Friday morning, I had the chance to tour the ginormous new Whole Foods Market in the Park Lane development. Click on the photo above to take a stroll through the store.

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While Idol was introducing our fair city on the show tonight, I was thinking a couple of things: please don't make us look talentless (like Orlando) and how long would it take before they showed footage of longhorn cattle? (About 15 seconds.)


Neil Patrick Harris and Dallas' own Joe Jonas were the guest judges, and Harris was surprisingly unafraid about ruffling feathers or hurting anyone's feelings. "My goal today is to shatter the dreams of thousands," he said. And he probably did, but at least he was entertaining. Among the shattered:


Same song, second verse: Fort Worth college student Julie Kevelighan, 28, took a stab at "Lady Marmalade" during Dallas tryouts for the first season of Idol, and she killed. The song, that is. But now she was back and after taking choir and acting classes, would she kill anything else? Well, maybe not "kill" per se, but she did give "Black Velvet" (and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Something to Talk About") a good kicking about the ear, nose and throat before being escorted out by security. All still totally criminal.


Pretty sure: Dexter Ward, 20, of Dallas, had all the bravado he needed before his audition. "The show is over because I am the next America's... Idol," he said, grinning but probably knowing he really wasn't. "I am very, very, very, very... sure," he added, very sure. He had such a winning smile about it all that it was actually a little hard to see him get a row full of no's for "If I Ever Fall in Love Again."


On the plus side, 31 people who auditioned in Dallas got golden tickets to Hollywood. Among the locals:


Lloyd Thomas of Dallas, whose smooth vocals on the song "Overjoyed" got a "billion-percent yes" vote from Randy
Erica Rhodes of Irving (in video above), who acted in Barney and Friends as a young girl, but came in dressed like a dominatrix and sang "Free Your Mind"
Todrick Hall of Arlington, who worked with Idol winner Fantasia in The Color Purple and sang a very clever original tune written about the judges
Dawntoya Thomason of Dallas
Maegan Wright of Richardson, who was Kara DioGuardi's fave of the day for "To Make You Feel My Love"
Michael Castro of Rockwell Rockwall, brother of Idol alum Jason Castro


Congrats and good luck to all the Dallas-area peeps! Next week, Idol stops in Denver.

Posted by Jeff Meddaugh at 9:22 PM | Permalink Comments (1) | Leave comment

Avril Lavigne and Katy Perry shared guest-judging duties this time around, and let's just say they shouldn't give up their day jobs. Avril's juvenile snickering and horned hoodie and Katy's weird bitchiness never quite sat right with me. Maybe it was cuz they both seemed too young to be judging people around their same age. Or maybe cuz I can't get "Complicated" and "Hot N Cold" out of my head.


Idol rolled the Nutjob Montage for what seemed like forever tonight, so let's crown the nuttiest.


Go for the gold: If delusion had a name, it would be Neil Goldstein. The 19-year-old talked a good game -- he's got an IQ of 168 and a thousand little hobbies, he says -- but he was oddly overpolite and overconfident, even with that strange Rosie O'Donnell 'do. Yep, just enough to rub everyone the wrong way. Despite his self-assurance, he forgot some of the words to "Rock 'n' Roll Dreams" by Meatloaf, a version that did him no favors anyway, and after no's from across the board, he began an awkward standoff with Simon -- "I'm not leaving, OK? I'm not going anywhere." Finally, Simon talked him down and handed him a reality check. Let's hope he cashes it.


Chop, chop: Sandwich maker Damien Lefavor has been addicted to the martial arts for most of his 26 years (cue the karate chops and kicks), but he claims he's still a pacifist. His nemesis? The high note. Or maybe this very audition. He sang-screeched "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," and the judges should've made him apologize to the melody for what he did to it. Simon cut the session short with, "Damien, you should just go." And he walked out without an argument. I guess he really is a pacifist.


How... touching: Were the judges really ready for Jason Greene? The 21-year-old student (in video above) tried to get a little too comfortable with, well, everyone during his audition, and the fact that he sang The DiVinyls' "I Touch Myself" only made it worse. Simon was the target of most of the unsexy onslaught, which consisted of Jason making heavy and uncomfortable eye contact, writhing and squirming and eventually wiping his mouth and dropping to his knees. (Oh hey, Jason, can you be more overt? I don't quite think we know what you mean.) Katy Perry even said he made her feel dirty. Later, and determined not to leave without gaining someone's affections, Jason paused during his post-audition chat to hand his phone number to Ryan Seacrest, who promptly handed it to some random contestant. Who probably gave it to someone else. Who passed it off Neil Goldstein, who might need someone else to be delusional with.


