c_vanblokland's Blog

oh, i'm in pop music heaven !! 

one of my favorite events all year is coming up next week, it's the '3rd annual Rock on the Moon and Sing with the Stars' charity event. it benefits the 'fatone family foundation" (yes, as in joey fatone, 1/5 of the world's greatest pop group, n'sync) -- and it happens next thursday the 31st at 'howl at the moon' on i-drive.

it's truly one of the coolest events because of the access to the stars. you get to hang out with, get autographs from, and of course, sing with the following guest list this year: joey fatone (duh ;)), nick lachey (98 degrees), brooke hogan (hulk hogan's daughter), tone loc (!), deborah (don't call her debbie) gibson, wee-man (from 'jackass', hilarious), mel b ('scary spice' from the spice girls), and my favorite, alfonso ribiero (of course 'carlton' from 'fresh prince") ... what's not to love ?

... speaking of alfonso, i remember one year, the audience passed around a bucket to collect money to convince him to do "the carlton" dance atop the piano.  he wouldn't do it until $3000 was collected. well it was, and he did. classic pop culture moment. 

hope to see you there !!

 =) -- cvb

okay, so i do truly thank my lucky stars each and every day for the greatest job in the world, honestly something new and different and exciting each morning, but ...

anyone else out there have a serious case of summer-itis ??   seriously, do you find yourself daydreaming about lounging around by the pool, playing marco polo or sharks n minnows, and i'm not talking about for the weekend, i'm talking about for 3 months !?!

so, my question du jour is ... when exactly did we become the adults around here, and how come only the kids get 3 months off for summer ???  anyone want to start a petition ??  lemme know and i'll see ya at the pool !!  ; )

=) -- cvb

hello my lovelies !! 

looking for a really unique activity for fathers day -- so far, the ideas are: skydiving, race car driving, good ol' fishin, or my favorite ...

a "king for a day" spa treatment experience, tailor-made just for dad.  i really like this one, because i'd love to see the type of man's man dad that normallly wouldn't step foot in a salon or spa, but then discovers it's really a fun way to spend the day !! =)

so lemme know your ideas, we might just check out your suggestion this friday morning !!

=) -- cvb

seal, donna summer, graham nash, freakin zz top (!), the jonas brothers, one republic, and oh yeah, george michael !!!   easily the best finale show so far ... very little of the cheezy brady bunch-style musical numbers this year (sorry, but you know it's true)  =)

also, GREAT duets and performances by syesha, michael johns and carly, and very very impressive with brooke and graham nash -- it's always so impressive to see how at-ease these finalists are with music legends so quickly.

okay, so as we know, i've been a HUGE archuleta fan since the beginning -- such an amazing voice, i still say he hasn't hit a wrong note all season -- probably in his whole life !!   and especially with his flawless performance last night, i still really thought he was going to win tonight -- but as we know, the other david won tonight, and i think i'm okay with it ! =)    cook is already an amazing performer, definitely has that rocker thing down, and the best part?  he also likes archuleta.  what's not to love ?

interviewed both the davids tonight, and will again in the morning -- tune in from 7a-9a and lemme know what you think !!  go david !!

=) -- cvb

oh my david !!  what an amazing show !!   

my trusty photographer paulo and i were lucky enough to watch the biggest night in television INSIDE the nokia theatre !!   the stage was awesome, the lights, the sound -- and oh yeah 4000 more seats than the kodak -- so so so cool !!  

the place was filled with david fans (duh) -- everyone with posters, t-shirts, and a few 'cook' fans even had little cook/chef's hats and spatulas to wave -- cute !!    we sat behind an entire brownie troop, complete with stage moms and posters for each to hold -- hilarious.

also -- it's really cool to see what's going on during the commercial breaks -- production crew running around getting the stage switched up for the next segment, simon getting his makeup touched up - seriously !!

but as far as the show itself -- PLEASE tell me you got goosebumps during at least archuleta's first song (don't let the sun go down on me) -- david cook's third song (the collective soul one) -- and, i know i'm being partial, but also archuleta's last song (imagine, my absolute favorite performance all season !!)

but you didn't need my great seats inside the nokia to appreciate this goosebump-fest -- what did you think ??  and oh yeah, don't forget to comment on how cool/cute the whole boxing theme was !!!

see ya in the morning !!

=) -- cvb

oh my gosh -- i totally know people.  ;)

today couldn't have been more exciting !!  paulo my trusty photographer and i got to chat with some of your favorite past idol contestants, runner-ups and winners !!  

we talked to ramiele malubay, of course top 12 from this season, and a FLORIDA girl !! then cooky, loopy hippy brooke white, who told us about the rehearsals for the finale and the upcoming tour, then during our 10p show (you can also see it tomorrow morning) we chatted with none other than season 4 runner-up bo bice (the original idol rocker, who as you might guess is rooting for david cook) and one of my all-time favorites, season 2 winner ruuuuuuben studdard !!    =)

hope you caught all of our shenanigans, we'll have more for you tomorrow, hopefully including the judges -- i'm already picking out what i'm going to wear to see simon ;)

see ya in the morning ! =) =) =) -- cvb

greetings from la-la land !!!

