Blogcritics Author: JM Jordan

Free-Radicals: What They Are and How They Work

JM Jordan — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:08:37 EST

A brief lesson on free radicals and you.
Most of us probably remember the term "free radicals" from our high school chemistry class, a class we used more as a way to pass notes to our friends and less as a way to learn about the ins and outs of the atom. While free radicals may not have been important to us in our teenage years, most people find that when age increases, our vigilance for...

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

TV Dramas: The New 2007 Shows That Will Put You On The Edge Of Your Couch

JM Jordan — Thu, 9 Aug 2007 19:25:00 EDT

Ah drama, where would we be without it? Families wouldn't feud, lovers wouldn't fight, and college sorority houses all over the world would go out of business. Love it or hate it, drama is a part of our lives, and a part of our television. The following is a list of the dramas to look forward to this fall: get your overreactions ready.Private Practice: The spin-off of Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice was McPlugged in the spring when Grey's devoted a half an episode to its introduction. A series that follows Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) as she exchanges her umbrella for sunglasses, the show is set in a Los Angeles clinic. Backed by an all-star cast, zealous fans, and excellent writers, Private Practice, Wednesdays at 9 on ABC, has the potential to make perfect. Women's Murder Club: James Patterson, one of the best mystery writers in modern history, brings his books to life Fridays at 9 on ABC. Featuring four San Francisco women - a D.A., a medical examiner, a detective, and a reporter - The Women's Murder Club shows what women can accomplish, and solve, when they put their heads together. For those who are avid readers of Patterson's novels, chances are the books will be better (they always are), but this show is certainly worth a chance. What would Alex Cross think if ya didn't?Cane: When his character died on NYPD Blue, we all felt like we had lost a BFF. Well, Jimmy Smits is back in a new drama about a Cuban-American family at the head of a South Florida rum and sugar operation. As Alex, the adopted son of the patriarch Pancho (Hector Elizondo of seemingly every Garry Marshall film), Smits serves as the foil to Pancho's biological son Frank (Lost's Nestor Carbonell). When offered a deal from their rivals, the family finds itself torn between protecting their legacy or getting out of the sugar business altogether. In one way or another, Cane - airing on Tuesdays at 10 on CBS - is going to be sweet. Life: We've all been there -- put in jail for a crime we didn't commit. Okay, maybe not, but Detective Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis) sure has. After years in prison, he rejoins the police force and sets out to give himself a second chance at living. Possessed of a unique outlook - one that appreciates the little things and takes nothing for granted - Crews finds himself rejoining the job, and the life, that he once loved. Airing on Wednesdays at 10 on NBC, Life also features Adam Arkin as Crews' former cellmate. Trust us, he looks good in stripes.Moonlight: Not to be confused with Moonlighting (sorry Misses DiPesto), Moonlight is about Mick St. John, a PI with vampire powers. But, unlike most vampires (at least all the ones I know), Mick uses his powers for good: he sinks his teeth into helping people. Stuck between the world of vampires and the world of mortals, Mick tries to balance what is and what could have been. Moonlight, which airs on Fridays at 9 on CBS, is sure to brighten up the dark reputation of the undead; please, hold the garlic.

Jennifer Jordan is an editor and staff writer for http://www.phdrinkingwater.com . A fitness buff, she simply could not live without consuming a lot of water everyday. Yes, she prefers water even to wine.

