Idol Headlines for 03/04/09

By On 03/04/2009 · 31 Comments · In Uncategorized

Woman Falls, Can’t Get Up, Sues Paula Abdul

When a woman falls and injures herself, and Paula Abdul is somehow involved, nine times out of ten the woman that fell is Paula. This is not one of those times.

A woman is suing Paula Abdul — along with Bravo Television, NBC Universal, and a host of others — claiming she fell while walking down a driveway during a taping of Paula’s unintentionally funny reality show “Hey Paula.”

According to a lawsuit filed yesterday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Jill Kohl claims she fell because the property “was in a dangerous and defective condition.”

Kohl is seeking damages in excess of $25,000.

TMZ

The real problem with the Top 36 format

When Idol eliminates just one or two performers a week, several of the showà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s audience groups get to have a say in how the show develops. If the 11-year-old girls think David Archuleta is just the cutest, they turn out in force for him. Maybe smaller Southern markets favor a country singer. Perhaps the rocker contingent prefers one contestant, the R&B lovers another. If a performerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s strong enough, he or she gets to stay around long enough to attract new fans as old favorites fall away -à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ all those Syesha Mercado fans had to vote for somebody in the finals last season. Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s all very egalitarian à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’- and it’s one of the reasons Idol has maintained such a large, broad viewership for so long.

But now that theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re keeping only three of 12 contestants from a show, only the largest demographics matter. And, judging from the results from the first two semi-final shows, those demographics prefer their singers fair-skinned and male.

USA Today

Phil Stacey blog: Is it rigged?

As we come into this American Idol episode tonight, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢d like to say that I hope they return to regular format next season. This would be the last week of semi-finals, but we have yet another on Thursday featuring the contestants who did not get our attention the first time around. Many of my favorites from this season, including Anoop Desai will have another chance to make it into the finals à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ and I am glad for them. I just feel that in the regular format, people like Anoop would not have been voted off in the first place.

LA Times

‘American Idol’ recap: Underdogs To the Rescue?

Maybe it’s the chest cold I’ve been fighting for the last five days, or maybe it’s overriding concern/excitement/bewilderment regarding American Idol’s upcoming Wild Card round, but somewhere during tonight’s Group 3 semifinal telecast, I ran out of cynicism. Oh sure, it wasn’t lost on me that the producers handed the pimp spot (shocker!) to Lil Rounds. Or that Jorge Nuà ±ez was treated to adoring close-ups and ridiculous split-screen action. Or that the judges somehow managed to subtly campaign for Scott MacIntyre despite their criticisms of his song choice and his vocal performance.

Entertainment Weekly

The Rushfield Review: The last of the 36

We have now seen our next American Idol. After all the buildup, one by one, all 36 warriors of competitive singing have been paraded before us. Somewhere in that lineup stood our next pop overlord; the one who 12 weeks from now will stand anointed in the footsteps of Clarkson and Underwood, Sparks and Cook.

It has been a shaky preseason, with semifinals rounds heavy on the train wrecks. The work of sorting the wheat from the chaff in this new format, having to pull out three singers from the pool of 12, has at moments over the last couple of weeks felt like work. But in the final night of the semifinal rounds, “Idol” delivered a pool overall worthy of its legacy.

LA Times

‘American Idol’ Recap: Lil Rounds, Felicia Barton, Scott MacIntyre Bring It

The third round of top 36 performances unfolded Tuesday night pretty much like the previous two: Some wannabes just picked the wrongs songs, others blasted up from nowhere and the frontrunners grabbed a few more feathers for their caps.

First the good news: Lil Rounds might be your next American Idol. The night ended with the woman who could be this year’s top contender, the 24-year-old mother of three, biting into Mary J. Blige’s “Be Without You” and nailing the midtempo inspirational number with strength and confidence, leaving judge Simon Cowell looking a bit stunned.

MTV

Weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re Live-Blogging The Final 12 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ Performances!

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  expert Jim Cantiello brings you a minute-by-minute recap of every episode right here! Keep checking for updates throughout the show, and donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t miss out on his previous live blogs and other à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  news.

