Inside ‘The Glass House’ – Photos Revealed

With The Glass House houseguests (is that term also copyrighted, CBS?) moving in today as schedule, ABC has revealed photos of the new house where the game will take place this summer. Time is winding down, but CBS is still trying to put an end to the show before it even starts. As of now, Glass House is slated to premiere on the ABC Network Monday June 18 at 10/9c! The live feeds will kick off TOMORROW June 12 (as opposed to originally scheduled June 11) at 3pm EST. Fans will be able to peek at the hamsters in the house made of glass on Monday from 11pm – 3am EST and on Tuesdays – Thursdays from just 3pm – 4pm EST.

Self Proclaimed Yak in the Glass House

ABC has kicked off the live voting on their official website. Head on over HERE to cast your votes! In the meantime, check out the pics below. What do you think of the house? Will you be watching the feeds? Will you catch the show? Let us know below! We’ll also be doing live feed updates for The Glass House in our FORUMS, so be sure to join us!

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The Glass House Houseguest Replaced by Holly aka. “Yakety Yak”

That’s right folks! Someone who identifies as a Yakety Yak herself will be in ABC’s new reality series The Glass House, as the houseguests move in this weekend. When we recently announced the cast, there was a houseguest slated for entry by the name of Melissa. Well, Melissa is no more. The freelance journalist from Chicago, IL has been replaced by 21-year old Holly from Detroit, MI, who self-describes as a Yakety Yak. We, of course, couldn’t be happier! Check out Holly’s photo, bio and video below.

CBS Files Emergency Injunction in Glass House Lawsuit

Fans will be able to peek at the hamsters in the house made of glass on Monday from 11pm – 3am EST and on Tuesdays – Thursdays from just 3pm – 4pm EST. ABC will permit LIVE voting starting June 9, while the live streaming will kick off June 11. The show will premiere on the ABC network on Monday June 18 at 10/9c!

America: be prepared to have me enter your lives! My name is Holly a.k.a. Yakety Yak. I live in Phoenix, Arizona, originally born from Detroit, Michigan. My ethnic background is Babylonian; specifically “Chaldean” and I speak Aramaic. I’m passionate about making a difference, one BIG step at a time. While there are a variety of personal things I enjoy and want to do, like travel and have a fulfilling career, I believe that my purpose is to touch others by helping those who are less fortunate. In doing this, I believe I’ll leave my footprint in this world — helping others beyond myself. What makes me unique is that there is not only one of me in this world, but two! I actually have a twin sister and we’re fraternal twins. Having lived in L.A., I am a city girl at heart with a larger than life personality. I exude an infectious energetic quality that people love to be around.

‘The Glass House’ ~ Just How Will It Work?

Ever since ABC unveiled plans for their new summer reality TV program, The Glass House, questions arose as to what the show’s format will be. How many weeks? How will America be involved? How will the Live Feeds work? Is this a Big Brother wannabe? And those are just some of the questions.

CBS Threatens ABC with Lawsuit over Reality Show

Well, we hope to clear up some of the lingering questions with the info we’ve gathered. As we previously announced, live streaming will be available during predetermined times. Fans will be able to peek at the hamsters in the house on Monday from 11pm – 3am EST and on Tuesdays – Thursdays from just 3pm – 4pm EST. ABC will permit LIVE voting starting June 9, while the live streaming will kick off June 11.

So what will we be voting on? Well, 14 houseguests will enter the house and participate in challenges, while America dips their finger in on the fun. Each week, someone will be eliminated with the sole survivor being deemed winner. The catch? The winner will be voted by America! Besides deciding who should stay and leave, America will also have a hand in affecting everything from what the houseguests wear, eat, where they sleep, and who can even re-enter the game for another chance!

ABC v. CBS: The Saga Continues

Each week, America will have a hand in choosing team captains. The two houseguests with the fewest votes from the public will be the team captains for the challenge of the week. This is where a new feature, “Limbo,” comes in. Once a team loses a challenge, the losing team’s captain enters this purgatory like stage with another member from his/her team that the house decides on. Limbo is equivalent to, if you will, Big Brother’s jury house. The difference? Someone from limbo will be allowed to re-enter the game for a second chance. From there, America will eventually decide who deserves a second chance.

Now, as for the voting, ABC notes that there will be both “daily voting” and “live stream voting.” Daily voting will likely affect the things in the house that we previously mentioned – things that will affect on-air episodes. However, America will get a shot at immediately affecting the outcome of the game during special live-stream votes. The show’s first season will air 10 episodes.

So, what do you think? Now that we know a little bit more, is this a Big Brother rip-off that fans and CBS claim? Are you now more or less likely to watch?

The Glass House premieres June 18 at 10/9c on ABC!

Reality Rally Blog: The Yak Joins Forces with the Rally

Can’t attend the large gathering of reality stars and fans this April? Want to be a part of the Reality Rally and aren’t sure how? Why are participants from Big Brother, Survivor, The Amazing Race, Hell’s Kitchen, The X Factor, The Biggest Loser and more attending the Reality Rally and what does it mean to them? What can I do to help further breast cancer research and support my favorite reality stars? If you’ve asked yourselves these questions and more, we’re happy to announce that YakkityYaks is partnering with Reality Rally to provide you even more exclusive content and unparalleled access to the events of the jam-packed weekend! The Yak is launching a Yak Blog that will give you an even greater look at the inner workings of Reality Rally from the point of view of the awesome organizing team to the participants to the reality fans themselves!

