over to today, as documented at J$P. Included in the links is this video:
From NewsBusters, it’s Keith Olbermann’s greatest hits.
Greg Gutfeld: Olby’s Exit.
Despite Keith’s departure from MSNBC, Bill O’Reilly still won’t mention his name on the air, as we saw tonight on The O’Reilly Factor in the Weekdays with Bernie [Goldberg] segment. Jeff Poor elaborated on that move at The Daily Caller. It’s a good move because Olbermann still has Twitter to snipe back on and rally his base. The new #FOK, or “Friends of Keith,” hashtag is one way that base is rallying.
1/25 UPDATE: Today’s round of links
The Red Eye version of Greg Gutfeld’s commentary (Gregalogue):
1/26 UPDATE: Hal Boedeker of the Orlando Sentinel replied to Goldberg today.
1/30 UPDATE: Phil Mushnick: The real reason Olbermann lost his show
Fox News Watch on Keith’s dismissal:
2/8 UPDATE: Keith is headed to Current TV. With that, attacks on everyone he disagrees with will resume.
2/9 UPDATE:
3/30/12 UPDATE: Keith Olbermann was fired by Current TV earlier today.
4/1/12 UPDATE: From Howard Kurtz: Keith Olbermann’s Angry Email Trail Traces Breakup With Current TV
4/2/12 UPDATE: John Gibson weighed in at the end of his Fox News Radio show this afternoon: