Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Nick Lachey Channels His Inner Christian Grey
Mr. Lachey will see you now. Watch out, Jamie Dornan, because Big Morning Buzz Live‘sNick Lachey is actually a closet fuh-reak. The host was caught getting into some sexy trouble on set, and like Michelle Buteau, we’re kind of into it.
This hilarious Fifty Shades of Grey parody is just what we need to get some mid-work week laughs and make us even more excited for the actual movie to premiere on Valentine’s Day. In case you missed it, here’s the film’s first official trailer that debuted last week, and boy, does it deliver.
Nick singing Falling Slowly on VH1
This week on Big Morning Buzz Live, host Nick Lachey switched things up by joining the performance lineup. Along with Priory, Colin Smith, and more, Lachey gave fans another awesome week of music. And our music guests capped their performances by hanging in our gif booth.
Check out the poses this week’s performers made in our booth by clicking through this post’s pages. But first, check out Lachey’s live rendition of “Falling Slowly” in the clip below.
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Spice Up Your Holiday With Big Morning Buzz Live’s Side Dish Recipes
Thanksgiving isn’t complete without delicious side dishes. Big Morning Buzz Live, along with chef Eden Grinshpan, has you covered with recipes for tasty complements to your holiday turkey.
In the video above, watch Grinshpan wow Nick Lachey, Michelle Buteau, and Candace Bailey with flavorful cranberry sauce and sweet potato casserole. Below, find the steps to make these dishes at home. And in this post’s additional pages, find recipes for brussels sprouts, cornbread stuffing, and chocolate pecan pie.
Cranberry Sauce
4 cups of fresh cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 large orange- peeled (white part removed) and juice the orange
Pinch of cinnamon
1/2 cup water
4 cups of fresh cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 large orange- peeled (white part removed) and juice the orange
Pinch of cinnamon
1/2 cup water
Directions
In a pot place the cranberries, sugar, orange zest, orange juice, cinnamon and water. Keep stirring on medium low until most of the cranberries have turned to mush and it is more saucy. if you want it to be sweeter add in more sugar. I like mine tangy with a little sweetness.
In a pot place the cranberries, sugar, orange zest, orange juice, cinnamon and water. Keep stirring on medium low until most of the cranberries have turned to mush and it is more saucy. if you want it to be sweeter add in more sugar. I like mine tangy with a little sweetness.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Filling:
6 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temp
1/4 cup whole milk
1/4-1/2 cup brown sugar (depending how sweet you want it)
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs, whisked
Filling:
6 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temp
1/4 cup whole milk
1/4-1/2 cup brown sugar (depending how sweet you want it)
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs, whisked
Topping:
2 cups chopped pecans
1/2 cup maple syrup (or brown sugar)
3 tablespoons flour
Either 3 tablespoons melted butter or 2-3 cups of mini marshmallows (or both)
2 cups chopped pecans
1/2 cup maple syrup (or brown sugar)
3 tablespoons flour
Either 3 tablespoons melted butter or 2-3 cups of mini marshmallows (or both)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Directions
For the filling: Bring a large pot of water to a boil, place the sweet potatoes in, cover and boil for 25 minutes or until tender enough to mash. Strain and place the sweet potatoes in a large bowl. Mash the sweet potatoes with a whisk until almost smooth, add in the butter, milk, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and vanilla, and stir until smooth. Let cool, then mix in the eggs until combined. Place in a large, buttered baking dish and smooth the top.
For the filling: Bring a large pot of water to a boil, place the sweet potatoes in, cover and boil for 25 minutes or until tender enough to mash. Strain and place the sweet potatoes in a large bowl. Mash the sweet potatoes with a whisk until almost smooth, add in the butter, milk, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and vanilla, and stir until smooth. Let cool, then mix in the eggs until combined. Place in a large, buttered baking dish and smooth the top.
Pecan topping: In a bowl mix together the pecans with the maple syrup, flour and the butter then spread it on top of the casserole. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, rotating halfway through. (if the top is getting too dark, cover with tin foil) Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Marshmallow topping: Bake the sweet potato casserole without a topping for 30 25 minutes, than sprinkle the marshmallows on top and back for another 10 minutes, until golden and melted- serve immediately.
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
Spicy Bacon Maple Brussels Sprouts
6 bacon strips, cut into short strips
8 cups of Brussels sprouts, cleaned and sliced in half
1 teaspoon chili flakes
Kosher salt and pepper
2 to 4 tablespoons maple syrup, depending on how sweet you like
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon chives, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
6 bacon strips, cut into short strips
8 cups of Brussels sprouts, cleaned and sliced in half
1 teaspoon chili flakes
Kosher salt and pepper
2 to 4 tablespoons maple syrup, depending on how sweet you like
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon chives, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
Directions
Heat up a large high sided skillet on the stove over medium-high heat. Fry the bacon until crispy and brown and remove onto paper towels to drain. Remove all but 4 tablespoons bacon fat in the pan. In the pan over medium heat, toss together the brussels sprouts and chili flakes. Season with a little salt (not too much because of the bacon) and pepper.
