“At the end of the day, it is what it is.”
“That’s fierce.”

If you’ve heard someone use those phrases, he or she has been affected with “Hollywood speak.” It’s a way of talking in code and, every year, new catchphrases emerge.
This year’s contenders:

Reset or reboot: Start over. “We’re going to reset the series this year since the writers strike prevented us from having a full season.”
“Low-hanging fruit”: An easy decision. “Doing another reality show is low-hanging fruit.”
“Commands a great deal of respect”: Extremely difficult to work with. “She’s an actress who commands a great deal of respect.”

Can you drop them into conversation? If not, just reset the dialogue.

Yup, Shawn Mayer’s in the finals…and, yup, she has a real shot at winning it.

On Monday’s show she did a touching cover of “The Dance” and a pretty good version of “Here for the Party.” We also learned she was suffering from a “wisdom tooth issue,” which said something about her ability to perform under duress.

Melissa Lawson made the cut, too, but she played the mom card once too often. (”If I win this will mean so much for my family”…yeah, right. This isn’t the Miss America pageant.) Also in the final three: Gabe Garcia. Coffey, who sweat through his shirt, was dumped…and not a week too soon. He should have disappeared back when the good-looking guy was cut.

But here’s the deal — Shawn’s the only one who isn’t from Texas. That oughta mean something. And she wore the big killer cross Monday night. She had the biggest crowd, too, when they showed the final four “homecoming” concerts.

My guess? Shawn can whip Melissa and she’s more “new school” than Gabe.

It really depends on who’s d’aling in, as Billy Ray Cyrus says. So, get to the phones. Monday, Shawn can become the next Nashville Star. Then, it’s  just a matter of time before she plays the Tyson.

As George Strait would say, “write this down.”

You didn’t get to go to Comic-Con in San Diego…and neither did I. But that doesn’t mean we can’t pretend.
During more than a week of interviews in Los Angeles, I got a pretty good handle on some of the films/TV shows heading toward the Comic-Con spotlight.
Here’s the scoop:
FRINGE — J.J. Abrams, the guy behind “Lost” and “Cloverfield” (and the upcoming “Star Trek” film) has a new series that’s part “C.S.I.,” part “X-Files.” It’s set in a clue-ridden world where everything means something else. A son reunites with his father; a female investigator uncovers an interesting series of experiments. The two-hour pilot moves quickly and should prompt a rush of speculation. I’d say more, but I’d spoil it for you.
DOLLHOUSE — Joss Whedon (the other geek god) has written a series just for Eliza Dushku. In it, she plays a woman who has a chip implanted that enables her to carry out “missions.” Then, the information is erased. The only thing? She remembers. So, it’s sorta “Stepford Wives.” But it’s set in a cool spa-like setting. We visited the set and it has a coed shower that has frosted glass siding. Circles are ever-present and the “actives” (as they’re called) sleep in grave-like holes in the floor. Naturally, someone is watching them at all times.
STAR TREK, the movie — No dirt here but Zach Quinto, the guy cast as Spock, says the character may have more in common with his “Heroes” character than you think. Hmmm.
TWILIGHT — The big vampire film coming toward the end of the year is expected to be huge. One of the stars said it’s pretty good. So, what else is she going to say?

Shawn Mayer’s one step closer to becoming the next “Nashville Star.” On Monday’s show, she and the other four finalists sang original compositions. Mayer’s “I’m Not Lookin’ Back” got props from the judges who said she had the potential to be a solid writer in Nashville.

Now, she’s up against Coffey, Melissa Lawson and Gabe Garcia.

How Coffey hangs in there is beyond me. Melissa has shown the most growth and Gabe has that traditional CW sound but Shawn is more in keeping with what’s selling records now.

Next week, we’ll see who will battle it out for the title.

I’m crossing my fingers. First, though, I’m calling with my vote for Shawn.

A couple of updates for you…

I talked with Selma Blair (of “Hellboy” fame) Monday and she said she made a film with Sioux City’s own Lori Petty called “The Poker House.” “Lori’s a great director,” she said. Now making the festival circuit, it’s expected to reposition Petty, who also wrote the film, in a big way. Blair, meanwhile, stars in the new NBC comedy “Kath and Kim.” Molly Shannon co-stars.

