美國電視日誌二則

American Idol，今年已是第六屆了．過去五年，AI成就了幾個紅星，也生產了很多半紅不黑的歌手．由於比賽是觀眾電話投票，一人可投無限票，所以唱得最好的未必能奪獎．因此，除了評判Simon Cowell尖酸刻薄的評論外，沒甚麼看頭，我也從來沒收看過．

不過今年初選時，偶然看到黑人女歌手Melinda Doolittle的面試，留下了很深印象．Melinda是個職業和音，習慣了藏於別人背後．鏡頭前只見她不停發抖，毫無自信．誰知她一開腔，評判之一的Randy Jackson便嚇呆了．

這幾星期，Melinda每次演出，三位評判都是讚不絕口，無半句批評說話．前晚Paula Abdul聽完她那一段後，更哭成淚人．（不過Paula一向顛顛狂狂，早陣子還被攝下喝醉酒接受電視台訪問的醜態，作不得準）

看來，接下來的每個星期二晚，都要乖乖在電視前等她出場．但無論兩個月後Melinda贏或輸，相信她永遠也不會走回幕後做和音了．






最近幾星期，週一晚都看不到Studio 60；我以為是臨時節目調動，但亦心知不妙．前幾天終於按捺不住，上網一看，才知劇集真的因為收視不理想而壽終正寢；今季餘下的數集也可能不見天日．

數十個頻道，近百齣劇集；唯一有興趣追看的，居然遇上被腰斬的厄運．唉！

我覺得Studio 60不錯，製作認真，演員出色．剛開始時不太喜歡它過多的感情線，但最近數集，Matt和Harriet，Danny和Jordan的戀情也交待得乾淨俐落．

或者Aaron Sorkin沿襲了West Wing的風格，太專注說傳媒，講政治，忽略了期待看喜劇的觀眾．又或者在今天的美國，民主黨得勢，總統民望徘徊三十巴仙，人們已厭了挖苦右派的主題．但我始終不明白，其它劇中那些醫生律師鑑證組的三角關係，真的那麼吸引？抑或是我的口味已和潮流完全脫節？

無論如何，在美國電視界，被斬的節目要死過翻生，難矣！


後記：Gladys Knight

Simon說Melinda令他想起年輕時的Gladys Knight．我只聽過Gladys的名字，不認識她的歌，便到youtube找她的片段看看．

多漂亮的臉孔，多醉人的嗓子，多優雅的演出！余生也晚，只能當個遲到三十多年的小歌迷．



The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me - Gladys Knight & The Pips

I've had my share of life's ups and downs
But fate's been kind, the downs have been few
I guess you could say that I've been lucky
Well, I guess you could say that it's all because of you

If anyone should ever write my life story
For whatever reason there might be
Ooo, you'll be there between each line of pain and glory
'Cause you're the best thing that ever happened to me
Ah, you're the best thing that ever happened to me

Oh, there have been times when times were hard
But always somehow I made it, I made it through
'Cause for every moment that I've spent hurting
There was a moment that I spent, ah, just loving you

If anyone should ever write my life story
For whatever reason there might be
Oh, you'll be there between each line of pain and glory
'Cause you're the best thing that ever happened to me
Oh, you're the best thing that ever happened to me
I know, you're the best thing, oh, that ever happened to me