Heat up a large high sided skillet on the stove over medium-high heat. Fry the bacon until crispy and brown and remove onto paper towels to drain. Remove all but 4 tablespoons bacon fat in the pan. In the pan over medium heat, toss together the brussels sprouts and chili flakes. Season with a little salt (not too much because of the bacon) and pepper.
Add a tablespoon of water if too dry and cook until sprouts are golden and crunchy, about 5 minutes. Add 1/3 cup water, cover and cook for another 5 minutes until cooked through. Uncover, stir in the maple syrup, reserved bacon and chives, check for seasoning and garnish with a little chopped chives on top.
Yield: 4 servings
Cornbread Stuffing with Sausage and Fennel
7 cups of cornbread cut into cubes
3/4 lb garlic and herb pork sausage
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
4 celery stalks, finely chopped
1/2 fennel, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 yellow onions, finely chopped
7 sage leaves, chiffonade
1/4 cup freshly chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste
2 eggs, whisked
2 1/2 cups of chicken stock
1/2 cup heavy cream
Optional – add in 1/2 cup dried cranberries
7 cups of cornbread cut into cubes
3/4 lb garlic and herb pork sausage
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
4 celery stalks, finely chopped
1/2 fennel, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 yellow onions, finely chopped
7 sage leaves, chiffonade
1/4 cup freshly chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste
2 eggs, whisked
2 1/2 cups of chicken stock
1/2 cup heavy cream
Optional – add in 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F, buttered baking dish with high walls.
Directions
Place the cubed cornbread in the heated oven and let toast for 15-20 minutes, until it is golden. Remove and place on the side.
Place the cubed cornbread in the heated oven and let toast for 15-20 minutes, until it is golden. Remove and place on the side.
In a large pan, heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Remove the meat of the sausage from its casing. Fry in a pan until golden all over (break the meat up into smaller pieces with a spoon while it is frying), remove the meat but keep the fat in the pan. Add the butter to the pan and then toss in the onions, fennel, celery and garlic. Turn to medium and season well with salt and pepper. Sweat the vegetables for 10 minutes. Take off the heat and let cool on the side.
In a bowl, mix the cream with the stock, whisked eggs, sage, parsley and season with salt and pepper.
Place the cornbread in the baking dish and top with the vegetables and sausage, toss gently and pour over the liquids. Loosely wrap the top with tin foil and place in the pre-heated oven for 35 minutes. Remove the tin foil and let back another 20 minutes. Serve hot.
Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter softened
1 Tablespoon flour
3/4 cup dark corn syrup
1/4 cup bourbon
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups pecans, toasted
1 cup bag chocolate chips, bittersweet
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter softened
1 Tablespoon flour
3/4 cup dark corn syrup
1/4 cup bourbon
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups pecans, toasted
1 cup bag chocolate chips, bittersweet
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 9 inch pie dish.
Pie crust
3/4 stick of unsalted butter, very cold cut into cubes
1 1/4 cup All Purpose flour
1/4 cup ice cold water
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 stick of unsalted butter, very cold cut into cubes
1 1/4 cup All Purpose flour
1/4 cup ice cold water
3/4 teaspoon salt
Place the flour, salt and butter into a cuisine art and pulse until sandy). Add cold water, little by little until when you press with your hands it comes together without crumbling. Bring into a ball, separate into 2, make discs and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Roll out one piece in a well floured surface until larger than the size of the pie tin. Fold in half and place in the pie tin, open the fold and using your hands fit the dough into the ton, crimp the sides in a pretty way. Plastic wrap the shell and place in the fridge for 30 minutes. Remove from the fridge and place the chocolate at the base.
Filling
Cream butter and sugar and flour until combined. Blend in corn syrup, bourbon and vanilla and mix well. Add in the whisked eggs and combined. Add half the amount of pecans into the mixture and pour over chocolate. Arrange the rest on a pretty way. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour, or until top of pie shows small cracks. Loosely cover the pie if it starts getting too dark with tinfoil.
Cream butter and sugar and flour until combined. Blend in corn syrup, bourbon and vanilla and mix well. Add in the whisked eggs and combined. Add half the amount of pecans into the mixture and pour over chocolate. Arrange the rest on a pretty way. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour, or until top of pie shows small cracks. Loosely cover the pie if it starts getting too dark with tinfoil.
