The Earth greatest the Philadelphia Flower Show

Come springtime in the US or UK, if someone asks, "Are you going to Chelsea?" it can only mean one thing. Serious gardeners the world over look forward to May for the annual Chelsea Flower Show. Americans do everything on a grand scale, and their plant shows are no exception, says Tovah Martin on a visit to the Philadelphia Flower Show 

For five days, the Royal Horticultural Society turns the grounds of The Royal Hospital, Chelsea into a series of fabulous show gardens, small gardens, horticultural displays and designs. This is where designers, plantsmen and plants women set the latest garden trends and where breeders launch their latest varieties.

Showing at Chelsea is very competitive and designers from around the world compete to be selected to create the 20 show gardens. Up and coming younger garden designers often get a chance to show their stuff in smaller gardens. And there are designs for urban gardens, courtyard gardens and rural gardens.

 

The Philadelphia Flower Show is the world’s largest indoor flower show. It doesn’t get much attention in Britain, where Chelsea and Hampton Court trump all, but in the United States it’s a big deal. Growers, amateur and professional, travel in from all over the country to exhibit around a different theme each year, and attract more than 250,000 visitors. Last year the subject was “springtime in Paris”. This year things took a more exotic turn, inspired by the 50th state, Hawaii. 

Never has Philadelphia seen so many surfboards, or flower garlands (leis, as the Hawaiians say). Shirts emblazoned with hibiscus flowers were the standard dress code. With temperatures hovering just above freezing outdoors, however, flip flops were conspicuously absent, and hula skirts were (mostly) confined to the dancers on stage.

Still, there was no shortage of brightness on display. Some folk found themselves wondering why they left the sunglasses at home, as bromeliads, dracaenas, Colossians, and anthodium’s in a strident spectrum swarmed around the 10 acres of exhibits indoors. They were scattered between a thundering 28ft waterfall, innumerable grass huts and outdoor showers galore. It was proof again that even in the stodgy town of Philadelphia, the 4,000 people responsible for pulling this enormous event together are willing to crack a smile.

If this year’s event, held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center during the first full week in March, made a noticeable u-turn from previous stiff upper lips, it was intentional. Drew Becher, president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), which hosts the event, said the theme was meant to push the envelope into a more "electric realm”.

For some, it was a stretch. Not so long ago the show was fairly buttoned down. The oldest in the US, dating from 1829 when a group of gentlemen farmers got together to strut their stuff at the Masonic Hall.

Glen Campbell Grammys 2012: Adele sweeps show focused on Lifetime Achievement Award

Grammys 2012: 'flattered' by his Country legend Glen Campbell is receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 Grammy Awards, in addition to performing with Blake Shelton and the Band Perry. He revealed last June that he is suffering from Alzheimer's and this will be his first live television performance since he shared the news with his fans. Campbell has received five Grammys over the course of his career.

