We are happy to give the readers of America's Line a taste of our weekly syndicated odds column about all things Hollywood.
Enjoy!!!
HOLLYWOOD & LINE
Entertaining Odds
by Benjamin Eckstein
----------------------------------------------------
What religion will A-Rod embrace after breaking up with Madonna?
Kimilsongism/Juche 2/1
Scientology 5/1
Wiccan 10/1
Rastafarianism 12/1
Pentecostal Snake Handlers 15/1
Judaism 18/1
Zoroastrianism 25/1
Oprahism 30/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
The news that Madonna and Alex Rodriguez, A-Rod to most of the world,
have been seeing each other secretly is not the biggest surprise. This
Bronx Bomber has been seen, and photographed, out and about with other
women, but it's the Kabbalah that takes the relationship to a WHOLE
other level. When these two part ways, and they will, A-Rod will need
to find solace in another belief system. So, of course, the home office
in Vegas has done the appropriate research, and attached odds.
If you DON'T think we here at "Hollywood & Line" work hard for our
readers, who else would have uncovered Kimsongilism or Juche. Exsisting
only in North Korea, BIG SURPRISE, and named after the country's "Eternal
President," this relgion claims about 19 million followers, putting it in
the middle of the chart, well below the most populous religion in the world,
Christianity, but well above Neo-Paganism, a religion that claims just
around one million adherents. And for those that are sticklers for detail,
yes, Neo-Paganism is not actually a religion but an umbrella term for a
few that include Wiccan, Druidism and Norse Mythology.
We feel strongly that A-Rod could turn to Kimilsongism/Juche, but since
he would probably not move to North Korea, he would ask for, and receive,
permission to establish a branch in the United States, and call it A-RODSIM!
Scientology has a number of high profile actors and musicians in the fold,
and snagging A-Rod would be a HUGE coup for Tom Cruise and the rest of the
Operating Thetans.
Even though it's not a formal religion, millions of people worship at the
alter of Oprah every day, and after all, she's only a few years older than
Madonna, so ya never know.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
How much money will C-Rod, Cynthia Rodriguez, get in the divorce settlement from A-Rod?
Over/under $42.5 million
----------------------------------------------------
How much money will Guy Ritchie get in the divorce settlement from Madonna?
Over/under $56.5 million
----------------------------------------------------
What will happen first?
Madonna & A-Rod breakup 2/1
Madonna collects social security 50/1
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Benjamin Eckstein is president of America's Line, a daily syndicated odds column that
appears in 125 papers across the United States and Canada, with a readership of more
than 10 million. Eckstein has appeared on the Colbert Report, ABC, CBS, Fox News, MSNBC
and Comcast Sportsnet. On radio, Eckstein jousted with Imus and contributed to the Dan
Patrick Show on ESPN. If you have questions, suggestions, or a spectacular block of odds,
please e-mail Eckstein at:
ben@americasline.com.
----------------------------------------------------
COPYRIGHT 2008 BENJAMIN ECKSTEIN
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111; (816) 932-6600
---------------------------------------------------
HOLLYWOOD & LINE
Entertaining Odds
by Benjamin Eckstein
----------------------------------------------------
What will be the title of the next reality show for Denise Richards?
"Denise Richards: Are you my next sperm donor" 2/1
"Denise Richards: Charlie and the tranny factory 3/1
"Denise Richards: Are you freakin' kidding me" 5/1
"Denise Richards: How to scrape by with two
children on ONLY $50,000 a month" 10/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen have spent almost three years in an ugly, mean,
and for those watching from a distance, one of the most pathetic yet at times hilarious,
divorce/custody battles in recent memory. Richards is about to hit the air with a new
reality show, "It's Complicated."
If you have not followed this epic war, it contains everything you could possibly
ask for. And now, Richards has raised the bar to a new level. Various media outlets
have reported that she sent an e-mail to Sheen's fiancee begging for Sheen's sperm so
they could have another child.
However, Richards told the New York Post, "I don't want Charlie's prostitute-tranny
infested sperm. I have two beautiful kids. We'll leave it at that." She also denied
sending the e-mail. Sheen's reps have said that they will bring in a computer expert to
diagnose the e-mail and verify that it was sent by her address and it was neither altered
or edited. Computer DNA does not lie.
