Rob Thomas released his second solo album, Cradlesong, this week and I’m not sure it’s going to do as well as his first effort, …Something to Be, but he’s off to a pretty strong start.  

His first single is “Her Diamonds” and I think it’s an odd enough sounding song on the recorded version so I was curious about how it would turn out during a live performance.

Rob pulled it off pretty well (I’m always impressed by those people who can sound relatively decent outdoors at 8am).  I am sure it was a lot of fun for him too since the audience seemed to be feeling pretty festive with the Fourth of July coming up tomorrow.

I’m still not a huge fan of the single but if you love it, you’ll want to check out this video:

image: Amazon

I love being adventurous in the kitchen and when I’m low on food, I have to get creative to feed my family of five.  Sometimes it comes out great and I’ve discovered a new meal to add to my repertoire and other times it’s a horrible disaster. 

On the Today show, they listed the following kitchen staples: lemons, mayo, olive/peanut/sesame oil, butter, rice, pasta, onions, red pepper flakes, garlic, soy sauce, sugar, parmesan cheese and dried herbs.  Of course, this is just a basic list of items that you should have on hand.  If you wanted to make a specific dish, you would need to get those supplies.

For the set of meals prepared during the segment, they needed:  bacon, chicken breast, Udon noodles, bread, shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes, asparagus, ginger and spinach.  The dishes they made included a delicious looking “bacon, spinach, bread crumb pasta.”  I seriously want to make that tonight!

 Alyson Hannigan, Elmo and Richard King are all among the guests scheduled on The Bonnie Hunt Show. Then, Dr. Phil talks about whether or not discipline in school has gotten out of hand. Musical sensations, Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake are swinging by to greet Ellen DeGeneres while Freddie Prinze Jr. is welcomed by Martha Stewart. Also, check out Susan Lucci, Cameron Mathison and the Black Eyed Peas on The View today.

Today show host, Matt Lauer, interviewed Michael Jackson’s older brother, Jermaine Jackson, this morning and was given a rare behind-the-scene glimpse of Jackson’s beloved Neverland Ranch.

It was a very emotional discussion, of course, with Jermaine speaking candidly about his brother’s death a week ago today.

He recalled how he learned about the tragic news: “She was crying, saying he was dead. To hear my mother say, ‘Michael is dead,’ to feel and hear the tone in her voice to say her child is dead, is nothing that anyone can ever imagine.  I tried to console her but I wanted to see Michael and I wanted to see my brother. To see him there lifeless and breathless was very emotional for me. But I held myself together because I knew he’s very much alive in his spirit, and that was just a shell. But I kissed him on his forehead, and I hugged him, and I touched him and I said Michael, ‘I’ll never leave you. You’ll never leave me.’”

Even more heartwrenching was what he said next:  “I don’t know how people are going to take this, but I wish it was me.  I’ve always felt that I was his backbone; someone to — someone to be there for him.”

I’ve been wondering how Michael’s three children have been coping.  On that subject, Jermaine said that they took the kids to see Michael after he had died: “I know it’s tough, but I think it was the best thing to do. At first I was against it, but what do you say if you don’t show them?”

The children a currently in the care of Michael’s mother, Katharine, which would have been his wishes, according to his will.  Jermaine said: “I thought it was a great will because the children are fine, my mother’s the perfect person to be there, and it’s definitely him.”

He also led Lauer around the massive grounds of Neverland Ranch.

Jermain also spoke of his brother’s strength: “Michael has always been a person who was against anything like that. But I’m not saying it’s right, because it’s not right, but in this business the pressures and things that you go through, you never know what one turn(s) to.”

While funeral plans are still being made, Jermaine did comment on the speculation that Michael could be buried at Neverland: “This is his home. He created this. Why wouldn’t he be here?”

Watch the interview:

SEE MORE PICTURES OF NEVERLAND RANCH AFTER THE JUMP!