Stay tuned for more details on how you can access this blog to receive content from the reality stars and fan participants at the Rally. We’ll have exclusive personal stories, video content and inside info, while you can also keep track and follow Reality Rally’s official tweets, Facebook posts and exclusive video. We’re working with the dedicated folks at Reality Rally to make this an encompassing fan experience, as we work together for a greater cause – donating and supporting the great work the people at Michelle’s Place do for Breast Cancer research. Read on below for more info on the Rally & Michelle’s place. We also encourage any and all Yakksters who are moved by this initiative to visit the Reality Rally page and donate to support a reality star and their team for their efforts. It’s never too late to make a change!

Be sure to follow the Yak on Twitter and Facebook, and keep checking our site for updates! Also, keep tabs with Reality Rally on Twitter & Facebook for all of their official updates!
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Reality Rally is a four hour “Amazing Race” kind of game, where participants will be walking (or running) throughout Temecula’s Old Town in a competition involving crazy activities and fun challenges for all ability levels, all for the coveted prize (trophy) and bragging rights but most importantly raising funds for Michelle’s Place Breast Cancer Resource Center.

”I thought my excitement could never be matched when I made it on Survivor after eight years of trying. I am equally, if not more, excited to bring back the second year of Reality Rally which after last year’s success is being touted as the Premier Reality Fundraising event in the nation,” says event founder Gillian Larson who was a contestant on Survivor:
Gabon.

Over 80 reality stars have already committed to participate in this year’s Reality Rally Temecula Valley including: Richard Hatch (Winner of the first Survivor and participant in Survivor: All-Stars), Dawn Meehan (Survivor: South Pacific), Papa Bear Caruso (Survivor: South Pacific), Adam Poch (Big Brother), Elise Wims (Hell’s Kitchen) and many others.

Teams consist of three members of the general public and a Reality Star added to make a team of four. Registration is $90.00 PER racer until April 8th or when all teams are filled whichever comes first. Only eighty teams will play and spots are filling up quickly.

Not only are all of the Reality Stars in attendance donating their time, this year they are required to raise $400 (the cost of a mammogram) minimum to be part of the event. The Reality Stars are raising “Money For Mammograms” and all the other services that Michelle’s Place offers to women suffering from breast cancer.

The three day Fun for Funds event will take place from April 13th – 15th. The Reality Rally competition is on April 14th, 2012 and the public will be able to not only watch the competitors as they complete the over 12 challenges but also have the opportunity to participate in many of the activities surrounding the event such as the Reality-Am Golf Tournament the Celebrity Reception with the Stars at Wilson Creek Winery, the Red Carpet Extravaganza and Rally Pit Party at Monte De Oro Winery, and the family Breakfast with the Stars at The Legends Golf Club at Temeku Hills.

There will also be autograph signings, “pawtograph” signings (from celebrity dog stars) and much more to enjoy. Event times, tickets and information can all be found at www.realityrally.com where updates will be posted regularly.

All proceeds of Reality Rally will go to benefit Michelle’s Place which was founded in 2001 by Marilyn and Bill Watson, parents of Michelle Watson. Michelle was diagnosed with breast cancer at the tender age of 23 after years of misdiagnosis. It was her dying wish to start a breast cancer resource center where women could go for support and information in Riverside County. For more information regarding Michelle’s Place please visit www.michellesplace.org.

Reality Casting Tips From Big Brother Champ, Dan Gheesling

With the launch of his new e-book keeping him busy, Big Brother 10 champ, Dan Gheesling, was willing to take some time of his busy schedule and answer a few questions for the Yak and our readers who would some day like end to end up on their favorite reality show. As but a supplement to his Step-By-Step Guide, How A Normal Guy Got Cast on Reality TV, is a great way for hopefuls to brush up on the characteristics those involved with casting reality TV shows are looking for. You can access your free e-copy, by clicking right here! In addition to the e-book, check out the extra bit of insight Dan provided below. The Yak thanks Dan for his time and wishes him great success with his future endeavors!

If you’re applying to an upcoming season of a reality show, be sure and let us know! We always love to know what our Yakksters are up to!
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The Yak: How does a real fan show they would be more valuable to the show more than a Jersey Shore mactor wannabe?
Dan Gheesling: Passion is something that will help you connect with a lot of people, including the Casting Producers. If you are really passionate about getting on Reality TV they will be able to see it. If you want to get on Reality TV just to be “famous” they will also see that (not a great idea). For someone trying to get on Reality TV, they have to define what is driving them to apply – this is what I call the “why-factor.”

The Yak: Any tips on how to draw the line between defining what your “why-factor” is without going overboard and over-saturating casting with that factor?

Dan Gheesling: Your why factor is defined by your passions in life. The problem with that is people have a difficult time even defining their passions let alone their why-factors (I know this first hand!). When you boil it all down there are only a handful of why-factors. In the Guide I go through in depth specifically how to determine your own personal why-factor using a set of individual Guide-sheets that are included with the guide.

The Yak: What compelled you to write this e-book?
Dan Gheesling: About a year ago I started my personal blog – www.IWouldCoach.com – and on the blog I have a form where people can contact me directly. The most asked question I got, was asking me how to get on Reality TV. After I responded to a ton of e-mails answering that question – I figured out I could help a LOT more people by writing a book about it. Back in the day I searched every corner of the Internet for information on how to improve my audition video and casting interview skills, and I couldn’t find anything. The goal of HowToGetOnRealityTV.net and both books I have written are to help someone looking for that exact information.

