Oftentimes the things we see in TV surprise us, but not in a pleasant way, especially if you’re watching the news. When it comes to reality talent shows the surprise can always be either good or bad and thankfully what we mostly see is the good since the judges of my favourite talent shows “America’s Got Talent” and “Britain’s Got Talent” get to screen most of the acts before we even see it on TV, but even they are sometimes blown away by extraordinary talent wrapped in very dubious looking packages, just like the latest sensation, Susan Boyle.

I didn’t get to see the episode where Susan Boyle auditioned but sure as hell scurried over to YouTube soon as I heard about the stunning audition. I thought she wouldn’t beat Paul Potts in my fave categories but with her cheeky manner, as Piers, put it who wouldn’t be won over? Her voice quality was astoundingly clear and beautiful and her song choice was the perfect fit, showing of not only her vocal range but also with a story that seemed perfect for her. No wonder she’s got millions of YouTube views already!

As for her latest appearance of Larry King Live (now this one I watched) she definitely did not disappoint with her rendition of Celine Dione’s “My Heart Will Go On”. I pity her competitors in this season of Britain’s Got Talent because she looks like she has it in the bag. Am really glad though because sometimes these reality shows do help uncover gems.

As for the makeover question I haven’t made my mind up on where I stand. I don’t want her to change much but just little bit of help might do. I do agree that we don’t want her all polished and a changed pretentious person though. So to find the balance I’ll just leave it to Susan Boyle to figure it out for herself. In the meantime I’m quite content listening to her sing.

Oh, and clearly here’s one of the reasons why Simon Cowell like this show a lot more than American Idol!

Teeny boppers all over the United States – and the rest of the world for that matter – would recognize the faces of the Jonas Brothers at any given time. This group of young boys, brothers in real life, has made it big in the music scene, with some people unable to help but compare their success to The Beatles. While I am sure that that comparison is bound to ruffle a lot of feathers, we have to concede that the Jonas Brothers has reached unprecedented heights in terms of popularity.

Now they are taking things one step further. Aside from their numerous musical gigs, they are now going to have their own TV series. The Disney Channel will be showing “Jonas,” which is a fictional – barely so, by the way – TV series wherein the brothers will be playing themselves. The show will be aired in May and the plot is something like their real lives. The brothers will be playing members of a really popular band who go to a “normal” school. In the show, they will be trying to live their lives as normally as they can, given their popularity. See the similarity now? And with them not taking on fictional names, it could very well be the story of their lives.

I am not sure if viewers of other generations will be enticed to watch Jonas but I am pretty certain that Disney Channel regulars will be more than happy to tune in to watch this new TV series.

I have no set plans for New Year’s Eve, do you? I am looking at going out of town to celebrate at some strange place. An alternative would be to go to one of those New Year countdown parties in the city. Another alternative would be to go home to my parents again (as we did for Christmas). I really do not know which option we are going to take but we might very well end up staying at home and having our own little party and if that is the case, we would probably tuned in to one – or two, or three – televised countdown parties. In the event that like me, you end up watching the tube on New Year’s Eve, here are some shows that you can look out for, courtesy of The Associated Press:

The granddaddy of New Year’s Eve entertainment is “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2009,” the title made even more torturous by the baton-passing between the two entertainment utility players. The show has a prime-time hour at 10 p.m. ET, breaks for news, then returns with Swift, the Jonas Brothers and Lionel Richie in Times Square. Fergie will host a Hollywood segment with the Pussycat Dolls and others.

Carson Daly is hosting his fifth New Year’s Eve special on NBC, with the same format: an hour in prime-time, a break for news, and a longer party. T.I., Ludacris, Katy Perry, the Ting Tings and Elton John all join Daly.

Daughtry and Scott Weiland are featured players on Fox’s late-night special, with Spike Feresten and Mark Thompson as hosts. It airs at 11 p.m. ET.

One recent trend is partying news networks: if you want to jam with Anderson Cooper or Bill Hemmer, you can. Cooper, teamed with comic Kathy Griffin, is in Times Square for CNN, which boasts a surprisingly cool lineup of Lil Wayne, My Morning Jacket and Hinder. Fox’s “U Party 2009″ has LoCash Cowboys and Chuck Hicks.

The hardest workers of the night? Try the classic rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd — they’re booked on both CNN and the Fox broadcast network.

Do stay away from CBS as they are resting that night. Instead of a full blown New Year’s Eve telecast (or even half blown, mind you) they are airing reruns of the Late Show with David Letterman.

Katie Holmes charmed the crew during her stint on the TV fantasy drama Eli Stone. “She does a song-and-dance number that is the best one we’ve ever done,” gushes costar Matt Letscher. “She was phenomenal.”

So will she be coming back? No one knows, but fans can see her in action in her upcoming Broadway debut.

Another Disney Channel star releases a music video! Demi Lavato of Camp Rock gets ready to, well, rock. (Hopefully she dances a little better now.) So will she join the catfight and start attacking Miley Cyrus?

From the ocean to the discos, Spongebob — the wide-eyed kitchen tool of very little brain — has had thousands “scrubbing” across the dance floors.

Rapper Young G was inspired by the Nickelodeon character to create a song and dance, consisting of kicking legs backward in succession. “Check out the way he moves his legs when he swims, that’s what’s up.”

Welcome to the new Erati!!