Thursday, February 14, 2013
Happy Valentine's Day!
In honor of the holiday, here's a new Photoshop project in which Brittany L. Spears and Buddy Wayne Barefoot share the love. Enjoy!
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
BMN Superfan - episode 7, season 1
Show title: "All's Fair in Love..."
In honor of Valentine's Day, the first challenge of the show is a compatibility test. The contestants are placed into three duos. While one member waits in the studio, the other is asked a series of questions in the confessional. For each question, the task is to guess the answer he or she thinks his or her partner will give when he or she is asked on-stage. In the first round, each correct answer is worth one point and in the second, each correct answer is worth two points.
The teams are selected by the producers: the favorites (Brittany Ramos and Anna "Lil' Bit" Granthum), the underdogs (Dustin Plunkett and Sgt. Lindsay Hall), and the others (Jeff Porter and Megan Turnipseed). Brittany and Lil' Bit win with five points and each take home $500 gift cards to shop on official family merchandise.
Here are the questions:
Round 1
What is the favorite thing you like to do on a Sunday afternoon?
Round 2
If you had a time machine, to what historic event would you travel?
The
main challenge honors Brenda, the "mother hen" of the family; she has
loved carnivals and circuses since she was a child. Contestants are
asked to create her "dream fair." Although responsible for individual
elements, the items are to be organized collectively and look like the
midway carnival that will be brought to the property this coming
summer. The six items have already been picked out and are randomly
assigned to each contestant, as follows:
With the challenge winner having a 1-in-5 chance of winning the entire season, the judging is more critical than ever. When Dustin presents his rollercoaster design, which wraps around the entire property but does not have inversions, judge Matt Rogers calls it "weak." Dustin vows to change the design if he wins. Also, Lil' Bit's Ferris wheel and Lindsay's food truck get low grades. After telling the judges that the Ferris wheel is made to resemble the London Eye, Brandon McLamb calls it "a complete knock-off. The design has to be better." As for the food truck, Lindsay's design was compared to "total graffiti" and "a complete eyesore" by Rogers. Lindsay responds that she wanted an old-time feel, but couldn't find the suitable fonts in time: "If only I could find the Broadway font instead of using this handwriting thing." On the other hand, the judges look kindly at the proposed uniform for the performance artist that Megan made. Brenda calls the uniform, for a female illusionist named Carrie, "an intriguing combination of 1920s flapper and the latest look from the runways in Manhattan." Jeff's idea to use a gymnast was also praised: "It's like Cirque du Soleil if it were around a hundred years ago," McLamb says. In the end Jeff wins and the acrobat, to be named Mary Pat, will be part of the carnival.
Unlike the week before, the decision to eliminate is easy. Lindsay's lack of fire in the last several weeks, as well as the excuses she made at panel about her design, send her home from the competition. For the first time since the Jan. 8 episode, a woman has been eliminated.
Locations: First challenge, Baymont Inn and Suites; second challenge, North Carolina State Fairgrounds
In honor of Valentine's Day, the first challenge of the show is a compatibility test. The contestants are placed into three duos. While one member waits in the studio, the other is asked a series of questions in the confessional. For each question, the task is to guess the answer he or she thinks his or her partner will give when he or she is asked on-stage. In the first round, each correct answer is worth one point and in the second, each correct answer is worth two points.
The teams are selected by the producers: the favorites (Brittany Ramos and Anna "Lil' Bit" Granthum), the underdogs (Dustin Plunkett and Sgt. Lindsay Hall), and the others (Jeff Porter and Megan Turnipseed). Brittany and Lil' Bit win with five points and each take home $500 gift cards to shop on official family merchandise.
Here are the questions:
Round 1
What is the favorite thing you like to do on a Sunday afternoon?
- Brittany = attend church, eat BBQ; Lil' Bit = "watch a lot of TV shows from Netflix and Hulu" 0 PTS.
- Dustin = watch football; Lindsay = "watch football during the season, especially my Giants, and then whatever sport is on like NASCAR when there's no football" 1 PT.
- Jeff = spend time with family after church; Megan = "go to church, then have family dinner" 1 PT.
- Brittany = The Bachelor; Lil' Bit = "I want to be on The Amazing Race with my friend Fat Legs" 0 PTS.
