Video Beat - THE PINOY DREAM ACADEMY'S PERSECUTION OF LAARNI

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

The plot thickens as the Pinoy Dream (Nightmare) Academy mentors continue to persecute Laarni the abused girl from a very poor background who is trying to make her way through life as a singer in hopes of becoming someone who is recognized for her talent so she can earn enough money to return to her home and help her family - BBC THE FOOL? The catch for me was the setup when the BBC indicated that after the Beatles Boutique closed in July 1968 the FOOL disappeared and didn't surface until the BBC did its report 40 years later. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT - IT'S ON!!! GLORY ROAD - THE COMMITMENTS - HE GOT GAME - Recommended TV Listings

Tuesday August 5, 2008

IT'S ON

GLORY ROAD

Glory Road a story about a high school girls basketball coach Don Haskins who took a job at Texas Western University (now the University of Texas at El Paso). The school had no money and he had to live with his family in a dormitory. With no money and the schools losing reputation Haskins had to recruit black players from the inner cities. They were mostly rejects during a time that racial prejudice was at a high and before the assignation of Martin Luther King.

Haskins led the all black starting team to an undefeated record and the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) title in 1966 against an all-white Kentucky team coached by Adolph Rupp who coached Kentucky to four previous NCAA titles . Angelina Jolie's father Jon Voight plays Rupp in the film. Look for it on the Star Movie channel.

THE COMMITMENTS

The MGM channel is again televising The Commitments film. It's about an Irish band that plays soul music. Excellent music and an excellent film that makes you laugh. Many of the scenes remind me of many of my band experiences.

HE GOT GAME

The Boston Celtics won this season's NBA title but did you know that one f its players Ray Allen starred in a film with Denzel Washington? The film He Got Game has aired on the Star Movie channel. Worth a look. Allen won't receive an Academy Award for his performance but he did a decent job.

THE PERSECUTION OF LAARNI

The plot thickens as the Pinoy Dream (Nightmare) Academy mentors continue to persecute Laarni the abused girl from a very poor background who is trying to make her way through life as a singer in hopes of becoming someone recognized for her talent so she can earn enough money to return to her home and help her family.

Her story is of interest to NR readers as it bolted up the charts to the number 10 spot on our NR Top 10 within 10 days of being published. It was the month's fastest rising story.

The shows exploitation of her doesn't make sense. She has talent and is constantly harassed by the program while Inaki a pompous no talent individual is given preferential treatment after he has been an instigator of backstabbing and talking behind Laarni's back to create trouble for her from the start of the show.

The mentors led by head master Ryan Cayabyab came up with a plan that appears to be designed to eliminate Laarni from the contest. They pitted all the contestants in a one on one dual singing competition with the loser automatically being placed on probation and up for elimination from the show. Laarni was assigned to compete against Liezel who was selected as the best talent on the show three weeks in a row. The mentors chose the songs they were to sing. Liezel was given a popular hit song that complimented her voice and viewers could relate to. Laarni was given a song that was complex and not popular.

Laarni was also given double duty and another task of competing against Poy a girl with a good voice who was not selected to be in the competition. After failing to make the cut she was put on a wait list. The mentors chose no voice Inaki over Poy and given her talent as being much better it raised another red flag on how this show is mismanaged.

Poy's is not officially a contestant. Her task is to challenge one contestant a week in a singing dual. If Poy is judged the winner she will win 50,000 pesos (US $ 1,136 @ 44 pesos to $1). The judges chose Laarni as the winner but the mentors were in the back room discussing how they were going to grade their performances.

Go figure, Laarni was given two songs to learn and prepare for the show while Liezel the mentors choice of being the best on the show was given only one. The mentors voted in the back room but the results weren't fair. To be continued……

NOTE: Ryan Cayabyab the headmaster of the program previously was a judge on the Philippine Idol on another network. He later commented on the success of some of those contestants was a result of the determination and deep pockets of their supporters. This was supported on a report published by the Manila Bulletin about contestants who "buy their way to the top".