The Yak: Let’s be honest, you have your critics out there who think this is all a ploy to suck more money from your fans. While I don’t believe this at all, I have seen it on the internet already. I’m sure you have too. What do you have to say to the skeptics?
Dan Gheesling: Anyone who knows me knows that I truly appreciate all the support people have given me since I have been off the show. As a small way of thanking them for the support, I put a ton of time and effort into writing my story, How A Normal Guy Got Cast On Reality TV. This book is available for them for FREE. This was written specifically for my supporters but can also provide some insight for an individual interested in getting cast on Reality TV.

For people who are really serious about improving their casting game, I wrote How To Get On Reality TV: The Complete Step by Step Guide. It is a 75 page Guide that is a resource and tool to hone your casting skills. The Guide teaches readers the following: how to create a compelling casting story, the best way to develop your audition video, critical interview tips, includes a set of Guide-sheets, and much much more. My goal is to genuinely help others improve their casting process skills by using this Guide. Bottom line, I’ve put a lot of time and energy into producing this valuable tool which includes information that cannot be found anywhere else.

The Yak: So, you’ve made it known that you initially applied for Season 9 but ended up getting cast for season 10 – likely due to the twist. For hopefuls out there who have already applied and maybe been told by casting that they are wanted back next season, what advice do you have for them? Do they need to reapply or does someone in the casting department get a hold of them based on some special list they’ve been penned on?
Dan Gheesling: In How A Normal Guy Got Cast On Reality TV, you will find out I first applied for Season 6, and was rejected many times after. My advice to someone who has had some success in the casting process is to keep applying. Each audition there after you have to step it up or change something about your approach. If you continue to do the same thing time in and time out, you can’t really expect different results.

The Yak: And if you’ve made it farther than you ever imagined and casting has specifically told you that they want you back next season, does one still have to apply or can one expect a call back from casting automatically for the semi-finals rounds?
Dan Gheesling: In my story How A Normal Guy Got Cast on Reality TV, that exact same thing happened to me. I always erred on the side of caution and applied regardless of what I was told.

The Yak: Alright, so we’ve been called back. Now what? How do we keep ourselves relevant and appealing to the casting team?
Dan Gheesling: Have a story to tell. Reality TV is just an outlet to tell stories. You have to be comfortable talking about yourself and really selling your story. A lot of people walk into a casting interview winging it without any stories to tell. Some people can pull that off – I could never do that. Dynamic story telling was never my strong suit, but I found a way to make it happen. So if a normal guy like me can get on Reality TV, so can other people, if they know what to do.

The Yak: I take it your guide summarized how you found a way to make that happen. Can you briefly summarize for Yaks everywhere?
Dan Gheesling: You’re right, Building Your Story is detailed very clearly in How To Get On Reality TV: The Complete Step by Step Guide. It’s actually quite an in depth process that takes time, effort, and most importantly dedication to getting cast. Building your story is like building a house, it starts with your why factor, is stacked with your life experiences, and finished off with your compelling details. The best advice I can give to someone who hadn’t read the Guide yet is to deliberately take time before you audition to define your story. It’s the most important part of your presentation, yet a lot of people never take the time to build their own story.

The Yak: Let’s take it one step further. You’ve not only made it on the show, but you made it to the winner’s circle. Any insider advice for someone who heeded your advice to not only get on the show but home $500,000 richer?
Dan Gheesling: That’s a tough question to answer in a few short sentences. In the end its about focus and desire. How bad do you want to win? What are you willing to do to win? And most importantly, in an environment built to distract and get a rise out of you, can you stay focused long enough to make the right decisions?

The Yak: I know this is aside from the casting talk, but this past season of Big Brother has brought the fangs out of fans more than before. With the advent of social media, contestants are more easily targeted for hate related to game play or decisions. Do you have anything to say on that and how we can help combat that for incoming contestants?
Dan Gheesling: There is really not a whole lot you can do to combat it. It is sad to see when people’s real lives are influenced by negative messages via social media. That’s when it goes too far. At the same time, when you put yourself on a platform like Reality TV you need to be prepared to handle it. Incoming contestants just need to know that IF they choose to read blogs, forums, etc it is not always going to be positive and just take everything you read with a grain of salt. I would encourage them to interact with the people that connect with them but ignore the people who have negative words for them.

The Sing Off’s AfroBlue: “We really love to be cerebral about music”

This week on NBC’s The Sing-Off, judges Sara Bareilles, Shawn Stockman, and Ben Folds made a tough decision and eliminated one of the last remaining collegiate groups, AfroBlue. After a dueling sing-off between the crew from Howard University and the Dartmouth Aires, the show lived up to it’s name with a decision coming down to one final battle. After delivering memorable performances week after week, such as “American Girl” and “Need You Now,” AfroBlue knew they had to follow through with critiques and focus on their arrangements. Unfortunately, found themselves eliminated and exited the Top 4. Earlier today, YakkityYaks had the pleasure to participate in an exclusive call with Danielle Withers from AfroBlue to get some insight on the group’s inspiration, challenges and what they think about the top 3 groups in the competition. Read on to find out these and much more!

For details on how to vote for the Top 3, click HERE. The Sing-Off bows with its finale next Monday, November 28 at 8/7c on NBC!

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The Yak: Hey there, how are you today?

Danielle, AfroBlue: I’m good, thanks!

The Yak: So, what made you guys do The Sing-Off?