So, while you are enjoying the Memorial Day weekend, please be safe, put on your
sunblock, and thank your lucky stars that you are NOT Denise Richards OR Charlie Sheen.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Which "American Idol" star will sell the most records?
David Cook even
David Archuleta 3/1
Jason Castro 5/1
Brooke White 10/1
Carly Smithson 12/1
Michael Johns 15/1
Syesha Mercado 25/1
Sanjaya 500/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
As we have seen in the past, and Taylor Hicks is the perfect example, the winner of
"American Idol" does not always go on to have the strongest career, or, sell the most
records. In this case however, our odds suggest that David Cook WILL blaze to the top
of the charts.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Update City:
Winner, winner, chicken dinner. Chalk up two more winners for "Hollywood & Line."
We posted David Cook as the favorite to win "American Idol" over two months ago, when
every one else was still on little David's bandwagon. Not to brag, but, guess who was right
on this one?
We also tabbed Kristi Yamaguchi as the favorite to win "Dancing with the Stars" right
from the start of the show, and the ice queen danced off with the mirror ball.
Our success rate is a tad over 85%, so you can forget about the stock market. If you're
looking for a rock solid investment, just follow our odds.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Benjamin Eckstein is president of America's Line, a daily syndicated odds column that
appears in 125 papers across the United States and Canada, with a readership of more
than 10 million. Eckstein has appeared on the Colbert Report, ABC, CBS, Fox News, MSNBC
and Comcast Sportsnet. On radio, Eckstein jousted with Imus and contributed to the Dan
Patrick Show on ESPN. If you have questions, suggestions, or a spectacular block of odds,
please e-mail Eckstein at:
ben@americasline.com.
----------------------------------------------------
COPYRIGHT 2008 BENJAMIN ECKSTEIN
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111; (816) 932-6600
---------------------------------------------------
HOLLYWOOD & LINE
Entertaining Odds
by Benjamin Eckstein
----------------------------------------------------
From the ECK-files:
It has been quite a while since we gave out one of our coveted BEBU statues. What
is the BEBU? Why is it so coveted? The BEBU is an acronym for (B)en (E)ckstein's (B)ig
(U)psteins. Notice the CAPS and parents. It is coveted, almost revered, because we have
only given out three since the inception of "Hollywood & Line" in 2006. A BEBU is awarded
to someone or something, that is SOOO GOOD, or SOOO BAD, that there is really no room for
improvement. When you get a BEBU, you can't go any higher, or, lower.
Just to recap, the first BEBU, and raison d'etre for the award (didn't think I could
rock the French eh?) was the GREAT Maury Povich. Our guy Maury took home the BEBU for one
of his famous themed shows, "Did my man cheat on me because I have one leg?"
The second BEBU went to the city of Atlantic Beach, Florida, for changing a billboard
in front of a local playhouse that was advertising an upcoming play, "Vagina Monologues."
Not wanting to scar the children of their city, they changed vagina to hooha. And the board
read,"HOOHA Monologues." Can't make this stuff up folks.
Our third BEBU was snapped up by the immortal Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, who
claimed, but later recanted, that he snorted his father, mixed with a few dollops of cocaine.
The fourth BEBU goes to, drum roll please......CNN newsman Richard Quest, who was "found
involved in mischief with another man." Mischief? MISCHIEF? Are you kidding me. He was in
Central Park at 3:20 in the morning, with some meth in his pocket, a sex toy in his boot,
and a rope that was tied from his neck to his genitals. Don't know about you, but to me,
that goes WAY, WAY, FREAKIN' WAY beyond mischief. So far beyond that all we can say is....
BEBU to you Richard Quest!
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Who will win "American Idol?"
David Cook 6/5
David Archuleta 7/5
Jason Castro 15/1
Brooke White 25/1
Syesha Mercado 40/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
Still have the Davids, Cook and Archuleta in the lead, with Cook holding down the top
spot by the stubble on his chin.