Then, I met up with Nebraska’s Justin Bruening who’s the lead in the new series “Knight Rider.” He said he doesn’t get back home much but he still talks to friends from high school (there were nine in his class) and remembers his own adventures driving around the Midwest. By the way, he hasn’t gotten any speeding tickets since moving to Los Angeles. But he does own a cool Mustang — one that’s a clone of Steve McQueen’s in “Bullitt.”

If you thought theaters in Siouxland were crowded for “The Dark Knight,” you should have been in Los Angeles. The film is so popular there, it’s practically running around the clock. And the lines at theaters are incredible. I was near a cineplex Sunday morning when it opened for a 9:30 showing. A herd (yup, a herd) of people rushed the doors and nearly toppled over one another as they climbed up an escalator. The scene was like something out of “Dawn of the Dead.”

My advice? Go during the middle of the week. It’s a great film but you don’t need to get hurt to see it.

Saturday night the Television Critics Association presented its annual awards. Among the winners: “Mad Men,” the compelling AMC series set in the world of advertising circa 1960. At the event, I got to talk with January Jones, a Sioux Falls, S.D., native whose father used to work at Four Seasons Health Club in Sioux City.

She said the strong values she learned from folks in the Midwest have helped her deal with the hectic world of Hollywood — and the amazing attention “Mad Men” has been getting. Look for more from her in Friday’s A&E section.

If you’re a big Simpsons fan, then you want to head to Universal Studios in California or Florida. There’s a new ride at both parks that gives you the ultimate Simpsons experience.

Saturday, I slipped over to the Universal City park and rode it three times. Yup, three times.

Basically a simulator, it takes you on a wild rollercoaster ride through Krustyland. Bart’s nemesis Sideshow Bob has escaped and is out for blood. So, once you get in the vehicle, it’s like you’re riding all over the park. Bob is in pursuit and you get to see all the crappy rides that Krustyland has to offer. Projected on a huge, IMAX-like screen, the images look amazing. You get to see some of the lesser highlights of Springfield and you get to contend with Maggie, who’s supersized thanks to an experiment run amok. When she swallows the vehicle, it even smells like you’re inside a baby. (No, that’s a good thing.) In the pre-show area, you get to see a bunch of funny signs and films designed to send up theme park traditions. Disneyland gets more than a little jab and Universal takes a shot or two, too.

The ride replaced the old Back to the Future attraction and, honestly, it’s the same thing. The only difference is the movie projected.

Still, this Simpsons adventure would have made a dandy movie. It’s full of action, fun and wit. If you get a chance, check it out. Meanwhile, some photos.

Julianne Hough, the two-time winner of “Dancing with the Stars,” has turned to country music but that doesn’t mean she’s ignoring the series that brought her. She could be one of the pros on next season’s show, “I just don’t know yet.”

Meanwhile, she’s touring with Brad Paisley and Jewel. Life as a singer is a whole new game, she told TV critics Wednesday. “I know how the celebrities feel when they start the show.”

Hough sang three songs for the crowd (including her current release “That Song in My Head”) and answered questions about everything. Nope, she didn’t date any of her “Stars” partners. Yup, she does have two of the mirrored ball trophies. Yup, people do think she looks like Christina Aguilera. Nope, she isn’t just a country-come-lately fan. “I’ve always liked country music.”

Brother Derek, who’s also on “Stars,” is also pursuing a music career. In the video, she talks about him and their budding futures.

OK, kids, don’t hate me but I got to talk to Zach and Cody aka Cole and Dylan Sprouse. The twins have changed (one’s taller) but they’re still mischievous. This year, they go on one of those semester abroad cruises (without mom but with two other “Suite Life” regulars) and during an ABC/Disney party (note the sign in the back), they talked with me. Take a peek at the video and see if you don’t agree — they’re different.

By the way, they’re not dating anyone now but they have had girlfriends. “It’s hard to have a relationship with someone outside the business,” Dylan (or was it Cole?) told me. “So we tend to date girls who are also actresses.”

The new show is called “Suite Life on Deck” and it could run several years. Yeah, it’s possible. Those cruises last a long time.