For those interested enough to check it out go to: http://s2b.pinoydreamacademy.ph

The show is televised in the TFC (The Filipino Channel) on the ABS-CBN Network

THE RIGHT CHOICE?

The Dream Academy psyche is so blatantly bias that the reasons why demanded some research of why does this thinking exist. We did some background checks of leaders of the country who set examples and came across the following information on Wikipedia.

Imelda Marcos: The First Lady - In 1966, Ferdinand Edralin Marcos became President of the Philippines. Imelda Marcos was "snubbed" by The Beatles, who were in the country on tour, when they did not accept an invitation to join the First Lady for breakfast. After the 'snub' was broadcast on Philippine television and radio, all of The Beatles' police protection disappeared.

Brian Epstein (their manger) was forced to give back all the money that the band had earned while they were on the Philippines before being allowed back on the plane. Paul McCartney, speaking in the Anthology series, said that after he'd heard about what she had allegedly been doing, he took some belated pride in snubbing her.

That explains somewhat how some Filipinos think what is right and what is wrong but there's more. To be continued……

BBC THE FOOL?

Who's THE FOOL? Well in one way you could say it's the BBC News department. The BBC aired a feature news segment Saturday and Sunday August 2nd and 3rd on the FOOL who were a group of four artists from Holland Simon Posthuma, Josje Leeger, Ms. Marijke Koegerand and Barry Finch. The focus of the report was that the FOOL opened the Beatles venture into the clothing business with the APPLE SHOP at 94 Baker Street, London W1.

The Beatles gave the "Fool" 100,000 pounds to design and stock the new Apple Boutique. The grand opening was December 5, 1967. The Apple Boutique turned out to be a financial disaster and was closed just 8 months later. On Tuesday morning, 30 July 1968 the staff was told they could give everything away.

The catch for me was the setup when they said after the shop closed in July 1968 the FOOL disappeared and didn't surface until the BBC did its report 40 years later. It was as if through their report the BBC discovered the FOOL as if they came across the Hope Diamond. The report noted that Paul McCartney and John Lennon wanted to get out of the business after there were some concerns about missing clothes and the FOOL were asked to disappear.

In the BBC report they interviewed the group's leader Posthuma in Amsterdam. Why did they leave England after the shop closed he was asked. "It was time to go," he replied.

The report was entertaining but in my opinion misleading since it led the viewer to believe that the FOOL were hiding out for 40 years. To set the record straight and fill in some spaces the FOOL never disappeared. After the Apple Shop closed they moved to Hollywood, California and were very visible. They weren't hiding from anything though the BBC report never stated as such.

Being a musician I met the FOOL through a mutual friend John Perez who was the drummer for the Sir Douglas Quintet known for their 60's hits, "She's About A Mover" and "Mendocino." Quite frankly I wasn't aware of their experience with the Beatles until this BBC report. To me they were just a bunch of colorful artists from Holland who enjoyed music.

I became friends with Simon and Marijke and often visited them in their home that was located on a small street just behind the famed Whiskey A Go Go in Hollywood. It is one of the busiest areas in Hollywood. The FOOL were very conspicuous driving around the area in their white Bentley that was pictured in the BBC report as well as wearing their colorful outfits. We often jammed (played music) with the then noted keyboard player Graham Bond and his wife Diane. It eventually resulted in a recording session with former Hollies and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young band member Graham Nash producing. CSNY's Dallas Taylor played drums on the session.

Through that period of time the FOOL said that they painted the murals on the buildings where the musical play Hair was appearing including the Aquarius theatre in Hollywood, California. After 1968 the musical was performed in several cities around the world in addition to Sydney, Australia in 1969. When they returned from a trip they would call and we would jam and party.

I last visited Simone in 1975 prior to my tour of Europe. He gave me a contact number of his author friend Simone Finkino whom I visited in Amsterdam prior to my visit to Ringo Starr's Estate.

I met Nash again at press conference in 1998 and asked if he had heard from Simon and Marijke. He was in touch with Marijke. He gave her my number and she called me and I visited her boyfriend. She was very visible, very normal and not hiding out.

