  I happen to be an incorrigible couch potato. However, these days I'm not as bad as I used to be in the pre- urlLink Astro era. Back then, I would generally plan my days (or nights) based on what's showing on TV. Nowadays only a live telecast of a football match (specifically if it involved urlLink Liverpool ) would force me to clear my calendar - not that I'd usually have anything planned in the first place.. Nevertheless, I still do have a sort of a Must-See-TV list. These are shows that I'd try my darndest to catch.
Fortunately some of these programs are repeated a few times (on Astro) so I have some flexibility to "watch them when I want", as an urlLink AXN catchphrase goes. Top on the list is urlLink CSI . Not the urlLink Miami version, with their pretty-plastic-posing-performances that passes for acting these days. The original is witty, intelligent and often intense as well. Who'd have thought a show with so much geekiness would prove to be a worldwide hit? I've always believed that you could create a compelling show on trout fishing as long as you had strong, believable characters with good chemistry.
Well-written stories help too, of course... Next up, urlLink Alias . Season 3 just premiered on Malaysian TV yesterday (Monday) night on urlLink 8TV . As is usual in the Alias universe, each episode ends with a cliffhanger, as did yesterday's episode - and boy, was it a doozy! Now, most TV series do not employ this method, so for me, it's certainly a refreshing change. Plus urlLink Jennifer Garner is very hot as urlLink Sydney Bristow . Some people may question her acting chops, but she does pretty well in her role, IMO.
Those who watched yesterday's episode will remember the words she spoke to urlLink Michael Vaughn towards the end, her lines delivered with the right amount of sadness and fury, and in that moment I'd bet that many viewers would have been rooting for her and consigning Vaughn to the rubbish bin. I only hope AXN picks up Season 3 soon so I'd have more of a choice in selecting when to watch it. urlLink The Amazing Race 5 finally arrived on AXN last week after a long hiatus. Now, for the most part, I've lost interest in reality TV shows. I gave up on urlLink Survivor about 2 seasons ago, and was never pulled in by Joe Bob Jane Millionaire Bachelor Whatever. But the thing that I like about the Amazing Race is its unpretentiousness.
It really IS a reality TV show. There is no transparent, devious manipulation of settings and scenarios to provoke certain reactions from participants. All the cameras do is faithfully record teams racing each other around the world completing tasks in order to reach the finish line first (or at least not last), while working with teammates and occasionally others as well. There's rarely any "playing to the camera" moments, since everyone is too busy worrying about the task at hand. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why the show won the inaugaral urlLink Emmy for Best Reality TV Series. Finally, there's urlLink Malaysian Idol .
I started watching this show specifically because of my prior interest in urlLink American Idol . I like the concept of a straight-up talent show where the contestants are judged SOLELY on their talent and singing ability. There isn't any behind-the-scenes hidden cameras recording what they did, what they said, what they ate, etc. All I want to know is whether these people can sing. I was delighted when urlLink Fantasia Barrino won AI3 because it proved (to me, at least) that talent will win out in the end. It is with this hope that I'm compelled to stay tuned to MI.
There are a number of people who question the qualifications (and the performances) of the urlLink judges - Roslan Aziz, Fauziah Latiff and Paul Moss - but regardless, their jobs are mostly over. They've selected the 33 participants who will then go on to the next phase where they'll be singing live on national TV and it'll be up to us to vote who will go on to the finals. As an aside, I'm hoping that MI, like AI, will allow toll-free voting (for landlines) along with the expected SMS voting. If not, then there'll be no votes from me. I'm sorry, but I ain't spending RM30 a month on prepaid cards just to see it go down the drain. But if toll-free voting is set up, then I already know who I'm voting for.
Her name is Jacklyn Joshua, and she's got the voice, the style, and the personality to be the first ever Malaysian Idol. At least that's my view for the time being lah . If she screws up later, takde chance lah beb ... For the rest of ya MI fans, remember AI host urlLink Ryan Seacrest's words: Vote For The Talent! Well, that's my Must-See-TV list. What's yours? 
