Life List Day 65 - Woo Hoo! Last Minute Tickets to See The American Idol Finale Dress Rehearsal

At 11:30 today I got an email from a ticket company I'd registered with back in January: If I could be at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood by 1:00, I could be in the audience of the dress rehearsal of the American Idol finale.

It was impossible, of course. It would easily take me an hour to get to Hollywood - and that's if traffic was light, which it never is. I was still in my sweats. I had a script due for an event tomorrow.

So naturally, I threw on clothes, jumped into my car, and raced like a madwoman to try and make it - and I did!

Even though I was there by myself, it was still fun. I bonded with a group (gaggle?) of twelve-year-old girls, and was seated third row center. Not bad for freebie tickets. I have to say, the Kodak Theater is beautiful. Ryan Seachrest was chatty and adorable. I actually preferred the fake judges they had sitting in for Ryan, Paula and Simon over the real thing. Voted-off idols the nasal guy, the curly-headed chubby guy and the first guy to go (oh, how quickly we forget) were in the audience.

And - at least at the rehearsal - Jordin sang Blake under the table.

As a bonus, Chris Daughtry performed. He is as dour in person as he seems but, hey, Chris Daughtry!

I wonder if I hadn't been doing this life list if I'd have taken the chance. I'm sure glad I did.

Life List Day 16 - I Cast My American Idol Vote

I did it! After years of faithfully watching American Idol, tonight I became a part of the process. I voted - for an hour straight. It was kind of thrilling: I wish I could have done the same in the last presidential election.

And who inspired me to risk carpal tunnel in my dialing finger?

Noneother than Sanjaya.

I can't help it. He taps in to my inner 11-year old girl. I loved him from the moment they showed his audition, and he modestly said his sister was the better singer. Plus - and I've been to plenty of karaoke so I know these things - the boy actually can sing. And that smile!

But the top reason he moved me to vote: he's the most entertaining thing going on that show. I'm on the edge of my couch every week. What will his hair look like? What unbelievably inappropriate song will he choose? (although he'd be hardpressed to find something odder for a 17-year-old boy to sing than Gwen Stefani's "Bathwater" that he rocked the house with last week). What will Simon say?

If I thought Sanjaya's being there was pushing aside someone more deserving, I wouldn't have voted. But there isn't one of them I can see putting out a CD I'd actually buy. I think the judges misfired on who they selected for the top 24 - but like Pavlov's dog, I'm programmed to sit in front of the TV every Tuesday night.

While I'm there, I may as well be entertained.

Life List Day 2 - The American Idol Drinking Game

If I’d known how amazing this episode of American Idol would be, I wouldn’t have bothered with the drinking game. That little girl crying! It was so ugly and fantastic! If you missed it, teen heartthrob Sanjaya made a fan cry.

I had flashbacks to the time I met Donny Osmond at a volunteer event—only I was 39, not 10, I more giggled than cried, and he asked me if I had any Advil. (I did—and yes, I AM proud to be Donny Osmond’s over-the-counter drug lord.)

My neighbor, Irina, and I watch AI together every Tuesday. Usually we have a lovely glass of wine. To try something new, I instituted this game:

American Idol Drinking Game

Rules: Take a drink every time...

Anyone says "pitchy"
Randy...
- says "dawg"
- dresses down a contestant for daring to take on a song by the great Whitney, Mariah, Celine or Stevie (as in Wonder)
Paula...
- punches Simon
- says a contestant looks beautiful
Simon...
- feels his man-breasts
- says "if I'm being honest..."

My only disappointment was the judges were on their best behavior tonight. I need to have more reasons to drink! Any ideas for other AI moments we could add to the drinking game?