American Idol is back. Randy, Paula and Simon have been calling it the best group of singers EVER, but don’t they say that every year? While I’ll agree there is plenty of talent onstage, it also seems that physical appearance played a bigger role this year. There are no ugly ducklings this season, and some of the ladies appear to have been picked because they might have Brittany Spears potential without the downside. There is also, thankfully, no Sanjaya, although Danny Noriega could be called a Sanjaya with talent and attitude, two snaps please. You could also say that this year’s Sanjaya was Garrett Haley, already eliminated.

There can be no doubt that the singer to beat in the competition is adorable and amazing 17-year-old David Archuleta. His interpretation of John Lennon’s “Imagine” really was off the hook. Other singers who get the thumbs up this week are the two other David’s, Hernandez and Cook. Jason Castro is hot as well. On the ladies side (the weaker side this year by the way) Carly Smithson stands out in a good way. As for a lot of the other ladies, there are too many blondes. I can’t tell them apart, can you? Well Brooke White maybe, but Cady, Alaina and Kristy blend together for me.

So who’s going home? I was hoping Amanda Overmyer, the Diablo Cody-ish Idol, would improve this week, but she was awful. It’s ’70s week and she still won’t do a Janis Joplin tune? What up with that? Sorry girl, but see ya later. And let's get rid of one of the blonds, too, Cady. As for the guys, I really liked the soft sound of Jason Yeager’s “Moon River” last week but he needed to show more range this week and he didn’t. He gets the boot tonight as well, probably joined by Luke Menard. Even his Orlando Bloom-ish good looks won’t save him. His only hope is that the dishy Aussie Michael Johns gets sent a packin’ for his weak vocal.

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Harrah’s will have the official grand opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new Waterfront Tower Thursday, March 6 at 10am. After hearing about the delay in construction of Pinnacle’s casino at the Sands site because of the economic downturn, it's good to know that AC's progress as a destination resort continues.

Harrah’s Waterfront Tower marks the final phase of a $550 million expansion. Its centerpiece is a 960-room, 44-story tower, which will be the tallest structure in Atlantic City. Governor Corzine will be among the state and local officials on hand. The new expansion also includes The Pool entertainment complex that doubles as a nightclub three days a week; the newly opened “Taste of the Shore” food complex; the Red Door Spa and the Waterfront Buffet, which opened last April.

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Could Pinnacle A.C. abandon its $2 billion mega-casino project on the Boardwalk at the site of the former Sands? The Associated Press reports that it's contingent on the credit markets. Pinnacle's chairman and CEO Daniel Lee appears to be hoping for the best.

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The Trump properties in AC have launched new websites: The new websites are trumpcasinos (Trump Entertainment Resorts), trumptaj (Trump Taj Mahal), Trump Plaza, Trump Marina and Trump Meetings (Meetings Portal / Website).
You can also log into the Trump One Card portal through any of the Trump websites.
Each website now offers interactive property tours and photos, entertainment and event listings, and a booking engine that allows all visitors the ability to book a stay in the casino’s high end suites. Specials and packages are also easily viewable.
There is now a Trump One Card customer loyalty portal, so Trump One card members can check all their offers in one place.

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Well, the Academy Awards have come and gone, with the writer’s strike settled just in time for all the Red Carpet glamor. So, how did I do with my picks? In the major categories (the acting nods, screenplays, director and film), I did a more than respectable 6 of 8, missing on supporting actress (Tilda Swinton over Ruby Dee) and best actress (my preference, Marion Cotillard beat my prediction, Ellen Page). I wouldn’t call the Swinton and Cotillard wins upsets, since I figured the races would be tight. The biggest upset of the night was in the documentary category when No End In Sight and Michael Moore’s Sicko lost to Taxi to the Dark Side.
How was the show? I thought Jon Stewart was ok as the host but not outstanding. I do give him serious props, however, for making sure that songwriter Marketa Irglova was given a chance to make her heartfelt acceptance speech. Her co-star and co-writer from Once, Glen Hansard, went first and after he was done, they cut off her mic and went to a commercial. When the show returned Stewart reintroduced Irglova and she made her lovely speech.
My favorite win of the night was the expected victory for Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody. It is exceedingly rare that a writer wins an Oscar for a debut film, but she deserved the golden boy.
For a look at all the speeches, outfits and more go to the official site.