Nick Lachey Gives Son Camden a Sweet Kiss
Nick Lachey loves being a daddy, and it shows!
On Sunday, the 41-year-old Sing-Off host Instagrammed a picture of himself giving 2-year-old son Camden a sweet kiss. Dad pointed that he knows "one little man excited [The Sing-Off] is back this Wednesday"—and that's not all Cam's got to look forward to: Any day now, he's going to be a big brother!
Vanessa Lachey is pregnant with baby No. 2—a girl!—and as Nick told E! News last month, "it's anybody's guess" when little lady Lachey will arrive. "We're probably looking at the end of the year, beginning of next year—somewhere in that time frame," he said.
And is Camden excited to have a baby sister?
"I think so," said Nick. "We've definitely gone over the fact that, 'Hey, baby sister is in mommy's belly,' and he'll kiss the belly, so I think he understands what baby sister means and that that's happening, but I think the truth test is when she arrives and all the attention's not just on him! We'll see how he reacts at that point!"
Fortunately, Vanessa, 34, has "knock on wood, had a great pregnancy," said Nick. "She's been a trouper."
The Lacheys are about to have their hands full with two kids under 2 (!), but pics like this one make it clear Nick and Vanessa are loving the chaos!
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
‘Sing-Off’ Host Nick Lachey Says Show Gives Groups ‘Platform I Was Fortunate to Have’
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The pop singer talks about the return of the NBC competition and paying it forward
Nick Lachey knows the value of a cappella. It’s what catapulted his Grammy-nominated 98 Degrees to boy band stardom during the 1990s. And as the host of NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” he’s giving others a similar opportunity.
“A cappella music is what got us signed to Motown [Records],” Lachey said of his fellow band mates brother, Drew, Justin Jeffre and Jeff Timmons.
The musical competition pits a cappella groups from across the nation against each other as they vie for a $50,000 grand prize during the two-hour event.
“It celebrates a cappella music and gives a deserving group the platform that I was fortunate enough to have,” Lachey said.
The winners will be decided on pure vocal – and some beat-boxing – talent alone. No band. No back-up singers.
This year’s contestants are the sextuplet Timothy’s Gift; Vanderbilt University’s all-male group, Melodores; The Exchange; dubbed “spirit-filled divas” Traces; Bay Area natives San Fran 6 and A. Squared of New Haven., Connecticut.
Singer Jewel, Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman and Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump serve as judges. And choosing a winner is one task Lachey said he’s happy to avoid.
“I’m thankful I don’t have to make that decision,” the 41-year-old said of choosing a winner. “But, this is great music. Some of the most talented singers you will ever hear, doing what they do best.”
Since its inception, “The Sing-Off” has toggled between an episodic and a one-night series. Last December, after the group Home Free clinched the top prize, the show aired its low-rated finale earning a 1.3 rating in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic.
Lachey said the competition’s return speaks to its “feel good” vibe and added the he was often asked on the street about when the show will return.
“It’s a great fit for ‘The Sing-Off’ to be around this time of the year. It’s cemented itself into the fabric of what the holidays are about,” he said.
And the holiday event will bring the return of Season 3 and Season 4 winners, Pentatonix and Home Free, respectively, who will lend their vocal talents. Viewers may also have the chance to see this year’s judges and Lachey take the stage, as well.
“We’re all singers. We all love music, and it’s great to be able to perform. I’m just thrilled to be back,” Lachey said, jokingly adding that “there better be talk about Season 6.”
'The Sing-Off' recap: One night, six groups, 800 blazers
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Well, here we are, at the most wonderful time of the year: The Sing-Off is back, and you can never really know for how long, so cherish every minute, even when they all come on the same night. In its fifth season of dodging the eviction notice NBC keeps hiding in Shawn Stockman’s dressing room, The Sing-Off returned as a one-night, two-hour holiday special. And even at just two hours—half the length of a typical singing show’sweekly allotment—I stand by this being the best happiest show on television.
I was pretty disheartened when I found out that my favorite holiday programming was being trimmed down to the equivalent of only two Nick Lachey outfit changes, but it was nice to know who won by the end of the night—less time to decide every single group is a magical shining star and all deserve to win (which they all are, and all do). No, tonight, we got to see two totally different performances from the Top 3, and if they truly deserved the crown, those two performances should have been all they really needed.Hyperbolic? Sure. But what is a cappella for, if not to be a little dramatic. And, of course, for the blazers. There were just So. Many. Blazers, each more beautiful than the next. Always leave them more, except when it comes to lapels:The Sing-Off story.
