Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills Season 6 Episode 5 [Review]

Do these women ever stop? No. No is definitely the answer to that question. After last week, I wasn't sure how things were going to turn out for this season, but thankfully we have a little bit more going on here than I had expected. Season six is turning out to be a fun romp through 'Hills, and I'm sure you're going to want all the details, including why Eileen made the face in this awesome picture below.

Adam Barta Returns To His Animal Themed Music With "The Puppy Anthem"

Oh Adam. Sometimes I forget that even though you are a musician, you definitely know how to have fun. A while back Adam Barta, notable singer and LGBT personality from New York City, exploded onto the internet (for the hundredth time) with an anthem dedicated to cats. Well not it's the canines' turn at glory, and trust me, he didn't disappoint.

If you loved the dancy, don't care attitude of "Kitty Anthem" from last year, then you are going to love this one (and if you haven't checked it out yet, where have you been! Watch it here.) "The Puppy Anthem" follows in it's footsteps with a lot of cheesiness, some Ke$ha style speak-singing, and of course ridiculously adorable puppies. Actually it's practically exploding with dog-lebrity cameos, including none other than a couple owned by reality TV sensation Big Ang. To put it simply, this is like a canine red carpet event.

All dog-themed jokes aside, this one actually has a really fun beat that is totally danceable. It just so happens to feature a couple of singing dogs, Oliver The Love Pug and Dolce. Also if you wanted to be shady you could call Adam a dog, but a different kind of dog. But this bigger is too nice for that nonsense! Well probably. There is a lot of humor, of course, being that it is Adam Barta. He always has a way to make the listener laugh, and it's kid friendly too, with no swearing (unless you count "heck") or sexual innuendos that I caught.

Simply this video is a musician having fun with the animals he loves. It was super adorable and light hearted, which is a nice break form most of the music that is floating around these days. Adam always has such fun ideas to flesh out, and this was definitely one worth mentioning.

Plus it's been so long since I posted about him, he probably thinks I forgot about him. But alas here we are again!

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills Season 6 Episode 4 [Review]

It looks like things over in Beverly Hills are about to heat up. This week was a bit of a prelude to the coming storm, but don't let that deter you from reading this review! You know I can entertain anyone with anything. Don't believe me? Try and read some of those Below Deck reviews. Hah! Anyway, RHOBH  is far easier to make fun, so give it a read, and have a little fun with it, too!

Much More Skin Wars Is On The Way -- And Very Soon!

Ok, so if you've been paying close attention to GSN's social media, this might not exactly be a surprise, but if you haven't you are in for a treat. In the slyest way possible (you'll see what I mean in just a moment), GSN has announced that beloved reality competition show (and this guy's personal favorite friend-making machine -- no really they are all so FREAKING nice!), Skin Wars is on it's way back to your televisions. It's happening soon, we just don't exactly know the specifics.

You see that picture up there? It was on the official Facebook page for Skin Wars for all of a day before being replaced with a photo of Ru, Rebecca, Robin, and Craig that simply says "New Season Coming 2016" which is far more vague than "Coming in January". While I'm pretty sure they have already finished filming, it has only been a few short months, so things could still be up in the air. The reason I am pretty sure the filming is done with by now is that the photo has been around for some weeks, and of the couple of people in the photo I recognized (the most memorable being Brittney Pelloquin, the girl with the red hair two to the right of Rebecca) are already active on Facebook again.

Of course in the world of television many things can go wrong or take longer than expected, editing being a huge part of it. If they plan to do two seasons a year like their fellow reality TV juggernauts Face Off and America's Next Top Model (which sadly just got canceled), they are going to have to get the groove down and find a way to constantly make great television, which is far easier said than done. I hope that the January date is the "real" date, because I have been longing to see this show again. As I mentioned earlier the contestants on this show are incredibly nice, and many of them are people I would call friends now.

On the other side of things, I also recently came across another fun tidbit of information on Facebook. Spinoff show Skin Wars Fresh Paint was picked up for a full season a few months back following it's tester "pilot" episode, and now filming has officially wrapped. It looks like the show will be pressed right up against the main series's third season either following it immediately or serving as an appetizer for the main course to come.

Judge Michael Levitt made the following announcement on his personal Facebook page last week:
It's a wrap on FRESH PAINT (our spin off of SKIN WARS). So proud of the entire cast and crew. We made an amazing series and I'm excited for everyone to see it in 2016."

GSN reportedly ordered eight episodes of Skin Wars Fresh Paint for the 2016 season. It's unclear if these will all be new or if the previously aired pilot episode will be included. Judges Michael Levitt and Emma Cammack are both set to return along with host RuPaul. No solid word has come in yet if the "third judge" will continue to be the losing coach, or if they will pursue guest judges as the main show does.

Kerli Is Coming Back!

I've waited a long time to be able use that headline right there. We all knew it was coming, but when has been a mystery for years now. Lucky for me I am around in the blogosphere at the perfect time to capture this moment. Kerli, one of the greatest international pop icons, is coming back to the music world -- and she's doing it on her own!

New Single Announcement and PledgeMusic pre-order
Posted by Kerli on Sunday, December 13, 2015

Kerli has been a marvelous pop icon for a while now. Her debut album was basically the soundtrack of my high school days, and she has a legion of fans at her beck and call. So what happened? Apparently there was a big discrepancy with her record label. I'm not sure what happened or where things went wrong, but after she released an EP a couple years back, she faded into the darkness to work on her new project. Thankfully she wasn't gone for good, because recently she announced that her new single is on the way, and coming way sooner than you'd think.

She posted the following statement about her new project

"Dear Moon Children,

As many of you know, I have spent the last 8 months making art in the magical woods of my native Estonia. It has been world changing for me – I have faced my greatest fears as a human being and as an artist, releasing everything that doesn’t ring true on the deepest levels of intuition and self expression.

I set up my studio in a tiny cottage with no running water and barely-there electricity and have been working away day and night to give birth to something I can feel proud to leave behind after my human form has transformed into stardust.

