Idol chatter

"American Idol" has rounded the corner and we're headed into the Top 10 countdown this week. Overall it's been a pretty middling season overall, there's no one who really stands out as a marketable talent who's the full package, though there are quite a few who have a bunch of things working for them. Jason is one of my favorites, he's so unlike the other contestants it's refreshing, and reminds me of someone I would actually be friends with. Michael from Australia is another favorite, he has good taste in music, which has been revealed in his song choices, and he's pretty darn cute. David Cook is the one to watch I think. He's a little pretentious, but anyone who can make me like Lionel Richie's "Hello" has got it going on. As for the girls, well, there's not much to say, unfortunately. Carly has a really good voice, and everyone else is totally forgettable except for Brooke, who is probably the only contestant who I'd consider buying their album.

For the birds

HITCHCOCK REVISITED: The recent Hollywood edition of Vanity Fair featured one of their best photo portfolios ever, stars in famous Hitchcock scenes. Jodie Foster playing Tippi Hedron in "The Birds" is my favorite, but also great are Scarlett Johansson and Javier Bardem as Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart in "Rear Window."

The Hills are alive with the sound of backstabbing

IT'S BACK! Twenty-seven hours and counting! "The Hills" makes it's much-anticipated return tomorrow night. Will Kristen really make an appearance in the coming episodes? Is it really kaput between Spencer and Heidi, Lauren and Brody? Whitney and Teen Vogue? We can't wait to see how it all unfolds!

Welcome to the jungle

With only one episode remaining in Candice Bushnell's new series "Lipstick Jungle," I can safely say that it's really not that good. It's improved from being stupid enough to offend to being utterly non-offensive in every way, which is a good thing, I guess, but which has rendered the show totally unremarkable. It's not as wildly unbelievable or smugly self-satisfied as "Cashmere Mafia," but it's just as far-fetched. Lindsay Price plays a likable young designer who's swept off her feet by - no kidding here - Andrew McCarthy, who has enough money to drop $50 million on a painting. I meet those kinds of guys everyday, don't you? Brooke Shields plays a film producer who is trying to balance her family and career - yawn. And Kim Raver plays a magazine editor having an affair that began as sexual harassment. It's all very "Unfaithful," but not nearly as well-acted. So, all in all, if you haven't caught an episode yet, don't worry, you haven't missed much. You're safe sticking to "Sex and the City" reruns.

Get on the bus

THE TIME OF THE SEASON: I've always loved these old VW buses. If only my parents had one so I could've inherited it and drove it until it died, I would've been thrilled! But I have another chance, as Volkswagen is releasing a new bus later this year. At just $20,000, it's not exactly cheap, but totally reasonable for an amazing slice of the past.