Read More - Matt Lauer’s Rare Look Inside Jackson’s Neverland Ranch

I really love pizza but heating an oven to bake one (if you don’t want to order take-out) can make the hot summer nights unbearable.  I’ve always wondered if I could just throw my pizza on the grill. 

Chef Mario Batali demonstrated his techniques for making pizza with your backyard grill.  When I was growing up, I loved the taste of pizza baked in a wood burning oven so I’m curious about whether this will come out with that same smoky flavor (I don’t want it too smoky, though!). 

Unfortunately, Mario cheated a little because he used a wood burning oven but he said it was similar to using a grill.  I was a little disappointed but it was still great to see how he worked the dough and created the pie. 

On the Bonnie Hunt Show today, Rosie O’Donnell and Oliver Hudson are welcomed to the stage. Then, Dr. Phil discusses the hard lives of children who are both deaf and blind. Ellen DeGeneres is inviting the First Lady, Michelle Obama as well as the Jonas Brothers to her show today. Martha Stewart is welcoming Chef Daniel Mancini to the kitchen while on The Oprah Winfrey Show, she and Tyra Banks talk about dating violence. Bobby Flay is chatting it up with Rachael Ray while Jerry O’Connell visits Live with Regis and Kelly. Then, psychic John Edward talks to the audience of The View about deceased loved ones while Beyoncé visits the Tyra Banks Show.

I really love Thai food so my ears immediately perked up when they had a segment called “A Taste of Thailand” on the Today show.  The flavors are so bold and can range from sweet and sticky to spicy and tender. 

I have to admit that the salad that they made looks good but making it seems a little involved.  I don’t own a mortar and pestle so that would have to be my first purchase if I wanted to make this dish authentically.  If the food is good, though, it’s entirely worth the effort.

Watch the segment – poor Al Roker forgot to grab a drink before he tried the spicy dish!

Bonnie Hunt has Kyra Sedgwick, Micky Dolenz and Nick Malis on her show today.  Then, Dr. Phil covers the somber topic of child abductions. Also, Queen Latifah will be chatting it up with Ellen along with Dr. Wayne Dyer  and Rob Thomas. Martha Stewart will then be welcoming chef, Michael Roux to her kitchen. Then, Oprah goes to Atlanta on a tour of messy houses., where she’ll be trying to get their homes back in order. Denis Leary is hitting the stage with Rachael Ray, plus, she’ll be covering some embarrassing sex related questions! Regis and Kelly will welcome John Liguizamo and will be celebrating the approach of the Fourth of July. The ladies on The View have a bunch of guests scheduled for today including Michelle Pfieffer, Rupert Friend, Shirley Jones and Marty Ingels. Then, catch Tyra Banks as she talks to a girl who auctioned off her virginity.

Regis Philbin had the day off so Kelly Ripa co-hosted the show yesterday with her husband, Mark Consuelos.  It was hilarious when they talked about their two-week long road trip with their children.  Instead of jet-setting around the world, the pair elected to travel with their three children in a rented minivan. 

When they showed pictures of the kids as they visited a variety of sights on the trip, I seriously cracked up because their oldest son, 12-year-old Michael, refused to smile in any pictures.

Image: INF

Looking back at Oprah Winfrey’s 1993 interview of Michael Jackson is particularly poignant after the King of Pop died last week.  The primetime special begins with voiceovers explaining what Michael Jackson means to the world.  It was touching then and it’s heart wrenching now to watch. 

It was the most revealing look into Jackson’s life at that time and I remember everyone being amazed that he allowed Oprah into his private sanctuary – the 2700 acre Neverland Ranch.  She said that she was expecting to see some llamas roaming around the grounds but, instead, was surprised to find a beautiful home and a library filled with leather-bound books.  I was riveted the first time I saw the interview and I was riveted again as I watched it today. 

Watch Parts 2-4 After The Jump!

Read More - A Look Back at Oprah’s Exclusive Michael Jackson Interview