Danielle: A few of us kept up with the show from season 1 and we were definitely into the show. We thought it would be cool to be on, but never really thought to audition or send in a tape. In the past, we were afforded the privilege to perform with legendary jazz singers, such as Take 6. Our director reconnected with Cedric from Take 6 and he remembered who we were and put in our name with casting at The Sing-Off. They saw our videos and asked us to audition. The rest is history.

The Yak: You guys had the privilege of knowing each other for some time before doing the show. How do you think that helped you week after week?

Danielle: Well, actually the group on the show was formed from members of the current class and some former members of AfroBlue. So, this was the first time we performed as a group together. Myself, Charity and Elijah have sang together in the past, but our director put us all together and we realized how well we sang as a group and brought it to the stage week after week.

The Yak: You’ve mentioned your director a couple of times. Were you able to work with her during the competition or were you not able to?

Danielle: No, we didn’t really work with her during the show. It was just us out there. As you saw on the show, there was no jazz night, so we had to arrange things freshly week after week. We were bravin’ it on our own. Our repertoire didn’t have any songs that coincided with the themes.

The Yak: Speaking of the themed nights, was one week particularly challenging for you as a group?

Danielle: Hmm, definitely rock/country week. We were familiar with “Need You Now” as a group. Even though we’re a jazz group, we listen to all kinds of music, but we don’t sing all kinds together as AfroBlue. The challenge was to be authentic and find yourselves in each piece we performed, no matter what. I was also not familiar with “American Girl,” so that was a challenge in and of itself. We took the advice of the judges from previous weeks and thought delicately about the arrangements.

The Yak: Well, I loved both of those arrangements, so well done. Have you guys heard from any of the artists you’ve covered this season?

Danielle: Oh, ya actually. We saw a tweet from Estelle the following morning praising our performance of “American Boy,” so that was really cool. We hope others saw our covers and think that we did them justice. I’d love to hear from more of them.

The Yak: You guys were one of the few groups who changed soloists almost weekly. Other than finding the right voice for the song, was there anything else that led you guys to choose a particular vocalist to perform that week?

Danielle: Basically you hit the nail on the head. It all depends on whose voice does the song most justice. We want the personality of the song shine through the voice and sometimes one person’s tone does that better than another.

The Yak: Did you have a favorite performance from the season? If so, why?

Danielle: My favorite was “Killing Me Softly.” I felt as though it were pleasing to the ear. I loved our arrangement. It really was an indicator of who we are as a group. It showed that we can be crazy and have a good time. We really love to be cerebral about music and that song did it for me. I love intricate arrangements like that.

The Yak: Sorry to have seen you guys eliminated last night, but was there any particular feedback from the judges after the show that gave you a little bit more insight into their decision?

Danielle: Nothing extra. What you saw was what they essentially said. They based their decision off the consistency of the season. We were in the bottom 2 more than Dartmouth Aires, so that made sense to us. They are an amazing and dynamic group. Michael’s vocals are amazing.

The Yak: Ya, that note during their sing-off performance blew me away.

Danielle: Haha, exactly my point! We root for each other, that’s the tricky part of this competition.

The Yak: Going into the finale next week, anyone in particular you guys are rooting for?

Danielle: Oh man, all the groups are good for different reasons. Like I said, the Aires are amazing and dynamic. I’m a huge theatre fan and I have told them that everytime I see them perform I feel like I’m watching a Broadway show. As for Urban Method, they have really cool arrangements. I can see things they do on a record. The intricacies you can hear in the background are so unique. And then Pentatonix. You know how some of the best musicians/singers are ahead of their time? That’s who they represent for me. They have the longevity in an artist that will keep them around for a while. Their attitudes are great – tongue in cheek in a really cool way. All the groups have been great.

The Yak: So you can’t commit, huh?

Danielle: Haha, nope, sorry!

The Yak: That’s OK – Before I let you go, are you allowed to give us a sneak peek into next week’s finale?

Danielle: Nope, sorry, you’ll have to tune in and see!

The Yak: Well thanks for your time. It was great talking to you. Have a great Thanksgiving.

Danielle: Thanks, same to you!

The Sing Off’s Delilah: “… sharing a special message through music”

This week on NBC’s The Sing-Off, judges Sara Bareilles, Shawn Stockman, and Ben Folds made a tough decision and eliminated all-female group, Delilah, from the competition. After making it past Round 1 with their memorable performance of Bruno Mars’s “Grenade,” Delilah knew they had to work hard to build upon the judge’s critiques and come back a new group in future rounds! While nearly escaping elimination, Delilah knew they had to prove themselves week after week. Unfortunately, in a crop of six highly talented groups, Delilah found themselves eliminated. Earlier this week, YakkityYaks had the pleasure to participate in a media call with Hannah Juliano from Delilah. Read on to find out the story behind the group, plans for the future, and more!

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Talking About Their Hardest Challenge As a Group
Hannah, Delilah: Well, a lot of the groups on the show primarily do a genre and they are really strong in a genre, you know, say like hip hop or in jazz or in electronic type of music. And the basis of our whole group was that we not only were, you know, adapting to all these genres, all these challenges every week, but we also were just all female. It was commented on a lot obviously because it was our biggest challenge. We don’t have a natural low end like the groups that have guys do because our – physically our voices aren’t as low. So it was a huge challenge for us every week to not only reinvent these songs and represent them in a way that was true to us and, you know, as musicians and as women, but to really get around the struggle of not having that natural low end. I think that we really rose to the challenge every week. We dug deep every single week to try and beat that.