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JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA-Review Publishing, LP the company that operates Atlantic City Weekly celebrated award recognition here tonight. Left: Review Publishing Advisory Board Member, Tom Bradlee, of Chesapeake Publishing Co. is congratulated by SNA VP-Operations, Al Cupo as he accepted National SNA Editorial Contest awards.
At right, Review Publishing's Lew Steiner, Publisher of Atlantic City Weekly is also shown with the SNA Vice President, Al Cupo for awards won by the South Philly Review's Art Director, Brendan Moss and Atlantic City Weekly's Managing Editor, Jeff Schwachter. (Photos: Christine Steiner)

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It was announced this morning that Bill Hornbuckle, Mandalay Bay's president and chief operating officer, will oversee the $5 billion MGM Grand Atlantic City casino-hotel project.
As reported in "Pinky's Corner" back in January, MGM Mirage's office on Delilah Road in Galloway Township is the central point for the project's development team.
Groundbreaking is expected in 2008.

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The Oscars will be presented this Sunday, and thanks to the settlement of the writers’ strike, the stars will be out. My Oscar predictions in the major categories are in this week’s AC Weekly, available on-line here.
A quick recap: Best supporting actress, Ruby Dee; supporting actor, Javier Bardem; best actor, Daniel Day-Lewis; best actress, Ellen Page; best director, Joel & Ethan Coen; best picture, No Country For Old Men. My preferences are slightly different: Ruby Dee, Javier B., Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood.
For your Oscar pool, here are the rest of my predictions: Adapted Screenplay, Coen Brothers for No Country for Old Men; Original Screenplay, Diablo Cody for Juno; Animated Film, Ratatouille; Art Direction, There Will Be Blood; Cinematography, There Will Be Blood; Costumes, Atonement; Best Documentary, No End in Sight (over Michael Moore’s Sicko); Best Documentary (Short Subject), Freeheld; Film Editing, The Bourne Ultimatum; Foreign Language Film, The Counterfeiters (Austria); Makeup, La Vie en Rose; Music, Atonement; Original Song, “Falling Slowly” from Once; Animated Short, Madame Tutli-Putli; Live Action Short, The Tonto Woman; Sound Editing, No Country for Old Men; Sound Mixing, No Country for Old Men; and Visual Effects, Transformers.

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Named “Entertainer of the Year” multiple times in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, Clint Holmes presents his final shows at Harrah’s this week. Showtimes are Tues., Wed. and Thurs. Feb. 19-21 at 8pm; and Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22–23 at 9pm. Tickets are $25.
A Clint Holmes concert is a voyage into his eclectic musical influences. He opens his show with a fabulous scatting take on “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and for the next 75 minutes he presents his amazing repertoire, hitting on many favorites from his years as an Atlantic City mainstay. These include “I Go To Rio,” “Mr. Bojangles,” “I’ve Gotta Be Me,” and a medley of songs from West Side Story including “When You’re A Jet,” “Something’s Coming,” “America” and “Somewhere.” As an added bonus Holmes brought his sister, Gayle Steel, with him. She sang a rousing “Summertime,” and later joined him for the “America” portion of his West Side Story medley. Holmes also presented songs from his autobiographical musical, I Sing, co-written with his longtime musical director Bill Fayne. Those songs were the tender “1944” and “If Not Now, When.”
After years of polishing and refining, Holmes is hoping to bring the show to Broadway, co-starring his sister. The next time Clint Holmes is performing on the East Coast it might be for the price of an expensive Broadway ticket, so catch him now.

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AC was home to the hottest country music double bill out there these days when the Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood “Love, Pain and the Whole Carnival Ride Tour” came to Boardwalk Hall Friday night.
Calling it a country show is a misnomer — this show rocked. Even Carrie Underwood, who opened the night, seemed determined to keep up with Urban’s rock side. She opened the show dressed in black leather with 6-inch high heels and singing the high-powered rocker “Flat on the Floor.”
As she went through her one-hour set of her hits and selections from her sophomore CD Carnival Ride, she was determined to keep the tempo loud and rocking.