It's hard to believe that Brooke White wasn't bounced after forgetting the lyrics, and
starting the song over. Also hard to believe that Carly Smithson was sent packing, from a
talent perspective. If you compare her voice to Brooke's voice, it's literally NO contest.
Kinda like comparing the New York Yankees to the Bad News Bears. But as we mentioned the
last few weeks, the tatoos, Carly's and her husbands, were just TOO much for the tweenage
voters to handle. We have nothing against some ink on the body, but when you start decorating
your face, like Carly's husband, it's all over.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Who will win "Dancing with the Stars?"
Kristi Yamaguchi 1/2
Jason Taylor 3/1
Mario 5/1
Shannon Elizabeth 18/1
Cristian de la Fuente 18/1
Marissa Jaret Winokur 50/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
Week after week, the judges would say how impressed they were with Marlee Matlin for her
courage and perseverence, but never really commented on her lack of technical dancing skills.
The lack of skills finally caught up, and Marlee had to turn in her dance shoes.
Kristi Yamaguchi will not be turning in her dance shoes until she glides to the title. She
is SO far superior to the rest of the crowd, that it would take a Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan
moment to derail this brilliant Olympic gold medal figure skater.
Next to go...Marissa Jaret Winokur.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Benjamin Eckstein is president of America's Line, a daily syndicated odds column that
appears in 125 papers across the United States and Canada, with a readership of more
than 10 million. Eckstein has appeared on the Colbert Report, ABC, CBS, Fox News, MSNBC
and Comcast Sportsnet. On radio, Eckstein jousted with Imus and contributed to the Dan
Patrick Show on ESPN. If you have questions, suggestions, or a spectacular block of odds,
please e-mail Eckstein at:
ben@americasline.com.
----------------------------------------------------
COPYRIGHT 2008 BENJAMIN ECKSTEIN
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111; (816) 932-6600
---------------------------------------------------
HOLLYWOOD & LINE
Entertaining Odds
by Benjamin Eckstein/Lil Benj!
----------------------------------------------------
Who will win "American Idol?"
David Cook 2/1
David Archuleta 2/1
Jason Castro 5/1
Carly Smithson 10/1
Brooke White 15/1
Syesha Mercado 50/1
Kristy Lee Cook 100/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
Stunner! Last year, after the first "Idol Gives Back" show, the producers chose
not to eliminate anyone. This year, not so nice. Michael Johns was bounced out of
the competition, and EVERYONE was shocked. He was CLEARLY superior to the bottom
three, and almost as good as the top four. Apparently, his age, 29, and his accent,
the Aussie twang, did not work in his favor.
Still think that David Cook is the dominant talent in this year's group, but
little David Archuleta has the tween-agers going crazy. Of course, the tweens have
not done as much research as we have here at "Hollywood & Line," because if they
had, they would find out that David A. has been performing since he was TWO years
old, and is as smooth, borrowing a line from Stewart Scott on ESPN's "Sports Center,"
as the other side of the pillow.
Our odds have been very favorable to Carly Smithson since the start of the show,
but we have dropped her down into the fourth slot because she just does not seem to
be connecting with the kids. Her voice is BEYOND amazing, but the tatoos and the
angry looks are gonna get her kicked to the curb.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Who will win "Rock the Cradle?"
Jesse Blaze Snider 2/1
Lucy Walsh 2/1
Lara Johnston 3/1
Landon Brown 5/1
Crosby Loggins 8/1
A'Keiba Burrell-Hammer 10/1
Lil B. Sure! 12/1
Chloe Lattanzi 15/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
What a delicious premise for a show. Get the kids of rock stars to strut their stuff
in front of an MTV audience, and find out which acorn has fallen closest to the tree.
"Rock the Cradle" mixes in the NEXT generation with their aging superstar parents. As an
aging parent myself, it's nice to see the old folks still have that IT factor. Actually,
and this is not a dis to the young kids, but Bobby Brown, Dee Snider and Hammer are ALL
GREAT, and probably should have their own show. They ARE good TV.
Jesse Blaze and Lucy Walsh top the odds chart, and should be able to rock the cradle
right to the finale. Lara Johnston is in the top three, while Landon Brown and Crosby
Loggins are knocking on that door. A'Keiba Burrell-Hammer ain't gonna be wearing the crown,
although we would like to see her in some of Hammer's famous parachute/pajama pants.
