X Factor Results: Gary Barlow returns with Take That to perform These Days

 

The boys are back: Take That performed their new single These Days on the X Factor Results Show tonight (November 23)

Boy band-turned-man band Take That entertained the audiences on the seventh live Results Show for X Factor tonight, as they performed their new track These Days.
It was a poignant moment for Gary Barlow, as he made his comeback on the show which he used to be a judge on.
Joining his bandmates – Howard Donald and Mark Owen – on stage, the boys looked suave in black suits with white detailing, as they sang and danced for the audience. We wonder what it took to get Gary to show off his moves as he is notoriously sensitive about his prowess on the dance floor!
These Days, which is Take That’s first single as a trio, following Jason Orange’s departure, shows off a new side to the boys, with funky guitar riffs combining with a pop feel.
Asked how it felt to return to the show, Gary said: “It’s brilliant being back. Brilliant being back, it really is. I’ve missed everyone, I really have.”
Howard spoke about life as a trio now Jason Orange has left, and told Dermot: “It’s going fantastic actually, we miss Jason thought. But it’s going really well.Bit nervous but it’s going well so far.
“We felt nervous about how people would react, but the fans have been absolutely amazing, so thanks for that.”
And the third member of the trio talked about the boys’ plans to go on the road next year.
“It’s been a while, it’s been four years since we toured but we’re going on tour next year in April and hopefully people will come and see us.”
After that the guys were asked who they were bakcing to win, with Gary picking Over 25s act Fleur East, Mark going for either Fleur or Andrea Faustini, and Howard adding: “I’d say Andrea, but if it’s to go and see anyone live I’d go and see Stevi [Ritchie].”

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American Music Awards: 8 stars who stole the show

 

At the American Music Awards on Sunday, there was plenty of love for international artists.

British boy band One Direction was a big winner at the 2014 ceremony, taking home both the artist of the year award and the trophy for favorite pop/rock band, duo or group.

Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, who walked into the ceremony as the lead nominee with six nods, also won two awards on Sunday, including the favorite rap/hip-hop album honor.

"This award is the first award I've ever won in my entire life, and it means so much to me that it is for best hip-hop because that's what inspired me to move to America and pursue my dreams, and it's what helped me when I was a teenager to escape and to get through my life and to better times," Azalea told the audience while accepting her trophy.

Meanwhile, soulful British singer Sam Smith, who showcased his pipes during Sunday's ceremony, was awarded the favorite pop/rock male artist trophy.

That's not to say that homegrown artists were left out in the cold: Katy Perry, Beyonce and country stars like Luke Bryan also got their due.

But some stars shone brighter than others during what wound up being a rather tame affair. Once the AMAs were all said and done, here's who left everyone talking:

1. Taylor Swift

Talk about star power. On Sunday, music's reigning pop princess, Taylor Swift, received the Dick Clark Award of Excellence from none other than Diana Ross.

Swift, being the smart young woman she is, recognized the importance of having the trailblazer there, and honored Ross in her acceptance speech.

"I'm just so blown away to have just received an award from Diana Ross, who over the course of her career stood up for herself so many times in a time when it was not popular for a woman to stand up for herself," she said. "I'm so honored."

Swift, who performed her single "Blank Space" on Sunday, also thanked her fans for pushing sales of her new album "1989" well past one million. The album is not available on the streaming service Spotify, and during her speech for her Dick Clark award, Swift appeared to be sticking to her guns.

"What you did by going out and investing in music and albums is you're saying that you believe in the same thing that I believe in, that music is valuable and should be consumed in albums, and albums should be consumed as art and appreciated," Swift said.

2. Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez promised to perform her single "Booty" at the AMAs, and the singer/actress gave a set for the ages.

Iggy Azalea was there, too, but even she admitted that J. Lo (and her flexibility) stole the show.

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Omar Epps, Stars in New ABC Series, ‘Resurrection’

Omar Epps is back on TV, and he plays a very different role from the one he played as a doctor on House. In Sunday night’s premiere of Resurrection, Epps’s character–U.S. immigration officer J. Martin “Marty” Bellamy–returns an 8-year-old boy who drowned 32 years prior to his family in Arcadia, Missouri, after he is found in a rice paddy in rural China. When another of the townspeople returns from the dead, Bellamy sticks around to lead the investigation into what is going on.

So begins a new series that certainly sounds like it will pull at all the appropriate emotional viewer strings needed to thrust it into ratings contention, with the exception of one glaring caveat. It is airing opposite AMC’s The Walking Dead, which just happens to be prime time’s number one TV show. It certainly sounds, however, as though its appeal will rein in those viewers who can’t bring themselves to watch undead zombies in various states of decomposition–right before they go to bed. Resurrection isn’t grotesque as The Walking Dead can be. It appeals instead to those yearning for mystery, a bit of science fiction and the possibility of a God versus Satan scenario. Plus it pulls at the heartstrings of those who have lost loved ones.

Omar Epps’s character is determined to stick around in Arcadia to find out exactly what is going on–and similarly to his character on House, he exudes a combination of compassion and no-nonsense composure. Check out a longer preview of the series.

 

But what might happen at the end of this season? Have the producers thought that far ahead to the “endgame or even how to sustain this show for more than a season?”
If something can’t be done to move Resurrection to a new time slot it may never need to worry about being resurrected for a second season–in fact, it might not even make it through it’s first season’s run. But in the meantime, House fans can revel in the fun of seeing Omar Epps back on TV–even if only for a little while.
You’ve no doubt seen the previews for Resurrection. Will you tune in or are you a diehard fan of The Walking Dead instead?

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