Be fair, be accu-
rate. Or, if that fails, just be
fairly accurate.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Subscribe via RSS to Wade’s Daily Haiku. Or have it delivered daily by e-mail.

The world always needs
more love. Let some out so all
can share in the warmth.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Subscribe via RSS to Wade’s Daily Haiku. Or have it delivered daily by e-mail.

Video: Committed performs “Let’s Stay Together”
by Al Green in Wednesday’s episode of “The Sing-Off.”

Huntsville singing group Committed is one step away from $100,000 and a Sony recording contract. On Wednesday’s penultimate episode of “The Sing-Off,” the NBC reality competition, only one group was eliminated, On the Rocks from the University of Oregon.

Also advancing to the finals are the Backbeats from Los Angeles, Jerry Lawson and Talk of the Town from Oakland, Calif., and Street Corner Symphony from Nashville.

Groups performed medleys and judges’ picks in round No. 4. Committed sang hits by R&B star Usher, then “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green.

Alternative rocker Ben Folds called the medley “harmonically bad-ass,” while former Boyz II Men member Shawn Stockman praised their rhythm and choreography. Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls said it was “awesome.”

For “Let’s Stay Together,” Stockman called their arrangement “perfect” and “smooth and relaxing.” Scherzinger likened it being in her favorite candy shop. Umm? Folds said it sounded “great” and that the passing of the vocals went “seamlessly.”

Although the producers announced three groups would advance, the judges kept four bands in the running. Audience voting, which will determine the winner, started Wednesday night and continues till 8 a.m. Sunday. Fans can vote online, by calling a special toll-free number or via texting.

• The Backbeats
  • (877) 674-6403
  • Text 3 to 97979
• Committed
  • (877) 674-6401
  • Text 1 to 97979
• Jerry Lawson & Talk of the Town
  • (877) 674-6404
  • Text 4 to 97979
• Street Corner Symphony
  • (877) 674-6402
  • Text 2 to 97979

Scheduled to perform (a cappella?) during the live two-and-a-half-hour season finale are Sara Bareilles, Sheryl Crow and Neil Diamond, airing at 7 p.m. Monday on Alabama’s 13.

Video: Committed performs “Joy to the World” and a medley of
Usher hits, “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love,” “U Got It Bad”
and “Love in this Club.”

Should On the Rocks still be in the finals? Did the judges cop out by leaving four groups safe? Let us know in the comments.

• • •

More coverage of “The Sing-Off.”

The children were thrilled
to leave school early and build
a sleetman at home.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Subscribe via RSS to Wade’s Daily Haiku. Or have it delivered daily by e-mail.

Sweet temptations lure
us from a balanced meal to
a late sugar crash.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Subscribe via RSS to Wade’s Daily Haiku. Or have it delivered daily by e-mail.

Video: Committed performs “I Want It That Way” by
Backstreet Boys on Monday’s episode of “The Sing-Off.”

Committed is one step closer to the grand prize on the NBC reality competition, “The Sing-Off.” The Huntsville a cappella group made it into the Top 5 on Monday’s episode as Groove for Thought was eliminated.

Remaining in the contest are the Backbeats, Jerry Lawson and Talk of the Town, On the Rocks and Street Corner Symphony.

Two themes dictated song choices: rock and guilty pleasures. The Christian/jazz sextet performed “Every Breath You Take” by the Police and “I Want It That Way” by Backstreet Boys. (For the record, the first song came out 27 years ago, the second, 11 years ago. Sigh.)

The judges liked Committed’s second performance more than the first one. Ben Folds said “Every Breath You Take” was sung well but didn’t rock. Shawn Stockman said the group’s arrangement missed the lonely mood of the original song.

But on “I Want It That Way,” Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger said, “Y’all took the girls to a whole ’nother kind of church,” while Stockman added that the Committed “kept it fun … fresh.”

The next round will also have two themes: superstar medley and judges’ choice. Two groups will be eliminated, and audience votes will select the winner from the remaining three.

The next episode will air from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, with the live finale on Monday on Alabama’s 13.

Video: Committed performs “Every Breath You Take”
by the Police on Monday’s episode of “The Sing-Off.”

Have you been watching? What song should the judges pick for Committed to perform on Wednesday’s show? Let us know in the comments.

• • •

More coverage of “The Sing-Off.”

When it gets this cold,
squirrels become popsicles
and eyes become ice.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Subscribe via RSS to Wade’s Daily Haiku. Or have it delivered daily by e-mail.