This didn’t always suit her songs, especially the tender “Jesus Take the Wheel.” The backing band was so loud it was hard to hear her voice, especially in the challenging acoustics of Boardwalk Hall. However, she has certainly improved her entertainment skills since she was in town last May.
Highlights of her set included a terrific song from the new album, “I Know You Won’t,” “All-American Girl,” “Wasted,” and her encore of “Wheel of the World” and her signature song, “Before He Cheats.”

Keith Urban is in another realm when it comes to working the crowd. His set includes a jumbo video screen that covered the back wall of the Hall and featured a live digital feed with such beautiful clarity, you could count Keith’s nose hairs in the close-ups. This screen allowed the fans in the back a chance to really feel like they were up close with Urban. He also did a few songs on a stage set up in the middle of the auditorium, and he spent a lot of time walking up and down the catwalk that used to feature Miss America contestants.
Mr. Australia, the hunk from Down Under, delivered a two-hour humdinger of a show that included all of his hits, many on his current: 18 Kids CD. As befits this rock guitar god who hides in country clothing, he combined his great songwriting skills, stage presence, incredible guitar skills, and excellent vocals into an amazing presentation. Beginning with “Where the Blacktop Ends and ending with an encore of “Got It Right This Time (The Celebration),” “Better Life” and “Everybody,” Urban was a whirling dervish of rock with just a hint of country accents.
While his big-ticket rockers like “Faster Car,” “Days Gone By” and “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me” dominated, he slowed it down for several of his best love songs, with heart wrenching takes on “Stupid Boy” and “Tonight I Wanna Cry.”
To quote American Idol judge Randy Jackson, Keith Urban was da bomb.

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The live Good Morning America taping that was supposed to take place at the Trump Taj Mahal last Friday, Feb. 15, has been rescheduled for tomorrow. Area residents and visitors are encouraged to come check out the event between 6:30-9:30am. ABC's Chris Cuomo is expected to do a 51-story freefall jump off the Taj's hotel tower.

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There has been a lot of news this week that I had to put on the back burner, until now. Let’s call this the potpourri blog.
Idol Is Back
This is the time when I start watching American Idol. I’m not a big fan of seeing the no-talents enjoying their 30 seconds of fame. I like to wait until the field is whittled down. I’m sorry to report, however, that our local contestant, Joey Catalano, 25, from Mays Landing, did not make it to the final 24. A courier for the Hamilton Twp. School District by day, Catalano is already a professional singer, as a member of the band Cheers and the trio Haley’s Comet (which appears often at Harrah’s Eden Lounge; pictured is Joey with fellow 'Comet' Arielle). So when you see Cheers performing, give Joey an extra measure of applause for his efforts.

Strike Over!
The writers’ strike is over in Hollywood. It didn’t come soon enough to salvage 24 for this season or Heroes, but at least we will get to see the Academy Awards with all the stars in attendance. I’m so happy for the Juno trio of director Jason Reitman, writer Diablo Cody and star Ellen Page. My Oscar predictions will be running in the Feb. 21 issue of AC Weekly.

Sixers Take Five
The Sixers played some decent basketball before the All-Star break, winning five games in a row at home, including a nice victory vs. Dallas. They might even climb up to .500 ball during the second half of the year. With the energy of the young kids, choreographed by wily veteran point guard Andre Miller, the team is suddenly fun to watch. They even have a good shot to make the playoffs, even if it will be a one-and-done series against Boston or Detroit.

Obama Takes Delegate Lead
It was no surprise that Barack Obama zipped past Ms. Clinton in the delegate race with his expected victories in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia this week. The W’s are next, Wisconsin and Washington on Feb. 19, and Clinton figures to perhaps edge back in the lead. If not then, perhaps on March 4 when the hefty delegate states of Ohio and Texas are up for grabs. Then, on April 22, the last big prize, Pennsylvania, has its primary. Clinton has the governor, Ed Rendell, in her corner.
I’ve been listening to all the political pundits who suggest that if the race is not decided for both the democrats and the republicans by April, that chaos and nasty in-fighting will dominate the political headlines. I disagree. If the American people are still seeing debate and discussion among multiple candidates right up until the conventions, how is that a bad thing? If anyone decides to play dirty, you can bet the people will let the candidates know how they feel about those tactics. We don’t want dirty tricks; we want honest discussion about the issues. I’m enjoying a political race that is actually a race this year, aren’t you?