I wanna thank you for your love, support and patience as I am finally ready to share the first glimpse of this new world of mine with you. It is a special one not just because of how I feel about it but also because this is my first release as an independent artist.

I’ve teamed up with PledgeMusic to offer you exclusive items and access to behind the scenes content, only available here. Also, ahead of the full album release in 2016, I’ll be releasing 3 singles through this pre-order. Along the way there will be some new additions to the Store as well.

It’s time. To be. Truly brave.

I hope these vibrations teleport you into a land of uninhibited fairytales and connect you with your wildest self.

Integrity/Love/Unity

Moon child K"

In case that was a little hard to digest, let me give you the basics. We are getting three singles (the first of which is out January 29, 2016) as well as a full album all spread out over the course of the coming year. You can preorder the new single on Pledgemusic with packaged that include the digital single alone, a sticker pack, and an autographed lyric sheet depending on how much you want to spend. The single has yet to be named publicly, but I'm sure that in the coming weeks we will get more info and hopefully a snippet!

This is what I live for. Independent artists are my favorite, and to see someone who we already know as being incredibly talented go out on her own to fulfill her true potential and access her deepest creativity is going to be a marvelous thing indeed. Good luck, Kerli. I'm on your side.

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills Season 6 Episode 3 [Review]

The one remaining review show I have left comes just one day after the announcement of the big purge. Though I would have liked the rid myself of all reviews throughout the holiday season, I just couldn't let this one go. You know what they say, Beverly Hills is where the heart it. Well at least Lisa Vanderpump probably says that.

Site News: A Bit Of A Reduction Ahead

Hello my loyal readers. I am saddened to bring you this news, but it has to be said. I took on a far too large of a group of shows to review. Four shows a week has been taking a tole on me these past couple weeks and I have basically reached my breaking point. I am missing so much in the spectrum of news and music, and the reviews are not getting the numbers of hits that I was hoping they would. So effective immediately, I will no longer be reviewing Work Out New York, Vanderpump Rules, or Apres Ski.

While I immensely enjoy watching these three shows, it has become a burden and almost a chore to watch them in the time constraints that providing a review presents. It is unfair to me as a fan and unfair to you as readers. Over the past weeks I have noticed my reviews become more cynical and harsh. It's not what I deserve as an avid fan of these franchises and not what you as readers and fans yourselves deserve either. I may revisit these shows in the future, as well as give updates periodically on my opinions on the twists and turns they'll take, but at this time I can no longer commit to reviewing four shows a week.

The good news is I will continue to review The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills, as it does get good hits and has been one of my flagship shows (along with RuPaul's Drag Race and Skin Wars) and have been a staple in my reviewing segments over the past few years. I have certainly learned my lesson in taking too big of a load, especially around the holiday season. I hope that this apology suffices. I promise to look into scheduling before committing to shows in the future.

With this reduction in work load, I hope to be able to bring you more news as well as have more time to actually enjoy my holiday. With reviews only coming out on Wednesdays and no solid release date for either Skin Wars or RPDR just yet, I might actually be able to go back to doing some of the things I love to do. Again, I'm sorry if you were enjoying my reviews of this show. I have a lot more in store from my recently activated YouTube channel focused on anime to an upcoming musical related project, you'll still have your fill of me.

And that sounded really wrong.

Anyway, thanks for reading. You all mean so much to me. I'll try and do better in the future.

Work Out New York Season 1 Episode 2 [Review]

It's back! Week two of the new hit reality drama about fitness trainers in the big 'ol NYC, Work Out New York is here to let you know that it's not all fun and games in the work out world. There are lots of crazy things happening, and due to a newcomer, there are some lines drawn. I am loving the direction of this show, and it's gonna be a ton of fun to see where they take it.

JPop Watch: Utada Hikaru's Spring 2016 Return Officially Denied

It had been brought to my attention (as well as a long list of other bloggers and news sites) that Utada Hikaru, arguably Japan's biggest musician to date, had confirmed a soft release date for her upcoming album. This would be Utada's first solid release in over six year. Unfortunately once Utada's staff caught wind of the news article, they popped up long enough to shut it down.

Last week, Japanese newspaper Sports Hochi announced boldly that Utada would be returning in the Spring of 2016 with a full album. Not only that, but she would also be providing theme songs for two different shows, a "major live action" show and a news program, both of which would be released in April. This, as you probably guessed, made fans go crazy. Utada has been on hiatus for years, only popping up sporadically to provide songs for the occasional movie or anime (such as the recent string of Neon Genesis Evangelion film series).

Yesterday, however, the powers that be made sure our hopes and dreams were crushed. Someone from Utada's official team posted on her website denying the rumors. While they did confirm that she was working on a new album (!!), it was apparently at an intermittent pace, one to which they weren't even sure enough to give it a 2016 release date or not. They also made the bold statement that any true news regarding her upcoming releases would be announced on the website instead of elsewhere.

There were some comments made about her being overseas, giving me hope that she is working on at least some songs in English. I have been a huge fan of her English releases in the past, and they have been a huge success in Japan, still holding the record of best selling English Language album. Sadly, there are no real details about the project at this time, as Utada is very good at keeping these things under wraps.

Over the past two years, she has gone through a lot. She's lost her mother, she's gotten married, and she's had a child. There is a lot for her to write about and express in a beautifully lyrical way that only she knows how to do. I have a feeling that this upcoming album could be her best work yet. But I guess that's too early to say, no?

Apres Ski Season 1 Episode 6 [Review]

How can you really explain Apres Ski? It falls into that weird space with Below Deck where the episodes are split between dealing with the clients and the drama. I really wish the clients were in the background, because this drama is so good! Don't believe me? Get a taste of what's going on in my new review below.

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills Season 6 Episode 2 [Review]

Ahhh RHOBH season. How I have missed you these past few months. Nothing is better than seeing my girls Lisa Vanderpump, Lisa Rinna, and Yolanda crazy it up. Unfortunately this season has gotten off to a slow start, with an even slower follow up episode. We've all seen that season trailer, so I'm ready for the exciting stuff to happen. 'Til then, let's figure out the groundworks of this seasons plot lines.