TV Laughs: New Comedies on the Fall 2007 Schedule

JM Jordan — Thu, 9 Aug 2007 16:50:01 EDT

With fall about a month away, TV fans find themselves shouting in exhaustion, "It's about time!" Let's face it, reruns make us long for the days before television existed, when people entertained themselves by listening to radio shows or (gasp!) talking to their families. Now, as August quickly turns to September, fans, with remote control fingers well rested, turn their attention to the new shows awaiting them. The following is just a brief taste of the 2007/2008 comedies hoping to make you laugh, or at least keep you from changing the channel. Cavemen: Straight from the GEICO Insurance commercials comes the comedy about three archaic friends and their quest to fit into a modern world. Touching on stereotypes and the relationships of people from different backgrounds, Cavemen gives viewers a chance to hear, and cheer, for the most obvious of outcasts. Airing on Tuesdays at 8 pm on ABC, Cavemen may have a chance if it can add to its advertising success. If not, at least they have that "inventor of fire" thing on their resume. Once Cavemen debuts, there is a good chance that the GEICO gecko will become angered and demand a series of his own. He could be the next Godzilla, ya know?The Big Bang Theory: From one of the minds behind Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory explodes. A comedy featuring Leonard (Roseanne's Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Judging Amy's Jim Parsons), this series depicts two guys with the scientific knowledge of an Albert Einstein and the social skills of Michael Scott, particularly when it comes to women. When their newly single, pretty neighbor moves in, Leonard and Sheldon are forced to realize that science isn't the answer to everything. Based on the fish out of water concept, this series is like a geek out of pocket protector story. Airing on Mondays at 8:30 on CBS, The Big Bang Theory should have some humorous, and widely endearing, moments. Back to You: Kelsey Grammer returns to TV, hoping to bring with him the charm and appeal that has made him a primetime sweetheart. Back to You, airing on Wednesdays at 8 on FOX, features Grammer as Chuck Darling, a conceited, tail-chasing man, and Patricia Heaton as Kelly Carr, an uptight, rigid woman, in the roles of a 1990s TV news duo that dominated the airwaves. After Chuck leaves for bigger and better things, he is forced to return after his reputation is hindered by an outburst that shows up on the Internet. Humbled, embarrassed, and even bored, Chuck reunites with Kelly to host the news and begins questioning his off-the-air behavior. Perhaps he should call a radio psychiatrist to talk about his problems?The Rules for Starting Over: From the hilarious, often jaw-dropping minds of the Farrelly Brothers comes a series about recently single friends forced to begin anew in their thirties. Whether divorced once or three times, all friends find themselves in the same boat: a boat that wants to get remarried. All members of the group, sans one, are male. The sole female is a 30-year-old lawyer who represented all three men during their divorces. She's never been married, but found herself dumped after being engaged for seven long years. Actually premiering after fall, in Spring 2008, the premise of The Rules for Starting Over sounds fairly tame, yet, with the Farrelly boys in tow, chances are it will be anything but. The Return of Jezebel James: A series about estranged, dissimilar sisters who are brought together in motherhood, The Return of Jezebel James, Wednesdays at 8:30 on FOX, features Parker Posey as Sarah Thomkins, a strong, determined, and intelligent women with a career as a children's book editor. Despite a life filled with success, a brown-nosing assistant, and a casual love affair, she find her life lacking something: a child. She decides to have a baby then she learns she can't. Enter Lauren Ambrose as Coco, Sarah's younger, eccentric, free-spirited sister. After weighing her options, Sarah asks Coco if she will carry her baby. Though Coco initially refuses, the realization that Sarah has turned Coco's imaginary childhood friend, Jezebel James, into a book helps her change her mind. It seems to me that most siblings would reply to a surrogate request such as this with the heartfelt, sisterly question: "What will you give me?"

The Most Quotable Movies

JM Jordan — Thu, 2 Aug 2007 21:46:00 EDT

Movies, we love to love them. They offer us an outlet to laugh, to cry, to hope, and to dream. They also offer us a chance to quote. Some movies have us at hello with one or two great lines, while others have so many great remarks, we don’t even know how to pick out the best. The following is our list of most quotable films, movies filled with golden lines that quickly turn us into copycats. Old School: From the never-gets-old “You’re my boy, Blue” to Will Ferrell’s ode to married life (“We're going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wall paper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time),” Old School has some of the funniest quotes since Caddyshack. Instead of focusing on one person, the quotes are equally divided and all of the characters utter delightful diction. Even Blue has some zingers. Who knew he had it in him? Swingers: Vegas, baby, Vegas. Even people who have never seen Swingers quote this movie. A cult classic, particularly for the male species, Swingers follows a group of wannabe Rat Packing friends as they pick up girls and take on Vegas. A film that launched the careers of several actors, including Vince Vaughn, Swingers helped compound the swing revival and taught us that Mikey’s the big winner: quoting this movie is simply “money.” When Harry Met Sally: A 1989 film that propelled both Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan into their roles as America's sweethearts, When Harry Met Sally features Harry (Crystal) and Sally (Ryan) from the time they meet on a cross-country carpool to their continual chance meetings over the next decade. Though Crystal arguably has some of the best quotable lines in this film, mimicking Ryan’s fake orgasm scene is sure to turn more heads than a regular ol’ quote ever will. The Notebook: Sure, it’s not funny “ha-ha,” but if you want a movie filled with the quotes of love, open The Notebook. A story that is told both in the past and the present, The Notebook features an elderly couple, a wife, Allie, stricken by Alzheimer’s and a husband, Duke, who reads her their life - and love - story. Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook is filled with some of the most heartfelt, romantic quotes in cinema history. The Godfather: The mother of all movies, The Godfather also housed the mother of all quotes. Filled with intensity, drama, and some of the best actors of the 20th century, The Godfather made us an offer we couldn’t refuse and, since 1972, people have found themselves quoting this film in a variety of situations, weddings, speeches, movie scripts, and, of course, whenever anyone is found sleeping with the fishes. The Breakfast Club: Ah, an oldie, but a goodie. A movie that propelled members of the Brat Pack into pop culture, The Breakfast Club – a film that was almost entirely set in a high school library – was known solely for its dialogue. Whether it was quotes from the stereotypical nerd – “Well, what I had said was I'm in the math club, the Latin and the physics club... physics club.” – or the rebel bad boy – “Why does Andrew get to get up? If he gets up, we'll all get up, IT'LL BE ANARCHY!!!” – The Breakfast Club lives on forever thanks to those of us who have it memorized.

