During the summer my mother went into retirement and started reading a bunch of books, one series she really got into was Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels. I watched her chuckle through some of them and decided to pick up One For the Money, the first in the series. I loved it!!! It is about a laid off broke Brooklyn woman who joins her cousin’s bounty hunting service to get money and claim her number one target, Joe Morelli, a man she was once involved with. On January 27, 2012 Lionsgate and Lakeshore entertainment introduced the movie adaption starring Katherine Heigl as our beloved Stephanie, so naturally being a fan of both the actress and the series Mom and I went to see it. No bueno! I looked at my mom after the movie and she made the same eh face I had on. Katherine would go in and out of a Brooklyn accent which was a bit annoying, the humor and suspense of the book were not there, it was rushed when it came to Stephanie getting her information and there was little about Benito Ramirez, the major villian. Some perks of the movie were Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Mazur and Jason O’Mara who plays Joe Morelli and gets shirtless. WOOT! Mom and I recommend just reading the book, Janet knows what she is doing but the director Julie Anne Robinson not so much.

Being the ever reality show junkie, I could not pass up Food Network’s Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook Off and was not disappointed. First I have to admit I only watched the first episode when it originally aired but thanks to On Demand by Comcast I ate it up today. In this show we pit my favorite Food Network stars Rachael Ray against Guy Fieri who get to mentor celebrities and help one of them win $50,000 to a charity of their desire. Bring on The Cook-Off!!!! We have team Rachael Ray who choose Aaron Carter, Taylor Dane, Lou Diamond Phillips and Summer Sanders vs. Team Guy who choose Joey Fatone, Coolio, Cheech Marin and Alyssa Campanella. The first episode we lost Aaron Carter because of some really bad cooking. Poor baby, how do you make a block of pasta? The next episode was all about desserts with neither team doing bad at all but sadly we had to say good bye to Alyssa, Ms. USA. The third episode was great because it was Chopped themed which is another one of my Food Network favorites. In the end Cheech went home due to a greasey grilled cheese sandwich. What we learned is to keep it simple, Joey won with just cheese and bread grilled with a smiley face on top. The fourth episode is one I really enjoyed, the celebrities had to cook from a food cart. Joey and Coolio beat out Lou, Taylor and Summer with their charm and flair as well as Coolio’s ninja style cooking. Summer sadly went home against Taylor, who was consistantly surprising herself. For episode 5, 2 out of the 4 contestants would enter the finale. Coolio won it with his Ghetalian (Ghetto-Italian) Bread and Lou with his Lou-sagna. Joey Fatone got $5,000 to his charity with his creative fried rice against Taylor’s Matza Ball Soup. The final episode was a type of restaurant wars the guest judges were the world reknown restaurant raters the Zagat’s. With a 28/30 rating Lou brought a win to team Rachael winning for his charity Share Our Strength, No Kid Goes Hungry and Coolio as runner up with a 23/30 winning $10,000 for Music Saves Lives. It was a fun watch and if you have On Demand it starts with the second episode and that ends on 02/06 otherwise I am sure there will be reruns. Enjoy!!!!

Tuesday January 31st was the Micheal Jackson episode of Glee and it was fantastic. I think my favorite performances were Smooth Criminal, Human Nature, and I Just Can’t Stop Loving You. Some over all high points were Santana going toe to toe with The Warblers newest member Sebastian (prick), Artie envisioning himself with Mike doing Scream and the part all Gleeks were waiting for, the kiss between Mercedes and Sam. One thing that I could have done without was when Finn, Racheal, and Kurt go to Blaine’s to comfort him after being rock salt slushied in the eye. I think there could have been a better song to sing to him than Ben. It was weird! All in all great stuff! What I am really looking forward to is next week’s episode, Ricky Martin is going to play the new Spanish teacher and another apppearance of my favorite Housewife Nene Leakes, who plays Roz. One thing for sure is that Ryan Murphy knows how to bring entertainment to this show through incredible story lines, guest stars and songs. Keep it up!

On January 20, 2012 we lost a marvelous singer, Etta James, to leukemia and to pay tribute to the icon Christina Aguilera sang her rendition of At Last at her funeral which was held on January 28. At Last is one of Etta’s top hits and it had to be a honor for Christina to have the opportunity to sing it for her live. Here is where a great honor turns ugly. Instead of people focusing on the tribute, many people are asking, What was on Christina’s legs that she was fidgeting with? Many are saying it is her fake tan and others say it’s her period, I say, Who cares!?! You just took the beauty that this woman is singing about and love for the woman who sang it and tarnished it. If it was either of the reasons for her fidget, I say great job Christina for belting it out and singing with your heart even when something happens out of the ordinary. Etta James would have been proud!

MTV launched another one of “The Challenge” on Wednesday January 25th with this season being about challengers teaming up with their exes from an actual love life, a hook up, or a constant making out. I do not know why I watch these anymore, maybe it’s to see past room mates from Real World that I haven’t seen in awhile and am curious about or just for some background noise, either way I watch it. My biggest problem with this series is the same people over and over with the same conflicts they had either in The Real World House or Challenges from the past. The main culprits are Wes, Johnny Bananas, Paula, Dunbar, Evan and Kenny (surprisingly Kenny and Evan aren’t in this season). Two of the team of exes that are keeping me mildly drawn to the show are C.T. and Diem, and Abram and Cara Maria. I liked their coming together as couples and wondered what brought them apart. One cast member that also sparks my interest is “retired” Challenge veteran Mark. I can’t help it, I like that guy and for being 40 he still is looking good and in shape. Take it or leave it, The Challenge: Battle of the Exes airs on Wednesdays On MTV.

Will and Jada Smith’s little phenom, Willow, brings us another song that will most likely get stuck in our heads, Fireball. Now in my opinion it isn’t the best song I have heard but I have to give it up to the 11 year old for stepping her game up at such a young age. Willow not only gives us a great beat but brings in that crazy lady Nicki Minaj to juice up this song. Let’s also talk about her video, she has some sick dance moves, costumes, and special effects. If she keeps her momentum going I am sure she will grow to top Nicki herself. One thing for sure is that she loves to give us some repetition because I am walking away from the post singing I’m the fireball of the party.

Yeah that’s right, January 30th starts the 4th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race on Logo!!!! This is the ultimate Drag Queen beauty contest! I admit that when I watched the first season I was just bored and needed something in the background while I cleaned or just needed to zone out but by the end of it fell in love. My apologizes to the almighty Ru for the lack of understanding her full fabulousity but now I am shouting my praises. One thing that stands out from season to season is the growth this show has gone through, from cheesey to exceptional in setting, guest judges, costumes, and challenges. For this season we get 3 Chicago hopefulls Dida Ritz, The Princess, and Phi Phi O’Hara so you know that’s going to be hot. Honestly, living here all my life I have never heard of them but I am always in support of Chicago contestants. So tune in and get “dragged’ in and as Ru would say “May the best woman win!!!!”

Hot of the trail of “Masterpiece” which has just won the award for Best Song at this year’s Golden Globes ceremony.

In other Madonna news, be sure to tune in for the Super Bowl Halftime to see the Material girl strut her stuff. She is rumored to be dropping her first single moments before the Super Bowl. Always the business woman and limelite lover who would put that past her ?

For all things Madonna be sure to check out Madonna.com