On The Judges’ Best Advice
Hannah, Delilah: Gosh, they said a lot of things. The shows are pre-filmed so a lot of the commentary was given to us. They would really talk to us a lot in the live shows so some of it didn’t really make the cut in the shows, but I do specifically remember when Ben Folds told us that when we’re making ourselves happy, we’re making everybody else happy. That was one week that it clicked for us that we were trying so hard to please ourselves and the judges and what we thought the audience was going to want and we weren’t really listening to ourselves. When we started to sing from our hearts, that’s really when everything clicked. Sara said the same thing the next week. She said that, you know, just when we tap into that true very emotional, feminine spirit that we all have and are very true to that then we were the most successful.

Thoughts On The Comments From Rock/Country Night
Hannah, Delilah: I was actually really scared about how they were going to turn out because we thought they were so awesome and so strong, we felt so connected to them both, and then they were both judged kind of harshly, so I didn’t really know what everybody else had heard. I didn’t know if it was different from what we had heard or what we had thought about it. But I am so, so happy about how they both turned out. We really were just singing from our hearts on both of the songs. Both of them were a struggle. You know, we really, really had to dig deep that week, especially on the country song. We had to rearrange that song about ten times and our last version of it was finally done. Even that day of filming we were still working on it and changing it. So listening back on it and watching the performances, I think they’re really both beautiful and, like I said, we were just singing our hearts out. And as far as pitch issues or energy issues in the first song go, I don’t know. It’s different when you’re in the group. I feel like I have a bias because I feel so strongly connected to them in the first place, but I can see what they were talking about as far as the energy issues in “Dream On” where we peaked early. And the pitch issues in “If I Die Young,” I don’t think they were as dramatic as the judges had made it seem. But when it comes down to it it’s the top six in the competition and any kind of mistake is a big deal because everybody is so talented and so perfect. So…it definitely was a blow to us though.

On What The Future Holds For Delilah
Hannah, Delilah: We are so excited and so motivated. We really just liked being on the show and it turned into something much bigger and much more special than we would have ever imagined and all of us continue to talk every single day. We unfortunately are all split up across the country right now. You know, we’re all from different places, so none of us are together save maybe two people at a time in different cities, but we are planning on continuing. Of course we want to kind of see if some offers roll in and we’re kind of waiting for all of that, but really want to do an album, tour and stay together and really continue to share this special thing that is Delilah that we found.

On Delilah’s Favorite Performance
Hannah, Delilah: Oh my gosh. Probably – oh gosh, I don’t know. Probably “Grenade” and Alicia Keys. They both were ones that just clicked and so it wasn’t as much of a struggle to perfect the song as it was or it wasn’t much of a struggle to really beat the song and try and outsmart it to really give a great performance as it was just perfecting something that kind of was great from the start. You know, a lot of our songs sprouted from us having to deconstruct it and find how to make it work for us and both of those songs just kind of naturally worked for us. And they were both just a joy.

On Which Judge Delilah Connected Most With
Hannah, Delilah: I’m going to say probably Shawn. I feel like he got our platform most of the time. We have a pretty special relationship and very different with each of the judges. With Sara being the only girl, we always felt like she was rooting for us. All of them were always rooting for us really. But there was something special about Shawn. Every time he commented on us, we always felt a special kinship with him and you can’t see it on a lot on the TV. They don’t show it, but he was always pointing to us and saying, “I’m so proud of you.” He was always encouraging us especially when we were struggling in the Guilty Pleasure week. After we had been saved the second time, he looked at us and said, “Come on, I know you can do it, ladies.” Like, I don’t know, we just – I specifically felt something with Shawn. I’m sure each of the girls have different opinions, but that’s just my standpoint. We loved all the judges so much. They were always so great to us.

On Staying Positive As A Group
Hannah, Delilah: Well, the group is really special. And we didn’t really know how special it was until we were in it, you know, because we formed for the show. So it was all very quick and we were finding our identity in real-time on the show, so that’s what I think is really interesting about the group. It kind of changes from what we thought we were going to be on the show to what we actually ended up being and what we felt a connection with. I think being in the bottom two the first time was a big shock to us because we had come out of the gate so strong in our first two songs. So after that we thought, well I don’t know. There was always a very, very positive energy about us and we were all so so close, truly a sisterhood, so we were always constantly lifting each other up. I guess our strategy was just letting it all go and remembering what it’s all about and that’s about the music and connecting to it and sharing a message with the audience. So whenever we would just kind of breath and relax and try and forget about the judges then the challenges and the competition, it really seemed to click for us. You know, we would get back to that special place of just sharing a special message through music.

On Keeping Up With Delilah
Hannah, Delilah: Oh gosh, fans can find us everywhere. We are constantly online. We love checking up on the YouTube videos and answering fans there. We’re all on Twitter. We all have individual Twitters and then the actual group’s Twitter is @singdelilah. We’ve got a Facebook fan page. We’re working on getting a Web site and all that kind of fun stuff to make it kind of centralized outside of Facebook and Twitter. But we are all over the Internet. We are constantly answering fans and saying hello and thank you and spreading the love because just can’t get enough. We love them all so much.

On Who They’d Like To See Win It All
Hannah, Delilah: Afro-Blue. We have a really, really strong connection with them. They became some of our best friends. Both Afro-Blue and Pentatonix, I would say. Those two groups, we got especially close with. They’re just so talented and I love everything they do. So those are my people I’m rooting for. But, you know, obviously they’re all our best friends and we love them all.