- Dustin = Survivor; Lindsay = "My guilty pleasure show is Hell's Kitchen" 0 PTS.
- Jeff = America's Next Top Model; Megan = "I want to go on The Bachelor and see if I can connect with someone" 0 PTS.
- Brittany = Chinese; Lil' Bit = "I won't eat Chinese because it looks all foreign to me" 1 PT.
- Dustin = None; Lindsay = "Actually, I'll eat just about anything" 1 PT.
- Jeff = Eggs; Megan = "I won't eat desserts because it makes me gain weight fast" 0 PT.
Round 2
If you had a time machine, to what historic event would you travel?
- Lil' Bit = D-Day; Brittany = "The invasion of Normandy [D-Day]" 2 PTS.
- Lindsay = Obama elected President; Dustin = "Man first walked on the moon" 0 PTS.
- Megan = Flight 93 on 9/11; Jeff = "Final out of the 1995 World Series [Braves won]" 0 PTS.
- Lil' Bit = Julia Roberts; Brittany = "Sandra Bullock would be great" 0 PTS.
- Lindsay = Rainn Wilson; Dustin = "Russell Brand" 0 PTS.
- Megan = "The Hagrid guy in [the Harry Potter film series, Rupert Grint]"; Jeff = "John Ratzenberger [was on Cheers]" 0 PTS.
- Megan = Brittany; Jeff = "Brittany Ramos is a sweet little lady..." 2 PTS.
- Lindsay = Brittany; Dustin = "We have a sports background...so I pick Jeff" 0 PTS.
- Lil' Bit = Jeff; Brittany = "The person...who has played the best game so far is Jeff" 2 PTS.
The
main challenge honors Brenda, the "mother hen" of the family; she has
loved carnivals and circuses since she was a child. Contestants are
asked to create her "dream fair." Although responsible for individual
elements, the items are to be organized collectively and look like the
midway carnival that will be brought to the property this coming
summer. The six items have already been picked out and are randomly
assigned to each contestant, as follows:- Lil' Bit - Ferris wheel
- Brittany - Bandstand
- Dustin - Rollercoaster
- Lindsay - Food truck
- Megan - Performance artist
- Jeff - Circus act
With the challenge winner having a 1-in-5 chance of winning the entire season, the judging is more critical than ever. When Dustin presents his rollercoaster design, which wraps around the entire property but does not have inversions, judge Matt Rogers calls it "weak." Dustin vows to change the design if he wins. Also, Lil' Bit's Ferris wheel and Lindsay's food truck get low grades. After telling the judges that the Ferris wheel is made to resemble the London Eye, Brandon McLamb calls it "a complete knock-off. The design has to be better." As for the food truck, Lindsay's design was compared to "total graffiti" and "a complete eyesore" by Rogers. Lindsay responds that she wanted an old-time feel, but couldn't find the suitable fonts in time: "If only I could find the Broadway font instead of using this handwriting thing." On the other hand, the judges look kindly at the proposed uniform for the performance artist that Megan made. Brenda calls the uniform, for a female illusionist named Carrie, "an intriguing combination of 1920s flapper and the latest look from the runways in Manhattan." Jeff's idea to use a gymnast was also praised: "It's like Cirque du Soleil if it were around a hundred years ago," McLamb says. In the end Jeff wins and the acrobat, to be named Mary Pat, will be part of the carnival.
Unlike the week before, the decision to eliminate is easy. Lindsay's lack of fire in the last several weeks, as well as the excuses she made at panel about her design, send her home from the competition. For the first time since the Jan. 8 episode, a woman has been eliminated.
Locations: First challenge, Baymont Inn and Suites; second challenge, North Carolina State Fairgrounds
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Some recent "pictures" of family life
Unfortunately, I didn't have time to write anything in my character's name this week, but I had to think of something to post on Friday (actually started Friday, but worked into Saturday as I was not yet done at midnight). So I went back into my Photoshop work at ABC Adult School. Please enjoy this photo gallery. - D.H.
The first photo is that of the family's hunting and fishing expert, Ralph, bagging a few ducks on a recent trip. It's Brett Barefoot's head on top of Adam Brister's body. Bubba's "tag" comes from a cap design seen on the 2011 TV show Mud Lovin' Rednecks.
