Blog Posts by Lyndsey Parker

After a couple of lame episodes packed with '60s-inspired musical numbers that made the entire show seem like a community-theater production of Hair, NBC's a cappella competition "The Sing-Off" triumphantly returned, and retuned, this week with its '80s/'90s-themed "Guilty Pleasures" night. And I don't feel the least bit guilty saying that this episode was, if I may lapse into '80s-speak, like totally rad. This was "The Sing-Off" at its bitchen best. Sure, it was still as cheesy as ever, but this was the kind of cheese I could really sink my teeth into.

For the first time this season, all of the teams competed on the same show, albeit still in their individual brackets (with one team apiece from bracket 1 and bracket 2 getting the boot). The eight teams that survived all belted out solid performances, but there were two crews that really made me want to moonwalk and cabbage-patch to their beatboxed beats. I would actually say that one of these performances, by Pentatonix, even tied

Last night, the rest of the top 32 "X Factor" contestants gave their poolside patio performances at the Judges' Houses, and among those contestants were some of this season's biggest frontrunners, like Chris Rene, Melanie Amaro, Jazzlyn Little, Marcus Canty, Tiah Tolliver, and Josh Krajcik. Simon, Nicole, L.A., and Paula sure are going to have their work cut out for them when they each pick their final four on Tuesday.

Which brings me and my colleague Matt Whitfield to the burning, elephant-in-the-room question: Why does Paula get to choose ANYONE??? It's clear than none of her groups are as worthy of a place in the top 16 as many, or ANY, of the solo acts in the girls, boys, and under-30's categories. And this seems horribly unfair. Quotas suck.

Watch Matt and I kvetch about that, and discuss our top 16 picks and predictions, in our latest "Day After" chat above...and feel free to post your own opinions on the message board below!

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This morning, "American Idol" heartthrob Paul McDonald shattered the hearts of thousands of female fans when he announced on Twitter: "Yesterday was the most amazing day of my life..everything was perfect. I'm officially a MARRIED MAN! Woohoo!"

That's right--sorry, McFangirls, but actress Nikki Reed has made an honest man out of Paul, after the pair met this past April on the Red Riding Hood premiere red carpet (during "Idol's" top 13 week) and began a whirlwind romance. The star-crossed couple got engaged in June, after just two months of dating.

"We couldn't be happier!" Paul told Us Magazine. "[We were] surrounded by our family and friends. We're so glad this day has come!"

According to Us Magazine, Paul and Nikki were married Sunday in a private Malibu ceremony in front of 100 guests. Us reports that Nikki's wedding gown was bedecked with 100 diamond buttons and a 72-inch train, though there's no word yet if Paul commissioned another $4,500 rhinestone Nudie suit from Nashville

"The X Factor" took over the airwaves in a special Sunday-night slot this week, and while it remains to be seen how the show's many recent scheduling switchups due to Fox's baseball broadcasts will affect the show's ratings and Simon Cowell's lofty dreams of executive-producing the biggest hit show on TV, I do think he's got some potential hit singers on his hands, regardless. Some of the series' biggest early frontrunners--Marcus Canty, Melanie Amaro, Chris Rene, Jazzlyn Little, Tiah Tolliver, Josh Krajcik--put on their poolside performances this Sunday at the Judges' Houses, and I think quite a few of them are sure to advance to the top 16.

It's just a crying-like-Stacy-Francis shame that four of those top 16 slots must be filled by lackluster contestants from Paula Abdul's category, the groups...but I'll save that rant for the end of this article. Until then, here's how Sunday night's singers fared:

GIRLS - mentored by Simon Cowell, in France

Jazzlyn Little - The lovely scenery of

On Wednesday night, a rain-delayed baseball game forced Fox to preempt "The X Factor," a programming decision that practically caused me to take a bat to my television screen. (The only sporting competitions I personally like to watch on TV are ones in which the grand prize is a record deal, a modeling contract, or a bachelor's rose.) So this meant my Yahoo! colleague Matt Whitfield and I were forced to wait until Thursday to watch the first Judges' House episode of "The X Factor," and until today to talk about it. So, was it worth the wait?

Um, YES. This episode (cue Stefon-from-"SNL" voice) had everything: ridiculously glamorous mansions, special celebrity guests, amazing performances, Dexter Haygood going nuts, James Kenney channeling David Cook, Simone Battle dressed as Elvira Queen Of The Damned, etc.

Now's let's just hope Sunday's special "X Factor" episode doesn't get preempted, so Matt and I can come back Monday for another chatfest! Until then, check out our latest "Day

The "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 8 tour is underway, and judging from this new Minneapolis tour stop vlog posted by champion Melanie Moore with her castmates Marko Germar, Jess LeProtto, and Nick Young, the S8 kids are having a great time on the road.

Sadly, in Minneapolis both Sasha and Missy had to sit out the show due to illness, so the cute video features Melanie and the gang sending their fellow fallen dancers some get-well wishes. But for the most part, everyone seems in good spirits here. Hopefully their good moods will be contagious!

See Melanie, Marko, Jess, and Nick (plus a blink-and-you'll-miss-it Ricky Jaime cameo) in this exclusive backstage clip...and watch this space for more tour vlogs from the "SYTYCD" touring cast.

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On Wednesday night, America's alleged favorite pastime, baseball, trumped America's other favorite pastime, watching aspiring superstars compete for a record deal. In other words, due to a rain-delayed baseball game on Fox, "The X Factor" was preempted. Baseball rained on Simon Cowell's parade.

But there was no rain when the show returned Thursday, as the top 32 contestants headed to the Judges' Houses in various sun-soaked locales (with multi-tasking host Steve Jones somehow managing to magically be in all four houses at once!). L.A. Reid and his boys decamped in the Hamptons, Paula Abdul and her groups convened in Santa Barbara, Nicole Scherzinger and her over-30's went to Malibu, and Simon and his gang of girls were stationed in...France. Hmmm. Doesn't sound quite fair, huh? But hey, it's his show, I guess he can film his segments wherever he wants.

The three Stateside judges were assisted by special celebrity mentors as well--Paula by Pharrell Williams, L.A. by Rihanna, and Nicole

Last night, "America's Next Top Model: Allstars" hosted a photo-shoot challenge during which the contestants dressed up and posed like that late, great fashion plate, Michael Jackson. Doe-eyed Allison portrayed an Afro-topped Jackson 5-era Michael, Dominique was a white-suited Smooth Criminal, various models donned Victory Tour sequined jackets, and clownish Lisa thrilled the crew with her crazy moves on set, but her rocker-ish poses failed to capture the authentic "Thriller" vibe she was going for.

Guest-judging the proceedings was Michael's sister and frequent reality-TV participant LaToya Jackson, who didn't seem to find it the least bit weird that she was watching a gaggle of gangly girls in Jheri-curl wigs and brown facepaint, or that this episode would air in the middle of Dr. Conrad Murray's manslaughter trial. LaToya is used to weirdness, I guess.

In fact, LaToya enjoyed the "ANTM" girls' depictions of Michael so much, she cast the deciding vote to not send anyone home this