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The Atlantic 10 has been earning props all season from national commentators on its quality of play. The A-10 might not be the ACC or the Big East, but with teams like Xavier (current ranked #13 by the AP), Dayton and Rhode Island earning Top 25 consideration, and with local favorites St Joseph’s and Temple playing well, the Atlantic 10 Tournament this March at Boardwalk Hall should be a tremendous event. Beyond the automatic bid that goes to the winner of the A-10 tourney, there is the potential for three other teams from the league earning at-large bids to the big dance.
The level of competition has improved down the line in the league as well. When Richmond can knock off Temple 64-58 as they did yesterday, and the Duquesne Dukes can cool down the sizzling hot St. Joe’s Hawks, 102-88, also yesterday, this league is taking parity to the next level. The level after that will arrive at Boardwalk Hall March 12.
As Temple coach Fran Dunphy noted yesterday after his team’s loss, "This is a hell of a league. You've got to really prove your mettle now."
If you haven’t ordered your tickets yet, why not? Go here to do so.

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My day started off with anger and frustration and was eventually vindicated by common sense from Trenton.
I went to vote in the historic primary this morning and was told by the volunteer officials that I was registered as a republican. Since this had happened to me previously in the June 2007, legislative primary, I was livid. I had filled out the form for the provisional ballot last June and declared that their records were in error. I thought that was the end of it, until this morning when I found out nothing had changed.

In a New Jersey primary you must declare you affiliation in order to vote for your party of choice. As noted in yesterday’s blog, I was in the first group of 18-year-olds allowed to vote in this country. I have never declared as a republican, despite what the board of elections paperwork says. After voting with a provisional ballot again, I spent the day trying to find out how both Cape May County and Atlantic County had me down as a republican. I moved from Ocean City to Somers Point in 2005, which is how this whole mess started. Thanks to the extremely helpful people at the Board of Elections for both Atlantic and Cape May counties, my elective paper trail was unearthed. Marge in Atlantic County told me I must have declared as a republican during the 2005 primary while still in Ocean City. Joy Erb and Debra Dunhour in Cape May say that according to their records I was an independent who declared myself a republican to vote in the 2005 primary. That’s funny, because I voted for Jon Corzine in the democratic primary.
I moved to Somers Point in Oct. 2005, but didn’t bother to switch over my voter registration to Atlantic County until August of 2006. The ladies were patient and helpful, but they kept telling me I voted republican and I kept telling them I did not. Marge explained that I would have to go to court today, to tell a judge a mistake had been made, in the hopes of having my provisional vote counted; she was gathering the paperwork for me to use.
However, court became unnecessary as of 3pm. Donna Kelly from the Attorney’s General’s office in Trenton announced that because of all the complaints about incorrect party affiliations, all the provisional ballots would be counted for today’s primaries. Hip, hip hurray.
While everyone I talked to from the election boards assured me that it is nearly impossible for mistakes to be made, my gut tells me that because of the unprecedented interest in this primary, an awful lot of people found out today that mistakes have been made and have been festering there unnoticed after years of light primary election turnout. The election board might have well trained paid employees, but volunteers staff polling places. A volunteer in Ocean City in 2005 either made a mistake in writing down my affiliation, or wrote it down as republican on purpose and didn’t tell me.
All’s well that ends well but I could have done without the physical and emotional indigestion.

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The citizens of New Jersey get to step up to the plate tomorrow and vote in the “Super Tuesday” Democratic primary. While the Giants victory over New England proved that an upset could happen when the quarterback gets knocked down a few times, political games are more complicated. If you go by delegates earned, Hillary Clinton is the underdog at the moment; she has 48 delegates and Barack Obama has 63. She has been knocked down a few times, mostly by her husband’s attack dog tactics. Of course that is not how this race feels. It feels like Hillary is still the frontrunner because she has the support of the democratic machine.
Obama has the support of the young people. It is wonderful that the “rock the vote” generation and their younger siblings are now flooding into the democratic process. That is great news for this nation. For a moving video on the youth movement, go here.