Up next, the four oldest females in the house get together for a quilting bee outside. The caption tells much of the story, of course. The heads are (from left to right) former teacher Kim Blitchington, real estate agent Emily Barefoot, Alabama girl Brandy Barefoot, and beauty queen Amanda Barefoot.
The next photo I created is that of the Plumpkins, star of a new "spin-off" on the fictitious Barefoot Media Network TV service. From left to right, the heads are portrayed by: Community activist Anna McWillie, an unidentified male from a file I called "blackfamily.jpg," former high school wrestler Keevin Hardman, and college honor student Katie Washington. I got the bodies, arms, legs, and shoes (for the men) from other sources.
Finally, Hambone and her brothers are shown on the way to another hunting trip. The story behind this is that Ralph challenged Hambone to a 10-shot challenge using clay pigeons as targets. She won and as a result Ralph had to wash dishes for a day! Also, she was invited to the next hunting trip; usually only the men go on these excursions. It's Brett again on the left, Justin Barefoot in the middle, Alyssa Barefoot on the right, and Bailey Miller, Mariam Nasrollahi, and Brittany Barefoot as the clothes "models."
Updated March 9, 2013
The first photo is that of the family's hunting and fishing expert, Ralph, bagging a few ducks on a recent trip. It's Brett Barefoot's head on top of Adam Brister's body. Bubba's "tag" comes from a cap design seen on the 2011 TV show Mud Lovin' Rednecks.
Up next, the four oldest females in the house get together for a quilting bee outside. The caption tells much of the story, of course. The heads are (from left to right) former teacher Kim Blitchington, real estate agent Emily Barefoot, Alabama girl Brandy Barefoot, and beauty queen Amanda Barefoot. 
The next photo I created is that of the Plumpkins, star of a new "spin-off" on the fictitious Barefoot Media Network TV service. From left to right, the heads are portrayed by: Community activist Anna McWillie, an unidentified male from a file I called "blackfamily.jpg," former high school wrestler Keevin Hardman, and college honor student Katie Washington. I got the bodies, arms, legs, and shoes (for the men) from other sources.
Finally, Hambone and her brothers are shown on the way to another hunting trip. The story behind this is that Ralph challenged Hambone to a 10-shot challenge using clay pigeons as targets. She won and as a result Ralph had to wash dishes for a day! Also, she was invited to the next hunting trip; usually only the men go on these excursions. It's Brett again on the left, Justin Barefoot in the middle, Alyssa Barefoot on the right, and Bailey Miller, Mariam Nasrollahi, and Brittany Barefoot as the clothes "models."Updated March 9, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
BMN Superfan - episode 6, season 1
Show title: "Dog Fight"
Brittany and Lil' Bit talk on the bus headed for the next destination. They disagree about the importance of alliances in the game. Lil' Bit now plays them down, but Brittany thinks that having partners can still help.
The day begins with a visit to the rodeo ring that is the site of Benson Mule Days. Held every October, it's one of the events the Barefoot family grew up with as an annual ritual. Mule races are often held in the ring, and a re-creation of this event is the first challenge of the show. Contestants are to complete one five-furlong lap around the arena; if the rider falls off the mule, he or she has to start over again. Not only are the mules an obvious problem, but dirt and dust hamper visibility and breathing at times. In the end, Dustin takes home the challenge for the first time all season. The prize for the Special Olympian is bizarre: he has to kiss the mule he just rode to victory! This is similar to what Miss Benson does at this event every year.
The main challenge is dedicated to Belinda, the daughter of Bobby Ray and Jennifer, children's book author, and youngest person ever on the best-seller list of The New York Times. For the latest book in the Little Jill Horner series, she wants to introduce a new pet character for Jill, who is a leading child star in Hollywood. Two teams are
created - a quartet and a trio, with Dustin being able to pick his team after the others were randomly assigned. Once selected, the teams must decide on the kind of pet, name the pet, draw the pet, and give at one least special characteristic to it. The winning design, of course, appears in the next book. The challenge has a three-hour time limit.
Here's what emerges from each of the teams:
From the losing team, Dustin and Jake are eventually chosen as the bottom two. Judges feel that Jake's lack of success in challenges is worse that Dustin's sometimes erratic behavior, and Jake is eliminated. It is the fifth straight show on which a man has been eliminated, and now only two are left. (At one time, the men led the women, 7-4.)