And damn, did those Melodores deserve it. I’ve seen many an all-male collegiate a cappella group perform, including from the front row of my own college’s group performances every chance I got (what’s up Bell Tower Boys, how you doin’?), but that was just some heart and soul I was not expecting. Let’s take a look at the night to find out how the boys from Nashville took the title…
Blazer Watch, Coaches Edition: I’m sure any average person reading this thinks I’m feigning the joy that Nick Lachey brings me, but any fan knows he is the heart of this little show, and at the heart of Nick Lachey is a jewel-toned shirt—and now featuring a matching jewel-toned suit! Coincidentally, Shawn was sporting the Liberace version of that sapphire suit. The man has never met a sparkle he didn’t like. Jewel was sporting a red number that showed off… her excellent work in Pilates, and new judge Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy did his best to endear himself to us by being extremely complimentary of Ben Folds and deprecating of himself: “They got the only other nerdy rock star they could find.” Oh Patrick, come back anytime (and bring Ben with you).
After the judges, came the rules for how an entire competition for a Sony Music record deal and $50,000 might take place in one night: The six groups would perform a signature song, and then the judges would narrow it down to three teams, choosing one more song for each of those three teams to perform.
The Top 6
Timothy’s Gift: “Ghost” by Ella Henderson
BlazerWatch: The lovely ladies had kind of an ethereal Dixie Chicks meets mom-fashion-blogger thing going on, which would normally be fine, but with not a sequin in sight, it did not bode well for their Sing-Off chances.
By the Notes: Timothy’s Gift all met at church where Melissa is the pastor and began singing together and performing at maximum security prisons. I cannot say enough about what a great song choice “Ghost” was (and if you don’t know about Ella Henderson’s own singing show journey, I recommend you schedule some YouTube blackhole time this holiday season), and once TG gets going, their pure voices are a great fit for the eery tune, with gorgeous harmonies. They manage to keep the power of the song with hardly any bass or percussion, unfortunately the slower tempo of the tune suffers a bit because of that. Shawn thought Abby’s flipped high note in the middle was beautiful, and Jewel loved the warm feel to their harmonies.
BlazerWatch: The lovely ladies had kind of an ethereal Dixie Chicks meets mom-fashion-blogger thing going on, which would normally be fine, but with not a sequin in sight, it did not bode well for their Sing-Off chances.
By the Notes: Timothy’s Gift all met at church where Melissa is the pastor and began singing together and performing at maximum security prisons. I cannot say enough about what a great song choice “Ghost” was (and if you don’t know about Ella Henderson’s own singing show journey, I recommend you schedule some YouTube blackhole time this holiday season), and once TG gets going, their pure voices are a great fit for the eery tune, with gorgeous harmonies. They manage to keep the power of the song with hardly any bass or percussion, unfortunately the slower tempo of the tune suffers a bit because of that. Shawn thought Abby’s flipped high note in the middle was beautiful, and Jewel loved the warm feel to their harmonies.
It’s worth noting that Nick is very uncomfortable with addressing them as “Timothy’s Gift.”
a.squared: “Pompeii” by Bastille
BlazerWatch: In keeping with their “modern spin on tradition” theme, the young men of a.squared were wearing classic slacks and jackets… that were anywhere from 50-100 percent leather.
By the Notes: a.squared—in addition to being an auto-correct nightmare—is trying to bring something different to the a cappella world: their mixer, Jacob, records them live and loops the vocals back through to create harmonies. Patrick said the technique was probably more challenging than we realized, and I certainly believe that, but just because a backing track is recorded live, doesn’t make it any less of a backing track. It’s an incredibly innovative and intelligent play on a cappella performing, but it doesn’t seem entirely fair in a competition where everyone else is only armed with a mic and a world renowned beatboxer. I’ll be tuning in on YouTube, though.
BlazerWatch: In keeping with their “modern spin on tradition” theme, the young men of a.squared were wearing classic slacks and jackets… that were anywhere from 50-100 percent leather.
By the Notes: a.squared—in addition to being an auto-correct nightmare—is trying to bring something different to the a cappella world: their mixer, Jacob, records them live and loops the vocals back through to create harmonies. Patrick said the technique was probably more challenging than we realized, and I certainly believe that, but just because a backing track is recorded live, doesn’t make it any less of a backing track. It’s an incredibly innovative and intelligent play on a cappella performing, but it doesn’t seem entirely fair in a competition where everyone else is only armed with a mic and a world renowned beatboxer. I’ll be tuning in on YouTube, though.
Nick: “Fellas, that was crazy.”