It was so hard being in the bottom with Afro-Blue. We just – we couldn’t believe. You can see it when we all just rushed to each other and hugged each other. I don’t know if the fans really get how non-competition-like it is for the groups. We don’t even understand that it’s a competition. It’s weird to us that there’s a winner because we get so close and we truly, truly support each other in every single performance. So to be pitted against some of your newly found best friends is just heart wrenching and we – you can’t understand it, it’s so strange. So that was really hard. All of us are going, gosh, that was even worse watching it than it was being there.

The Sing Off’s Sonos: “If [music] makes you happy, it’s doing its job”

Last night on NBC’s The Sing-Off, judges Sara Bareilles, Shawn Stockman, and Ben Folds made a tough decision and eliminated Award-winning Sonos from the competition. After making it past Round 1 with their performance of Chris Issac’s “Wicked Game,” Sonos knew they had to work hard to build upon the judge’s critiques and come back a new group in the next round! Unfortunately, in a crop of highly talented groups, Sonos found themselves eliminated. Even with their awards from the A Cappella Recording awards and the A Cappella community awards, Sonos wasn’t able to wow the judges enough to stick around. Earlier today, YakkityYaks had the pleasure to chat with Chris Harrison from Sonos. Read on to find out the story behind the name, plans for the future, just what those effects pedals really are and what’s up next for the latest talented group to be eliminated!

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The Yak: Hey Chris, thanks for taking the time to talk to us today. We’re happy to talk to you but not happy at the same time. {laughs}

Chris, Sonos: {laughs} Haha, ya. Thanks, and no problem.

The Yak: So, let’s start with the name Sonos. Can you tell us a little bit about where that came from?

Chris, Sonos: Sure. It actually comes from a book I saw one day in the library. Before we even became a group, I had been in the library and this green and orange book popped out at me on the shelf. The name of the book was Sonos. So, being the nerd that I am, I went and opened to book since the title intrigued me. Well, the book was written in French. I don’t speak French, so that just made it more mysterious. When I got home, I googled “sonos” and didn’t find anything about the book I picked up, but I did find a Greek meaning of the word, which related to sound. I thought that was cool and the name can be flipped around without changing it’s spelling. So when it came time to pick a name for our newly formed group, I threw it out there and everyone dug it. We really like the mystery and meaning behind the name.

The Yak: Wow, that’s really cool. What a good message to encourage kids to go the library. Look at where you ended up from picking up a book. {laughs}

Chris, Sonos: {laughs} Ya. Never thought of it that way. Haha

The Yak: So did you know that Sara Bareilles was going to be a judge before you auditioned or was that a total coincidence that you two had worked together in the past?

Chris, Sonos: No, we agreed to do the show and then several weeks later they announced that Sara would be the replacement judge. I kinda laughed about it. It makes sense with her a cappella background and the community loves her music.

The Yak: How did you find being on the other side to where she was judging you instead of working with you on stage?

Chris, Sonos: It was surreal. It was kinda funny and strange because it’s someone I know. But at the same time it’s someone’s opinion I really respect. In college we sang in an a cappella group together at UCLA and she has an ear and a brain for this kinda stuff, so I really enjoyed it.

The Yak: Did you guys get a chance to be mentored by the judges or were the critiques and feedback all that you had to go off of to better yourselves in the competition?

Chris, Sonos: No, there was no mentoring sessions. The only time we ever interacted with the judges at all was when we sang for them and heard their comments. That was all the exposure we got.

The Yak: How does that affect your planning on what you’re singing for the week and how you’ll approach it?

Chris, Sonos: Well, when we performed Wicked Games in our first episode, the feedback was really helpful. It was things we already knew coming on the show, like putting away our effects pedals. We have five voices, three female and one beat boxing leaves out a low end. That was our primary concern in the first place and well, they figured out that was our primary problem. {laughs} So it forced us to be more creative in our process on the show.

The Yak: Now you brought up the effects pedals, but a lot of people are questioning why audition or sign on for a show like this when you can’t use the effects pedals if they’re one of your strengths in making music.

Chris, Sonos: Well initially, we were informed they weren’t going to be a problem and that we could use them. When we first had conversations about auditioning, we were being encouraged to do it exactly as our own live show as we’re used to. They were very supportive about what we were making and the way that we make it. At our actual audition, we used our pedals and they liked it. After discussions the network was having with themselves, they decided it would be a little too unfamiliar for the audience to see 16 groups singing and one of them comes out with these boxes on the floor and the sound is different. It’d be confusing, they thought. It wouldn’t look quite right with no explanation. It was put to us that we think you’re wonderful but if you could put them down when you’re on the show, you’re welcome to be a part of it. You know, when a band or lead singer puts down their guitar and does a stripped version of the song, you don’t get the full effect as they intended it, but you get a piece of it. If that’s something you like, you’ll go look into something they do as a full band and we thought that’s what we’d do. If you decided to search for us on the internet, you’d see what we actually do. From the get go, we didn’t think of the show as a competition. We knew we were fish out of water on the show and we didn’t think we’d win. We thought it’d be a good opportunity to showcase what we do. We were honored to be invited.

The Yak: It was our pleasure to listen to you guys! So is there a song you wanted to do that would help share your story?

Chris, Sonos: I feel like “I Want You Back” did that as much as possible. It’s one of our signature songs. It sounds relatively close to how we sound in our live show. That drastic type of reworking of the songs is what we do to set ourselves apart and gets people thinking “wow that’s weird. I kinda like it.” I’m trying to think … Hmmm … The song we were planning on doing for the guilty pleasure episode was “Video Killed the Radio Star,” and our friends at Pentatonix went ahead and did that one that week and gave us a shout out. It was kinda sweet.