Lil B. Sure!, as you can see by my new byline at the top, IS my favorite name in
the competition. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking about changing my name, my wife, and
all the kids to LIL B Eckstein! How great is that. And to have the exclamation point after
the name is the icing on the cake.
Olivia Newton-John's kid, Chloe Lattanzi, is our personal favorite, but dead last on
the odds chart. Apparently, the judges don't get her angst, her pain, and most certainly,
her LIPS. Whew. If you have not tuned in, how can we explain it? Well, think of Angelina
Jolie's lips, ON STEROIDS! Then paint 'em fire-truck red. Ouch. Lips aside, conflicted
Chloe is the next one booted off.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Benjamin Eckstein is president of America's Line, a daily syndicated odds column that
appears in 125 papers across the United States and Canada, with a readership of more
than 10 million. Eckstein has appeared on the Colbert Report, ABC, CBS, Fox News, MSNBC
and Comcast Sportsnet. On radio, Eckstein jousted with Imus and contributed to the Dan
Patrick Show on ESPN. If you have questions, suggestions, or a spectacular block of odds,
please e-mail Eckstein at:
ben@americasline.com.
----------------------------------------------------
COPYRIGHT 2008 BENJAMIN ECKSTEIN
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111; (816) 932-6600
---------------------------------------------------
HOLLYWOOD & LINE
Entertaining Odds
by Benjamin Eckstein
----------------------------------------------------
Who will be the surprise unannounced guest on "Idol Gives Back?"
Kim Jong-il 2/1
Barack Obama 3/1
Madonna 4/1
Bruce Springsteen 5/1
Hillary Clinton 8/1
Bob Dylan 10/1
Rolling Stones 15/1
Tito Jackson 20/1
Jermaine Jackson 20/1
Janet Jackson 20/1
Michael Jackson 25/1
Jackson 5 50/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
If you're wondering why we have put Kim Jong-il as our top choice, we, like the folks
at "Idol Gives Back," are all about HOPE. What a great statement for peace and cooperation
if they had Kim Jong-il open the show. Maybe with one of the operas that he composed, or
one of the elaborate musical numbers he stages at his 17 different palaces. We understand
that il, the name he prefers around the palace in Pyongyang, is quite the renaissance man,
and a HUGE fan of "American Idol." Just one note of caution. il, who is a monster movie buff
(his collection is said to number more than 20,000 tapes), had a famous director from South
Korea and his actress wife kidnapped in order to build North Korea's film industry. So, with
his fledgling TV station, NoKo 1, having trouble attracting viewers, our ears in Asia have
told "Hollywood & Line" that il is thinking of bringing his own version of "Idol" to the screen.
Beware Simon Cowell. Watch your step Paula Abdul, and keep your eyes peeled Randy Jackson.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Who will win "American Idol?"
David Cook 3/2
David Archuleta 3/2
Carly Smithson 5/1
Michael Johns 6/1
Brooke White 15/1
Jason Castro 15/1
Syesha Mercado 20/1
Kristy Lee Cook 500/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
Not the greatest week for the "Idol" kids. Kinda tough to take Dolly Parton
and make it work for such a young group.
David Cook had some health issues leading up to his performance and after the
show, making a quick trip to the hospital to get checked out. Fortunately, it did
not affect his singing, and he turned in another solid effort.
Little man, David Archuleta, stepped it up as well, and with his support from
all the tweenies, should hang around right to the end.
She survived another week. It's still amazing. Kristy Lee Cook is the weakest
of the remaining contestants, but still manages to sneak through, even though she
is in the bottom three each week.