Wednesday night, Dallas finally gets its chance to shine! Tune into Fox at 7 for the tryouts, with one of the Jonas Brothers as guest judge. I think it's the curly-haired one. Shruggsies.

Posted by Jeff Meddaugh at 9:10 PM | Permalink Comments (2) | Leave comment

Since there were plenty of them, let's get to the crazies tout suite.


The split heard 'round Disney World: Good Lord, Cornelius Edwards, what were you thinking? The 24-year-old security guard busted out with a version of "Proud Mary" -- which, hmmm, OK, didn't sound that bad -- but what was to come most certainly did. Apparently wanting to give the chorus an extra punch, Cornelius dropped himself into a seismic, full-on split that not only resulted in a completely shredded inseam, but threw the judges into an instant, simultaneous wave of cringe. (Insta-cringe?) "My pants done ripped," he said, wide-eyed and frozen in position. Yes, yes, they did. So have your testes from your body. Well, whatever he lost that day (his fertility, ability to walk straight, etc.), he made up for it in spades. Simon, Kara and Randy all gave him a pass to Hollywood.


Book 'em: Jarrod Norrell didn't make much of an entrance, but he sure knew how to make an exit. When his "lawnmower-like" rendition of "Amazing Grace" failed to impress the judges, Norrell just wouldn't take "you have no talent" for an answer. Security prodded and pushed him out into the hallway, where he was taken down to the floor and handcuffed, presumably in preparation to see a judge of another kind. Cutting back to the audition room post-scuffle, Simon, in reference to Norrell's performance, deadpans to the other judges, "So... yes or no?"


Book 'em, part deux: He looks like a nice country boy, but Matt Lawrence's got a little bit of a rap sheet: He held up a bank with a BB gun when he was 15 and spent four birthdays in jail. But that was 10 years ago, and from the sound of things, he's a changed man. For the judges, he sang a very heartfelt "Trouble" by Ray LaMontagne. (If the song title choice was for autobiographical reasons, he could've also pulled off a convincing "Freeze" by T-Pain.) After the last note, he got heaping spoonfuls of glooorious praise: you're authentic, you're brilliant and you're genuine. All of it so true. Go, Matt. He'll be an interesting one to watch in Hollywood.


Next week, Idol visits LA (with Katy Perry and Avril Lavigne as guest judges) on Tuesday and Dallas (fingers crossies) on Wednesday.

Posted by Jeff Meddaugh at 9:07 PM | Permalink Comments (0) | Leave comment

Tryouts in Chi-town were a bit of a bore last night if you compare it to some of the personalities from Boston and Atlanta last week, or maybe it's cuz the stop in Dallas can't come soon enough.


Still, there were some singing standouts, for the good and the very bad. Shania Twain was the guest judge this time around, and since she hasn't been sighted in years, watching her felt like I was beholding a unicorn. Shania's probably been the most personable of the guest judges as of yet and by far the hottest. Horn on her head or not.


A couple Chicago notables:


That'll be three no's: Is "boob-boxing" a real word? If not, Kara DioGuardi may have invented the term while watching Amy Milkwagons (not real last name) repeatedly thrust her chest into the air while beatboxing as part of her "Dr. Feelgood" performance. (I would've guessed at least Simon was into her.) This followed the part where she had collapsed to the floor in a fake faint and then jumped to her feet with Mary Catherine Gallagher-like enthusiasm. SUPASTAH? No.


Third time's a charm: It really is for Angela Martin, a 28-year-old who's made it to Hollywood the last two seasons, before having to drop out first because of her father's death and second because she was arrested on a warrant for a traffic violation. She easily got a Golden Ticket; she's got a great voice and major likeability -- and is definitely in need of a break -- and those should carry her far enough to get some good TV time.


Tomorrow night Idol stops in Orlando, so tune in at 7 p.m. on Fox for more pre-Hollywood auditions.

Posted by Jeff Meddaugh at 8:15 PM | Permalink Comments (0) | Leave comment

Quick sex columnist Jenny Block will be part of an upcoming episode of ABC's Nightline, along with Pastor Ed Young, Jonathon Daugherty and Noel Biderman. The topic: adultery and the Ten Commandments.

The taping is tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Fellowship Church, 2450 N. Highway 121, Grapevine, and is open to the public. For more info, go to fellowshipchurch.com.

Posted by Rob Clark at 5:03 PM | Permalink Comments (0) | Leave comment

Dallasites have tons of places to dip their feet into and cool off during summer, but we're not talking about the sparkling pool at your Uptown condo. Well, this time.