Vanderpump Rules Season 4 Episode 6 [Review]

Are you guys ready for an episode that isn't all bout Kristen? Well you'll finally get your wish. As much as I love the crazy lady, it's time for some other's to take the spotlight. This one's all about Lala, so buckle down and get ready to be really, really confused as to who is doing who and what and where and this sentence has lost it's grip on reality. Now to the review!

Work Out New York Season 1 Episode 1 [Review]

It's here! After being postponed for what felt like an eternity, the next big Bravo TV show is here for us all to bask in. Work Out New York has got it all. It's got hotties, it's got heart, and most of all it's got drama. Actually it's got a lot of drama, as apparent by the first episode. Give it a whirl won't you?

Apres Ski Season 1 Episode 5 [Review]

It's time for more Ski! I hope you are ready because this show has gone from forgettable to you being crazy if you aren't keeping up. Like most Bravo shows, it went from zero to one hundred in just a couple of episodes, and now is on my to-watch list very week. Is it on yours? Well let me tell you why you need to be watching this epiness.

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills Season 6 Episode 1 [Review]

Ahh! Here we are again. Another season of Beverly Hills to make the winter months bearable. I'm excited to see what Vanderpump and the crew are up to this year, as well as to get a peek at what these new housewives are all about. Aren't you? So let's not waste any more time with introductions and get right to it!

Vanderpump Rules Season 4 Episode 5 [Review]

Hiatus is almost over! After my reviews for this week (including the season premier of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) I will be returning in my full glory with more news and music for all of you. Until then, you can get caught up with the crazy staff of SUR on Vanderpump Rules. I hope you like James, Kristen, and Lala, because that's the whole episode, basically.

Apres Ski Season 1 Episode 4 [Review]

Sorry for the delay! Due to the recent Thanksgiving holiday I have been a bit overbooked in a few areas. I have been dealing with a few things in my personal life and haven't been able to deliver the new reviews in a timely manner. While Below Deck is done (sans the reunion episodes that I'm unsure if I'll cover), Apres Ski is still going full force, and it's about time I get the ball rolling on this one again. Are you ready for the drama of it all?

Note: The holiday hiatus will hopefully end next week with the beginning of RHOBH and WONY, but it as of yet has not been officially decided. Reviews will continue on their regular schedule.

Vanderpump Rules Season 4 Episode 4 [Review]

This season may have had a slow start, but it's big "Holy Cow!!" moment is just around the corner. This episode came as a bit of a shock (even after the accusations from last week), and it made for some good TV. Vanderpump Rules finally has it's footing in the right place now, and seems to be ready to make it's way into the limelight as one of Bravo's best reality TV shows out there once again. Don't believe me? Well check out all the craziness below.

Apres Ski Season 1 Episode 3 [Review]

Well now, didn't this show turn out to be quite the unexpected gem? I gave this show a shot in the dark, as I had only seen one promo for it. It turns out it is looking like it's going to be quite a bit of fun. The cast is established now, and the drama is flowing. A clear line is appearing and it's clear that not everybody is happy about being where they are.

Also I'd like to note that I am going on a slight hiatus for the holiday season. I will continue to do my reviews (Vanderpump Rules, Apres Ski, and starting in December Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills and Work Out New York) but the other content will be much more sporadic. I would like to enjoy my holidays and focus on some other projects for a while, so the news flow may be slowed. Please forgive me!

Below Deck Season 3 Episode 13 [Finale Review]

The end is here! After a crazy charter season, everything is coming to a head. It looks as if most of the drama that has happened so far this season has been building up to this point. There has been lots of stuff going on behind these scenes, and it's about to all come to light. There's also a little tidbit about the upcoming spinoff. Can you dig it?

Vanderpump Rules Season 4 Episode 3 [Review]

Each year I feel like I may have bitten off more than I can chew, and this year more than ever. But I absolutely could not pass up this show. Vanderpump Rules is my biggest guilty pleasure -- ever. It's got everything I'd ever want from a show and more, and thus it has become a solid part of my lineup for reviews this season. Let's hope it turns out as great as the last few have! Now, onto the review!

Dark Intensity And Liz Primo Release "Dance With Your Heart" Official Video

It's no secret that I love Liz Primo. DJ Dark Intensity is growing on me rapidly too. Thus, when the two of them team up, it's obvious that I should be covering the video's release. I'm a tad late (by about a week or so), but I finally found a spot to put this little gem in. Check out the official video for the amazing single "Dance With Your Heart" by Dark Intensity featuring Liz Primo.

Yes! I have been waiting for this for a long time. "Dance With Your Heart" was a wonderful teacup between two talented developing artists. Liz has been a staple on this site for years now, and Dark Intensity has been in my line of vision over the course of the last year or so. When I discovered they were working together on a new track (not just a remix), I was ecstatic. I fell in love with this song many months ago, and now we have a video to go along with it.

As for the plot, it follows the story of the song more or less, talking about rebuilding a crumbling relationship. It is cute to see the two of them in a mock relationship, with Manny (Dark Intensity) sleeping on the couch, and Liz in her morning "I don't really care" attire. After running into each other on the boardwalk, they go to the club together and party the night away. For some reason this video's quality isn't up to the same standards that Liz has brought us in the past, but where it lacks in gloss, it makes up for in heart -- pun intended this time.

This version of "Dance With Your Heart" is not the radio version you'll get if you venture over to iTunes. This one seems to be made specifically for the video, and even features a very club moment with the vocals fading in and out towards the end as if it were on a turn table. The two look like they had a lot of fun with this project, and it really shows. Both of them are attractive and screen ready, and they've got the talent to back it up. Liz and Dark Intensity were a match made in heaven. Let's pray to the musical gods that they work together on a project in the future.

Apres Ski Season 1 Episode 2 [Review]

We had a bit of technical difficulties yesterday, and I do apologize. I know that Apres Ski seems to be a bit of a lower priority, but honestly it's only due to where it falls in the current schedule. I will continue to review the show until it's completion; no need to worry about that. I'm enjoying what's been going on so far, and I hope that the show gets fully fleshed out for it's debut season.

