American Idol
Durbin. ‘Nuff said.
American Ninja Warrior
Scotts Valley resident David Campbell and his nephew, Travis Furlanic, competed in NBC’s spin-off of Sasuke, the popular Japanese television show in which a mob of competitors vie to complete an intricate four-stage obstacle course featuring elements with names like “Spider Jump” and “Blade Bridge.” The pair trained for the show on an obstacle course they built in a Soquel back yard.
America's Favorite Trail Horse Television Show
Shauna Brantley and her horse, Solar Flare, were contestants on a program created by the American Competitive Trail Horse Association and broadcast on the Dish Network. Horses and their trainers compete for $100,000 in cash and prizes like a deluxe horse trailer with all the fixings. Brantley, now a resident of Lodi, spent her teenage years in Aromas, Felton and Watsonville, where she was an intern and trainer at Moon Valley Ranch.
Hoarders
Seventy-two-year-old Menlo Park resident Roy Kaylor keeps scores of cars, thousands of cords of firewood and other treasures on his 150-acre-plus Boulder Creek property. Santa Cruz County calls the land an undeveloped parcel and says county code requires Kaylor to clear out the land. Producers from the A&E show hauled away more than 50 cars and brought in a psychologist to consult with the Kaylors about their compulsive hoarding, which may have been triggered by a incident when the couple was held at gunpoint as their house was robbed.
Restaurant Impossible
Tight T-shirted celebrity chef Robert Irvine has $10,000 and 48 hours to turn a failing restaurant around on his Food Network program. A teaser for the episode featuring Hoffman’s Bistro and Patisserie on Pacific Avenue says, “The 10-year-old venture is more than $2 million in debt, and the stress on the family-run business has resulted in a tense and uncomfortable environment for employees and customers alike.” The episode doesn’t air until Jan. 11, but locals can visit the revamped restaurant now and decide for themselves if Irvine (and his pecs) performed the impossible.
X Factor
The 28-year-old Santa Cruz garbage collector and recovering addict Chris Rene sang both covers and his own compositions in his bid for a $5 million dollar recording contract on Fox’s The X Factor. He started strong, wowing judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and LA Reid with his original song “Young Homie” while just 80 days clean. He stayed strong too, making it all the way to the final episode of the season.
