American Idol Extra Premiers Tonight

By On 03/15/2007 · 14 Comments · In American Idol, Blake Lewis, Brandon Rogers, Carrie Underwood, Lisa Tucker, Matt Rogers, Mikalah Gordon

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Just a reminder:Â   American Idol Extra premiers on the Fox Reality cable channel at 6:30 pm ET tonight, and is repeated at 10:30. It repeats many times throughout the week.

AI Extra interviews the Idol bootee–tonight that’s Brandon Rogers–moments after they are eliminated.  Mikalah Gordon and Matthew Rogers are co-hosts and conduct behind-the-scenes interviews.   Ex-Idols also drop by to be interviewed, or are featured in video clips.

Fox Reality was picked up by my cable company this year, so I’ll be able to watch it, which is very cool.   If you didn’t previously have the channel in your cable line-up, it may have been added recently, as Fox Reality just cut deals with several of the big cable companies.

So…I’ll be back later to report anything interesting from the show.  

Click on the jump to check out the highlights.   The interview with eliminated contestant Brandon Rogers is especially worthwhile.

  • In a short  interview with Matt Rogers, Ryan Seacrest said that the  worst singer did not go.
  • Host JD Roberto did a backstage interview with Carrie Underwood. Carrie chatted with the Idols after the show.   Fav Idol Performance: “Alone” by Heart.
  • Also, he did a short interview with Lisa Tucker.   She’s working on Nickelodeon’s “Zoey 101″ and recording original music.   She does not have a label yet.   She’s turning 18 soon. She talked about her songwriting. Lisa sat at the piano and sang an original song.
  • Simon Cowell  told Matt Rogers that it’s better to be really really bad than forgettable–that’s why the worst singer did not leave Wednesday night.

JD interviewed Brandon Rogers:

  • At the moment Brandon forgot his words on stage, he says he knew he was going home.
  • Brandon was prepared to go home Wednesday night.
  • He says there is no infighting or backstabbing on the show.   Everyone was nice, and genuinely enjoyed hanging out together.
  • Brandon admits to being the worst song selector in the history of American Idol.   He believes he’s going home because he never picked the right songs to showcase his voice.   He picked songs that HE liked, and he realizes now that wasn’t a good strategy.
  • He would love to cover “A Song For You” by Donny Hathaway.
  • When Ryan told him that he was going home, he thought, “I want a  [alcoholic beverage]  with a squeeze of lime.”
  • Brandon says he was not nervous while performing Tuesday night, but was thrown off by the crowd response–he lost his focus.
  • He says that no one should feel sorry for him–it was a great ride.
  • The most emotional moment for Brandon Wednesday night was Blake Lewis crying after his elimination.
  • Brandon cried every week when somebody left.
  • Brandon thought he earned the judges criticisms.
  • He will continue to write and make music.
  • The show ended with Brandon’s sing-out, which was cut out of Wednesday’s show.   He remembered his words…

Brandon Rogers is a very cool guy.   That is all.

 
  • pj

    After watching that, I am glad I voted for Brandon. He knows why he got the boot and accepted it with class. Why some of the others were shocked is beyond me. Ahem. Anyway, I wish Brandon had another chance to bring it, but that’s the way it goes.

    I love his voice and some of his original stuff, so I look forward to what he has to offer in the future.

    Lisa is adorable and it was good to see her again, but that song was boring. :( It’s cool that they are showcasing former Idols and I think it’s great that she’s on the sitcom.

  • AlwaysElliott

    Brandon is definitely a class act.

    Hey, what happened to the cutie pie cheesy host from last year?

  • Leighann

    I miss Season 5.

    Taylor, Katharine, Paris, Bucky, Mandisa, Kelly, Chris, Ace, Lisa, and Elliott…where have you gone?!

    *runs off to youtube to reminisce*

  • http://www.myspace.com/swood1104 Sarah

    He says that no one should feel sorry for himà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’it was a great ride.
    The most emotional moment for Brandon Wednesday night was Blake Lewis crying after his elimination.
    Brandon cried every week when somebody left.
    Brandon thought he earned the judges criticisms.
    He will continue to write and make music.