Why do I look when
I pee? I’ve seen this show at
least a million times.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Subscribe via RSS to Wade’s Daily Haiku. Or have it delivered daily by e-mail.

Gun rack on the sleigh,
sticker of Calvin peeing
on Easter Bunny.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Subscribe via RSS to Wade’s Daily Haiku. Or have it delivered daily by e-mail.

Star quarterback earns third Heisman for school

Video: Cam Newton accepts the Heisman Trophy.

Auburn is on a roll.

An undefeated season. An SEC championship. A spot in the BCS National Championship Game. And tonight, its junior quarterback Cam Newton has won the Heisman Trophy, college football’s highest individual honor.

This season, the Atlanta native threw for 2,589 yards, which includes 28 touchdowns and six interceptions. Oh, and he ran for 24 touchdowns, too. Newton had been the odds-on favorite this week leading up to the award presentation.

The runners-up were running back LaMichael James of Oregon and quarterbacks Andrew Luck of Stanford and Kellen Moore of Boise State. Newton and James will face each other again in the BCS game.

Bo Jackson won the previous Heisman for Auburn in 1985, and Pat Sullivan won it in 1971.

The state of Alabama has seen two Heisman winners in a row: Alabama running back Mark Ingram won the school’s first trophy in 2009. The Crimson Tide at the time last year was also undefeated and headed for the national championship game.

Auburn is currently No. 1 in the BCS and plays Oregon on Jan. 10

• Auburn’s SEC victory on newspaper front pages

A few gray hairs, a
set of wisdom wrinkles, an
eye for horizons.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Subscribe via RSS to Wade’s Daily Haiku. Or have it delivered daily by e-mail.

Life has a way of
wearing down the spunk and the
spirit. Damn it all.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Subscribe via RSS to Wade’s Daily Haiku. Or have it delivered daily by e-mail.

Video: Committed performs “Apologize” by OneRepublic
on Wednesday’s episode of “The Sing-Off.”

Huntsville a cappella group Committed has made it into the Top Six on the NBC reality competition, “The Sing-Off.” In Wednesday’s show, Eleventh Hour and the Whiffenpoofs were eliminated.

The Christian/jazz sextet performed “Apologize” by OneRepublic for the show’s theme, hit songs. They had performed Maroon 5’s “This Love” on Monday’s premiere.

The celebrity judges had nothing but praise for the group: Boyz II Men member Shawn Stockman said, “That’s what it’s about, man!” and alternative rocker Ben Folds called it “amazing.” Nicole Scherzinger, lead singer for the Pussycat Dolls, said she “had a musical climax” (don’t ask).

Committed flew to Los Angeles today to tape more episodes. This week’s episodes were filmed in August.

The remaining shows will air from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, with the live finale on Dec. 20, all on Alabama’s 13.

• • •

More coverage of “The Sing-Off.”

A blessing: May you
be sealed totally for good.
Let’s spin the dreidel.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Subscribe via RSS to Wade’s Daily Haiku. Or have it delivered daily by e-mail.

Survives first round double elimination

Video: Huntsville’s Committed performs “This Love”
by Maroon 5 on the season premiere of “The Sing-Off.”

Huntsville has something to sing about. The a cappella Christian/jazz group Committed made its national debut on Monday’s premiere of “The Sing-Off.” The NBC reality competition returned for its second season, offering the winning group a $100,000 cash prize and a Sony recording contract.

Committed performed last, singing Maroon 5’s “This Love” to the delight of the celebrity judges. Two of the 10 groups were eliminated: Men of Note and Pitch Slapped.

The group formed as a quartet in an Orlando high school, adding members after starting at Oakwood University in Huntsville. Members Dennis “DJ” Baptiste, Alain “Tommy” Gervais, Geston Pierre, Robert “Robbie” Pressley Jr., Maurice Staple and Theron “Therry” Thomas sing gospel and jazz, and four members can play instruments.

The remaining shows will air from 7 to 9 tonight, Monday, Dec. 15 and 20 (live finale) on Alabama’s 13.

• Committed Facebook | Twitter @Committed6
• Huntsville Times: “Huntsville singing group Committed knocks ’em dead on NBC’s “The Sing-Off””
• Earlier this year, Birmingham comedian Roy Wood Jr. on “Last Comic Standing”

• • •

More coverage of “The Sing-Off.”