Even though the boys are 1-2, we still believe that we have not seen the best
of Carly Smithson. Simon, who is THE MOST HONEST, by a mile, and generally spot-on
as the British say, with his critiques, feels the same way. And if Simon says it,
then it must be so.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
How much will "Idol Gives Back" raise for charity?:
$60-$70 million 25-1
$71-$80 million 15-1
$81-$90 million 8-1
$91-$100 million 3-1
$101-$110 million 5-1
$111 million or more 8-1
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Benjamin Eckstein is president of America's Line, a daily syndicated odds column that
appears in 125 papers across the United States and Canada, with a readership of more
than 10 million. Eckstein has appeared on the Colbert Report, ABC, CBS, Fox News, MSNBC
and Comcast Sportsnet. On radio, Eckstein jousted with Imus and contributed to the Dan
Patrick Show on ESPN. If you have questions, suggestions, or a spectacular block of odds,
please e-mail Eckstein at:
ben@americasline.com.
----------------------------------------------------
COPYRIGHT 2008 BENJAMIN ECKSTEIN
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111; (816) 932-6600
---------------------------------------------------
HOLLYWOOD & LINE
Entertaining Odds
by Benjamin Eckstein
----------------------------------------------------
Who will win "American Idol?"
David Cook 2/1
David Archuleta 3/1
Carly Smithson 5/1
Michael Johns 8/1
Brooke White 10/1
Jason Castro 10/1
Syesha Mercado 20/1
Ramiele Maluby 25/1
Kristy Lee Cook 500/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
She survived another week. Amazing. Kristy Lee Cook pulled out the American flag
and a little country number called "God Bless the USA," so there's NO WAY that the
judges could vote her off. But she IS the WEAKEST link of the remaining nine.
Now for some risky business. Most of the world, and almost every other odds site,
has the little man from Utah, David Archuleta, as the favorite to win the Idol crown.
We beg to differ. As you can see on our odds chart, our choice is David Cook. His
version of "Billie Jean" was exceptional, and he IS, WITHOUT a doubt, one of the two
most talented performers in the group. The other is Carly Smithson, but she has to
get past the anger, and maybe cover her tatooed arm. And for sure, request that the
producers do not EVER show her husband again, who has more tatoos then the entire
Denver Nuggets basketball team.
Last year, we moved Jordin Sparks to the top of the odds chart while most folks
were still going ga-ga over Melinda Doolittle and Blake Lewis. As you know, Sparks
won. So even though David Archuleta has all the tweeny-boppers, David Cook is THE
big star of season seven.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Who will win "Dancing with the Stars?"
Kristi Yamaguchi 6/5
Jason Taylor 9/5
Mario 4/1
Marlee Matlin 8/1
Cristian de la Fuente 10/1
Shannon Elizabeth 15/1
Priscilla Presley 20/1
Adam Carolla 20/1
Marissa Jaret Winokur 35/1
Steve Guttenberg 40/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
Last week, we said, "Priscilla Presley will not come close to winning the competition,
no sixty something ever has, but she does get our nod for the scariest makeover." Well we
have to apologize to the King's ex-wife because we found out that her makeover was done by
some wannabe miracle worker, Dr. Daniel Serrano, or as some disgruntled patients refer to
him, 'DR. JIFFY LUBE!' Dr. Jiffy reportedly used industrial-grade silicon, which left some
looking like the Joker from the Batman movie. Dr. Jiff was sentenced to 18 months in federal
lock-up for conspiracy, smuggling and use of unapproved drugs. Sorry Priscilla, but next
time, how about asking for a couple of references before you decide to alter that gorgeous
face.
As for the dance contest, Kristi Yamaguchi, the Olympic gold medal figure skater, was
just about flawless, and NFL star, Jason Taylor, laid down a great routine. These two are
now the clear favorites, and if past history is a guide, a skater (remember Apollo Anton
Ohno) and an NFL star (running back Emmitt Smith) both walked off with the disco ball.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Update City:
Winner, winner, chicken dinner. Chalk up another winner for "Hollywood & Line," and as they
say in the horse racing industry, this one was wire-to-wire. When "H&L" first posted the odds
for "The Celebrity Apprentice," we put the hard-driving Englishman, Piers Morgan, at the top
of the list. We had Piers on top EVERY week the rest of the way, and installed him as a HUGE
favorite last week to win the title. He did, and we're THRILLED. That puts our success rate
just a tad over 85%. Forget about about the stock market. If you're looking for an investment,
just follow our odds.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Benjamin Eckstein is president of America's Line, a daily syndicated odds column that
appears in 125 papers across the United States and Canada, with a readership of more
than 10 million. Eckstein has appeared on the Colbert Report, ABC, CBS, Fox News, MSNBC
and Comcast Sportsnet. On radio, Eckstein jousted with Imus and contributed to the Dan
Patrick Show on ESPN. If you have questions, suggestions, or a spectacular block of odds,
please e-mail Eckstein at:
ben@americasline.com.