Why We Hate and We Love Soap Operas

JM Jordan — Thu, 2 Aug 2007 12:02:10 EDT

When I was growing up, my sister was a huge Days of Our Lives fan, a fact that did not get past me without mockery. While she watched her soap opera, I made fun of her. I uttered snide comments as she talked about the show’s greatness, I hid the Soap Opera Digests she purchased at the grocery store, and I rolled my eyes whenever she rushed home from school to turn on DOOL, thus keeping me from watching a much more realistic show (Duck Tales) in the process. As much fun as I made of her, the tables were turned when I began watching Days of Our Lives in high school. Turns out, I kind of like it too. The vacuum of television series, it had a way of just sucking me in. Still, Days of Our Lives, and really any soap opera, is not without its faults. Anything but grounded in actuality, soap operas have a bit of a conundrum going on. Their implausibilities make the shows both appealing and annoying, giving them a uniqueness no other genre can maintain. For the following reasons, they are shows we both love and hate. SORAS: SORAS, or Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome, is the term given for the plethora of characters who are three-year-old toddlers one year, and in their late twenties a mere two or three years later. We all know time flies, but not quite this quickly. While this concept is unbelievable, it is also a bit amusing, particularly when a child suddenly becomes older than their parent. The Work Situation: It seems that most people on soap operas have very noble professions: police officers, doctors, scientists, businessmen and women. Noble professions, but not busy ones. The amount of time these characters actually work may be incredulous, but it sure is appealing. I would love to be a soap opera character and only work an hour a week. The Recurring Plot Lines: There are certain shows that need to be watched on a semi-regular basis in order to be followed. Soap operas aren’t one of them -- the plot lines move at sloth-like speed. Ever plagued by drama, on any soap opera there is sure to be the same serial killer, the same rabid arsonist, or the same devious mastermind wreaking havoc on the citizens of a town at any given time. But, then again, if these things didn’t exist, soap operas wouldn’t be soap operas. They’d be Leave it to Beavers. The Expedited Judicial System: The judicial system in America is anything but fast, until it comes to soap operas. On soap operas, people aren’t only tried and convicted at ridiculously quick rates, but they are also put up for execution in the blink of an eye. Still, oddly enough, those who are put on death row are often only there because they are framed; the true soap opera villains seem to evade arrest at all times. Figures, they are celebrities. The Pretty People: Perhaps the biggest reason we both love and hate soap operas is because of the pretty people. They are both fun to watch and hard on the ego. In an attempt to diminish the self-esteem of viewers, nearly everyone on soap operas is gorgeous. Thanks a lot, DOOL; I’m now going to go stick my head in the oven. For those unable to watch their favorite shows on television, iPod and soap operas are in cahoots and many, including my beloved DOOL, are now available for downloading.