Below Deck Season 3 Episode 12 [Review]

The season is winding down, but the drama sure isn't. Things are always going on with this crew, and it looks like things are reaching a boiling point. They've been stuck on this boat with each other for close to six weeks now, and they are certainly getting sick of one another. This is apparent this week more than any other. Let's get this drama roller coaster started.

Vanderpump Rules Season 4 Episode 2 [Review]

I look forward to Tuesdays more than any other day now, being that I get to review one of the best reality TV programs out there, Vanderpump Rules. I don't know what it is about the crazy cast of servers, and but his season, the restaurant is more of a backdrop than anything. But there's something about them that always pulls me in. I can't explain it, but I'm sure if you're reading this, you feel it too. The season has just begun, and I can't wait to see what insanity is in store.

Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills Season 6 Trailer + Work Out New York Confirmed Air Date

It's finally here! Bravo has finally bestowed upon us the gift of a megatrailer for season six of one of the greatest reality TV shows of all time, Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills. If you haven't watched it, click that little tag at the bottom of the screen that says "Beverly Hills" and get into my reviews from last year. For now, let's bask in the glory that is season six!

Watch the megatrailer here.

Most notably, there are two new housewives, as well as two vets that are missing. Brandi Glanville (known as a "friend of the housewives" in season two, and later bumped up to "housewife" in season three-five) as well as Kim Richards ("Housewife" status from day one) are both absent. In their places are newcomers Erika Girardi, who also goes by Erika Jayne, and Kathryn Edwards a former model. Notably still there is Eileen Davidson, who I controversially claimed would be axed due to her boring storylines last year. The megatrailer reveals that Kim will be returning on a "Friends" basis (as well as being gossiped about), and many people close to the wives have confirmed Brandi will be back on a "Friends" basis as well.

Also returning are Adrienne Maloof, Camille Grammar, and Taylor Armstrong (!!) all of whom are former cast members. Faye Resnick, who has appeared many times in a "Friend" capacity will return as well as Bethany Frankel from RHONY. Basically what I'm saying is that this season is going to be full of cameos. But don't let that make you think for a second that means there won't be drama. The trailer alone proves that wrong. The new ladies are causing trouble, last season's unresolved fights flare back up, and they even have a storyline nabbed right out of RHOC with the ladies questioning if Yolanda is actually sick. Yikes!

[To watch the trailer yourself click the link underneath the picture. Embedding videos from Bravo seems to be disabled at this point in time.]

And then, on the same day, the beautiful TV network Bravo decided to gift us with another wondrous thing: The release date for the long anticipated Work Out New York.

Work Out New York is an upcoming series based on a classic Bravo reality show titled Work Out. The original series aired between 2006 and 2008. The new series, set in New York City, follows the lives of seven fitness instructors and their work out routines, the people they help get healthy, and all the drama that happens in their tight nit circle of friends.

The show follows (from left to right) Courtney Paul, Noah Neiman, Joe Lazo, Holly Rilinger, Lena Marti, Lindsey Clayton, and Layla Luciano. Each one of these trainers are hot, committed, and passionate, meaning that each one is going to be vying for the spotlight. Things might get a little tricky.

Bravo will be airing Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills Tuesdays starting December 1st and Work Out New York Sundays starting December 6th. I will be reviewing both RHOBH and WONY starting December 2nd and 7th respectively.

Steampunk'd Reportedly Canceled By GSN

Sigh. I can't exactly say I didn't expect this, but the longer it was put off the more hopeful I got. It looks like all that wishful thinking was in vain because according to reliable (although unofficial) blog, Game Show Network News, the show is over and done with, getting no second season.

It's with a heavy heart that I post about this news. I reviewed every episode and got some incredibly p positive feedback from not only the fans, but the contestants and some of the judges as well. It was such a fun romp through the amazing world of steampunk, and it really turned a lot of people onto this once hidden subculture. I met a lot of cool people both from the show and simply from the culture thanks to Steampunk'd and I can't believe it was canceled.

From the looks of it, the ratings really plummeted after three weeks. Being right on the heels of Skin Wars, the crown jewel of GSN, it faired well it's first two weeks, but there were so many complaints about the layout of the show that people gave up quickly. I also feel like the elimination order (IE purposely keeping on Miss Morgan so there would be more drama) had a lot to do with the decline in the ratings. They simply forgot their target audience, which were the steampunk makers themselves, and instead tried to mold it into the current format of reality television competition. 

I sincerely believe that had they gotten a second season there would have been major revisions to the format, but it looks like GSN wasn't ready to take that leap of faith. I hope that this doesn't discourage the network from green lighting other reality competitions. Skin Wars has done inexplicably well using the same format and is just as niche a topic as steampunk is. 

I would like to thank everyone who spoke with me and help me promote my reviews. Special thanks to Ave, Tayliss, Eddie, Karianne, Charles, Tobias, James, and Thomas, all of who liked, reposted, and commented on my reviews and Facebook postings. You were all very instrumental in my understanding and enjoyment of this show, and the growing culture that accompanies it. You are all stars in my eyes, and one season or ten, you were there from the beginning, and opened up so many people's eyes to what steampunk truly is. And for that, I thank you.

Mrs. Kasha Davis' New Video "Seasoned Queen" Tells It Like It Is

Mrs. Kasha Davis is fabulous. She was featured on the most recent season of RuPaul's Drag Race and made her mark on the world by making sure that she let everybody see what a classic drag queen looked like. Now she has her second single, along with a new video, titled "Seasoned Queen" and it's all about just that -- being classic, classy, and maybe even a little c*nty.

The song, featuring my good friend Adam Barta, is a very fun and catchy tune. What is really fun about it, is that Kasha knows she isn't the best singer out there, but she definitely has put in the hours to practice and at least learn the fundamentals of it all, making a nice improvement over her previous single "Cocktail". Unlike many other drag songs, it isn't an on-purpose train wreck, making it vastly more enjoyable than a lot of whats out there. The lyrics really help it out too, with her subtly calling out her fellow Drag Race sisters from winner Violet Chachki all the way down the line to even Gia Gunn.