The Yak: You mentioned being happy performing “I Want You Back,” but ironically it may have led to your elimination. {laughs} Was there an internal struggle among the group to perform it as your signature performance vs infusing the familiar tune the judges said they missed?

Chris, Sonos: {laughs} Good one. We personally didn’t struggle at on. We’re grateful the show exists; it’s healthy for the a cappella world. In a round about way, we’re an a cappella group even if we use random pedals on the floor. In the context of the show, we knew either we’d be drowned out by the sheer size or energy level of the other groups. The approach of the show is Top 40 Pop songs that everyone will know, which makes perfect sense because it’s a TV show for everyone, so we’re this group who does quiet, weird, strange reinventions of lesser known songs. We’re kind of like the boutique band of a cappella. The likelihood of us sitting here and thriving isn’t great. but isn’t it nice that they opted to take a shot and hear what we had to say. I think we’re much more satisfied that we said what we had to say the way we had to say it. We just had to leave things behind and appeal to the competition.

The Yak: Can you talk more about the effects pedals actually? A lot of people may not know they play a role in the evolution of a cappella this day in age.

Chris, Sonos: Oh, absolutely. I’d be more than happy to. The philosophy in the beginning in using them was, as you know coming from a nerdy recording mixing engineer, when any group makes a record, in almost every situation, they are inplementing effects like this. They’re implementing an octave pedal for the bass, letting the guy sing bass reaching the depths and hit notes the human voice can’t hit. That gives it the lower end that’s strong and sturdy as rock records. In the chorus, you splash background with a delay, something to add to the texture of the sound. You really flush it out and give recording more highs, lows and extra richness. I was doing that with my livelihood until we put the group together. I knew how to take this level of production to a live show, so I wanted to do just that. There’s no point in not doing that. If you sing badly, its not gonna hide that if it’s affected. For the first year, I think it was very difficult for the group to listen and tune and blend the way a group that’s completely a cappella would. But we pushed through and did it and it’s an essential part of our live show. The things we use in our live show, the things we were naked without, was the octave pedal. It takes the incoming note and lowers it one octave. In our case, it allows the women to sing bass. In our live shows, in “I Want You Back,” Kathy sings bass with an octave pedal. She’s a fantastic alto to begin with. She’s probably our best bass actually. {laughs} Another key pedal we had to leave behind was a loop station. That really helps when you have 5 people. In certain songs, it loops 2 bars per beat. You would do vocal percussion for 5 seconds or something, kick the pedal twice and it’ll play back what was just done in time. You can sing over it, so you can sing a second male part in our case with Ben. You can turn it on and off depending on the section. That really helped us to have more voices handy. Without that, it’s like wow, we’re just 5 people.

The Yak: Thanks for elaborating on that. As a musician, that was really cool to hear. I’m sure others will enjoy that. Are you rooting for anyone in particular?

Chris, Sonos: We feel a kinship with Pentatonix. We gravitated to them early, as they’re in our bracket. Scott, the tall blond guy, went to school and sang in the same a cappella group as Rachel in our group, so there’s a brother/sisterhood there. We’re really impressed with them. They’re not only the sweetest & most fun, wacky kids on the show. They’re a blast. They’re very impressive and they’re all about reworking song too. They do really drastic reworking of songs they cover and they’re really good at it.

The Yak: What’s next for you guys?

Chris, Sonos: When we left, we went right back to work. We’re in Seattle right now for our tour. We were in Alaska just last week. Tomorrow we’ll be in Idaho then moving on to Athens, Georgia, I think. We’re working on a record with all original songs. We’re about half way through that now. It’s really fun writing original songs. It feels a little trailblazery. There are certainly some, but there aren’t a whole bunch of bands making records of just original songs.

The Yak: When can we expect a release?

Chris, Sonos: We’re in the middle now. Should we get to 12 songs and we see its taken a turn to the left and its now of this fiber, we need interstitials. We need to write, it almost feels like a concept album. Let’s take it that much further and fill in the spaces there. Our hope is to finish principle recording later this year. Hopefully very early next year.

The Yak: With The Sing Off bringing a cappella to focus in America, do you have any advice for groups or aspiring singers/songwriters?

Chris, Sonos: Ya, I think if you love it enough and you’re thinking about it all the time, do it and love it and don’t worry about criticism. Take the constructive aspects and interpret that. If it makes you happy, it [music] is doing its job.

The Yak: If The Sing Off did a season of all stars would you guys consider doing it?

Chris, Sonos: If they invited us back. We’d be honored.

The Yak: We can only hope then.

Chris, Sonos: Thanks man. It was nice talking to you.

The Yak:Thanks, Chris. Same to you. Good luck!

If you want to keep up on all things Sonos, you can keep up with them on their website, http://sonosings.com/.

The Sing-Off airs Mondays at 8pm EST on NBC. Next week, the brackets merge and the Top 10 take a shot at advancing. Two groups will be eliminated!

Yak’s Reality Roundup: Inaugural Edition

Welcome to our inaugural edition of Yak’s Reality Roundup. The usual installments of this weekly feature at YY will usually appear on Mondays, however, we thought it would be a good idea to premiere one of our new features today as summer reality TV comes to an end and fall reality TV begins its domination. Each week, we’ll take a look at what’s in store for us on some of our favorite reality shows. We’re not limited to which shows we include, so if you have a request, please let us know below in our comment section or in our forums! Don’t be shy … we listen to you! Without further adieu, time to round up the Yak’s reality picks of the week!