Traces: “River Deep Mountain High” by Tina Turner
BlazerWatch: My notes about Traces’ wardrobe just say, “yeeeeeeeeessssssss.” Sequins, leather, glitter, gold, blazers, and Tina legs? YEEEEEESSSSS.
By the Notes: What a great song choice! This song clearly embodied Traces’ love of R&B with a gospel sound, and it also meant getting to show off a few moves, and especially their two star players: soloist Keesha, and bass, Tamika. Keesha is an incredibly engaging performer with a great emotional grit to her voice, and Tamika holds it down better than any female bass I’ve ever heard. Wow. Shawn says Keesha could wake up a dead person with her voice, and all of the judges agree, that a few small mistakes are nothing if it means being that entertained.
BlazerWatch: My notes about Traces’ wardrobe just say, “yeeeeeeeeessssssss.” Sequins, leather, glitter, gold, blazers, and Tina legs? YEEEEEESSSSS.
By the Notes: What a great song choice! This song clearly embodied Traces’ love of R&B with a gospel sound, and it also meant getting to show off a few moves, and especially their two star players: soloist Keesha, and bass, Tamika. Keesha is an incredibly engaging performer with a great emotional grit to her voice, and Tamika holds it down better than any female bass I’ve ever heard. Wow. Shawn says Keesha could wake up a dead person with her voice, and all of the judges agree, that a few small mistakes are nothing if it means being that entertained.
The Exchange: “Love Runs Out” by OneRepublic
BlazerWatch: Tailored suits and vests in varying shades of violet and maroon: They’ve already been here and bought the blazer.
By the Notes: Three of these fellas are former Sing-Off performers, and I remember all of them, especially Richard, the killer beatboxer from Urban Method. These five are now a lean, mean, professional a cappella machine. Their arrangement was flawless with a steady foundation of bass and percussion, and three unique soloists—what more could you want? Shawn says they fulfilled their promise of making the performance a true “exchange” with the audience, and pretty much every guy got a shout-out for their important contribution to the makeup of the song.
BlazerWatch: Tailored suits and vests in varying shades of violet and maroon: They’ve already been here and bought the blazer.
By the Notes: Three of these fellas are former Sing-Off performers, and I remember all of them, especially Richard, the killer beatboxer from Urban Method. These five are now a lean, mean, professional a cappella machine. Their arrangement was flawless with a steady foundation of bass and percussion, and three unique soloists—what more could you want? Shawn says they fulfilled their promise of making the performance a true “exchange” with the audience, and pretty much every guy got a shout-out for their important contribution to the makeup of the song.
SanFran6: “Break Free” by Ariana Grande ft. Zedd
BlazerWatch: Definitely from the Shawn/Lachey blue blazer family
By the Notes: That beatboxer, though. Danny stole the show a little bit with his amazing talent for “making weird sounds with his mouth,” but I’d say the main challenge with SanFran6’s performance was that there was a lot of talent on the stage, but it wasn’t all being featured to its full potential, and therefore the sound was a little sparse. Cherilyn had a great pop voice that Jewel really liked, but it never got a break from carrying the melody. I’d blame song choice here—Ariana is kind of a one-woman show, while SanFran6 has six stars (and Kevin’s rockstar dad).
BlazerWatch: Definitely from the Shawn/Lachey blue blazer family
By the Notes: That beatboxer, though. Danny stole the show a little bit with his amazing talent for “making weird sounds with his mouth,” but I’d say the main challenge with SanFran6’s performance was that there was a lot of talent on the stage, but it wasn’t all being featured to its full potential, and therefore the sound was a little sparse. Cherilyn had a great pop voice that Jewel really liked, but it never got a break from carrying the melody. I’d blame song choice here—Ariana is kind of a one-woman show, while SanFran6 has six stars (and Kevin’s rockstar dad).
Melodores: “Trumpets” by Jason Derulo
BlazerWatch: In the blazer department, collegiate boys become men. Full tartan. Leather lapels. Studs.
By the Notes: Charming soloists with CW faces and playful staging, I did expect; a Jason Derulo number and high kicks, I did not. The a cappella singers from Vanderbilt University brought all the fun (and all the high notes) to this performance, taking it from jazzy to R&B and back again. Jewel thought William and his insane falsetto was “cuter than kittens on YouTube,” and Shawn loved how they kept it entertaining the whole way through. Patrick was impressed that all 12 of them were able to stay on the same beat, but Shawn also pointed out that with that many bros, they could have been slightly stronger in the bass department.
BlazerWatch: In the blazer department, collegiate boys become men. Full tartan. Leather lapels. Studs.