"Seasoned Queen" as a video really reminds me of some of the recent RuPaul videos. There's lots of colorful outfits, big hair, and green screen shenanigans going on. There's also a lot of double/triple vision effects too, which is a fun way to fill up an otherwise half empty screen. The editing was on point, and it even featured a few cameos from other RPDR ladies such as Pandora Boxx, Alaska, and Kennedy Davenport, as well as some non-tv personalities like fellow New York queen Aggy Dune and Kasha's husband dubbed Mr. Kasha Davis. How cute!

So is this the best song ever? Probably not. Is it a super fun romp? Hell yes! This is the song that literally defines RuPaul's Drag Race season seven. Anybody who watched, loved, and enjoyed the previous season of Logo's top rated reality show will get a kick out of this song. Kasha (playfully) pokes fun at literally every cast member, even down to having parts of her waist green-screened out so she could look ultra synched like Violet. It is a fun ride; one definitely worth taking.

Support this classy show girl by buying her single on iTunes. It will probably help out Adam Barta, too, but then again he may use the money for a third Tan Mom song, so be careful.

Apres Ski Season 1 Episode 1 [Review]

Surprise! I had another show up my sleeve. I'd had my eye on Apres Ski for a while now. I really liked the look of the characters from the extended promo they put out, and I couldn't help myself. I know three shows at a time may be a big deal, but since this is the newcomer, it will be slated for Thursdays for a while. Once Below Deck finishes, it will move to Wednesdays. Anyway, without further ado, let's get this show started!

Below Deck Season 3 Episode 11 [Review]

Remember last week when I said I was finally looking forward to this show weekly? Yeah, well now I am craving it. We finally have gotten rid of all of the horrid cast members (only took ten episodes!) and now we have the best left, along with a couple great newcomers (who are actually old-comers but whatever), and I need more. Sadly the season is almost over, with only one or two episodes left. Things are getting crazy, that's for sure.

Vanderpump Rules Season 4 Episode 1 [Review]

I have been waiting so long for this. I was initially going to review last season of Vanderpump Rules, but decided last minute to wait until this year, and I'm glad I did. During that year break, I was able to go through all three of the previous seasons and really get to know all of these outrageous people. Now, more than ever before, I am ready to take this show head on, and examine all of the insanity that it ensues. Get ready for Vanderpump Rules season 4!

Angelo Garcia Releases New Spanish Language Single

Hell yes I'm gonna post about Angelo Garcia. Why wouldn't I? He's hot, fun, and talented. That's pretty much every check mark that it takes to get on this site. But something in Spanish? Well I don't speak (much) Spanish, so I might not have much to say, but still, check out that hot cover, and enjoy the fun beat -- unless you speak Spanish, then you can enjoy it for what it is.

This is Angelo's first Spanish language single in practically forever. "La Segunda Fuga Del Chapo Guzman" is such a fun track. Angelo has been campaigning to reconnect with his Spanish-speaking fans for a long time now, posting most of his updates both in English and Spanish for some time now, and even posting several videos of him speaking Spanish so those fans can understand him better. He had been focusing on his newly found LGBT superstar status, and felt the need to reconnect with where it all began.

"Chapo" is a part of his new project El Wero, which looks like could be his new Spanish full album. All I know about this is that the song is super fun. It has a lot of traditional and regional sounds, accompanied by Angelo's strong vocals, making it entertaining even for those who cannot understand what the lyrics are about. I personally haven't spoken Spanish since I was in high school and saying when that was would make me look and feel far too old.

I think this single is incredibly important for Angelo's career. He has a lot of very passionate fans, and may of them have been following him since he was a young boy in Menudo. As of this time, there isn't any (obvious) word if "Chapo" will get a video treatment. I sincerely hope it does, because that cover is stunning. It is also unclear on the status of Garcia's current English language project with it's upcoming single.

You can grab the single on iTunes now.

Sorry I Missed It: Cherri Bomb Is Now Hey Violet

Remember how much I loved the all girl punk group Cherri Bomb? They were amazing, and their debut album was one of the best first attempts from a new group I had ever heard. Well they kind of disappeared. Well, I thought they did. Turns out they've been around all along, but with a new name. It's about time I caught up with the new incarnation of Cherri Bomb called Hey Violet.

I know, I know. It's a bit of a change from what you heard on their debut album as Cherri Bomb, but the name seems to be symbolic of the change. A few years back, one of the founding members, Julia, made a departure from the band. She was replaced with a guy named Casey who had been good friends with most of the band since they were kids, making him a perfect fit. While I am a huge fan of all girl rock groups (see my obsession with The Runaways), Casey seems to be meshing great with the band, so I don't have too many complaints.

As for the sound change, I'm not as excited. They've gone from pure punk to a fusion of punk and pop. It works, but it's not what I'm used to hearing from them. I guess if I had heard this incarnation first, I would be completely in love. There is nothing wrong with it, but since I heard "Cherri Bomb" first, it kind of put me off a little. Objectively, they are still very talented young adults who know how to rock it out, and the (albeit slight) genre change won't deter me from enjoying them.

As of right now they have one EP out, and a full album on the way. They also have an array of fun videos on Youtube allowing their fans to get to know them either all over again or for the first time. It looks like these guys are destined to be stars, and even with the reset of a name change, they aren't backing down. Just check out their awesome cover of Taylor Swift's "Blank Space" and tell me that they aren't the raddest group you've listened to.

You can pick up their debut EP on iTunes now!

Below Deck Season 3 Episode 10 [Review]

If there is one thing I like about Below Deck it's that you never know what is going to happen. People snap mentally, others get fired, and they can go from lovers to enemies in no time flat. I guess that's just how it is living on a small boat for months at a time. But the season is coming to a close very quickly, and it's unclear who will make it all the way to the end.

Even More RuPaul Themed X-Mas On The Way With Drag Race Album

Yas, hunties! It has been confirmed that we are getting even more holiday cheer in the form of men dressed up as woman. Who care about tradition? These ladybois are ready to rock you, and they don't give a damn about morals. Well maybe Ginger does, but the rest don't! So let's check out this sexy and sleek new RuPaul's Drag Race alumni Christmas album!