----------------------------------------------------
COPYRIGHT 2008 BENJAMIN ECKSTEIN
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111; (816) 932-6600
---------------------------------------------------
HOLLYWOOD & LINE
Entertaining Odds
by Benjamin Eckstein
----------------------------------------------------
Who will win "American Idol?"
David Archuleta 2/1
Carly Smithson 3/1
David Cook 3/1
Jason Castro 4/1
Brooke White 5/1
Michael Johns 10/1
Ramiele Maluby 15/1
Syesha Mercado 20/1
Chikezie 75/1
Kristy Lee Cook 500/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
As you can see, we have moved the little 17-year old perky boy wonder, David
Archuleta back into the top spot on the odds chart. As Simon said a few weeks ago,
if this was a talent competition and not a popularity contest, David Cook and
Carly Smithson would be in the top two slots. Not that little David has a bad
voice, but after forgetting the lyrics, and looking like a total amatuer, the
boy wonder from Utah still flew into the next round.
The biggest surprise was the elimination of Janis Joplin wannabe, Amanda
Overmyer. Guess that 60's vibe is not attractive to the 30 plus million that tune
into "American Idol" every week. Actually, 98% of the kids that watch 'Idol" have
probably never heard of Joplin. Too bad. She could REALLY rock the house.
Amanda O. will not be touring with the top ten, but Chikezie and Kristy Lee
Cook will. Holy Mormon Tabernacle Choir Batman (there's another 60's reference
for you kids, and if you don't get it, ask someone with gray hair). Chikezie is
basically Ruben Studdard, but without the voice and much more svelte. The other
Cook, Kristy Lee, or KLC, just flat out can't sing. Her country rendition of the
Beatles song, "Eight Days a Week," was excruciating, and her version of "You've
Got to Hide Your Love Away," was embarrassing. That's why we have KLC at 500/1.
No way she will stay another week. NO WAY! We're so sure that Kristy Lee will not
survive another week, that we are ready to give away the prosthetic leg that Heather
Mills, formerly McCartney, signed and gave to "Hollywood & Line" after her last
appearance on "Dancing With the Stars."
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Who will win "The Apprentice?"
Piers Morgan even
Trace Adkins 10/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
Last time out, we had Piers Morgan and Trace Adkins as the top two, and predicted
they would battle it out for the title of "Celebrity Apprentice." After The Donald
fired Lennox Lewis and Carol Alt, our odds held up perfectly.
Now, we have made the dashing Brit, Mr. Morgan, a HUGE favorite to sweep to the
title. We, and everyone watching, loves the quiet strength of the country star with the
pony tail, but Adkins doesn't have a prayer against the hard-charging, clever gent
from across the pond.
If you didn't hang around for the end of the last show, and the previews of the finale,
Trace was prepared to charter two jets to bring all the country stars up from Nashville,
while Piers was putting on a touch of royalty. Adkins was talking about bringing Ronnie
Milsap to the auction, while Morgan was locking up Princess Sarah Ferguson. Milsap.
Ferguson. Are you KIDDING ME! Looks like Piers is gonna go all out with his English
ties, getting Simon Cowell and a few other multi-zillionaire friends to show up.
Even with the handicap of having Stephen Baldwin on his team, and it is a freakin'
HUGE handicap, Piers, soon to be SIR PIERS, will win this contest, and donate a bundle
to his charity, 'Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.'
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Benjamin Eckstein is president of America's Line, a daily syndicated odds column that
appears in 125 papers across the United States and Canada, with a readership of more
than 10 million. Eckstein has appeared on the Colbert Report, ABC, CBS, Fox News, MSNBC
and Comcast Sportsnet. On radio, Eckstein jousted with Imus and contributed to the Dan
Patrick Show on ESPN. If you have questions, suggestions, or a spectacular block of odds,
please e-mail Eckstein at:
ben@americasline.com.