By the Notes: Charming soloists with CW faces and playful staging, I did expect; a Jason Derulo number and high kicks, I did not. The a cappella singers from Vanderbilt University brought all the fun (and all the high notes) to this performance, taking it from jazzy to R&B and back again. Jewel thought William and his insane falsetto was “cuter than kittens on YouTube,” and Shawn loved how they kept it entertaining the whole way through. Patrick was impressed that all 12 of them were able to stay on the same beat, but Shawn also pointed out that with that many bros, they could have been slightly stronger in the bass department.
Judges’ Choice: After a pitch-perfect Christmas medley where Pentatonix showed the little ones how it was done (those are the five most vocally versatile people in the world, I swear), the judges announced their top three picks: Traces, The Exchanges, and Melodores. It would have been nice to see SanFran6 give it one more go, but if The Exchanges are proof of anything, we could be seeing them again in a few years when The Sing-Off is airing in one-minute increments for 100 days in a row, or something.
Traces: For the five powerful women, the judges choose Whitney Houston’s “I’m Every Woman,” and they give it every ounce of girl power they’ve got. Their arrangements are very pure, and in that way, maybe a little too straightforward. Shawn calls Keesha’s voice as sultry as honey, but Patrick makes sure to note how she doesn’t overpower the other four.
The Exchanges: The judges pick “Sing” by Ed Sheeran for The Exchanges because I guess they figure if these guys are getting a second go at the show, they better earn it. Surprisingly, they absolutely nail the rapping section with a genius three-part harmony, but I agree with Patrick that it seemed a bit like they were biding their time until they got to the showstopper. Still, they once again brought the audience right into their performance by cutting out the percussion at one point to use the audiences clapping as the melody.
Melodores: This song. This performance. The judges surely gave us this little nugget of pain/joy just to make me wish it was already Christmas 2015. The judges gave the Melodores Hozier’s “Take Me to Church,” which I thought was teetering dangerously close to being overdone, but then again, I had never seen the Melodores’ “littlest guy with the biggest voice” give it a whirl. Supported by his 11 closest singing pals, Dan took his moment in the spotlight, and as Shawn would say, left it all on the stage. I don’t know who’s done what to him, but he poured every bit of emotion he had into a performance I would describe as both heart wrenching and inspiring.
And the Winner is: THE VANDERBILT MELODORES!!!
With only one performance to show their stuff, any one of these six teams could have ended up in the Judges round, but it was the second performance that sealed the deal for the Melodores, not just because Dan took us to church, but because they showed their versatility as singers and performers. And young men with truly aspirational fashion sense.
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Nick Lachey: Why I’ll Have a ‘Different Kind of Love’ for My Daughter
Nick Lachey is tossing aside the balls and making room for the dolls!
As the singer-songwriter prepares towelcome a new baby girl with wife, actressVanessa Lachey, 34, he is making sure to squeeze in as much boy-on-boy time as possible with the couple’s 2-year-old son,Camden John.
“I love to wrestle with my son — that’s our thing,” Lachey tells PEOPLE. “We wrestle and tickle and just roughhouse.”
While Lachey, 41, isn’t exactly sure of what to expect once his daughter makes her big debut — Vanessa is due right after the holidays — there is one thing he is having a hard time wrapping his head around.
“I can’t imagine loving a child more than I love my son, so I guess it’s just gonna be a different kind of love,” says The Sing-Off host.
“I think that there’s something special about that bond between father and daughter, which I’m excited to experience first-hand.”
Luckily, for the Lacheys, Vanessa’s pregnancy has been very smooth — and an experience that she truly enjoys.
“We both look forward to meeting our daughter,” says Lachey, as he and Vanessa anticipate the arrival of their new bundle of love. “[It’s] just at that point now where you’re ready to meet this little life you’ve watched grow for the last eight months.”
And Camden’s thoughts about being a big brother?
“I don’t know if he completely grasps the concept of a little sister, but he’ll kiss her belly and say goodnight to [his] little sister,” says Lachey.
The family plans to celebrate this holiday season comfortably at home, but an expected gift could make their season even merrier.
“We’re expecting a little girl pretty much at any time now,” says Lachey. “We’re celebrating, but we’re celebrating with one eye on the contraction clock, if you will.”
He adds, “We’re ready to hit the hospital if we have to, but it adds a special dynamic to this holiday season knowing we’re getting the best gift of all in a daughter, at some point.”
Lachey's Bar set to open to public on New Year's Day
Nick and Drew Lachey opening bar in Over-the-Rhine
Nick and Drew Lachey's bar, called Lachey's Bar, in Over-the-Rhine, will open to the public on New Year's Day.
The brothers were on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday afternoon at Lachey's Bar on Walnut Street.
The A&E Network filmed the process of opening Lachey’s Bar.