The DMN recently put together a list of a dozen great Texas swimming holes, some of which aren't that far away and are well worth the day trip. That's Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve near Dripping Springs pictured above, and after taking in the scene, who wouldn't want be that guy leaping gloriously off a rock. In slow motion.

Especially if you're sitting in a chair at your desk. In your cubicle. And your boss just caught you playing Text Twist. And you can just taste the cold beer bottle on your lips and smell the grill cooking... and is that coconut suntan lotion?

AAAAAAAH! OK, I'll stop. I'll stop.

Photo by special contributor Erich Schlegel

Posted by Jeff Meddaugh at 6:08 PM | Permalink Comments (0) | Leave comment

For those Gleeksters dying for Fox's big and buzzy Glee to (finally) air this fall, EW.com's reporting that R&B singer Eve has been cast to play a two-epi role as the choir director or a rival school.

Eve was game after Whitney Houston reportedly told Fox "hell to the no." Well, those aren't her exact words, but let's just imagine. Kristin Chenowith and Josh Groban are also said to be dropping in for small parts...

Gleeeeeeeeee!

Posted by Jeff Meddaugh at 6:00 PM | Permalink Comments (0) | Leave comment

After having been chided and ridiculed for never visiting this spot, I finally spent an evening at the BarBelmont in the OC's Belmont Hotel. And now I regret never having swung by sooner! As all the rest of you out there probably know, the interior of the bar has comfy sofas and chairs just begging you to sink into them. Candles scattered on the coffee tables give the room a warm glow. Outside, the patio boasts a superb view of the downtown Dallas skyline -- really breathtaking, and makes you ask, "wow, who knew Dallas had hills?"

But Tuesday night at BarBelmont is all about game night -- and what fun it was. After snarfing down some turkey and bison burgers, my group dug into word-nerdy games and sipped on wine and the half-price signature drink, the Belmontini. Delish! Would've been nice to sit on the patio with the killer view, but then again there was all that killer heat. Maybe next time ... there will be one!!

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 4:23 PM | Permalink Comments (0) | Leave comment

As part of Arts & Letters Live, and in partnership with the School of Arts & Humanities at UTD, acclaimed auther Colson Whitehead (above) will discuss his latest novel, Sag Harbor. The MacArthur genius award-winner's new book explores race and class tension at a prep school in 1985. UT Dallas Conference Center in Richardson. Tonight at 7:30 p.m. For tickets call 214-922-1818.

Photos Do Not Bend Gallery is presenting its first non-photographic exhibit. Artist and Vietnam vet Don Schol will present a series of woodblocks that evoke scenes of the war in his collection titled Vietnam Remembrances. Explore the UNT art department faculty member's expressive pieces at his opening reception. 1202 Dragon St., Suite 103. 5-8 p.m. Saturday. Free.

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 5:15 PM | Permalink Comments (0) | Leave comment

The fine people at Dallas' own Cufflinks.com gave us a heads up on their officially licensed Star Trek cufflinks, being released to coincide with next week's big screen relaunch. Set your phasers on stylish...

Want a pair? Well, get to gettin' and hold your horses, 'cause these bad boys are currently on backorder.

But that got our nerd knickers in a twist for more fanboy formal wear accessories. Peruse our collection of dorktastically dapper cufflinks - as well as the inaugural edition of ROROTNSB's TOTALLY RADTACULAR BONUS AWESOMENESS - after the jump.

Posted by Geoff Johnston at 1:15 PM | Permalink Comments (0) | Leave comment

I'm a very busy nerd. I've got places to go, people to see, and ridiculously overpriced vinyl figurines to buy.

I can't spend all day browsing racks at the comic book shop like I used to. And that's only partly due to a restraining order. Between two jobs, a wife, a dog, and another wife in Canton that my Dallas wife doesn't know about, I simply don't have the free time that I used to. That's why I'm digging the iPhone and iPod Touch comic book applications that have been poppin' up as of late.

About a year ago, the iTunes App Store had a pretty paltry selection of titles. But in recent months, publishers and developers have activated their Wonder Twin powers to release a wide variety of comics with great art, well-written stories, and simple, intuitive controls. Here are a few of my favorites...

Star Trek: Countdown

The four-issue comic book prequel provides readers with a ton of back-story for J.J. Abram's upcoming big screen Star Trek reboot. It also has one of the smoothest interfaces I've put thumbs to. The trade paperback collection hits shelves next week and lists for $17.99. But at 99 scrents-a-pop, iPhone and iPod Touch users can diggity-download each digital issue and have the whole thing in their pocket for less than five bucks.

Posted by Geoff Johnston at 2:55 PM | Permalink Comments (2) | Leave comment