can't believe this is the 4th year i've been fortunate enough to come out here to los angeles to cover the world's greatest show -- american idol !!   hey, someone's gotta do it, right ??

we flew in at about 9am (pacific time, man, that's fun trying to adjust to that) -- and hit the ground running. things are a bit different this year, behind-the-scenes ... we're at the nokia theatre in downtown orlando, not the kodak theatre, in hollywood for the first time ever.  that means a lot of traffic on those crazy LA highways each day.  but ...what does that difference mean to you ??  well, we probably won't too many of those "colorful" walk of fame performers out here with us this year. they tend to stay over on the hollyweird side of town.   bummer.   ;)

but we will have plenty to talk about and show you around -- with the new venue, the set you've been watching all season will have to be moved and reassembled,  there's 4000 more seats in the nokia, there's (pretty much confirmed) rumors of the jonas brothers performing at the finale, and so is robert downey jr (huh?)  ... we'll get to catch up with your favorite contestants from past seasons (can't wait to see melinda doolittle and bo bice, personally), and i always, always love chatting with the LA gossip experts, vocal coaches, hair stylists, and of course, the ultimate ... i'm really hoping simon comes out to see me again. (the judges aren't always available for interviews ) but it's been 2 years, buddy -- come on !!

and oh yeah, we'll also place bets on who will win the david vs. david battle. that's kind of important too. ;)

check in with y'all again tomorrow, but my big mean photographer is telling me it's time to go edit. just kidding paulo !!! =) =) =)

i'm already gonna have to go ahead and make the executive decision to do this again.

having so so much fun hanging out with all those voices you hear on the way to work during radio week this week. so far, we've spent hilarious quality time with doc, grace & skid the producer at K-92, laughed and danced with johhny, jayde & brian at XL 106.7, and today, even begged for votes for 'orlando's hunkiest hunk' with our friends scott, erica and jay at MIX 105.1.

in between all our shenanigans, i hope our viewers and their listeners got to know everyone a little bit better -- who did you like the best ??  were you surprised to see what some of your favorite voices looked like behind that mic ??

lemme know who you love !!

=) -- cvb

happy wednesday, my friends !!

this week, i'm checking out unique ways to enjoy the bevy of theme parks we have right here in our own backyard -- so far, we've visited the 'fort wilderness lodge' at disney ((no, the bugs aren't animatronic)), the new 'simpsons ride' at universal ((doh!!)), and today, i went a little nutty on the 32 degree banking on the double-decker go-cart track at fun-spot ((the only roller coaster ride where you control the speed -- love it !! )) 

tough job, but someone has to do it, right ?? ;)  tomorrow we're on to seaworld, and friday, typhoon lagoon. so -- what's your favorite theme park -- and especially, what are some of the hidden activities/experiences that everyone may not know of ??  lemme know !! =)

=) -- cvb

we had the cutest lil cadets you ever did see on our morning show today -- all gettin fit with their mommies out on cady trail.  it's a new program, and such a fun way to get in shape with other mommies in the same boat -- and daddies too !!

here's their website for more info:

www.babybootcamp.com

.... and they're signing up new recruits for a 12-week challenge -- check it out ! =)

loved chatting with the wonderful folks from march of dimes this morning -- and how could you not love those cute kids from the ambassador family -- let's all get together & march for babies on april 26th !!

come march, or should i say walk, with the FOX 35 team !!  

register here:

http://www.marchforbabies.org/wd_regp04.asp?si=&pre
fill=&walk=company&pnum=&pname=&w=&g=&tname=FOX35&SeId=
487028&subname=WOFL+Fox+35&change=&v=5&tnum=0

hangin out here in our fancy schmancy fox 35/my 65 booth this morning, meetin and greetin wonderful viewers like you !!   we'll be out here all weekend -- we've got some cool giveaways (the family guy whoopie cushions are my favorite, naturally)

we're also right by the FOX 35 cooking stage, where you can check out chef rock from hell's kitchen & my buds 'mad dog and merrill' -- these guys are hilarious -- ya gotta stop by and say hi to them =)

there's also a couple of really really cool indoor/outdoor living rooms, one complete with a waterfall movie screen -- seriously !!  

lemme know your favorite products, companies, booths out here -- and as usual, feel free to buy me something !!

=) -- cvb

we're cruisin on into bike week tomorrow morning -- can't wait to check out all the cool new stuff for this year !!   who's goin ??  and what's your recommendations for the perfect  bike week experience ?

=) -- cvb

hi everyone !!  what a whirlwind -- flying out to LA to chat one-on-one with the top 24 contestants . . .  some of them won me over with their hilarious personalities --  asai'h, david, danny and colton -- i'd vote for them even if they couldn't sing !!

but fortunately, they all can -- or should i say unfortunately ?  it's gonna be tough to pick just one to root for this season -- who is your favorite ??  

hi everyone !!  we're starting a new series here on the morning show, where every monday we'll take you to your favorite local restaurants -- that you choose !!   just blog us here:   http://www.myfoxorlando.com/myfox/pages/Inside
Fox/Detail?contentId=5475957&version=4&locale=EN-US&lay
outCode=TSTY&pageId=5.2.1    

... tell us why you love your favorite diner, pizza place, or 5-star restaurant, and we'll cook up somethin good !!!    =)