According to the network, the brothers have had a lifelong dream of opening a bar together, but lack business knowledge.
The show tracks the ins and outs of their experience, and is set for 10 half-hour episodes.
There is no word yet on when the show will premiere.
Lachey's Bar set to open in Over-the-Rhine on New Year's Day
CINCINNATI -- Over-the-Rhine’s newest bar is set to open and it has the backing of a pair of the city’s favorite sons.
Nick and Drew Lachey held a ribbon cutting ceremony for “Lachey’s Bar” at 1201 Walnut St. Friday evening.
The bar is located at the site of the old Pabst bedding warehouse. The 18,000 square-foot space was formerly used by the Art Academy of Cincinnati.
The brothers also filmed a reality show that will be aired on A&E that documents the process of opening the bar. The network ordered 10 episodes to be shot for the series.
Response on social media has been largely enthusiastic for the project.
Facebook user Jennifer Colwell said, “Over-the-Rhine is a perfect location. It has totally transformed. I'm so happy for them and the locals this is such a wonderful thing for them. Awesome!”
The Lacheys' said they will hold a soft opening for family and friends on Saturday. The bar will officially open to the public on Jan. 1.
The Lacheys are Cincinnati natives and music stars from their days in the 98 Degrees band.
You can follow the Lachey’s Bar online at Facebook, Twitter and the bar’s website.
Lachey's Bar to Open Jan. 1
We went to the sneak preview — there were fewer shirtless 98 degrees photos than we had hoped
The Lachey brothers are officially in the bar business. Cincinnati natives and boy band superstars Nick and Drew Lachey held a preview night for their bar, Lachey’s Bar, Dec. 19. It opens to the public on Jan. 1. 2015. Mayor John Cranley, 3CDC and 4EG/Lachey’s Bar partner Bob Deck were on hand to help the brothers cut the red ribbon.
“We’re literally cutting the red tape,” Drew Lachey joked to the crowd. Cranley gave the brothers keys to the city and declared December 19 98 Degrees Day, er, Lachey Day in Cincinnati. As the event unfurled, A&E was also there rolling cameras for the upcoming reality show surrounding the opening of the bar, which will start airing in March 2015.
“Nick has been talking about this, I swear, it has to be at least a decade,” Justin Jeffre, a childhood pal of the Lacheys, fellow 98 Degrees member and editor for newspaper Streetvibes, says. “They’ve been more serious about it for the past couple of years. After hearing so many conversations, it’s nice to see it finally come to fruition.”
The sports bar, located on the corner of Walnut and 12th Street in OTR, is huge and bright, so there’s no way you’ll miss it. Because of its large windows, you can easily stand on the street and gaze inside at Drew and Nick, and read the LED sports ticker crawling underneath the 10 or so TVs hovering above the long bar.
“We felt like we wanted it be a sports lounge,” Nick says. “Sports bar, you kind of think of peanut shells on the floor, more Buffalo Wild Wings vibe, which I love, but we wanted to create something that was a little bit more upscale from that but still approachable to everybody.”
The plethora of TVs, the sports ticker and glowing rectangular colored lights wired into panels underneath the bar countertop creates almost a sensory overload. There’s already a sports bar (Rhinehaus) and a craft beer emporium/taco joint (Half Cut, Gomez Salsa) across the street, but keep in mind Lachey’s is more commodious, with 100 seats and a 150-person occupancy. Chefs Jonathan Price and Brian Duffy (of Bar Rescue fame) are building a menu of high-quality, non-frozen pub grub, including tater tots, pork sandwiches, bison burgers and salads, so you can stuff your face while you watch golf.
The big draw here is not only the bros, but also the booze. Three tap stations serve an array of craft beer and Miller Lite (Nick’s fave), but there’s also Nobilo wine on draft (it’s fancy and it’s good), cocktails on tap, a beer cocktail called Una Noche and non-alcoholic sodas for the teetotalers. Sports and non-sports fans will be able to imbibe their Miller Lite and Mad Tree Thundersnows sitting on barstools at the bar, sitting at one of the high top tables or lounging in the back of the bar on a comfy couch. Or, the ladies can take their business into the bathroom and lounge on couches in there. Note: The ladies room is nicer than most sports bars’ bathrooms.
But what’s the appeal of a sports bar to those who aren’t into sports? Nick assures, “It’s really about the people. I think I go to places because I want to be around good people and great atmosphere, and this is going to have that, for sure.”
Like many bars in OTR, Lachey’s will have happy hour, which will be yet another reason to hang out at the bar in hopes of catching a glimpse of the bros. And if you’re into the Pedal Wagon, the bar has a garage that enables the wagon to pedal right into the bar.