The elimination challenge takes place at Lulu.com in Raleigh.
Brittany and Lil' Bit talk on the bus headed for the next destination. They disagree about the importance of alliances in the game. Lil' Bit now plays them down, but Brittany thinks that having partners can still help.
The day begins with a visit to the rodeo ring that is the site of Benson Mule Days. Held every October, it's one of the events the Barefoot family grew up with as an annual ritual. Mule races are often held in the ring, and a re-creation of this event is the first challenge of the show. Contestants are to complete one five-furlong lap around the arena; if the rider falls off the mule, he or she has to start over again. Not only are the mules an obvious problem, but dirt and dust hamper visibility and breathing at times. In the end, Dustin takes home the challenge for the first time all season. The prize for the Special Olympian is bizarre: he has to kiss the mule he just rode to victory! This is similar to what Miss Benson does at this event every year.
The main challenge is dedicated to Belinda, the daughter of Bobby Ray and Jennifer, children's book author, and youngest person ever on the best-seller list of The New York Times. For the latest book in the Little Jill Horner series, she wants to introduce a new pet character for Jill, who is a leading child star in Hollywood. Two teams are
created - a quartet and a trio, with Dustin being able to pick his team after the others were randomly assigned. Once selected, the teams must decide on the kind of pet, name the pet, draw the pet, and give at one least special characteristic to it. The winning design, of course, appears in the next book. The challenge has a three-hour time limit.Here's what emerges from each of the teams:
- Quartet team (Dustin Plunkett, Jake Stubblebine, Brittany Ramos, Megan Turnipseed) - They use the consensus method to come up with an English bulldog named Rodney. He's created as the kind, faithful answer to Fluffy, the spoiled female dog owned by Little Jill's acting nemesis, Bettina Bitterbeetle. Megan comes up with the look and Brittany with the traits: He loves popcorn and the ballet.
- Trio team ("Lil' Bit" Granthum, Jeff Porter, Sgt. Lindsay Hall) - Lil' Bit conceives of a black Labrador retriever, Sarah Michelle MacSmelliefoote ("Sarah"). Lindsay draws the dog, and the characteristic is that, when Sarah sees one of the paparazzi, she screams instead of barks. Lil' Bit describes Sarah as "ugly on the outside, but beautiful on the inside, and that's what I love about a dog."
From the losing team, Dustin and Jake are eventually chosen as the bottom two. Judges feel that Jake's lack of success in challenges is worse that Dustin's sometimes erratic behavior, and Jake is eliminated. It is the fifth straight show on which a man has been eliminated, and now only two are left. (At one time, the men led the women, 7-4.)
The elimination challenge takes place at Lulu.com in Raleigh.
Friday, February 1, 2013
BMN Superfan - episode 5, season 1
This was saved as a draft on Jan. 30, just hours after the show "aired." However, there was somehow an error that prevented the publication at that time and only now has it been published. I apologize for the inconvenience. - D.H.
Show title: "Things Fall Apart"
This episode begins with Brittany Ramos reaching her husband on the telephone. As she thinks about what she's had to give up to appear on the show (among other things, she missed the first day at a new school for her older son) and her concern about she is being portrayed on-air, Brittany begins to cry. Anna "Lil' Bit" Granthum hears this, puts Brittany aside, and reminds Brittany that the game will end for everyone and that they have all made similar sacrifices in order to compete on the program. After picking herself up, Brittany joins the remaining cast members for a game of cornhole.
The challenge, which takes place at the Singing Grove in Benson, is a single-elimination tournament. Pairings are determined at random for the first two rounds, but all first-round matches are men versus women. Each match is decided by the highest point total after three throws of the bean bag. Here are the results:
Backstage at the Singing Grove, Lil' Bit and Lindsay argue loudly and nearly fight over an alleged "final four" deal with all the remaining female contestants. Lindsay insists there was one, while Lil' Bit denies it.
For the next challenge, contestants move to Benson Elementary School. There, they meet Harvey, the house craftsman, who explains the rules. Each contestant has to create an age-appropriate toy for an student in the fourth or fifth grades. The toys will be taken to a classroom, where students will decide their favorites.
Harvey donates basic supplies and will supervise the process, but it will be up to the contestants to devise the actual toys.