The last time there were this many young people involved in getting out to vote was in 1972 when the voting age was lowered to 18. I happened to be one of those first 18-year-old voters. I had to see my hopes dashed when a sour-faced, morally bankrupt president by the name of “Tricky Dick” Nixon won reelection in a landslide. Somehow, the bumper sticker on my Pinto, “Don’t Blame Me, I Voted For McGovern” provided little comfort. The resignation of Nixon in 1974 following the Watergate scandal, however, did feel like vindication.
The most important advice I can give new voters is, “vote with your heart.” Wait until you get older to become cynical about the whole process. Believe that we are a nation “of the people, by the people and for the people.”
I hope for change no matter who winds up in the White House. I am concerned that campaign speeches are little more than fairytales spun to earn votes. (Sorry, but cynicism is mandatory for those of us who were introduced to the voting process in the Watergate era.)
As a film critic, I can’t help but recall a movie that excelled at presenting the cynical side behind the façade of hope. That movie was called The Candidate. Released in 1972, you can rent it from Netflix. Robert Redford stars as young liberal lawyer, Bill McKay, whose father is a career politician. McKay is asked to run for the U.S. Senate. He rejects the idea of running, but is convinced to do it when he is assured that he can’t win. He can use the campaign as a forum to get his ideas out in the public. However, as the campaign continues and he begins to get young people and women on his side, and is cutting into the huge lead of the frontrunner, his handlers start toning down his speeches. He can’t just come out and say he supports a woman’s right to an abortion, for example. He starts to say less and less in his speeches and speak more in vague generalities. When he wins the election, he passes along a note to his campaign manager (played by Peter Boyle) with a simple question: “What now?”
My fervent hope is that whoever takes the oath of office on a cold day in January 2009, knows the answer to “What now?” and proceeds to do what is expected “of the people, by the people and for the people.”

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Senator James Whelan presents a Proclamation in Memory of Soundra Usry-Hollingsworth to AC Links Vice President Redenia Gilliam-Mosee and President Toni Fultz Fauntleroy and to Soundra’s son, Teddy at the Atlantic City Art Center.
An Atlantic City icon, Soundra Usry-Hollingsworth was known as an entertainer, a TV host, a dancer, a singer, a humanitarian and an activist. Today, she became know as an artist. Much to the surprise of many of us who knew Soundra, she left behind a collection of paintings that had never been displayed. In celebration of African-American History Month, the Atlantic City Chapter of the Links, Inc. and the African-American Heritage Museum of Southern Jersey, Inc. co-sponsored an opening reception at the Atlantic City Art for the original art works of Soundra Usry-Hollingworth. Also on display were the paintings of, Betty Ann Bembry, Anne Glapion and Rosalyn W. Wooding.
Atlantic City Weekly "City Beat" columnist Raymond Tyler covered the event; you can read about it in this Thursday's edition (Feb. 7) of Atlantic City Weekly and online at ACWeekly.com. (Photo by Lew Steiner)

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MBCA President John Schulz (left to right), Commerce Bank VP Ron Matthews and Keynote Speaker Mayor Scott Evans at The annual MBCA winter luncheon which took place on Tuesday, January 29th at Resorts Casino & Hotel. Over 500 community/business and casino leaders attended the 2008 kick-off meeting.
Mayor Scott Evans gave his first official speech of 2008 to the residential and business community with his State of the City Address to the MBCA, This has been an Atlantic City tradition for over 15 years. The winter luncheon was sponsored by Residential Home Builders "Procida Reality and Construction".
Ron Matthews was the recipient of the MBCA Star Award. (Photo by Lew Steiner)

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Jon Reep and Bil Dwyer are the two comedians kicking off the Trump Comedy Series Saturday, Feb. 9. This series of shows will showcase comics — from up-and-comers to headliner acts — during Saturday night performances at Trump Plaza, Trump Marina and Trump Taj Mahal.
Jon Reep is a funny guy won the title of "Last Comic Standing" on the popular NBC series. You can check out one of his routines from LCS here.

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