Simone is now selling his book "A Fool Such As I" and has a website: www.simoneposthuma.com

The point being is the BBC should get its act together in its research department. If they did the work they could have found a lot more accurate information than what they came up with… unless… they way the story was laid out was more sensational. Let's just file this away in the GO FIGURE FILE.

HAIR NOTES:

Hair opened on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre on April 29, 1968. The production closed after a four year run of 1,750 performances, on July 1, 1972. The West Coast version played at the Aquarius Theatre on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles beginning about six months after the Broadway opening and running for an unprecedented two years.

The Los Angeles cast included Rado, Ragni, Robert Rothman, Ben Vereen (who replaced Ragni), Red Shepard, Ted Neeley (who replaced Rado), Meat Loaf, Táta Vega, Jobriath, Jennifer Warnes (Warren) and Dobie Gray. There were soon nine simultaneous productions in U.S. cities, followed by national tours. Among the performers in these were Joe Mantegna and André DeShields (Chicago), David Lasley, David Patrick Kelly and Shaun Murphy (Detroit), Arnold McCuller (tour), and Philip Michael Thomas (San Francisco).

PREVIOUS DREAM ACADEMY 2008 STORIES

TV - VIDEO BEAT MAX Part 2 - CHRISTIAN ALVEAR CUT FROM DREAM ACADEMY - July, 2008
INAKI KNOCKS OFF ANOTHER STUDENT. The Small Boy Wonder was expelled from the Pinoy Dream Academy after losing by SMS vote 43.99% to Inaki 56.01%. Inaki is a person who has connections and much less talent and quality of voice than Christian. - Recommended TV Listings .... Entertainment - TV

TV - VIDEO BEAT EXTRA EXTRA - PART 4 - SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE PINOY DREAM (NIGHTMARE) ACADEMY - LAARNI'S DILEMMA - July, 2008
As teachers the mentors seem to lack the skill of how to nurture individuals. The show is too much about what's wrong with Laarni rather than WHAT'S RIGHT and embellish on that... CNN Dangerous Ground Relations between Australia's Muslim community and the rest of the population are near to exploding. As they face increasing suspicion and hostility from the rest of the nation, young Australian Muslims are being made to feel like foreigners in their own countries. Is Australia's response to terrorism to blame? - The Bloom Fell Off The Freshie Rose - Recommended TV Listings .... Entertainment - TV

TV - VIDEO BEAT EXTRA EXTRA - PART 3 - SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE PINOY DREAM (NIGHTMARE) ACADEMY - LAARNI BASHING - July, 2008
With the constant backstabbing by the evil 18-year-old duo Laarni toughed it out and did well on performance nights while trying to fight off the pressures through the week. Her efforts were not appreciated by the judges who have questionable judging credentials. They preach what they themselves can't put into practice...- The Bloom Fell Off The Freshie Rose - Recommended TV Listings .... Entertainment - TV

TV - VIDEO BEAT EXTRA EXTRA - PART 2 - SOMETHING IS WRONG - THE SETUP OF LAARNI - July, 2008
The producers of the show appear to be salivating and foaming at the mouth as the tension in the house intensified by five of the six member 18-year-old group. And who was to blame? Laarni…. THE APPRENTICE SIXTH SEASON WINNER..- The Bloom Fell Off The Freshie Rose - Recommended TV Listings .... Entertainment - TV

TV - VIDEO BEAT EXTRA EXTRA Part 1 - SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE PINOY DREAM (NIGHTMARE) ACADEMY PICTURE - July, 2008
Season Six THE APPRENTICE HAVE & HAVE NOTS - You can read into things any way you want. For some the glass is always half empty for others half full. In some cases there are people who always see the glass empty. The point being do people look at things in a positive or pessimistic way? For the Pinoy Dream (Nightmare) Academy the glass is always empty to half empty...- The Bloom Fell Off The Freshie Rose - Recommended TV Listings .... Entertainment - TV

