This last summer has been a hot one, especially in Kansas. I know it has been hotter than normal in lots of places this season, but Kansas was basically the center of the frying pan. It was as if all the heat was actually coming up from our soil and dissipating out to surrounding states and continents. Long time Kansas residents like me should be used to this sort of heat and humidity, but when it’s this bad, it’s not really something one can ever grow to love or even shrug off. The heat here has truly been debilitating, and it has made for a lot of inside summer activity, which usually has something to do with drinking a lot and watching bad TV or movies.
Back in June, I started seeing previews on Bravo for a new reality competition series called Platinum Hit, in which a number of aspiring songwriters are brought together to compete for a record deal and a bunch of other music-related prizes. When I saw it was to be hosted by Jewel and co-hosted by former American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, I sensed that this show would make for some good old-fashioned, horrible, campy summer drinking fun. I was right, but I didn’t realize how right – from the very first line spoken in the show (“I’m a musical genius, for sure”), I knew this was going to be a total shit show. (more…)