Brittany's eyes light up at even the mention of the challenge: not only does she have two grade-school-aged children, she taught at an elementary school for several years. On the other hand, Jake says, "Oh no, not another crafting challenge!"
With roughly an hour left, host Shandi Finnessey interrupts the process to tell the contestants that, although all of them are to continue to make their toys, only three of them will actually be presented to the kids for them to play with and judge to determine a winner. What's more, they won't be present at the school; they won't know the results until they show up to the judging panel that night. Brittany: "To call this a bummer for me is an understatement. I just can't be there to see the looks in the kids' eyes as they play with their toys. I feel like quitting - again!" What she doesn't know is that Harvey has picked her toy as one of the three finalists, and that Brittany will be able to see the kids' reactions after all, as videotape of the play session will be shown at panel. Here are Harvey's picks for the play session, as well as his comments:
In contrast, the bottom three were:
Megan made a claymation village scape, and Jeff made "Pillow Case Kids," a set of twins in tribute to the 1980s Cabbage Patch dolls.
Harvey and Shandi then shuttle the toys between two adjoining classrooms, getting the comments of some 50 fourth- and fifth-graders. That night, they come to the Baymont Inn and Suites to share the judging with the contestants. Brittany watches the videotape with tears in her eyes, as it reminds her of the children she taught in her former profession, as well as her own kids at home in Florida. Dustin smiles with wide-eyed delight at some of the comments about his toy. On the other hand, Lindsay doesn't hear much positive and has a bad feeling that she won't win. That's confirmed: after the dramatic narrow-down to Brittany and Dustin, Brittany is named the winner for the third time this season. "This was more drama than I ever imagined, but it's all worth it," she beams.
Now comes time for the elimination. Again, the video screen is used, this time to show that Lil' Bit indeed had a final four deal that she later reneged on. "Yeah, that's true," she admits. "My deal now is with Brittany and Jeff." Matt Rogers asks why Brittany and Jeff should trust her if she had turned on Lindsay and Megan; she replies simply, "That's an official deal, the one before that was unofficial." Brandon McLamb adds that Lil' Bit should go home tonight, but since the judging is focused on the toy-making, she would be safe because she didn't make the worst toy. Instead, Josh is sent home after a close vote; Harvey explains, "It was a case of picking the monstrosity that is slightly worse."
Show title: "Things Fall Apart"
This episode begins with Brittany Ramos reaching her husband on the telephone. As she thinks about what she's had to give up to appear on the show (among other things, she missed the first day at a new school for her older son) and her concern about she is being portrayed on-air, Brittany begins to cry. Anna "Lil' Bit" Granthum hears this, puts Brittany aside, and reminds Brittany that the game will end for everyone and that they have all made similar sacrifices in order to compete on the program. After picking herself up, Brittany joins the remaining cast members for a game of cornhole.
The challenge, which takes place at the Singing Grove in Benson, is a single-elimination tournament. Pairings are determined at random for the first two rounds, but all first-round matches are men versus women. Each match is decided by the highest point total after three throws of the bean bag. Here are the results:
- First round: Dustin Plunkett d. Brittany, Lil' Bit d. Josh LoMonico, Jake Stubblebine d. Megan Turnipseed, Jeff Porter d. Sgt. Lindsay Hall
- Semifinals: Lil' Bit d. Jake, Jeff d. Dustin
- Final: Jeff d. Lil' Bit
Backstage at the Singing Grove, Lil' Bit and Lindsay argue loudly and nearly fight over an alleged "final four" deal with all the remaining female contestants. Lindsay insists there was one, while Lil' Bit denies it.
For the next challenge, contestants move to Benson Elementary School. There, they meet Harvey, the house craftsman, who explains the rules. Each contestant has to create an age-appropriate toy for an student in the fourth or fifth grades. The toys will be taken to a classroom, where students will decide their favorites.
Harvey donates basic supplies and will supervise the process, but it will be up to the contestants to devise the actual toys.Brittany's eyes light up at even the mention of the challenge: not only does she have two grade-school-aged children, she taught at an elementary school for several years. On the other hand, Jake says, "Oh no, not another crafting challenge!"