----------------------------------------------------
COPYRIGHT 2008 BENJAMIN ECKSTEIN
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111; (816) 932-6600
---------------------------------------------------
HOLLYWOOD & LINE
Entertaining Odds
by Benjamin Eckstein
----------------------------------------------------
Who will win "American Idol?"
Carly Smithson 2/1
David Cook 3/1
Brooke White 4/1
Jason Castro 9/2
David Archuleta 5/1
Michael Johns 8/1
Ramiele Maluby 12/1
Syesha Mercado 15/1
Amanda Overmyer 50/1
Chikezie 60/1
Kristy Lee Cook 100/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
It IS crowded at the top. Carly Smithson jumped to the top of the odds chart with
a HUGE cover of the Beatles "Come Together," and the always hard to please Simon
Cowell was absolutely giddy about her performance. Just as powerful, David Cook,
blasted through "Eleanor Rigby," and Simon said he "could win this competition."
Brooke White sat down at the piano and unfurled a very moving rendition of "Let it
Be," which had everyone, including Brooke, a little faklempt as Mike Myers doing
Barbra Streisand would say. Jason Castro, yea, the dreaded wonder, didn't quite
nail it this week, while Michael Johns was just 'awright' as Randy Jackson would
say.
The most disturbing part of the night was Kristy Lee Cook's attempt to take "Eight
Days a Week" country. My 26 year old daughter, sitting to my left in our tricked out
media room, said that when she heard the first line with the country twang on this
Beatles'classic, she threw up a little in her mouth. Not a pleasant visual, but then
again, doing the Beatles country was absurd. Even more absurd was the fact the Kristy
Lee got to stay for another week.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Who will win "Dancing with the Stars?"
Mario 3/1
Kristi Yamaguchi 3/1
Jason Taylor 6/1
Shannon Elizabeth 8/1
Cristian de la Fuente 8/1
Monica Seles 10/1
Marlee Matlin 10/1
Marissa Jaret Winokur 15/1
Priscilla Presley 18/1
Penn Jillette 20/1
Steve Guttenberg 20/1
Adam Carolla 25/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
One thing we know FOR SURE, Julianne Hough will not get the "Dancing with the Stars"
hat trick. Hough is the two-time defending champ, winning the mirrorball trophy with race
car driver Helio Castroneves last season, and gold medal speed skating star, Apolo Anton Ohno,
two seasons ago. This season, the producers stuck Julianne with radio show host Adam Carolla,
and if you glance up at the odds chart, you'll notice Carolla at the very bottom. NO SHOT!
We have started out with co-favorites, thinking that Mario, the 21 year old R&B star has
more than enough moves to hang with ice skating queen, and winner of the 1992 gold medal,
Kristi Yamaguchi. If you're wondering why NFL super-stud Jason Taylor is the third choice,
and thinking a 6-6, 255 pound All-Pro NFL defensive lineman might not have enough sway to
compete, just remember that Emmitt Smith, another NFL star, won the trophy a few years ago.
If you're looking for a dark horse, how about Cristian de la Fuente. Just like Helio last
year, we have a gorgeous, and ladies, I'm talking GORGEOUS, thirty something Latin American,
de la, as his friends call him in his native Chile. de la is a First Lieutenant in the Chilean
Air Force Reserve (who doesn't love a man in uniform), and a member of Halcones, the High
Aerobatics Team. Wow, after that info, I just might take a few bucks and wager on de la at
8/1.
Priscilla Presley will not come close to winning the competition, no sixty something ever
has, but she does get our nod for the scariest makeover.
----------------------------------------------------
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Benjamin Eckstein is president of America's Line, a daily syndicated odds column that
appears in 125 papers across the United States and Canada, with a readership of more
than 10 million. Eckstein has appeared on the Colbert Report, ABC, CBS, Fox News, MSNBC
and Comcast Sportsnet. On radio, Eckstein jousted with Imus and contributed to the Dan
Patrick Show on ESPN. If you have questions, suggestions, or a spectacular block of odds,
please e-mail Eckstein at:
ben@americasline.com.
