The Sioux City Musketeers said they were making a big announcement Monday afternoon.
I’m hoping it has something to do with the audios/visuals they use at games. They’re great — the first time you go.
Then, the second time you realize they’re using the SAME SONGS, SAME CLIPS, SAME CHEERS at the SAME TIME in the game.
I’ve seen the “Slap Shot,” “Happy Madison” and “Cheers” clips so often I’m ready to do something that would require time in the penalty box.
I’m tired of “YMCA” and, yes, the Chicken Dance. And I do think they could shake things up a bit when someone scores a goal. The Explorers used to have “theme” songs for each player. Why not the Muskies? Think of the possibilities.
It’s time to retire the jerseys of “Celebrate” and “We Will Rock You.”

If you haven’t discovered hulu.com, today’s the day.

The Web site features hundreds of old TV shows and movies that you can watch whenever the mood strikes. Looking for a little ‘A-Team’? Missed the most-talked-about sketch on “Saturday Night Live”? Want more “Simpsons”? They’re all shakin’ at Hulu.

When I first discovered it, I didn’t know what to watch first. Six hours later I was still intrigued.

Check. It. Out.

“Celebrity Apprentice” ended Thursday night, but Trace Adkins didn’t win. That British Donald, Piers Morgan got the title by, um, backstabbing, fighting and berating.

Great, right?

Ah, but Trace Adkins emerged the bigger man. He showed how a big heart and a giving spirit trumps all.

In the two-hour finale, he revealed a fun side, too. “Don’t get me started on the BSB,” he said of the Backstreet Boys. The country crooner had to search New York for wheatgrass juice and black nail polish because they were in the group’s rider.

In that brief moment, he showed why boy bands are failing and country singers are soaring.

Morgan — a tabloid editor — will go back to playing discount Simon Cowell on “America’s Got Talent” but I doubt if anyone will care to see him put his business acumen to work again. His tactics are part of the reason we’re in the middle of an economic crisis.

Give us more Traces and we’d be a lot better off. Now, get your boots and head to the Honkytonk for a few badonkadonks.

It wasn’t easy for Chikezie. He got dumped Wednesday.

Kimberley Locke showed up, too, and said she’s in the restaurant business. (Has it come to that?)

David Cook looked a little too full of himself — he even snubbed David Archuleta at one point. And Kristy Lee Cook lived to see another day.

What you realize at this point in the game is it’s all about product placement. Sure, they’ve got the Coke glasses on the judges’ desk. Yeah, they shill for Ford. But do they also have to bow and scrape to iTunes, too? The contestants spent a good chunk of time talking about who they download and how they record their songs for iTunes PURCHASE. Hmmm.

Ryan slogged that “Idol Gives Back” show as well and Paula got yet another plug in for her record.

A half hour show would be quite enough.

Meanwhile, fireworks erupted on “Big Brother.” Chelsie, the Iowa girl, got dumped and she didn’t leave without a scene. She told the ones she hated what she thought of them (good) and smashed a bunch of Easter eggs. Now THAT’S an exit.

Chikezie should have watched.

It was chicken week for the “Idol” contestants. Most sang songs that were within their range (and genre). “God Bless the U.S.A.”? Wow, no one could see that coming from the Country Cook-er.

Michael Johns played it safe, too, with “We are the Champions,” but he was good.

Brooke White started over on her Police song, but pulled it out.

And David Archuleta continued to be the one to beat. I’m thinking he should play the lead in “Spring Awakening” if they make it a film in the next five years. He has the kind of voice (and innocence) that would serve the material well.

Meanwhile? Jason or Ramiele could be going home.

Over on “Dancing with the Stars” Penn was silenced but Adam lived to rant another day.

With “Big Brother” and “Biggest Loser” also in the mix, it’s too much to consider on one night. I’ll be glad when reality is over and we’re back to considering fantasy.

1. Global warming has not reached North Dakota.
2. Some parents need to discover their church’s nursery.
3. Trucks have different speed limits than cars.
4. “Easter Brunch” used to have ham and eggs. Now, it’s got jerk chicken and Cuban pork.
5. You can’t enjoy Easter candy if you haven’t finished the Valentine’s stuff.
6. Peeps will exist long after the world has ended.
7. “Easter outfit” is now a Hannah Montana T-shirt over lowrider jeans.
8. The Easter Bunny is scary — particularly when a silent teenager is residing inside.
9. The cast of “Days of Our Lives” must have a plastic surgeon on staff.
10. It’s a good thing “early” Easter doesn’t come more often.

Watching Cardinal Daniel DiNardo’s welcome home Mass online and on television today, I was reminded how often we used to see religious programs on television 10, 20 years ago. Sunday mornings were filled with church services and “reflective” shows. Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was even a big TV star and Emmy winner.
Today, Sundays are filled with talking political heads and pre-game shows.

Perhaps if we “rendered unto God” a little of the time He used to have, political candidates wouldn’t seem like they were always at each other’s throats.

Kudos to those who brought the coverage to us. Let this be the start, not the culmination.

And congratulations to Cardinal DiNardo…you make us proud to be from Siouxland.

If you’re part of the TiVo generation, you’re used to skipping television ads. Now,  reality show producers think they’ve called your bluff. The new product placement? Sponsored games within the games. “Survivor” had an Herbal Essence shower reward; “Big Brother” shilled for “21,” the film about a group of college students who went to Vegas and counted cards.

What next? A Viagra competition in “The Bachelor”?

I was able to see some of the entrants in the Siouxland Film Festival last week and I’m convinced of two things:
1. The Coen Brothers have a big influence in this part of the country
2. The Children of the Corn have grown up.

Violence — and horror — were prevalent in several of the features (why does everyone mess with blood?) and endings, sometimes, left a little to be desired.

Still, I enjoyed a number of them, including:
*”Nothing Much,” a Ferris Bueller-like comedy about a kid’s day off which featured cameos by Larry Wentz, Al Joens, Larry Williams and Dave Ferris.
*”Sioux City Ghosts,” a touching documentary about the black baseball team.
*”BFF,” a well-acted look at a college guy and his invisible friend.
You can see all the finalists March 29 at the Orpheum Theatre. Go and you’ll be surprised at the filmmaking talent in Siouxland.

Sweeney Todd got cut!

Amanda Overmyer was dumped from “Idol” but ya kinda had to see it coming. She looked pretty sour all week long and, let’s face it, she was doing stuff to win “Rockstar: Supernova,” not “Idol.”

Interestingly, she won’t get to go on the tour that will come “to a city near you.” Instead, she’ll probably get closer — like in the city you’re in.

Kellie Pickler turned up as the star of the week and, dang, if she didn’t look like the new Lorrie Morgan. She still knows how to charm Simon, but there’s something about her that’s, um, different. Care to guess?

Over on “Big Brother,” Matt got booted and cried all night long. What does that mean for Crazy James? Revenge? If he’s lucky, Natalie won’t talk to him all week.