Currently, the only framed photos hanging on the red-hued walls are of The Bengals and Reds, and when asked if he’ll hang photos of 98 Degrees, Nick says, “We’re still decorating.” So here’s hoping some of those ‘90s-era shirtless pictures of the guys will make it onto the wall of shame.
Lachey’s Bar is located at 56 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine. For more info, go to lacheys.com.
Take a look inside Nick and Drew Lachey's new bar
Nick and Drew Lachey joined city and 4EG officials to cut the ribbon on their new bar in Over-the-Rhine on Dec. 19 in a neighborhood with a lot of history for the brothers.
"Of all the neighborhoods in Cincinnati, this is the most meaningful not only for me but for my brother as well. We went to school two blocks away at the SCPA (School for Creative and Performing Arts) on Sycamore and spent every day of our lives walking through this neighborhood to school," Nick Lachey told me. "We always understood the potential, and it's so exciting to see the rebirth of this neighborhood, and the opportunity to be a part of it on a business level was very exciting for us."
Lachey's Bar will open to the public on Jan. 1 at 12th and Walnut streets. The Lacheys and 4EG worked with the city to preserve the historic facade of the building, formerly the Pabst Bedding Warehouse building, but the interior is all modern. The Lacheys wanted a sports bar focus, and more than 20 HDTVs will broadcast local and national games. A ticker underneath the TVs will display scores and news. The bar is also the first with a bay where pedal wagons can dock and have their patrons served at the wagon. Currently, Ohio law prohibits pedal wagons, which are driven on roads, from serving alcohol on the wagon while it's on the street.
Click the image to the right to check out the bar and the scene from its ribbon cutting.
"I think obviously there's a heavy sports theme here. A lot of the other places may dabble in that, but we've made it a focus of our place," Lachey said. "Everyone down here has a different identity, and what we've tried to do is be true to our identity."
Nick and Drew Lachey joined city and 4EG officials to cut the ribbon on their new bar in Over-the-Rhine on Dec. 19 in a neighborhood with a lot of history for the brothers.
"Of all the neighborhoods in Cincinnati, this is the most meaningful not only for me but for my brother as well. We went to school two blocks away at the SCPA (School for Creative and Performing Arts) on Sycamore and spent every day of our lives walking through this neighborhood to school," Nick Lachey told me. "We always understood the potential, and it's so exciting to see the rebirth of this neighborhood, and the opportunity to be a part of it on a business level was very exciting for us."
Lachey's Bar will open to the public on Jan. 1 at 12th and Walnut streets. The Lacheys and 4EG worked with the city to preserve the historic facade of the building, formerly the Pabst Bedding Warehouse building, but the interior is all modern. The Lacheys wanted a sports bar focus, and more than 20 HDTVs will broadcast local and national games. A ticker underneath the TVs will display scores and news. The bar is also the first with a bay where pedal wagons can dock and have their patrons served at the wagon. Currently, Ohio law prohibits pedal wagons, which are driven on roads, from serving alcohol on the wagon while it's on the street.
Click the image to the right to check out the bar and the scene from its ribbon cutting.
"I think obviously there's a heavy sports theme here. A lot of the other places may dabble in that, but we've made it a focus of our place," Lachey said. "Everyone down here has a different identity, and what we've tried to do is be true to our identity."
Fitting in with the sports bar theme, the menu offers a lot of American classics such as burgers and wings. Celebrity chef Brian Duffy was brought in by 4EG to work on the menu. He also worked with the company on menus at Keystone Bar and Grill and Mt. Adams Pavilion, among others.
"They (Nick and Drew) wanted some pretty classic American stuff, some of the stuff to go really healthy as well. We're doing everything from a really nice meatball that's got bacon and ham and cheddar in it and then we go to the other side to a kale, quinoa and edamame salad," Duffy told me.
Burger offerings include a bison burger topped with goetta and American cheese, as well as a burger called the Cure topped with American cheese and a fried egg, he said.
"OTR is a place I've loved to go and hang out as well as eat – you've got places like The Eagle and Bakersfield and new spots like Kreuger's – so to be able to open a spot like this that is new with something that's not being done by anyone else is something I'm proud of," Duffy said. "It's classic, fun food with huge flavor profiles."
The bar is the focus of a reality television series on A&E that will document the brothers' opening of the bar. Cameras were on site to film the ribbon cutting.
Nick Lachey said he thinks the bar will fit into the fabric of OTR while still standing out and offering something different.
"In terms of the mentality of the bar itself, we want to be a piece of the overall success of Over-the-Rhine," he said. "There's not one particular type of thing that's working here, and that's what makes it so good."
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