That's right! All of your faves are back! As long as your faves are Alaska, Ginger Minj, Miss Fame, Sharon Needles, Courtney Act, Katya, Jiggly Caliente, Detox, Darienne Lake, Ivy Winters, Pandora Boxx, Violet Chachki, Phi Phi O'Hara, Jinkx Monsoon, and Manila Luzon, because that's who alls on it. I see a lot of names that I have come to know and love, so I for one am excited about it. People Magazine online broke the story earlier this week, and people have been going crazy! Check out the track list!

1. “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” Christmas Queens
2. “Everyday Is Christmas,” Alaska
3. “Christma-Hannu-Kwanzaa-Ka,” Ginger Minj
4. “Toyland,” Miss Fame
5. “Jingle Bells,” Sharon Needles
6. “12 Days of Christmas,” Katya
7. “From Head to Mistletoe,” Courtney Act
8. “Ratchet Christmas,” Jiggly Caliente
9. “This Is How We Jew It,” Detox
10. “Christmas Sweater,” Alaska, Courtney Act, and Willam
11. “A Very Cozby Christmas,” Willam
12. “Christmas Is Coming,” Darienne Lake, Ivy Winters, and Pandora Boxx
13. “The Night Before Christmas,” Violet Chachki
14. “Naughty or Nice,” Phi Phi O’Hara
15. “Red & Green,” Jinkx Monsoon
16. “Slay Bells,” Manila Luzon

I'm very glad to see Manila back, yet again. She, along with Pandora Boxx (who also is a delight to see) are the only ones that aren't on the more recent seasons, being from the third and second seasons respectively. Nobody from the first season made the cut despite Ru's obsession to this day with Bebe. Weird, right? Willam, Alaska, and Courtney (the AAA Girls) really dominate the album, so it would seem they are the masterminds behind this.

The preorder is TBA, but the release is coming November 13, just in time to annoy the hell out of everyone for playing Xmas music before Thanksgiving!

RuPaul Busts Out Brand New Christmas Album "Slay Belles"

Oh, RuPaul. How you never cease to amaze me. It's like every time we think that he can't do something fresh and new, he proves us wrong -- usually in the funnest way possible. In the down time from the upcoming season of RuPaul's Drag Race it looks like he's put together a new album. This time, he's wanting you all to get in the Christmas spirit. Who cares if it's not even Halloween yet? Since when has Ru followed anybody's rules?

Now before you go jumping to any conclusions, Slay Belles is a fully fleshed out album. It isn't just some work slapped together with hot glue and duct tape. Listening through this piece, it's obvious that Ru took his time in crafting this work. Producer Lucian Piane is back, and notably so, as the music is very throwback to the first two albums that came out of Ru's revived RPDR career. It makes for a very fun romp through the holiday season.

What I love the most about the album is that it doesn't really feel like a Christmas album. Sure the lyrics are all about Xmas, bells, and snow, but it doesn't have that traditional holiday cheer backing to it, making it more of a pop album inspired by the holidays than anything else. I really feel like when pop singers do a holiday album, too often do they just make the same song over, but much like Aqua with their non-traiditon "Spin Me A Christmas", Slay Belles really separates itself from the norm. With tracks like "Jingle Dem Bells", it's obvious that it's not meant to be taken seriously as a lover of Christmas, but instead just enjoyed for what it is.

Slay Belles also comes packed with an impressive list of guest appearances. Ru invited previous besties Michelle Visage and Big Freedia, as well as other fun guests such as Markaholic, Ellis Miah, Siedah Garrett, and even Todrick Hall himself. Now if an album doesn't skyrocket in notoriety from having the king of Youtube music on it, I don't know what will. Also, let's not forget that Ru himself is a vocal powerhouse, too. I guess what I'm trying to say is, this may be the best Xmas album of all time.

No, really.

Then again I'm not much of a Christmas person.

You can get the album on iTunes now! Do it!

Below Deck Season 3 Episode 9 [Review]

When will the insanity end? Ok, so it's not that bad, but still, things are starting to get a little out of control. You'll see what I mean. It looks like this charter season is about to reach a breaking point, and I really doubt that we've seen the end of the firings for the year. Without any further distractions, let's find out exactly what happened this week.

Check It Out - I Have A New Side Project

In case you have been wondering what the decrease in posts around here is all about, I thought I'd let you know that I have been working on a couple of side projects. Yes, Famous By Proxy is still in the works (and much further along than I might have let on), but this one is a bit different. It's aimed at a bit of a different audience than usual. This time around, I'm getting into some anime and manga discussion. Welcome, lovers of Japan!

I know, I know. Anime isn't what this site is all about, but it is something I am doing, and it is worth noting why I've been a bit MIA lately. I will still keep up with the weekly episode reviews, and next month I am picking up a new show (No, not RHOA). I hope you can all stick with me through this, and even support the new YouTube channel by liking and subscribing if that's your thing.

If not, it's all cool. I wanted to showcase two different facets of myself in two different ways. I have been interested in anime and manga for far longer than I have in pop music and drag queens, so to be fair this is something I've been putting off. I hope that those of you who like both, much like me, will take the time to look into what I have to say. I have more reviews coming soon, so don't worry. The channel is barely a week old. There is plenty more to come in the upcoming weeks.

Again, thank all of you for your continued support. There will be more info on the Famous By Proxy podcast closer to the new year.

Robert Bartko Releases Fun And Funky New Single "The Breakdown"

If you're an avid reader of my blog, the name Bartko is probably familiar. That's because Sammie Bartko, who I covered both on the reality competition show Skin Wars and in her own music career, is married to Robert Bartko. Go figure. But Sammie isn't the only vocalist in that family, as Robert has had a long career in both writing and performing music, and "The Breakdown" is only a taste of what he has to offer.