Big Brother 13

After a long and grueling summer, starting with someone leaving the game before the show’s network premiere, Big Brother 13 comes to an end and will crown it’s winner tonight on the season finale on CBS. The finale tonight airs immediately after the season premiere of Survivor: South Pacific at 9:30/8:30c. The finale three contestants, Rachel, Porsche, and Adam, battle it out in a 3-part competition for the final Head of Household, earning the right to pick who they will sit with when they face the jury. The finale will also revisit the jury house one last time as Kalia makes her way there. We’ll be getting a peek at the jury deliberations as they discuss who they believe should win Big Brother 13’s $500,000 cash prize. Don’t miss tonight’s cast reunion show, as well, where secrets are bound to be exposed and personalities will clash. Who do you want to see walk away with the grand prize? A Big Brother vet or a newbie? Fear that you’ll already miss Big Brother? No worries … rest assured the show will be back in the summer of ’12 with an all-new season! And don’t miss our EXCLUSIVE interviews with the runner-up and winner of Big Brother 13 later this week!

America’s Got Talent

Tonight, NBC boasts a night full of surprises and special guests as the peacock puts an end to it’s staple (and successful) summer alternative program, as the network calls it. The live two-hour season finale boasts some of the biggest names in music and entertainment taking the stage with the show’s finalists. NBC has just announced that performers Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, LeAnn Rimes, Cobra Starship with Sabi and OneRepublic will join previously announced performers Tony Bennett with Queen Latifah, Season 5 finalist Jackie Evancho, Def Leppard and Cirque du Soleil. Wonder, LaBelle, Rimes and Cobra Starship with Sabi are slated to perform duets with POPLYFE, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., Silhouettes, and Team iLuminate respectively. One of the four finalists will be crowned the winner. Who would you like to see take home the crown? Watch tonight’s finale with fans right here in our forum! AGT’s final airs TONIGHT at 8/7c on NBC!

Survivor: South Pacific

Last season, Survivor added a new game-changing twist…Redemption Island. This season, Survivor brings Redemption Island back, promising new twists along the way. Not only is Survivor bringing back Redemption Island, but they’re taking a page out of their book from last season and bringing back two former contestants to help “guide” the new castaways. Ozzy the ultimate physical competitor and Coach the “Dragonslayer” make their way back to life on a stranded. The theme of the season appears to be changes as the immunity idol will also pick up a change or two in how it’s claimed by a player this season. Are you looking forward to the return of Ozzy and/or Coach? Which new castaway are you rooting for pre-show? As always, join us in our forums as we discuss each episode together when it airs! Survivor, hosted by Emmy winner Jeff Probst, premieres TONIGHT at 8/7c on CBS!

Watch an exclusive preview of the first minute of tonight’s premiere below!

America’s Next Top Model

Top Model returns this season with 14 of your fan favorites from season’s past. This new all-star competition season will not only feature familiar competitive faces, but you can expect the likes of the Kardashians, Nicki Minaj, Kathy Griffin and more celebrity guests judging the competition. In addition to exposure to prolific fashion-industry gurus and successful entrepreneurs, the finalists will compete in complicated catwalks, ambitious fashion photo shoots and work to carefully craft their public personas, all under 24-hour-a-day surveillance of the cameras that chronicle every move. Which former contestants are you excited to see back competing for the title. Watch with fans HERE in our forums as we discuss the season’s happenings. Plus, look our for our season’s first interview with Season 5’s Lisa Damato, as she prepares to return to the catwalk this fall! ANTM premieres tonight at 9/8c on the CW!

Top Chef: Just Desserts

While this Bravo hit isn’t premiering or ending tonight, the competition continues on with yet another grueling week at impressing the judges with quality and incomparable desserts. The chefs have the test of their lives as they work together to replicate the world of wonka. As the original cast of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory grace the small screen as guests of the latest installment of the Emmy winning reality competition, the chefs are forced to stretch their imaginations to the limit. Who will succeed and who will fail miserably? Which chef will be asked to pack up their knives? Find out TONIGHT at 10/9c on Bravo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHJBatMKxek

Jackass Star Ryan Dunn Dies in Car Crash

AP – PHILADELPHIA – “Jackass” cast member Ryan Dunn died early Monday of injuries sustained in a fiery car crash, and speed may have been a factor, police said.

Dunn and a passenger in his 2007 Porsche died after the car left the roadway and burst into flames, West Goshen Township police said. The crash occurred near the Philadelphia suburb of West Chester.

The 34-year-old Dunn appeared on MTV shows “Jackass” and “Viva La Bam” and the three “Jackass” big-screen adaptations. He also was the star of his own MTV show, “Homewrecker,” and hosted “Proving Ground” on the G4 cable network.

According to a biography posted on his website, Dunn was born in Ohio and moved at age 15 to Pennsylvania, where he met Bam Margera on his first day of high school.

Dunn, Margera, Christopher Raab (known as Raab Himself) and Brandon DiCamillo, under the moniker CKY for “Camp Kill Yourself,” started making videos that featured them skateboarding and performing stunts.

Dunn was working as a welder and at a gas station when Johnny Knoxville, a friend of Margera’s through the skateboarding circuit, asked the crew to allow their videos to be part of the series “Jackass,” which became a hit on MTV and ran from 2000 to 2002.

A phone message left for Dunn’s manager wasn’t immediately returned.

The passenger who died in the crash had not yet been identified, police said.