Fanstatically Fantasia!

Do you remember 2004? Oh those were the days!

The death of John Kerry (politically), the rebirth of George W. Bush (insert your negative thoughts here).

It was the international year of Rice. Thanks United Nations! So glad to see that you keep up on our commemorating world food goods.

It was also a great year for exploding whales - yes that happens: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploding_whale

But back to my point. This is also the year another exploding whale hit the scene: Fantasia.

Here's a small snippet about our 2004 American Idol, but please, don't waste your time watching the actual show.

Born in High Point, North Carolina, to Joseph & Diane Barrino. In her autobiography, Life Is Not a Fairytale, Fantasia explains that a family rumor suggests her father's family was of Cuban and Trinidadian descent, explaining the surname Barrino (a rare surname for African Americans in North Carolina).^[1]

The Barrino Family traveled and performed in the Carolinas and elsewhere in the American South and recorded the CD Miracles for a local label. Fantasia's singing style was shaped by the example of Gospel singers like Shirley Caesar and The Clark Sisters. Rhythm & Blues singers such as Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan also left a strong impact on young Fantasia.

She attended T. Wingate Andrews High School in High Point, North Carolina. After she was raped by a classmate ^[2], she was left feeling harassed and embarrassed and dropped out of high school. In a later relationship, she became pregnant at age 17, on August 8, 2001, she gave birth to her daughter, Zion Quari Barrino. She broke up with Zion's father for what she has described as physical abuse. ^[3]

--It's good to see that something great came out of High Point, other than obscenely large furniture.

I also will spend the next few days promoting the new 90210 series on CW. (Which is UPN and the WB combined). Guerilla marketing, which basically means I'm walking around talking to people about the new show and telling them to watch. If you want two hours that you will never get back, check it out on Tuesday at 8pm. TWO HOURS for the opening show. Apparently the CW is pouring all of its efforts into this one. Hoping it will save the network despite its other critically acclaimed shows such as: ....umm....