Opinion: overcome

Thứ Tư, 15 tháng 2, 2012

Can an 'infectious' new song help Nicki Minaj overcome her 'Grammy debacle'?

The rapper releases the radio-friendly "Starships" days after being blasted for her painfully provocative performance at the Grammy Awards To call Nicki Minaj's performance at Sunday night's Grammy Awards controversial would be an understatement. The singer-rapper staged her song "Roman Holiday" as a strange religious-themed spectacle complete with a mock confession, an exorcism, stained glass windows, and dancing bishops — culminating in a divine levitation scene. The Catholic League reflexively blasted both the singer and Grammy producers Tuesday, while wincing critics have dismissed the performance as a "low-budget spin-off of The Exorcist." Now, Minaj is following up the stunt by dropping an easier-to-swallow new single called "Starships." (Listen to it below.) Critics are praising the release and its timing, saying that the "infectious" track is good enough to make everyone forget about Minaj's "Grammy debacle." Is it?

You bet: "Oh Nicki, all is forgiven," says Melinda Newman at HitFix. Quite frankly, after witnessing your Grammys misadventure, "we had to scrub our eyeballs." But "Starships" is the "perfect anecdote: A club-ready smash that is also destined for the top of the pop charts." Like Minaj's super-hit "Super Bass," this earworm of a track mixes her bombastic rapping style with catchy sung hooks. It has all the ingredients of a modern radio hit: "It's as if LMFAO, Taio Cruz, and Minaj had a baby and this is what popped out."
"Listen: Nicki Minaj's 'Starships' is headed straight into the stratosphere"

"Starships" isn't perfect, but it's on the right track: That trainwreck Grammy performance was "a wasted opportunity," says Amanda Dobbins at New York. Why would someone who clearly wants to be a crossover pop megastar use her Grammy platform to debut a "hookless, vaguely misogynistic, not-that-great track" like "Roman Holiday"? Arriving just in time, "Starships" will likely be the radio hit Minaj needs — catchy and danceable and sufficiently PC to appeal to young fans who loved "Super Bass," if too scatter-shot and a bit of a mess.
"Nicki Minaj is at least trying to solve her hit problem"

This isn't the route she should be taking: Minaj's "current musical approach is vexing," says Kyle Anderson at Entertainment Weekly. Judging by her Lady Gaga-esque Grammy performance and this newly released Lady Gaga-esque dance track, she's trying to become a mainstream pop artist. But that's not her strength. Minaj is "ridiculously talented" when it comes to rapping, so why is she squandering that skill? Rather than "pander to an audience with super-glossy pop production," she should be owning her niche as the sole popular female rapper in the game. "That's who she is."
"Nicki Minaj releases new song 'Starships': Hear it here"

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Can Cougar Town overcome its terrible name?

Critics are raving about the hilarious return of the Courteney Cox sitcom. But prospective fans may not be able to get over the show's cringe-inducing title After numerous delays and schedule changes, the third season of the Courteney Cox-led sitcom Cougar Town finally premieres Tuesday night on ABC. (Watch a spoiler-heavy trailer below.) During the episode's opening credits, the show's cheeky title card pops up: "Yes, it's still called Cougar Town. We're not happy about it either." Of course, producers know quite well that the series' name turns off viewers who would otherwise enjoy Cougar Town's quirky humor. The series has long outgrown its original Cox-dating-younger-men premise, and has evolved into a slice-of-life comedy about an endearing group of friends and neighbors who enjoy drinking wine. Cougar Town's cast and creators have been on a massive promotional campaign to convince TV watchers to tune in to the show despite its off-putting name. Critics agree that the "goofy-sweet-smart" comedy deserves to be a hit. Will it be?

The show is certainly good enough: Cougar Town boils down to this, says Alan Sepinwall at HitFix: "Good show, bad title." Over the course of its first two seasons, the sitcom blossomed into "an incredibly goofy, incredibly charming comedy" — and no longer has anything to do "with its horrible, horrible title." The show's sense of humor is idiosyncratic and sure. Too bad the title implies that it's all "about Courteney Cox having sex with younger guys."
"Good show, bad title: Cougar Town returns for season 3"

Besides, it really has nothing to do with cougars: Forget TV's tired "will they or won't they" scenarios, says Maureen Ryan at The Huffington Post. Cougar Town thrives on the 'we definitely are' scenario." In the upcoming season, Cox's character gets engaged to her boyfriend, and they'll make an episodes-long trek toward a wedding. The show is about how mature couples "deal with imperfections and problems" in their relationships — all with the help of some of the sharpest, most clever writing on TV.
"Cougar Town returns with its wine-drinking wit intact"

Cougar Town is set up for failure: It may be ABC's scheduling — not the show's name — that kills Cougar Town, says Hollywood Chicago. ABC has "a wealth of quality comedy," with Modern Family, Happy Endings, Suburgatory, and The Middle on Wednesdays, when Cougar Town used to air. Cox and Co. have been shifted to Tuesdays behind the Tim Allen sitcom Last Man Standing. The pairing couldn't be more off; there's nearly no overlap in demographics or tone between the two comedies. Also not wise: Premiering season three on Valentine's Day, when many members of the show's young, female-heavy audience will be out on dates.
"TV Review: ABC's Cougar Town finally returns with strong premiere"

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