Archive for November, 2009

Season’s Greetings from Fifth Avenue!

Monday, November 30th, 2009

What do you hope to unwrap this holiday? When it’s time to begin the annual gift-gathering, shoppers from all over the world head to Fifth Avenue.

We got a first look at this year’s festive window displays and skaters on the Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center. And, of course, we got plenty of predictions! Check out what folks have to say about the season’s top gifts, the latest ‘New Moon’ gossip and more.

Watch Episode 53 of Predicto TV now!


Is LL Cool J on His Way to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Monday, November 30th, 2009

James Todd Smith —people worldwide respect him by his hip-hop alias, which is short for “Ladies Love Cool James.”

Since bursting onto the music scene, he has released 12 albums and achieved much commercial and critical success. LL Cool J has stayed relevant by forever reinventing himself, his style, his music and by being a major creative force.

With his first album, Radio, he was able to use pop music formats to work with rap music, branding himself as a rap music-styled crooner with “I Need Love,” his first major hit. He reinvented himself again at the dawn of the 1990s with a tougher, meaner image with the song “Mama Said Knock You Out,” which won him his first Grammy Award. Then came the 1995 album Mr. Smith” with a heartfelt collaboration with Boyz II Men in “Hey Lover,” which won him another Grammy. LL Cool J’s subsequent albums Phenomenon, G.O.A.T., 10, The DEFinition, Todd Smith and Exit 13 all found commercial success as he explored a blend of club hip-hop and his own personal style.

Recent events could launch LL Cool J to new legend: he has been selected for potential nomination as one of the five inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2010. Should he make it, he will only be the third hip-hop music act to be inducted in the Hall’s history after Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in 2007 and Run-DMC in 2009.

The competition for this year, however, is stiff. He is going against some other “Hall of Fame shoo-ins.” ABBA, KISS, Donna Summer and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are all potential nominees as well, among several other artists.

Can LL Cool J beat these odds? Thus far, the members of the Predicto community have spoken and, after more than 3,400 votes, 54% have voted yes to him becoming an inductee next year.

In the same way LL Cool J has transcended boundaries in music, acting and more, ”Userohll2979” says “He is one of the pioneer rappers that used hip-hop and rock together in his music.”

Others say it should not be and that hip-hop has no place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Predicto user ”Payge0713” voted no and commented “Honestly, he hasn’t done much to be inducted. Also, who would consider him rock? Study the definition of rock, people!”

What do you think? Get on Predicto.com and register for the text message-based mobile game that has everyone predicting the outcomes of news, sports, pop culture and entertainment events. You can also voice your opinion on these topics, so sign up and be heard today!


Will Fists Fly on Bad Girls Club?

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Girls behaving badly make for great TV and Oxygen has scored the biggest coup with The Bad Girls Club. This particular train wreck — which gives the network some of its highest ratings — brings together seven ladies with some sort of issues that they need work out. Said issues tend revolve around promiscuity, drug and alcohol abuse, and an incessant need to fight.

Hitting is a no-no in the girls’ swanky L.A. mansion and whoever takes a swipe first in an altercation is immediately ousted from the house. The show ends up regularly rotating its cast of characters thanks to the swing-happy household.

With all the strong personalities, “I do whatever I want” mantras and tough-girl attitudes that require proving, it’s inevitable that a few fists will fly during the fourth season of Bad Girls Club. The real question is when. Will the fights start on the first episode, which premieres on 12/1? 60% of voting Predicto Mobile members say yes!

See how this question struck a nerve with players!

What do you think will happen? You can find out by visiting Predicto.com and registering for the text message-based mobile game that has everyone predicting the outcome of sports, pop culture, news and entertainment events. Along with being able to vote on surveys, including this one, you’ll get updates when the answers are revealed.

Sign up today — and get more Predicto by becoming a fan on Facebook!


Talking Turkey and Predicting the News

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Predicto TV heads out to the streets of Chelsea and finds out just what are the fun family traditions of Thanksgiving. Is it a loving family around the dinner table? Or will you head out to a restaurant and order pizza? Plus, we get the latest predictions on everything from Balloon Boy to Mariah Carey!

Check out Episode 52 of Predicto TV now!


Predicto $50,000 Grand Prize Winner

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Predicto awarded a lucky subscriber our $50,000 Grand Prize. This is the largest Grand Prize Predicto Mobile has offered since our launch in 2007. We gave the award to Danielle Thomas, a self-described “native Arizona gal” who joined the Predicto community in August 2008.

“I wish I could find the words to describe how grateful I am for this good fortune and the awesome people at Predicto,” says Ms. Thomas. As someone who loves entertaining at her home with family and friends, she already has major plans for her prize money. “One of the first things I am planning on spending the money on is my front yard,” she says. “Trust me, our landscaping is way overdue!”