Stop the Presses: Celebrities We Are Completely Sick of Hearing About

JM Jordan — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 17:12:16 EDT

From CNN to the Enquirer, from Larry King to Barbara Walters, celebrities are in the news constantly. This is intriguing, to a point, but it often changes from intriguing to just annoying. This is particularly true when it comes to certain celebrities, celebrities that are shoved down our throats whenever our mouths are even slightly open. The following is a list of some of the celebrities who are always in the news, even when they shouldn't be. Lindsay Lohan: Is it just me, or is Lindsay Lohan's recent arrest an attempt on her part to make sure other scandalous stars don't get anything she doesn't? I can just picture her, over a hushed conversation with her manager, saying, "Paris got to go to jail; now I want to!" But, of course, she is innocent of any wrongdoing -- those drugs in her pocket weren't hers. I'm sure it's true, I know I often have cocaine in my pocket, only it's not so much cocaine as it is pocket lint. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen: As a twin myself, it's possible that the Olsen twins make my list because I'm jealous: hell, my twin sister and I couldn't even score a Doublemint commercial, much less a billion dollar empire. Sure, they were cute when they were young and they obviously have made the right business connections, but do we really need to hear about everything they're doing? Now, do yourself a favor, and talk about my sister and me instead. Britney Spears: I have to admit, the press coverage of her recent OK magazine interview was pretty entertaining. I particularly enjoyed the image of Britney wiping grease from fried chicken on her several thousand dollar rented dress. But, why is everything Britney does reported? At first it was mildly interesting, now it's just kind of sad. Brangelina: Yes, he's gorgeous. Yes, she's beautiful. But still, I'm a little Brangelina'd out. Now, I will admit, it's nice to see positive press about celebrities: their humanitarian efforts are wonderful and we can only hope that the publicity of their actions will help others follow suit. Yet, do we need to hear about their vacations or turn the pages of every newspaper hoping for a daily update on a possible wedding? No, I'd rather just turn to the funnies. TomKat: Ah, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, wherever there's a magazine, there will be the face of these two. I half expect to someday see the front page of the New York Times and read, "Daughter Suri has Bowel Movement: TomKat Very Pleased." Making fun of Tom doing his Oprah couch dance was entertaining and his "Placenta: it's what's for dinner" campaign was crazy enough to be intriguing, but now TomKat is getting sort of boring. I long for the days when Tom was more public with his insanity.

Dear Paris, Here's An Idea...

JM Jordan — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 16:49:35 EDT

For the past few weeks, I've been astonished to find there's been no front page news on the life and times of Hilton heiress, Paris. I mean, with America at war, the health care system in disarray, and a presidential election creeping up, what else could possibly be more worthy of breaking news than Paris's recovery from her time in the slammer? We're all praying for you, dear Paris; get well soon.I'm sure I'm not the only one surprised by this; half of America probably expects Paris to randomly appear on every news station, perhaps speaking at the next State of the Union Address, where - when asked about her feelings on Iraq - she replies, "I'd love to go there; I've never been to Africa" and then concludes her speech with her signature catch phrase, "That's hot." Her dad beams with pride, her mom applauds enthusiastically, her dog Tinkerbell piddles from excitement. Right -- and the world goes further to hell in a hand basket; a designer hand basket, mind you.Sarcasm aside, I, like so many other people, simply don't get why Paris Hilton is such a big deal. So, she's a heiress to the Hilton hotel chain. So what? I'm set to inherit my dad's one-man janitorial company and you don't see me getting attention (and he has a really expensive mop, people!). So she's blond, tall and thin. I can dye my hair, wear heels, and throw up after I eat. If that doesn't get me Paris-like attention, I guess I could just stop wearing underwear. I will miss you, Fruit of the Loom. Truth be told, the whole Paris fascination is a bit of an enigma: she's not a big deal, she just makes herself one and that, in turn, makes everyone bite -- even if they don't like the taste. Look at this article, I'm doing it, too. The Guinness Book of World Records hit the nail on the head in their 2007 edition when Paris broke the record for "Most Overrated Person." Still, it's attention, albeit negative attention, and that's probably enough for Paris to deem it "hot." I guess the whole Paris thing just makes me mad. Here is a person who doesn't need to worry about a job or paying rent or whether or not she can afford her health care premiums. She's been born with a silver spoon in hand and yet can't even seem to dish out anything good. Is she helping make the world a better place? Does she take her elevated status in society and use it to help others by dedicating her life to a worthy cause? Other than the few license plates she may have pounded out in prison, has she really contributed anything tangible to society? Seems to me the only things she adds to our culture are scandals. I don't know about you, but I'm just about all scandaled out. They're so "Amy Fisher."So, dear Paris, here's an idea. Instead of parading around in shirts with that oh so clever (and grammatically incorrect) catch phrase of "Thats Hot. Your Not," go give back to the world. In lieu of hopping from party to party (all while trying to avoid those "pesky" laws) go and do something that helps others. Take your money, take your fame, and take your undeserved power and volunteer at a Children's Hospital, fight for animals, donate money to help the African AIDS crisis, head a fundraiser that helps cancer research. Don't do this for five minutes once a month; include them in your life's dedications. When you start to do this, your biggest dream will come true: you'll find that you really are a big deal after all.