With roughly an hour left, host Shandi Finnessey interrupts the process to tell the contestants that, although all of them are to continue to make their toys, only three of them will actually be presented to the kids for them to play with and judge to determine a winner. What's more, they won't be present at the school; they won't know the results until they show up to the judging panel that night. Brittany: "To call this a bummer for me is an understatement. I just can't be there to see the looks in the kids' eyes as they play with their toys. I feel like quitting - again!" What she doesn't know is that Harvey has picked her toy as one of the three finalists, and that Brittany will be able to see the kids' reactions after all, as videotape of the play session will be shown at panel. Here are Harvey's picks for the play session, as well as his comments:
- Brittany - Ballroom dancing doll; "A new spin on an old favorite and very timely"
- Dustin - Lighted house and miniature "people"; "Kids like the video-game like stimulation"
- Lindsay - Bubble-making factory; "Brings a nostalgic childhood to a new generation"
In contrast, the bottom three were:
- Lil' Bit - "Robin Hood" playset; "The small bows and arrows would violate anti-weapons policies"
- Jake - Galactic chess set (originally Star Wars vs. Star Trek); "At first, there were issues with copyrights and licensing, then the figures were too ugly [after they were repainted]"
- Josh - Flexible sports set; "Too complex to operate and maintain"
Megan made a claymation village scape, and Jeff made "Pillow Case Kids," a set of twins in tribute to the 1980s Cabbage Patch dolls.
Harvey and Shandi then shuttle the toys between two adjoining classrooms, getting the comments of some 50 fourth- and fifth-graders. That night, they come to the Baymont Inn and Suites to share the judging with the contestants. Brittany watches the videotape with tears in her eyes, as it reminds her of the children she taught in her former profession, as well as her own kids at home in Florida. Dustin smiles with wide-eyed delight at some of the comments about his toy. On the other hand, Lindsay doesn't hear much positive and has a bad feeling that she won't win. That's confirmed: after the dramatic narrow-down to Brittany and Dustin, Brittany is named the winner for the third time this season. "This was more drama than I ever imagined, but it's all worth it," she beams.
Now comes time for the elimination. Again, the video screen is used, this time to show that Lil' Bit indeed had a final four deal that she later reneged on. "Yeah, that's true," she admits. "My deal now is with Brittany and Jeff." Matt Rogers asks why Brittany and Jeff should trust her if she had turned on Lindsay and Megan; she replies simply, "That's an official deal, the one before that was unofficial." Brandon McLamb adds that Lil' Bit should go home tonight, but since the judging is focused on the toy-making, she would be safe because she didn't make the worst toy. Instead, Josh is sent home after a close vote; Harvey explains, "It was a case of picking the monstrosity that is slightly worse."
My letters from Little Boy - part 2
Here's the second part of the followup stories about my former Little Boy Records artists:
(Avatars: Facebook friend Adam Brister from 2002, a young Katherine McPhee)
- Bubba Brister was my personal favorite. He grew up in Mississippi around jazz, blues, and Southern gospel music, but moved with his family to Green River, WY. That's where he formed the Bubba Brister Band, which performed at local shows. After high school, he joined the gospel group the Revelators. But Brister longed for a solo career and that's how he auditioned for Sing for the World.
He made it to the live shows and had a respectable finish. Brister's unusual style appealed to fans, though, and other than me he had the best post-show debut album sales, with some 5 million sold. "She's Gone" and "Fat Man Sings the Blues" are his hit singles. He now lives on what he calls his "dream farm" in rural Bude, MS, halfway between New Orleans and Jackson. - Melanie (Elaine) MacMelville had the show's most mellifluous name. (According to the dictionary, mellifluous means sweet-sounding.) Her story was also incredible: Although she came from a well-to-do
family - her father worked for a tea-export company and her mother was a master gardener - she regressed to the dark side, dabbling in prostitution as a young adult. MacMelville turned her life around after seeing several friends become HIV positive, with one of them contracting full-blown AIDS and dying. Another one of her friends suggested that she turn to music. The Long Islander became a busker performing on trains, buses, and on the street corners of New York City. MacMelville's inspirational run ended in fourth place, just one episode short of the finale. Her record sales were not as good as the others, but MacMelville filled a niche within the label for both popular top 40 music and as an artist whose work translated into non-American markets. She and her family now operate a cranberry bog in Littleton, MA, about 30 miles northwest of Boston.
