Lopez Blogs

Surprised that I can actually cobble something together, considering I hardly watch any telly these days, particularly since the arrival of this fab new computer at EuropeCrazy HQ :)

But that actually means I can watch more Swedish telly instead, buffering-permitting. Such as "Let's Dance" on TV4, which ended a couple of weeks ago, on the same weekend that I was over in Gothenburg.

After the departure of Willy "John Sergeant of Swedish dance" Bjorkman, it was left to Mattias Andreasson and Claudia Galli to fight it out for this year's title....and it was Mattias who danced away with the trophy! Congratulations to Mattias - he did very well! His Michael Jackson-style show dance to "Beat It" was the icing on the cake. The following day, all the Swedish papers seemed to concentrate more on runner-up Claudia who, it appeared, didn't take defeat all too well and was very upset. Here are Mattias and Cecilia celebrating their win. (Photo courtesy of http://www.tv4.se/)

Of course the lovely Mattias is one-third of Swedish boyband sensations E.M.D. who turned up on the first in the new series of "Så Ska det Låta" on SVT. This very popular music quiz gives various Swedish singers and other celebrities the chance to show off their lyrics knowledge and of course it gives them the opportunity to burst into spontaneous song! Anyway week 1 saw E.M.D. compete against Cookies N' Beans. You can watch the show at SVT's website, it will remain available until 4th July 2010: http://svtplay.se/v/1934194/sa_ska_det_lata/del_1_av_12?cb,a1364145,1,f,-1/pb,a1364142,1,f,-1/pl,v,,1958314/sb,p102967,1,f,-1


Don't forget you can also watch the subsequent shows in the series at SVT Play. (http://www.svtplay.se/)

The next show on 16th May is a Norway vs Sweden contest - with none other than Alexander Rybak and Maria Haukaas Storeng competing against Shirley Clamp and Robert Gustafsson.

"Glee" has ended for now on E4/Channel 4 and what a nice place to end at! (Sectionals). I've really enjoyed this show but the only bit of it I don't enjoy is - wait for it - the songs. You probably think I'm a bit strange to say that, but I know I'm a bit strange so that's nothing new :)

Briefly back to Swedish telly now - "Jakten på Julia" which is the search to find a female lead to play opposite Mans Zelmerlow in the "Romeo & Juliet" musical which launches at the beginning of 2011 in Stockholm. This TV show has, according to the Swedish tabloids, been a ratings flop.

Of course this TV format has been very popular over recent years in the UK, helping to find a Maria (Sound of Music), a Joseph (Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), a Nancy (Oliver!) and now they're searching for a Dorothy for the Wizard of Oz. You may be surprised to know I'm not watching "Over The Rainbow" (BBC-1) although usually catch the last few minutes whilst waiting to watch "Who Dares Wins" (my fave TV gameshow at the moment, probably because I find the lists very easy to complete!) anyway I've switched off the latest Lloyd-Webber venture, because a) it's all so stale now, b) I can't stand "The Wizard of Oz", and c) I'd rather have another all-male talent show. Although if they did, I doubt if they would ever find another Lee Mead.....;)