The Best Workout Songs

JM Jordan — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 09:02:18 EDT

Music is essential to working out: anything that distracts you from the burn in your legs or that cramp in your side surely benefits your inner gym rat. Only music – without having to concentrate like you do watching television or reading a book - has the rare ability to make working out seem a little less like work. However, some music is better to take to the gym than others. Take the story of my sister, for instance. When she got her iPod she was determined to fill it up with fist pumping, leg running workout music. Instead, she made an error and realized, once she arrived at 24 hour fitness, that the only song she had programmed was by Bette Midler. For some reason, she just didn’t seem to really strain and sweat to the powerhouse song that is “The Rose.” This brings me to my point, some songs belong in the gym and some songs, such as “The Rose” belong as far away from anything physical as possible (Dear Bette Mrs. Midler, please don’t kick my butt for saying so, even though I know you could). The following is our list of the best work out songs, songs that are sure to help you get up and run, get up and bike, get up and go, or get up and row. "Eye of the Tiger" - Yes, you all saw this coming. “Eye of the Tiger” is the epitome of a good workout song, one that can make you try just a bit harder without even realizing it. Released in 1982, this song has become the anthem of sports teams and organizations everywhere. It is also routinely played in gyms and athletic training areas. Putting it on your iPod will make Rocky proud. "St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)" - A song that is perhaps best known as being the theme of the similarly titled 1985 film St. Elmo’s Fire was originally written for Rick Hansen, a wheelchair bound Canadian athlete touring around the world to raise spinal cord injury awareness. Performed by John Parr and adapted for film, “St. Elmo’s Fire” became an instant hit, earning a Grammy nomination along the way. "Under Pressure" - Who knew David Bowie and Queen would make such a nice combo? “Under Pressure,” released in 1981, climbed the charts in several countries. Remembered for its baseline (no you youngsters, that wasn’t written by Vanilla Ice), “Under Pressure” is the epitome of a great pop song. It’s also one you can identify with as you work out, feeling that you are under pressure to run one more mile or lift one more weight. Almost Anything by Van Halen - One of the Patriarchs of Hard Rock, Van Halen routinely releases songs that are sure to help you bust a move. A band with a sound like no other, each Van Halen song is uniquely livening. Try listening to “Jump” as you workout with a speed rope. You might be surprised the difference it makes. "You Shook Me All Night Long" - Arguably AC/DC’s greatest hit, “You Shook me All Night Long” is regarded as one of the best songs of its decade. Released in 1980 and still great today, “You Shook Me All Night Long” is impossible to listen to without feeling a little more pumped… and ready to shake a little something yourself.

