Headlines: Simon Cowell Joins Forces with Glee Producer

Simon Cowell, Diablo Cody, ‘Glee’ Co-Creator Team for Synchronized Swimming Fox Comedy – How’s this for an interesting grouping: Fox is teaming with Simon Cowell, Diablo Cody and Glee co-creator Ian Brennan for a comedy about … synchronized swimming. The untitled single-camera project has received a hefty put-pilot commitment from Fox. Written by Brennan and Cody (Juno), the comedy centers on Marion Lolo, who has 26 synchronized swimming medals, one restraining order against her and zero friends. Brennan and Cody will executive produce via the former’s overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television; Cowell will exec produce via his Syco Entertainment banner alongside Adam Milano. – Read more at Hollywood Reporter

Katharine McPhee to Perform on 6th Annual AMERICAN HUMANE HERO DOG AWARDS, Today – American Humane and Hallmark CHANNEL announced today that popular recording artist and actress Katharine McPhee (“American Idol,” “Scorpion,” “Smash,” “The House Bunny”) will headline as the musical act at the sixth annual AMERICAN HUMANE HERO DOG AWARDS(R). She joins TV personality, author, and ANIMAL welfare advocate Beth Stern (“Kitten Bowl”) and actor James Denton (Hallmark Channel’s “Good Witch,” “Devious Maids,” “Desperate Housewives”), who will take the stage for the third consecutive year as co-hosts. The two-hour special tapes at the landmark Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on September 10 and is scheduled to premiere on Hallmark CHANNEL Friday, October 28, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. – Read more at Broadway.com

Kellie Pickler Says Her Talk Show with Faith Hill Will Help People’s ‘Dreams Become a Reality’ – “I’m very, very excited to get this ball rolling,” shared Pickler. “It’s in the very early stages right now, but all is well, everything’s looking good.” Pickler and Hill’s yet-untitled syndicated series will cover everything from cooking to home design and gardening. Filmed in Nashville, the series will partner with former Oprah producer Lisa Erspamer. – Read more at People.com

On way to ‘The Voice,’ Billy Gilman gets hometown send-off + video – WESTERLY, R.I. — On Friday, Rhode Island singer Billy Gilman flies out to Los Angeles to begin the live playoff rounds on the NBC singing competition “The Voice.” But first, on Thursday night, he got a hometown send-off at a sold-out show at the Knickerbocker Music Center in Westerly. “It’s way more intense than I thought. But the support I’ve gotten, from everybody, is way bigger than I thought,” he said. “The tidal wave of support took me back a few paces.” Ultimately, Gilman said, he’d like to be a male version of British pop songstress Adele. “When I was growing up, there was no male singer out there who was doing that,” Gilman said. “That’s the way I see myself going.” – Read more at Providence Journal

East Bay: San Ramon Valley High grad scores a victory on ‘The Voice’ – With each step Kiley Rothfield takes on “The Voice,” the Danville singer-songwriter can feel her confidence growing. Much of the credit goes to her mentor, pop superstar Alicia Keys. “She believes in me even more than I do myself sometimes,” Rothfield says. “She has pushed me and taught me so much. Her positive energy has rubbed off.” “I was a little unsure in the beginning. I was definitely afraid to put myself out there,” she says. “But it has turned into one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had.” – Read more at Mercury News

Melanie Martinez on ‘The Voice,’ ‘Cry Baby,’ and New Music – TV: Can you tell us anything about your new album? MM: I’m really into concept albums so the record I’m going to put out next year follows [the character of] Cry Baby and her story in the town that she lives in; it goes from the beginning of her time there to the end in order, from tracks 1 to 13. Cry Baby [the album] was inspired by her family life and the way she was feeling at home, in her environment, in her room. [This new album is] like Cry Baby stepping out of her house and entering this place that we’ve all been. Right now I have one more song to write, and a couple of bridges [to complete] — finishing touches and little details here and there. – Read more at Teen Vogue

‘Voice’ singer Jake Worhtington returns to the Iron Horse Pub – After “The Voice,” “I got my eggs lined up in a row somewhat and tried to make it happen,” Worthington said. “We played and put out an EP (“Jake Worthington”) of songs I wrote, and had a video on TNT for the first single, ‘Just Keep Falling in Love.’ ” At the beginning of summer 2016 he released his second single, “How Do You Honky Tonk?” He and his band are preparing to cut another EP, which he hopes to release early in 2017. “It will be covers and some of my own songs,” he said. “The covers aren’t decided yet.” – Read more at Times Record News

From “Idol” to “State Plate,” Taylor Hicks Has It All Covered – Currently, Hicks has two projects ready to make their debut; a new CD due out in the spring of 2017 and a new television program which took to the air on October 21 called “State Plate” on INSP. “Rootsie,” is how he describes the forthcoming disc as he has no qualms taking his time to complete the process. “I haven’t released a record in a long time and that’s because I need a vehicle to do so; I don’t just release a record for the sake of releasing something. I need a reason, something to drive me and for me it’s never a quick process. Ninety percent of the battle is writing the songs; recording is the easy part. Although it’s going great, right now I’m in the studio and we just started recording so we should be done by the new year and released by the spring.” – Read more at Concert Blogger

Bette Midler Talks Trump, Her ‘Voice’ Role & Why Blake Shelton Is the Next John Wayne – How are you ­enjoying your debut experience on The Voice? It’s so much fun. I wasn’t going to do it. I was with a bunch of people and I said to a very well-known singer, “I don’t want to do The Voice, because what have I got to say to those kids?” And he said, “You don’t have to tell them what notes to sing. You tell them what it means to be a performer.” The singers on the show have some of the most beautiful voices I’ve heard in public. This show has a real sweetness at its core. It’s not mean-spirited. And of course, Blake is a hoot! He is on the small screen, but I personally think — if I were his agent — I would get him on a big screen as quick as possible. I think he probably can act. He’s so photogenic, like a John Wayne type. – Read more at Billboard

About mj santilli 34831 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!