Kellie Pickler appears on The View today.
Jennifer Lopez appears on Live! With Kelly
Cameron Mackintosh Annoints Samantha Barks As Eponine In ‘Les Miserables’ – The coveted role of Eponine in the Tom Hooper-directed film adaptation of the musical Les Miserables has gone to Samantha Barks. While she’s a newcomer to the screen, Barks starred as Eponine in the London production of Les Miserables in 2010 and reprised the role in the 25th anniversary concert held at the O2 Arena last year. (There were reports that the role would go to Taylor Swift. Glad it went to an artist with Broadway experience) – Read more at Deadline
Dear ‘Idol’ judges: Knock off the nice act and get mean! – When “American Idol” was young and feisty, it made its reputation by taking the dreams of unworthy hopefuls and ripping them to shreds. With Simon Cowell as the judges’ ringleader, delusional applicants would have their voices trashed, their faces likened to those of wild animals, and sometimes even brought back for the finale for another round of mocking.
It was controversial and cruel … and also must-see TV. – Read more at MSNBC
The X Factor Bloodbath Indicates Simon Doesn’t See the Real Problem – But we’re not hopeful that Cowell and Fox understand the true underlying problems with the show. For example, take the predominant complaint that there was no honest criticism on the show, just an indiscriminate labeling of everyone as amazing and “the one to beat.” When Vulture talked to Darnell about it in January, he insisted, “[The judges] are being honest. It’s just not in the harsh way that Simon used to be honest.” So, honest by omission? Look, Darnell is a smart, successful (and delightfully devious!) executive. But he has to realize that the less-than-expected ratings for X and the mildly disturbing falloff for this season of Idol (and, truth be told, the way overhyped success of The Voice, which was far from the blockbuster NBC keeps insisting it is) is an indication that the one ingredient that made early Idol so popular and Cowell so popular is true, untempered honesty, and it’s missing from these two shows. – New York Magazine
Clay Aiken at Kelly Clarkson’s concert
Clay Aiken backstage with Kelly Clarkon’s at her Durham, NC concert last night
Kellie Pickler Has Fans Speeding to Meet Her – Kellie Pickler has been crisscrossing the country promoting her new album, 100 Proof, which hit stores last week. She made several TV appearances in both New York City and Los Angeles, including Good Morning America and The Ellen DeGeneres show, before heading south to Kennesaw, GA and Monroe, NC over the weekend to meet fans and sign copies of her new album. – GACTV
A Minute With: Katharine McPhee star of “Smash” – Q: You are playing a character whose story is a bit like your own — auditioning and hustling for parts.
A: “I thought, finally it was a part that was really, really right for me. I approach acting as always trying to find a piece of yourself in each role … If I read something that is absolutely mind-blowing and fantastic and edgy and dark I tend to stay away from it. You are not really going to get the part. So when I find similarities within myself I get really excited.” Read more at The Chicago Tribune
The Voice judges grace the cover of This Week’s Rolling Stone
Via @TonyThomas
