They are almost as popular as the game itself…and almost as pricey as the payroll.  This year’s Super Bowl commercials average $3.6 million per thirty second ad.   So what do you get for a few million?   Kids and pets always steal the show.  Doritos gets honorable mention.  These are my picks: 

Most Creative – Volkswagen (“Dogs Strike Back”)

Most Funny – Audi (“Vampire Party”)

Most Tired – Go Daddy (“Paint Hot Model”)

Take a sneak peak of this year’s Super Bowl commercials!

Don Cornelius, creator of the TV music show “Soul Train” was found dead in his home in Sherman Oaks, CA.  He was 75.

Sources say there was no evidence of foul play and that LA Police Department was investigating.  According to TMZ, Cornelius’ death is the result of an apparent suicide.  Read more.

TMZ has more:

“We’re told cops discovered the body at around 4 AM PT. Law enforcement sources tell us … Cornelius died from a gunshot wound to the head and officials believe the wound was self-inflicted.
We’re told Cornelius was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“Soul Train” changed the landscape of television when it debuted in 1971 and ran until 2006.
Officials have notified Don’s family.
Cornelius was 75.”
For more on this story, go to TMZ.

Legendary rhythm and blues singer Etta James was memorialized this weekend in Los Angeles.  The service was filled with musical tributes acknowledging James’ musical genius.  Stevie Wonder sang and played harmonica; Rev. Al Sharpton gave the eulogy, but all eyes and ears were on Christina Aguilera.

Showing up at Greater Bethany Church City of Refuge in a little black number with a plunging neckline, Aguilera delivered a rendition of the Etta James classic “At Last” that would give anyone with ears cold chills.  Aguilera sites James as one of her greatest inspirations…and it shows.  Listen!

This sort of falls in the same category as National Middle Child’s Day or Pandemonium Day…but any reason to eat a good piece of chocolate cake is okay by me! 

Here are some chocolate cake recipes you might try this weekend to celebrate the day.  Some are really easy and fool proof, others may be for the more advanced baker.  Though not listed here, my favorite chocolate cake recipe is the old tried and true Original BAKER’S GERMAN’S Sweet Chocolate Cake recipe on the back of the German’s Baker’s Chocolate you find at the grocery store.  It may look funny the first time you make it, but it sure tastes good…nice and sweet!

Her song “Masterpiece”  (from her new movie “W.E.”) may have beat out Elton John and Mary J. Blige for the Golden Globe for Best Original Song, but critics are saying Madonna may want to stick to the music end of the entertainment  industry. 

“W.E.” is Madonna’s second directing effort of a feature film.   It’s a romantic drama  involving King Edward the VIII, an American divorcee, and a Russian security guard.  Sounds complicated. It opens the same weekend she is to perform for the Super Bowl halftime show.  Check out the trailer.

-The Artist
-The Descendants
-Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
-The Help
-Midnight in Paris
-Moneyball
-The Tree of Life
-War Horse

Other nomination highlights include George Clooney and Brad Pitt both receiving Best Actor nominations.  Best Actress nominations include Glenn Close, Viola Davis, Meryl Streep, and Michelle Williams

The 84th Academy Awards ceremony will take place Sunday, February 26, 2012 in Hollywood California.

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Here are some additional stats to further tell the story:

U.S. homes with Blu-ray players are up 40 million or 38% higher than in 2010.

HDTV’s are also growing, now topping 74.5 million.

In the future Blu-Ray players will become more portable.

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Even with the slow start the reality show easily won it’s time slot.  This is the second year with Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez as idol judges along with Idol veteran Randy Jackson.

It’s early in American Idol’s 2012 run but it makes you wonder if programs like The X Factor, and NBC’s The Voice are taking some of the steam out of American Idol.   Stay tuned.

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