The Best TV Shows to Watch in Syndication

JM Jordan — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 21:38:15 EDT

These days, it seems that shows really never go off the air: they live forever in syndication. It’s not exactly the same, with every show labeled a “rerun” and being one you have likely seen (or maybe have memorized), but syndicated shows allow our favorite series to exist in places other than our hearts. Still, syndication isn’t for every show, or at least it shouldn’t be. The following is our list of the best TV shows to watch in syndication, shows that are constantly just as funny and just as endearing as they ever were. Seinfeld: George. Kramer. Elaine. Jerry. A show about nothing was nothing but spectacular. From the Soup Nazi to George’s mother, from Uncle Leo to Elaine’s penchant for deciding if dates were “sponge worthy,” from Puddy to Peterman, Seinfeld touched on the absurdities of life in the most sensible manner. This show only gets better with age, unlike the marble rye bread Jerry stole from a helpless old lady. The Simpsons: If Seinfeld were a cartoon, it would rival The Simpsons. Filled with a jumble of original characters ("Hi-diddly-ho, neighbor"), The Simpsons continually remains animated in every sense of the word. Brilliantly written, it is filled with episodes you sometimes have to watch four or five times just to get every joke. This is one series that (when it does go off the air) will never get old... much like the characters themselves. Full House: Uh, just kidding. I know -- how rude. The Wonder Years: Generally thought of as a comedy, this show was filled with dramatic coming of age moments. Set in the late sixties and early seventies, it follows Kevin Arnold as he struggles with the trials of growing up. His family – a hippie sister, a bullying brother, a stern father, and a stay at home mom – his allergic to everything best friend, and his childhood crush all have importance in his life. A show that was heartfelt and honest, The Wonder Years is a series people can relate to at any age. Saturday Night Live: Saturday Night Live has certainly had its ups and downs, with some episodes making us laugh till we cry and others making us long for a Golden Girls marathon to watch instead. But, the thing about SNL is when it’s good, it’s great. The series that brought us Nick the Lounge Singer, Wayne’s World, The Church Lady, Buckwheat, Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey, Matt Foley, Pat, the Spartan Cheerleaders, and Stuart Smalley, Saturday Night Live reruns are good enough, they’re smart enough, and doggone it, people like them. Northern Exposure: One of those shows that just didn’t get enough respect when it was on the air, syndication gives us a chance to right a wrong. A series that follows a New York doctor as he tries to make a life in a small Alaskan town, Northern Exposure was often bizarre, usually eccentric, but always original. It also had a unique way of being completely out there and totally real at the same time. The way it depicted the clash of people from different upbringings was right on the money. This is one show people will always be glad to expose themselves to, time and time again.

Busted: Musicians Who Sang The Wrong Tune

JM Jordan — Tue, 3 Jul 2007 18:24:40 EDT

Just as there are highly talented musical acts that never make the big time, there are musical acts that make the big time, only to never go anywhere. Some of these acts make the big time and make a fool of themselves, while others make the big time, make an impact, and make a quick getaway. Some are lucky enough to have at least one hit, while others are stuck with a few mediocre hits that come back to haunt them decades later. Some are loved for a while, only to fall from grace quickly, and some just never gain acceptance. The following is our list of the top five busted musicians, bands and solo acts who sang the wrong tune. Milli Vanilli Ah, Milli Vanilli. Just like our parents remember where they were when Elvis died, those of us who were children of the 1980’s remember where we were when Milli Vanilli’s secret came out. The singers that brought us “Girl You Know It’s True,” Milli Vanilli won a Grammy in 1990 for Best New Artist. This, however, was short lived after it was revealed that their talent had less to do with music, and more to do with lip singing. Still, those of us who were true fans didn’t blame it on the duo; we blamed it on the rain. Ashley Simpson While performing on Saturday Night Live in fall of 2004, Ashley Simpson was caught pulling a “Milli Vanilli” when it was revealed she wasn’t actually singing. This was followed by an ill-received performance at the Orange Bowl and a slug of condemnation. Still, Ashley Simpson has two huge things working for her: she’s released two number one albums and she’s young enough to bounce back from any criticism accrued. Plus, she can benefit from having her manager, who also happens to be her father, on her side. He seems just a tad crazy. O-Town A group that came together through the reality series, Making of the Band, O - Town got on the literal band wagon just a bit too late. As the boy band fad started to fade into the night, O-Town found that they were unable to gain substantial success. The group was together for only a short time and though they did release two albums, O-Town disappeared from the scene as quickly as they came into it. This is, however, old potatoes: the manager of the group, Lou Pearlman, apparently has more pressing worries on his mind. Eddie Murphy We love his stand up, we love his movies, we even love when he lends his voice to an animated donkey. We just don’t love his music. Though he can actually hold a note quite well, the songs Eddie Murphy released have to be tunes that even he looks back on and says…”wha???” Still, Eddie did have two hits with “Put Your Mouth on Me” and “Party all the Time.” The latter song was voted, in 2004, as number eight on the list of 50 Worst Songs of All Time by Blender magazine.GerardoAfter playing the part of Ricky in the film, Can’t Buy me Love, Gerardo Mejia became a singer… sort of. He was known more for his sexy appearance, his six packed abs, and his dance talent than he was for his booming voice. Still, he reached the top of the charts with his hit “Rico Suave,” a hit that – admit it – you know you’ve sang along with. One of the first performers to merge Latin and English, Gerardo occasionally calls himself the “Latin Frank Sinatra.” Uh…. right.