----------------------------------------------------
COPYRIGHT 2008 BENJAMIN ECKSTEIN
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111; (816) 932-6600
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HOLLYWOOD & LINE
Entertaining Odds
by Benjamin Eckstein
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Who will win "American Idol?"
Jason Castro 7/5
David Archuleta 8/5
Carly Smithson 9/5
David Cook 3/1
Michael Johns 5/1
Brooke White 8/1
Ramiele Maluby 12/1
Syesha Mercado 15/1
David Hernandez 25/1
Kristy Lee Cook 50/1
Amanda Overmyer 75/1
Chikezie 100/1
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Between the Lines:
Changes at the top, and a surprise elimination. Can't we possibly get FIVE days of
"American Idol" in primetime? "Hollywood & Line" will be in touch with the producers to
suggest a Monday and Friday night version. Three days of "Idol" is simply NOT ENOUGH!
On Monday, we could have all the rumors and trash that happened over the weekend. Like
Ramiele's provocative pictures that showed up on various internet sites, or the gossip
about David Hernandez dancing as a stripper at a men's club in Arizona. According to AP,
Hernandez would appear fully nude and perfom lap dances for the "mostly male" clientele
(the quotes come from AP, not me). If you're interested, and I KNOW you are, the name of
the club where he performed in Phoenix, and you CAN NOT make this stuff up, drum roll
please, is...............Dick's Cabaret! Wow! Is is GREAT to be alive today or what? Now
that we covered Monday, our suggestion for Friday would be an intimate look at the lives
of the judges and Ryan Seacrest. Maybe have the cameras follow each one for a day outside
of their "Idol" duties, and edit it down to 60 minutes to cap a full, wall-to-wall week of
the MOST popular show on TV.
If you were NOT one of the millions that watched this week's shows, and missed Jason
Castro's cover (he's the one with the dreads) of Leonard Cohen's haunting "Hallelujah,"
you missed one the most chilling, most brilliant performances in "Idol" history. With that
amazing effort, Castro has jumped all the way to the top of the odds chart. Everybody's
favorite, David Archuleta, was good, but not great, so he slipped to second, while Carly
Smithson performed well, holding down the third slot. The other huge move up the ladder was
David Cook, who brought out his guitar, and ripped up a cover of Lionel Richie's "Hello."
The biggest surprise was that we lost one of our dictators, Danny NORIEGA, instead of
Chikezie. But CASTRO is still in the hunt.
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Who will win "The Apprentice?"
Piers Morgan even
Trace Adkins 5/1
Stephen Baldwin 20/1
Carol Alt 25/1
Lennox Lewis 30/1
----------------------------------------------------
Between the Lines:
If you missed the last installment, you only missed the biggest 'slaughter' in the history
of "The Apprentice." Piers Morgan, the usually unflappable Englishman, stepped up as the
project manager when he found out that Omaroso was gonna be PM for the opposing side. After
the ugly, nasty, disgusting battle a few weeks back between these two, Piers was out for
blood, and boy did he get it. The challenge was to sell more art, and the team that Piers
led CRUSHED the Omaroso group by over $150,000. According to Piers, it was a "slaughter of
biblical proportions." Wow. The quiet country superstar, Trace Adkins, has now moved into
the second slot, but for all intents and purposes, unless he exhausted his entire rolodex,
Mr. Morgan has this title wrapped around his little English pinky.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Benjamin Eckstein is president of America's Line, a daily syndicated odds column that
appears in 125 papers across the United States and Canada, with a readership of more
than 10 million. Eckstein has appeared on the Colbert Report, ABC, CBS, Fox News, MSNBC
and Comcast Sportsnet. On radio, Eckstein jousted with Imus and contributed to the Dan
Patrick Show on ESPN. If you have questions, suggestions, or a spectacular block of odds,
please e-mail Eckstein at:
ben@americasline.com.
----------------------------------------------------
COPYRIGHT 2008 BENJAMIN ECKSTEIN
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111; (816) 932-6600
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