(Avatars: Facebook friend Adam Brister from 2002, a young Katherine McPhee)
My letters from Little Boy - part 1
Throughout this blog, I have shared with you the people and things that are important to me. I would be remiss if I didn't look back on my past and share with you one of the things I'm most proud of, especially in context of the letters I read over and responded to this past week.
After I won Sing for the World in 2009, I used my platform to reach out to other undiscovered artists, many of which also appeared on the program, to start a new record label. I called it Little Boy Records, after a phrase I used after my third NASCAR title: "As I close, I'll share with you something Brenda told me many times: no matter what else I do, or even how old I am, I'll always be her little boy."
These artists combined musical innovation with best-selling record sales. More importantly, it marked the first time when a reality competition winner successfully nurtured other contestants.
I have already touched on Brittany L. Spears in this earlier post. In addition, I signed five other singing acts. There is so much information I learned from them that I will divide it into two posts.
Here's the first one:
After I won Sing for the World in 2009, I used my platform to reach out to other undiscovered artists, many of which also appeared on the program, to start a new record label. I called it Little Boy Records, after a phrase I used after my third NASCAR title: "As I close, I'll share with you something Brenda told me many times: no matter what else I do, or even how old I am, I'll always be her little boy."
These artists combined musical innovation with best-selling record sales. More importantly, it marked the first time when a reality competition winner successfully nurtured other contestants.
I have already touched on Brittany L. Spears in this earlier post. In addition, I signed five other singing acts. There is so much information I learned from them that I will divide it into two posts.
Here's the first one:
- "The Real" Blondie: Eliza Doolittle Battershell was an honors student and senior-class president in high school when she auditioned for the U.S. version of SFTW. Blondie (who modified her stage name to
distinguish from the new-wave band of the same name) electrified crowds and audiences alike with her piano-playing repertoire; imagine someone playing Beethoven one moment and Billy Joel the next. She placed second to me in the U.S. competition. After she signed, her debut album sold over 4 million albums and had two number one songs, "My Butterfly" and a cover of "Try to Remember." Today, Battershell lives happily with her parents and brothers, Brick and Boo, near Memphis, TN. Blondie says the greatest thing she has discovered since moving into Heaven is a love for horses. (All three are named for literary characters: Eliza Doolittle was in My Fair Lady, Brick Pollitt was in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Boo Radley was in To Kill a Mockingbird. "Blondie" came from the comic-strip heroine her parents loved.) - Bird & Fly: Kimberly "ButtaFly" Wimberly and R. Brightful Birdsong, Jr. auditioned separately. Wimberly was probably the first poetry-slam artist ever to appear on major network TV, while Birdsong came aboard with R&B and gospel influences. They were brought together by Matt Pinfield, one of the show's judges
(and former veejay on MTV, back when the network had those things) and evolved into the first full-time R&B duets group on any major label in the U.S. They overcame a surprisingly early elimination from SFTW to sell over 1.5 million copies and crossed over successfully. Now, Wimberly and Birdsong live with their respective families in Georgia and live a lifestyle they call "blackneck." As one would guess, they live a Southern rural lifestyle more associated with their white counterparts. They have been featured on the TV show Blacknecks, along with the Plumpkins (mentioned here). - Blinky Blink: Born Brandon Van Blankenstein in Pomona, CA, he lived a suburban life at home, but also visited his aunt and uncle in a nearby town where they owned a dairy farm. The day they had to sell to
make room for developers was, he told me once, "one of the saddest days of his life." To compensate, he learned about Appalachian music and dancing and became a fan of the latter, known as "clogging." As time progressed, he worked rap music into his act and became a truly unique entertainer. Blink (who received permission from a retired rapper to use that stage name) was the third-place finisher in the U.S. competition in the year I won. He now has returned to the aunt and uncle's farm which has been restored. It's located in Mira Loma, a few miles east of where he grew up. In fact, Blink told me that the farm is nearly double the size it was before and that his father, mother, and grandparents of his father also live there now. Blink also added that he planned to run for California, in the grand tradition of former governors Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Unfortunately, the state has been broken up by post-Rapture political circumstances and now belongs to three new countries. (I wouldn't have been surprised if he had won the election if the state had stayed together.)
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