Robert, in case you are still skeptical, has been writing and producing music for a long time. Most famously he has produced for the rock band Korn ("All In The Family", "A.D.I.D.A.S.", "Wicked"), but he has also put in a lot of writing work with other groups over the years. He occasionally and sporadically releases new music on his own, and quite frankly I cannot believe I am just now picking up on his positive vibes.

Positivity isn't the only vibes that are coming out from "The Breakdown", and by that I mean it's totally funky. Robert has a really smooth voice, and the bass-slapping beat that is accompanying him only make the song all that much more awesome. He has a very strong control over his falsetto, creating some memorable hooks. It really sounds like a classic 70s funk track, but with a fresh update to it. It's basically like a time warp for music.

Over the years he has released a lot of music, from pop to religious, and he really has shown us that he is multifaceted. I really wish I had picked this up earlier (again to repeat what I've already said), as he would have made an amazing addition to the site in it's formative years. Now that I've see what he can do, I will be on the lookout for more Bartko music (from either source, to be honest), and I doubt I'll be disappointed.

For now, grab the track on iTunes and spread the love!

Steampunk'd Season 1 Episode 8 FINALE [Review]

Well guys, it's been a fun ride, but it's almost over. We have been following these ten talented makers from day one, and now we get to find out who is going to win the 100,000 dollar prize. I have my favorites, and I have my not-so-favorites, but no matter who wins, let's all hope this show gets another season. It was a fun ride, and I want to do it all over again next year. Now without further ado, my finale review.

Below Deck Season 3 Episode 8 [Review]

It's week eight and I still can't decide if I absolutely love this show or if I can't stand it one bit. I mean I guess I could say time will tell, but eight weeks? Two months? Damn my attention span lasts much longer than it used to. Well I'm here for the long run, now. It looks like this season still has a bit to go (we haven't even seen our Real Housewives of Atlanta crossover yet), so I'll stick it out for the rest of the season. For now, just try and enjoy the beauty that is another annoying crew member getting fired.

Sharlie's Angels Web Series Parodies Charlie's Angles And Of Course It's Hilarious

I don't know if there's a single person out there on the net that hasn't heard of Charlie's Angles. It was a huge hit back the 70s, it was an even bigger hit with the movie franchise in the 2000s, and now the fun is returning with a web series. It may be a parody, but it perfectly captures the camp and fun of the original series, while having the sexiness of the reboots. Also did I mention you can watch it for free online. Oh yeah, there's that, too. Check out the next generation of Charlie's Angles with the new parody Sharlie's Angels.

So right now all we have is the promo, but they are hoping that with a bit of a popularity spike, they can bring you a full online series via YouTube. The teaser stars Kendra Reynolds as Mary, Chance Cessna as Serona, and Katie Page as Jayne. These are our new trio of Angels ready to dominate your computer screens. This time around, Bosley is still around helping the Angles in whatever way he can (portrayed by Steven Bell), but Charlie is no more. In his place is the mysterious disembodied voice of his daughter, Sharlie (voiced by Cathy Lewis).

The promo, although not clear if just an introduction or part of the debut episode, follows the girls as they investigate a rash of burglaries of women's shoes. The ladies look stunning in their SWAT outfits, with Serona (Cessna) being my new lady crush of the moment. There's lots of comedy ranging from Batman style "Pows" popping up when people get hit to the robbers sniffing women's shoes. Nothing is off limits. The biggest laugh of the whole work goes to Bosley (Bell) for very sassily refusing to follow the Angels up a narrow ladder six stories above Hollywood to chase after the final baddie -- which is a stunt these talented ladies did themselves during filming.

If I had to complain about anything it would be that they tacked on Magique (portrayed by Bella Leah) to the end. She had the most personality of them all and looked pretty amazing. Her story is that she's the Angel they cast out for being "too hood", which is beyond hilarious. I would have liked her to have her own scene instead of an introductory clip at the end, but seeing as it's only a promo, I can let things slide.

It really looks like the cast had a lot of fun working on this project, and it really deserves more views online. I think this may not be too much of an issue with the rumors of a new movie coming. Oh and did I mention the pilot episode is said to feature not three but six Angels? How will that work? Well honestly I don't know yet, but I do know that this is certainly something you'll wanna keep an eye out for.

Steampunk'd Season 1 Episode 7 [Review]

Oh, GSN. My love-hate relationship with you continues on and on. Due to technical difficulties on my part, I didn't have my copy of the episode to review earlier this week. That didn't matter, though, because the second the episode finished airing, GSN's official Facebook posted a photo of the final three. Thanks, I guess, for ruining who went home for me. I'll try not to be a Bitter Betty the whole review, though.

Kim Smith Wows With Video For "Shooting Star"

It feels good having Kim Smith back at music. Don't get me wrong, he's been doing a ton of stuff locally in NYC, but for those of us who live in the middle of the country, that might as well mean he hasn't done anything in a while. Then, like a gift from the homo-gods, he dropped this gem of a music video out of nowhere, and I'm in love all over again. Check out the very sexual yet endearing video for "Shooting Star".

The video over all is pretty simplistic. It mainly features two different parts, one of Kim singing into the camera close up, and another of him and a mystery man getting physical. In both takes he is shirtless (praise be yet again to the homo-gods), and looking stunning as usual. I love how bold the video is, showing two men embracing each other not as a gimmick or in a cliche way, but in a scene that feels very real. Of course the choreography can shatter that perfect image a bit, but for the most part of the video, it feels like two real men really feeling up on one another and exploring the other's body.

"Shooting Star" as a song is one of my all time favorites from Kim Smith. He his album Nova back in 2013, so seeing this in it's original form (as opposed to the remixed version on June 2015's Supernova) was a bit of a surprise. I had given up hope on this track seeing a video treatment, but luckily for me, he wasn't done with the album quite yet. Due to production costs, it's not unusual for an indie artist to draw an album out over several years, but I have to say this is the most pleasant surprise I've gotten from the LGBT music scene in a long while.

If you dig the track, you can get the original album Nova on iTunes here, or if remixes are more you're thing, you can check out his fully remixed followup Supernova here.