TV - VIDEO BEAT EXTRA Part 2 - Dream Acdemy's 18-YEAR-OLD FACTION CHEW UP AND SPIT OUT ELDERS - July , 2008
The backstabbing 18-year-olds have chewed up and spit out several of their elders resulting in two having mental problems and quitting the show due to stress. Another Chivas was hospitalized and then expelled for stress reasons that resulted in repeated hyper ventilating attacks. This past week Miguel 18, who has the best voice in the competition was paired with his girlfriend Bea 18 to sing as a duo. They received the lowest GPA 5.06 and both are on probation meaning one will be eliminated by the voting public and their relationship could be finished or on hold .. - The Bloom Fell Off The Freshie Rose - Recommended TV Listings .... Entertainment - TV

TV - VIDEO BEAT EXTRA Part 1 - OH PLEASE!!! DREAM ACADEMY APPOINTS GERARD SALONGA AS RESIDENT JUDGE??? - July , 2008
"It's about chaos and loving it," he said. Is that Dream Academy's and the Networks problem? It begs the question does the Philippine culture enjoy sadistic treatment and chaos? That's exactly what the Pinoy Dream (Nightmare) Academy is all about. Who is he? Read on. - Dream Academy's BEST SINGERS list .. - The Bloom Fell Off The Freshie Rose - Recommended TV Listings .... Entertainment - TV

TV - VIDEO BEAT Part 2 - DREAM (NIGHTMARE) ACADEMY CRASH & BURNS - July , 2008
DONALD TRUMP & THE APPRENTICE RETURNS - If you've never seen anything self distruct then take a look at this repulsive show called Pinoy Dream Academy. More appropriately it should be named Pinoy NIGHTMARE Academy because that's just what it's turned out to be since now three of its members have left the show due to stress within the first three weeks of the program - The Bloom Fell Off The Rose - Recommended TV Listings .... More NBA.- More Football/Soccer - More Sports.

TV - VIDEO BEAT - DREAM ACADEMY CRASH & BURNS - July , 2008
RINGO STARR Celebrates 68th Birthday on the LARRY KING SHOW - Dream Academy is about sensationalism, controversy and money and not about finding great talent. It's more about producing a controversial TV show that will attract viewers and advertising - The Bloom Fell Off The Rose - Recommended TV Listings .... More NBA.- More Football/Soccer - More Sports.

TV - VIDEO BEAT SUPER MAX - PINOY DREAM ACADEMY DISASTER - June , 2008
USA OLYMPIC BASKETBALL TEAM TV SPECIAL - The Pinoy Dream Academy judges have this mightier than thou attitude whereupon they talk down and humiliate the contestants rather than critique them - The Bloom Fell Off The Rose - Recommended TV Listings .... More NBA.- More Football/Soccer - More Sports.

TV - VIDEO BEAT MAX - NBA FINALS GAMES MOST-WATCHED TELEVISION PROGRAMS IN JUNE - June, 2008
NBA FINALS Game 5 Tops, Game 6 peaked at 11:45pm-12am ET with 19.8 million viewers - NBA... REALITY THIS!!! - TV RATINGS - PINOY DREAM ACADEMY Returns With Problems CONTROVERSY RETURNS - Steve Cropper, David Foster, Quincy Jones & the music business in 1979 - The Bloom Fell Off The Rose - Recommended TV Listings .... - Entertainment - TV

TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia - Thailand time zone. Check your local listings for time and date in your area.

MONDAY

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

10:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

10:00 PM - THE APPRENTICE - Star World

12 NOON - THE APPRENTICE - Star World

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

10:00 PM - PRISON BREAK - Star World

FRIDAY

12:00 NOON - PRISON BREAK - Star World

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

4:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

SATURDAY

8:00 AM - PRISON BREAK - Star World

1:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

6:00 PM - PRISON BREAK - Star World

7:30 PM - HI NET WORTH - (financial magazine show) - CNBC

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

10:00 PM - TRIBE - DISCOVERY CHANNEL

1:30 PM - ASAP - TFC (ABS-CBN) The Philippine Network

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

8:30 PM - HI NET WORTH - (financial magazine show) - CNBC

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

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