September 2007 Archives

Now in its 20th season (can you believe it?) on CBS, "Survivor" still has some tricks up its sleeve. This season, the show is set in China, and incorporates many new twists like a "kidnapping" stunt.

However, some habits die hard. "Survivor" has come under fire before for its casting practices. They have openly recruited cast members (including this season's Ashley, who is a wrestler for the WWE) and have a disproportionate amount of struggling actor/bartenders or actor/massage therapists from the LA area. "Survivor" also loves to cast people who fulfill stereotypes, and China is no exception. Meet Todd Herzog, this season's gay guy. Who is also Mormon.

Ashley Perrin was involved in what's safe to call the most-talked-about-ever episode of "Trading Spouses." On the show, two families switch moms for a week and agree to go along with the new mom's rules. For maximum drama, the families are almost always polar opposites. Ashley's family, conservative Christians, traded their mother Marguerite (who referred to herself as a "God Warrior") with a woman from a New Age "hippie" family. The episode probably went past the producers' wildest dreams when Marguerite had a freak-out and began screaming in front of the cameras. When reunited with her family at the end of the episode, her eldest daughter Ashley cried to see her mother's behavior.

In her brief amount of screen time, Ashley came across as a kind and warm-hearted young woman. Even though she was alarmed by her mother's outburst, she seemed concerned rather than embarrassed. At the end of each episode, each mom is given $50,000 to give to the other family, allocated any way they want. Ashley was given $15,000, partly to give her enough financial security to move out on her own.

Ashley was driving a minivan when she apparently ran off the road, reports Reality Blurred. She was driving along Interstate 55 in her home state, Louisiana. Ashley was 25 years old. Her family has not yet released information about funeral services.

I haven’t watched "Survivor" since the Boston Rob season (Marquesas, for those of you who keep track of such things) and that’s saying something for the girl who made a rat-shaped meatloaf for the season one finale. But nothing drew me back to the televised Tribal Council; not even last season’s race vs. race gimmick. However, when I saw ads for the latest season featuring a Christian radio host, my curiosity was piqued. The contest was taking place not on some tropical island, but in Mainland China, a first for any American television show. Perhaps Bejing is practicing prior to the Olympics, or simply working on building some good will.

When I tuned in last week for the premiere of "Survivor: China," I was excited to see that they had cast not only radio show host Leslie, but "Gay Mormon Flight Attendant" Todd.
Wow! What wonderful conversations (read: screaming matches) would we be privy to this season, I thought. But it was about to get even better.

American Catholics who want to register offense at Joni Mitchell's new album, "Shine," had better take a number. Mitchell takes aim at Wall Street, Las Vegas, people who talk on cell phones while driving, polluters, bridezillas, and a clergyman named Pearson—your guess whether it's the Tulsa, Oklahoma megachurch pastor or the 18th century English theologian.

And that's just on the title track. The album is one long (and beautiful) wail of despair about all that's wrong with our world, from environmental crisis to misplaced idealism and war. At times Mitchell, who is 63, lapses into cantankerous crochets about "jerks who pass on the right" and bears rummaging in her garbage cans.

The album represents Mitchell's return, after a decade away from songwriting, to protesting human destructiveness. Lest we miss the point, Mitchell has included a reprise of her 1970's hit "Big Yellow Taxi" ("They tore down paradise and put up a parking lot").

New Christian pop artist Daniel Kirkley is causing a buzz in the Christian music industry with his latest album, "Let Love Win." Christianity Today and others have compared the former pre-med college student's sound to popular singer Josh Groban.

In describing his first single off the album, "My New Dawn," Kirkley says, "The song talks about wondering around in the darkness and just kind of being trapped, but coming to a beautiful moment and realizing that from here on, it's a new beginning and a new start. It's all about leaving everything that hinders you and everything that has weighed you down behind. Then realizing that there will be a new day every morning and it will be beautiful and bright. Just move forward."

Beliefnet has 10 autographed copies of "Let Love Win" to give away.

Want one?

Post a comment below by October 12, 2007, telling us about your own new beginning. Have you ever left a bad situation to start fresh? What happened? Make sure to include your email address in the designated area (don't worry, it won't be made public). The 10 most original responses--based on the judgment of Idol Chatter's editors--win. Have fun with it, be creative (but honest!), and a CD could be yours. We'll notify the winner by email.

For the legalities, click here.