    I am also glad to have voted for him. I never saw him as anything BUT a class act, and I’m glad to know that he will keep working on his original music. If anything, I hope that AI has shown him that people believe in him and his talent. He has a great voice, he just had a bad song selection strategy. I’m going to miss him this season…

    And that bit about Blake crying… awww! Blake seems like such a nice guy, who could get along with anyone. So much for that egotistical rumor.

    When Ryan told him that he was going home, he thought, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I want a [alcoholic beverage] with a squeeze of lime.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

    LOVE this. That’s probably what I would have been thinking too. LOL.

  • http://www.myspace.com/swood1104 Sarah

    Taylor, Katharine, Paris, Bucky, Mandisa, Kelly, Chris, Ace, Lisa, and Elliottà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦where have you gone?!

    Ummm, off to their POST-Idol careers. Moved on. It’s not season 5 anymore

  • http://handicappingai6.blogspot.com RenaRF

    Leighann I TOTALLY hear what you’re saying. At least last season’s top 12 had some you loved and some you hated and you could see the horse race that was developing between at least five excellent and very different voices. We don’ seem to have that this season – there’s Lakisha and Melinda and then there’s everyone else (sigh).

    I’m glad I voted for Brandon also. I know the guy has it, but it just goes to show you – American Idol is not always a vehicle for everyone.

    Thanks for the summary, MJ!

  • http://www.chris-sligh.info steve-o-meter

    Thanks for this MJ, I don’t have that channel so I didn’t get to see it :cry_tb:

  • colette

    If I’m still allowed to comment here (I’ll be a good girl, MJ, I promise!) –
    just want to say Brandon is a class act, not made for the Idol format but samples of his own music are sweetly groovy

    — I especially like his song “Joy” –

    http://cdbaby.com/cd/brandonrogers

  • maracaibo

    n

    d that bit about Blake cryingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ awww! Blake seems like such a nice guy, who could get along with anyone. So much for that egotistical rumor

    Sarah! COuldn’t agree more. No one seems to notice these things but Blake crying just melted my heart. I always thought Blake had a big heart he may always seem confident but he is also a great kid.
    I heart BRandon. I hope he finds a break somewhere else.

    In respect to Blake I really really hope he goes way far into the competition. If I am lucky he will be in the finale with Melinda.

    Thanks mj!

  • star

    Blake’s tears

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5br1g3y85U

    Brandon exit interview (some sound issues but it may just be my computer)

  • http://stores.ebay.com/BookWomanBlues-Book-Nook Bobbi

    So glad you’re recapping this, mj, since I can’t get it. I’m sorry to see Brandon go, although he never showed off his abilities in the best light. He just had one of the better voices this season. I hope he had enough exposure on the show to help him from this point on.

  • angelia

    Brandon was and is a class act; I hope someone in the music business was watching and will make him an offer. He is entirely too nice a looking and talented guy to disappear behind the Christinas of this world. About Idol Extra, I will not be watching if Ty is no longer there. His calm sanity added a bit of class to the show and offset Mikala’s manic moments (which occur on a regular basis). Besides, he was so very easy on the eyes. Matt is nice, but by no means could he be considered eye candy.

    I’m glad I am not the only one who wishes that we had a good mix of singing styles like those of Season 5. I knew last year that I was going to have this problem of comparing the current group with them. To this group’s disadvantage! I am afraid what is gong to happen is that the guys will be picked off one by one, leaving a bunch of boring women who can sing. But singing (in spite of what Simon keeps saying) is not entirely what the competition is all about. Personality, stage presence, and charisma are also big factors. And of course, Simon’s all-important X factor which the ladies have not shown us so far.

  • SpenserJ

    Brandon is a class act. What a great guy. I wish him the best.

  • eyin

    Brandon just might have been the best 12th placer in Idol history (I liked Leah LaBelle, but I think Brandon is more talented). I don’t really care for him, but he sure seems like a nice guy. It sucks that he won’t be touring.