Below Deck Season 3 Episode 7 [Review]

It's official. I have developed the weirdest Love-Hate relationship with this show. I really love it because of all the insanity that happens and all he great reality tv personalities it has spawned, but I also really hate it because they focus the most on the more boring of the drama. I wanna see more of certain things, but instead what I get is a whole episode of Kate and Leon hating each other. I'll try to make it more interesting than that, but that's pretty much the whole episode. 

Please keep reading anyway.

La Toya Jackson Returns With Previously Unreleased Single

Watch out world. Janet isn't the only Jackson making a comeback in 2015. Much like her sister, La Toya is bringing back the Jackson name into present day, but she's going about it in a totally different way. Instead of releasing a brand new track, she's digging into her recording library and bringing forth a track that may be old, but is still something you've yet to hear. Check out "Trouble".

It can definitely be said that this track sounds like it is from the 80s. This song is a track that didn't quite make it onto La Toya's '88 smash hit La Toya (or You're Gonna Get Rocked! depending on which version or when you picked it up). It's not unusual for artists to record tons of songs for an album and narrow it down, but what is unusual is to release a track more than twenty years later. But it's not an ordinary release. This is a remix package -- an awesome one.

This release features a lot of talented artist, brought together by JRED Music. The remix masters include Jared Jones, Matt Pop, Ranny, Sweet Team, Dr. Brooks, and Argonaut. Each artist brings their own unique sounds to the project, turning this one single into ten distinctly separate works. Some even manage to make the song hardly recognizable (in a good way), making the entire album worth your money.

I know I'm a little bit late on this one, but given that the original version of the track was released back in 2013, I'd say that I'm a bit closer to the single's release than the album's. And hey, La Toya is from an incredibly talented family and one of the least talked about Jacksons, so why not give her a quick shoutout.

"Trouble" is available from JRED Music now on iTunes. Grab it now!

Dragonette Returns With Brand New Single + Video

Dragonette, in case you didn't know, is one of the best things that has come out of Canada since pretty much ever. They had been steadily pumping out music until early 2013 when things went a big quiet -- but no more! Dragonette is back, and you can have even more synth-rock in your life, because in the end, isn't that what we could all use more of?

As per usual, this song is super catchy. Much to my relief, "Let The Night Fall" goes back to the sound the band's sophomore album Fixin' To Thrill, which was my favorite. The song's heavy synths fuzed with traditional guitars makes it something you don't hear very often and solidifies them as one of the defining New Wave bands of this generation. The chorus has that ear worm quality to it, staying stuck in your head long after you're done listening to it.

The video is also a bit of a throwback for me. While it does have some Marina And The Diamonds qualities to it by being a bit quirky (see the top photo for evidence there), it really stands well on it's own. The plot has some very distinct lesbian overtones from what I gathered, which should remind many long-time fans of the video for "Pick Up The Phone" (also from the Fixin' To Thrill era). The video follows a fun day out with two close girlfriends, as they go about the randomness of daily life.

I am so excited to see this come out. The band has already confirmed this is the first single off of a new album, which will hopefully be a marriage of the two amazing sounds they've developed over the course of their last two albums. While we don't have a name or even an estimated date, given the band's history, I'm sure we won't have to wait too long to find out. These guys love their fans, and they won't keep us in the dark for long.

For now, support them by grabbing "Let The Night Fall" on iTunes.

Honey Boo Boo's Debut Single Is Fun Whether You Like It Or Not

Hold on one second before you all come up in arms about this. I know that there is a large section of the population that detests Honey Boo Boo, but think about it for a minute. It does feature Adam Barta so it can't be that bad right? I mean Adam has had some strange collaborations in the past but they are always the best kind of tacky, and "Movin' Up" is no exception!

Photo Via GR Media Official YouTube Channel.

Ok. Watch that and tell me that it's not already stuck in your head. I don't mean the verses, which are kind of a mess of mumbled words (she's a kid, so she gets a free pass at not enunciating), but I mean the chorus. "Do the Honey Boo Boo Bop" will be stuck in your head for days, and judging by the fact it already has over a million views on YouTube, it's safe to say that you are not alone there. Adam Barta, who is famous teaming up with other reality TV stars like Angelina from Jersey Shore and Tan Mom, really took the back seat with this track, allowing Alana to shine.

The video seems to be more of at treat for those who were fans of the show. I honestly never watched a single episode of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo (mainly because I didn't have cable for years), so I didn't recognize a lot of the people. Apparently co-starring in the video is Mamma June with one line of the song, her sister "Pumpkin", and Mike Thompson known as "Sugar Bear". Yeah. No clue there. But you could tell that she was having a good time, and at the end of the day, she's still a kid and deserves to have fun with her life. Thankfully the cancelation of her TV show recently has not got her down, and she's managed to find a new career path.

It's unclear if this will be a career for the young starlet, but one thing's for sure -- she knows how to work the camera. This girl is dancing and having a great time, not giving one care as to what the haters have to say. If that's not inspiration, I don't know what is. And also it's nice to see one of Adam's videos blow up again. Some of his recent collaborations, while just as fun as everything else he's released over the past three years, didn't get much media attention. Thankfully he recruited the Boo Boo Clan to help him out. I'm not sure how much collaborating went on, but I know already that the track is only going to get more popular from here.

Steampunk'd Season 1 Episode 6 [Review]

Before we get started I have to say something. I have been getting a lot of flack (and I mean a lot) due to my reviews having spoilers in them, but not having a spoiler warning. Well, I don't really know how to do a review without spoilers. Even if I only focused on the art of the show, it would still be a "spoiler" because it revealed something you wouldn't know without watching first. News flash, my friends. All reviews have spoilers. Some just more than others. Like this one. So if you don't want to know that -CENSORED- went home, then maybe this isn't the review for you.

Wait. My spoiler was censored? Well just check it out under the cut. And under the rest of the episode's review.

Below Deck Season 3 Episode 6 [Review]

After an array technical problems over the past week, we are finally back running at full speed. The reviews won't be postponed (probably) for a while, and we are going to have everything on schedule. Now, without further ado because I have nothing else to say, let's get to gossiping about Below Deck, shall we?