Check out Episode 51 of Predicto TV now!


Wedding Bells for Oprah?

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

It’s official: Oprah Winfrey will end her long-running talk show in September 2011.

“Twenty-five years feels right in my bones and it feels right in my spirit,” the Queen of Day Time said on Friday. “It’s the perfect number — the exact right time. So I hope that you will take this 18-month ride with me right through to the final show.”

O’s built a billion-dollar empire that includes a magazine, movies and television projects and has been fueled by years of tears and celebrity name shouting. Having conquered broadcast and syndication, Winfrey now has her sites set on OWN, The Oprah Winfrey Network, which is a cable channel that will launch in 2011.

Though she’ll still be busy, we speculate that without the day-to-day filming of her eponymous show that she’ll need something — or someone — to help occupy her time.

Will this be the moment in history when the 55-year-old personality finally weds her long-time beau, Steadman? Of the thousands of voting Predicto Mobile players, 56% of them say no!

“She is the world’s richest woman. She could be satisfied with her value and just wants to relax or take a break. I don’t think she is done publicly,” says member “uwtk6566.”

“Maybe Steadman didn’t want to marry her until she quit the show. Now that that’s almost over, Oprah might be ready to commit herself to something other then fame,” says “bift6651.”

“Oprah and Steadman had a chance to get married. It has nothing to do with the show! She does not want to give him her money,” says “lfzp7531.”

“I can’t see hosting her show as preventing her from marrying if she wanted to. Ending her show wouldn’t make the wedding less of a media target,” says “idjp6724.”

Do you think there will be wedding bells in Oprah’s future? You can find out by visiting Predicto.com and registering for the text message-based mobile game that has everyone predicting the outcome of sports, pop culture, news and entertainment events. Along with being able to vote on surveys, including this one, you’ll get updates when the answers are revealed.

Sign up today — and get more Predicto by becoming a fan on Facebook!


Will Sesame Street Return to Video Games?

Friday, November 20th, 2009

If the names Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch and The Count don’t bring back memories that make you smile, you must have missed out on Sesame Street, the beloved children’s show. Either that or you didn’t have a TV when you were a child.

Created by the Sesame Workshop (or more fondly remembered as the Children’s Television Workshop) back in 1969, the show was built on the idea that television — long believed to be an entertainment device — could actually serve as an educational tool. Within years, the show would become a worldwide cultural phenomenon. It would be lauded for its ability to teach young people the basics of reading and mathematics, and promote good values among children.

The belief, as author Malcolm Gladwell wrote about was that “if you could hold the attention of a child, you can educate them.” That theory seems to hold water and a big part of the massive popularity of Sesame Street has been the characters in the show. Sesame Street is famous for the Muppets characters on the show, all created by Jim Henson. These puppets are a large part of the success of Sesame Street and characters such as Ernie, Bert, Grover, Kermit the Frog and more all have their own place in the collective memories of people everywhere.

This popularity has led to spin-off merchandising. Toys, clothes, lunch boxes, shoes and other accoutrement for children were all licensed and made money. This even extended to the world of video games, beginning with games such as Big Bird’s Egg Catch for the Atari 2600, and continued with Sesame Street: Big Bird’s Hide and Speak for the Nintendo Entertainment System, and Elmo’s Number Journey for the Sony PlayStation and Nintendo 64.

Formerly an entertainment medium for children, the video games industry now caters to older demographics. In recent times, video games were said to carry a certain social stigma, following high-profile media discussions about them exposing children to violence, sex and other mature themes. Games for children have floundered critically, not just because of the more mature tastes of players, but also because most games for children have been criticized as inferior gaming experiences.

As Sesame Street celebrates its 40th Anniversary, will the beloved children’s show make a return to the video game world by December 2009? Predicto.com’s users have weighed in and, as of today, 68% of respondents have voted with a resounding Yes!

What do you think? Visit Predicto.com, speak up and be part of the Predicto Mobile community now!


The Duel of the Domestic Divas

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

When it comes to cooking, few culinary contenders can compete with Martha Stewart. Classically trained and ever the appreciator of fine ingredients, Stewart has cornered the market of making the perfect meal — and of homemaking in general, with her books, TV shows and radio programming.

Not equipped (or energetic enough) to hang on Martha’s level? Lucky for you there’s an alternative in the form of Rachael Ray. The bubbly personality lends her touch to her trademark 30-minute meals, as well as a continually growing empire that also includes books and a slew of TV shows.

Usually cool and cordial, Stewart recently gave an interview to Nightline that has some in the blogosphere calling her an ice queen. During the gabfest, the interviewer goads Martha until she reveals her less-than-stellar appreciation for Rachael’s cuisine and her inability to bake.

