BANTER WITH BEN AND LISA #80: Oscar Nominations, American Idol, and Grand Theft Auto Addiction

Today is Sade’s birthday, and what better way to celebrate than with a brand new episode of “Banter with Ben and Lisa.” This week, Ben Mandelker (bsideblog.com) and Lisa Timmons talk about the “American Idol” premiere and its new panel of judges. Then, hot off the presses, it’s the Oscar nominations! Finally things wrap up …

BANTER WITH BEN AND LISA #54: ‘American Idol’ Behind The Scenes! Also, Katie Perry and Amy’s Baking Company

You guys — this was a fun one! This week on Banter with Ben and Lisa, Ben Mandelker (bsideblog.com) talks about his experience going to the live finale taping of American Idol. Observations about Mariah Carey and Colton Dixon ensue. Then Lisa Timmons (wherelisalives.com) spills the tea about her brush with a big time, real …

BANTER WITH BEN AND LISA #51: ‘Idol’ Rumors; Also, Reese in Jail, and Stallone’s Coyote Crisis

New episode of Banter with Ben and Lisa! Official description here: This week on Banter with Ben and Lisa, Ben Mandelker (bsideblog.com) and Lisa Timmons (wherelisalives.com) chat about the latest rumors swirling around “American Idol.” The two also tackle celebrity gossip such as Reese Witherspoon’s recent arrest and Sly Stallone’s coyote problem. It’s the usual …

BANTER WITH BEN AND LISA #49: Famous Siblings We Love; Also, American Idol, Tiger Woods, and A Shout-Out To SoundCloud!

New Banter with Ben and Lisa is up, and this episode is really funny, if I do say so myself. Here’s the official description: This week on “Banter with Ben and Lisa,” Ben Mandelker (bsideblog.com) and Lisa Timmons (idolator.com) embrace Siblings Day by discussing the famous siblings they like most. From Kim Richards to Bambi …

BANTER WITH BEN AND LISA #45: Nicki Minaj, The Pope, Dwight Howard, and Lifetime Original Movies

This week on “Banter with Ben and Lisa,” we tackle the most pressing issues of the week. Why was Nicki Minaj late for “American Idol”? Who would make a good pope? And how can we befriend Dwight Howard? Plus, we break down all the dramatic developments in the Lifetime Original Movie, “The Surrogate.” Come take …

BANTER WITH BEN AND LISA #44: Lion Attacks, American Idol, and Chris Brown

Banter with Ben and Lisa is back (I think we say that every episode), and we have tons of random things to talk about. First Lisa Timmons (idolator.com) and I discuss a bizarre tragedy involving a lion and an intern. Then it’s on to the equally strange case of acid-tossing at the Bolshoi Ballet. Naturally, …

10 Things The ‘American Idol’ Judges Might As Well Be Judging Instead

Watching last night’s episode of American Idol, I was shocked by how many average to subpar performances the judges (Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson) adored. Even more notable was how rote all their criticisms seemed to be. I really enjoy the judges’ personalities, but week in and week out, the three have lavished …

Inside The First Ever ‘Reality Rocks Expo’ in Los Angeles

Exciting news for reality TV fans. This past weekend, Los Angeles played host to the first ever Reality Rocks Expo, an event that brought reality stars, reality fans, and reality producers together for one big reality bonanza of epic proportions. The convention took place on Saturday and Sunday, and while I didn’t get a chance …

AMERICAN IDOL RECAP: Let The Fun Begin!

Last night was the first night of finals for American Idol, and overall, the kids are alright. Once again, while some performances disappointed, we didn’t have any outright Antonella Barba / Sanjaya Malakar disasters; although, we did have one fairly grim moment courtesy of the girl who I vociferously noted yesterday shouldn’t be in the …

Breaking Down The ‘American Idol’ Top Thirteen

Against all odds, American Idol has turned out to be pretty awesome in its first post-Simon season. The revised and brief semifinals round proved to be one of the strongest in ages, and given all the talent that didn’t crack the top thirteen, it’s left me wondering if maybe the problem all along was… Simon? …