Campbell tells CNN of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, "I am flattered. I really am. All I wanted to do ever since I could remember was play my guitar and sing."
Grammy Lifetime Achievement award joy Glen Campbell certainly didn't show signs of his Alzheimer's disease on the Grammy stage Sunday night. The country legend, who's been using teleprompters on his current farewell tour, never glanced down once singing his iconic 'Rhinestone Cowboy,' and he had everyone from Paul McCartney to Lady Gaga singing and clapping along.
"I've got my own choir here," Glen laughed in the middle of the song.
Adele made a triumphant return to the stage at the 54th Grammy Awards on Sunday and left the gala with arms as full as her robust voice, but it was another diva whose memory dominated the evening as a grieving industry came together to mourn the sudden death of Whitney Houston.
The show was more about the tribute than the trophies — despite Adele's six-award night, which included a sweep of every major category, who died Saturday at age 48.
Host L.L. Cool J opened the show by acknowledging Houston — “We've had a death in our family,” he said before reading a prayer and introducing a video tribute to the superstar — and Grammy winner after Grammy winner went on to pay their respects.
“Whitney, we will always love you,” the rapper-turned-actor said.
Indeed, the mood was uncommonly muted at the typically breezy Grammys, and Houston was never far from the fore.
Since releasing her mournful, scornful sophomore opus 21 back in January 2011, the 23-year-old's powerful pipes have funnelled her ever higher and higher, with the stealth smash reaching sales levels thought to be inconceivable in the industry's lean era: diamond certification in Canada, 14 platinum plaques in the U.K. and six-time platinum sales in the U.S.
The momentum continued Sunday. She won every single category in which she was nominated, including best song, album and record of the year.
Clearly, she was a Grammy darling. And in fact, the show seemed to borrow from the same mix of factors that has propelled Adele to such heights — making the sounds of yesterday sound thrillingly new — to program its lineup of performances this year in general.
The Band Perry began the medley of Glen Campbell hits with 'Gentle on My Mind,' backed by the 75-year-old singer's band, which includes his sons and daughter. Blake Shelton followed with 'Southern Nights' before the country legend himself took the stage sporting a white sequined jacket, black pants and a whole lot of energy
The focus was largely on celebrating the musical pillars of the past, with youthful acts offering faithful interpretations of undeniable classics while their masters looked on and eventually joined the fray.
Afterward, she shrugged and curtsied as the crowd rose to its feet and roared its approval
“We made this (album) in my garage with some microphones and tape machine,” he said of Wasting Light.
“This means a lot because it shows the human element of making music is what's important ... it's not about what goes on in a computer.”
As part of receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award, five-time Grammy winner Glen Campbell received a tribute from current country stars The Band Perry singing "Gentle On My Mind" and Blake Shelton on "Southern Nights."
We'll post video just as soon as we have it. It was a lot of fun. Reminded us a lot of the Loretta Lynn tribute at the 2010 Country Music Association Awards.
The members of sibling country trio the Band Perry were first introduced to the music of legendary singer Glen Campbell as kids, back when their parents would spin his records over and over again.
So when their folks saw the group rehearsing for a collaborative Grammy Awards performance with the 75-year-old, it was an emotional moment for the elder Perrys.
"Oh my goodness, let me tell you, at rehearsal I looked around like, 'Where did they go?' — and they're both out in the hall bawling their eyes out," lead vocalist Kimberly Perry laughed during an interview on Friday at the Staples Center following the performance.
The trio will perform "Gentle on My Mind" at Sunday's 54th Grammy Awards — to be broadcast on CBS and Global — with Blake Shelton offering a rendition of "Southern
Nights." Then, Campbell himself will take the stage to perform his best-known hit, "Rhinestone Cowboy," with the rest of the singers providing backup vocals.
For good measure — and with producers trying to play him off the stage — he added with a shouted flourish: “Long live rock 'n' roll!”
“First and foremost, I just gotta thank God for this opportunity and thank the Grammys for letting me get on this stage and do my thing,” he said after claiming the award.
“I don't know, man, I'm nervous, I don't know what to say.”
Other multiple winners included Tony Bennett, Skrillex and Bon Iver — the indie-folk outfit that surprised the room in winning best new artist.
“I'm a little bit uncomfortable up here,” said the band's visibly stunned brainchild Justin Vernon, stating the obvious, before the camera panned to capture his girlfriend, Ottawa singer/songwriter Kathleen Edwards.
When Toronto's Melanie Fiona won the first two Grammys of her young career, her obvious joy was tempered by what happened at a glamorous hotel across town just one night prior.
“Whitney Houston, I would not be standing up here if it was not for you,” she said. “God bless you.”
Jennifer Hudson — alone under a spotlight, struggling to remain composed — contributed a devastating version of Houston's “I Will Always Love You,” several stars screamed her name out during performances and legendary artists including Stevie Wonder and Bonnie Raitt shed light on Houston's far-reaching influence on the broadcast and backstage.

Madonna's Halftime Show Most Watched Ever performance Record

Madonna Sets Halftime Show Ratings Record, “The Voice” Crushes “Glee”Her performance was far better received than the critically-panned Black Eyed Peas attempt last year, and now there is more reason for Madonna to celebrate–the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show was the most-watched entertainment halftime show of all-time.

The singer's halftime performance was seen by 114.0 million viewers, nearly 4 million more than last year's performance featuring the Black Eyed Peas. It is the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show featuring entertainment. Bruce Springsteen, for example attracted 95.7 million viewers.
Madonna Rocks Givenchy At Super Bowl Halftime ShowThe queen of pop reclaimed her throne at last night's Super Bowl XLVI game (Feb. 5), wearing Givenchy Haute Couture. Madonna arrived in true imperial style as an army of Roman gladiatorial styled men carried her on a giant throne.
Super Bowl XLVI was the most-watched television program in U.S. history and the highest-rated Super Bowl in 26 years, according to fast national data from Nielsen. Importantly for NBC, 37 percent of the Super Bowl viewers hung on to watch the second season premiere of "The Voice."
Madonna's Super Bowl Performance Watched By 114 Million

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More people watched the 2012 Super Bowl than any other show in American television history. Richard Deitsch of SI.com reports the total number of viewers from the New York Giants beating the New England Patriots was 111.3 million, which is up slightly from last year's number of 111 million.
This means that Super Bowl XLVI was the most watched program in American TV history.
The Vegas over/under on the number of viewers was 117 million so this is actually slightly lower than some expected. Despite that, it's incredible that so many people tune into one game.
Madonna's halftime show was viewed by an average of 114 million viewers, which makes it the most watched Super Bowl halftime show ever. The game itself peaked between 9:30-9:58 p.m. (ET) with an average of 117.7 million viewers.
The TV ratings were down slightly from last year but still in the top three highest ever.
Super Bowl, Madonna halftime most-watched in TV history, So was Super Bowl XLI a behemoth in the ratings, as always?
In a word, yes. The game became the most-watched program in U.S. TV history, drawing an average of 111.3 million, slightly eclipsing last year's then-record 111 million.