The scathing review continued, with Stewart saying that Ray is a much better personality than a chef.

Martha’s recognition, no matter how negative, might be the only consolation in this one-sided back-and-forth, but nonetheless, Ray remains positive and even says she’d rather have on of Stewart’s meals instead of her own.

Yikes!

Martha is quick on the uptake, though, and we’re wondering how long it will be before she apologizes to Rachael. Will she show up on Ray’s show to say she’s sorry and do it in person by 2/20? 53% of voting Predicto Mobile members say yes!

See what voters had to say about the possibility of seeing Martha apologize to Rachael on TV!

What do you think will happen? Well, you could watch the show, but there’s one fun way to find out … make sure you visit Predicto.com and register for the text message-based mobile game that has everyone predicting the outcome of sports, pop culture, news and entertainment events. Along with being able to vote on surveys, including this one, you’ll get updates when the answers are revealed.

Sign up today — and get more Predicto by becoming a fan on Facebook!


Predicto Ponders: Will Keri Hilson Get a “Best New Artist” Grammy Nod?

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

The nominations for next year’s Grammy Awards will be announced on December 2 and one of the year’s biggest stars is not eligible for one of the ceremony’s top honors.

The ubiquitous rookie Lady GaGa — who plastered airwaves with her singles “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” “LoveGame” and “Paparazzi” — can’t be nominated because “Just Dance” was a contender at last year’s Grammys in the “Best Dance Recording” category, losing out to Daft Punk’s “Harder Better Faster Stronger.”

That leaves the field wide open for other newcomers to swoop in and claim the award. One of the frontrunners of this race is Keri Hilson. The R&B songstress might not bring instant recognition, but she’s this year’s “artist you don’t know, but have definitely heard.”

Need further convincing? Her partners on wax include Lil Wayne (on “Turnin’ Me On”), Timbaland (“The Way I Are”), and Kanye West and Ne-Yo (“Knock You Down”). She’s written songs for Ciara and Britney Spears. She’s even appeared as the object of desire in videos by Usher (“Love in This Club”) and Ne-Yo (“Miss Independent”).

Having already taken home an award for “Breakthrough Artist” from the BET Awards, can a nomination for “Best New Artist” at the Grammys be far behind? According to 68% of voting Predicto Mobile members, the odds are in the Decatur, Ga., native’s favor!

“Hilson has [an] incredible voice and [I] would not be surprised if she wins a Grammy,” says member “vau4252.”

“Ms. Hilson is very passionate about her career and holding her ground,” says “dnty4149.”

With such passionate praise, how can Grammy voters say no?

Will Keri get an earful when she hears her name announced as a nominee in the category? There’s one fun way to find out … make sure you visit Predicto.com and registering for the text message-based mobile game that has everyone predicting the outcome of sports, pop culture, news and entertainment events. Along with being able to vote on surveys, including this one, you’ll get updates when the answers are revealed.

Sign up today — and get more Predicto by becoming a fan on Facebook!


Kendra to Endorse Snuggies?

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

With the holidays coming up soon, you may be on the prowl for the best gift for your loved ones. If you follow in the footsteps of the Indianapolis Colts’ Hank Baskett, you may be able to score a Playmate.

Baskett recently purchased a Snuggie for his wife, Kendra Wilkinson. Wilkinson — the former star of The Girls Next Door and current star of her own reality show, and a soon-to-be mother — posted pictures on her Web site of herself wearing the blanket with sleeves (that’s not to be confused with the Slanket, though the Snuggie seems to be the “snuggernaut” of the industry. OK, bad joke.).

“Hank came back from the store yesterday and surprised me with the best present ever…A SNUGGIE!!!” she wrote on her blog.

“I see the commercials all the time and I always want one…it’s so exciting that I have my own now,” she continued. “I think I’m just going to live in this for the next month until lil [sic] Hank is born. I can’t wait to wear my Snuggie when the baby comes so we’re both warm!”

The staple of daytime television and late-night advertisements has become a cult favorite among stay-at-home moms, seniors and college students, and even received an endorsement from the band Weezer.

Could an endorsement from Hugh Hefner’s ex-girlfriend be next for the Snuggie? 54% of voting Predicto Mobile say yes!

See what players had to say about this potential happening!

Will Kendra convince you to put a Snuggie on your wish list? Make sure you visit Predicto.com and registering for the text message-based mobile game that has everyone predicting the outcome of sports, pop culture, news and entertainment events. Along with being able to vote on surveys, including this one, you’ll get updates when the answers are revealed.

Sign up today — and get more Predicto by becoming a fan on Facebook!