Live-blogging à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  time! The final week of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  semi-finals is upon us, and I am happier than Adam Lambert on Fire Island. (In case you havenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t visited a blog in the past few days, dudeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s been sucking face with other dudes in pictures. Have fun swallowing that, homophobes!) We have 6 out of the 12 finalists selected, and by the end of the week, thanks to Thursdayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s mysterious Wild Card show, weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll flesh out the rest if the singers worthy of our votes. It will also reveal 18 people whose dreams are crushed thanks to à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  making the show 8000 times harder thanks to a frustrating and inane semi-finals, where they lumped a crapload of singers together each week. (Poor Mishavonna Henson. That girl was robbed! And donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t even get me started on my girl Megan Corkreyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦)

MTV

Lil Rounds fires up Simon on à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢

The three semifinal rounds of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  have been dominated by the men thus far, and Tuesdayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s show was another in a series of episodes where the men were memorable and the women were forgettable.

With one exception.

Lil Rounds closed the show with a dominating performance of Mary J. Bligeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Be Without You.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  She sang with confidence and authority, nailing the vocals of an artist whose songs usually lead to disaster when à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  hopefuls try them.

MSNBC

Ellen Gray: Fasten your seat belts, it’s ‘Idol’ time

IT’S ALL been done before.

Fans of Fox’s “American Idol” might want to keep that Barenaked Ladies lyric in mind this week, while some of us can still claim reasonable control over our emotions.

As the show assembles its Top 12 for Season 8, it’s hard to imagine that a couple of months from now I might be screaming at my TV, rooting for someone’s chance to record a song I already know I’m going to hate.

Yet that was me last May, experiencing 48 hours of euphoria after the “Idol”-ization of David Cook. And, yes, I’d been there before: with Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino.

Philly.com

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ fave David Archuleta pops into Northampton

David Archuleta may have settled for second place on the seventh season of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idol,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  but he got a pretty good consolation prize: a career.

If Monday nightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s sold-out performance at Pearl Street in Northampton was any indication, Archuleta has the ingredients to not just excite fans in a dingy nightclub on his first solo tour but to play bigger venues in the near future.

For 75 minutes Archuleta flashed his megawatt style, bounced across the stage with giddy energy in a T-shirt, vest and scarf and commented repeatedly on how awesome everything was.

Boston Herald

Artvoice Daily

Mere moments after just barely losing the American Idol crown last summer, musician David Archuleta saw his wildest dream become reality nonetheless.

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I was in my dressing room after the show ended, and they came in and told me how they were excited to work with me, and just like that I had to get started,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  Archuleta told Artvoice. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I was thinking that Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢d be sitting on it for a while, looking for what opportunities would come around, and who would be the right people to work with. But it was like, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Whoa.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

Artvoice Daily

Carrie Underwood Bonds with Her Hockey Beau’s Parents

Things are getting serious between Carrie Underwood and her boyfriend, Ottawa Senators hockey player Mike Fisher: The singer is already spending quality time with his parents!

Underwood, who was first linked with Fisher in January, spent a cozy dinner Saturday night with Fisher, his mom and dad, and a few friends at Fratelli, an upscale Italian restaurant in the Kanata section of Ottawa, shortly after the 25-year-old country singer cheered on Fisher at his hockey game.

During the dinner, the couple “seemed incredibly happy. They seem made for each other,” says a source, who added that the dinner “was very low-key. They sat at a private table and did their own thing.”

People.com

Bo Bice, ex-’Idol’ rocker, plays LI

Though many think of Bo Bice as the force that first brought a rock vibe to “American Idol,” opening the door for later contestants Chris Daughtry and David Cook, the modest singer-songwriter demurs, saying that when he competed “the stars all really lined up.” He also credits fellow contestants Constantine Maroulis, Nadia Turner and Jessica Sierra, and especially the show’s music director, Rickey Minor, and the band, with giving the show its rock flavor that year. Now putting the finishing touches on “I Love the Road,” his third post-”Idol” CD, and its accompanying EP, the Season 4 runner-up to Carrie Underwood and father of two appears March 4 in a sold-out acoustic performance at Boulton Center. We spoke with the Southern rocker last week.

Newsday

Bo Bice Get His Fantasy On For Fans

Former “American Idol,” season-four runner up, Bo Bice, is headed to Fantasy Camp…Country Music’s First Multi-Artist Fantasy Camp.

He’ll join several other country music stars  ­ from Lady Antebellum to John Rich in giving the royal treatment to Average Joes and music wannabes.

CMT’s Camp Nashville (Country Music Television) offers fans five full days of star treatment. Swanky hotel rooms, a full entourage, stylists and tour managers are provided. Access to rehearsal halls, private recording sessions, songwriting classes, vocal coaching, backstage party passes and jam sessions with country stars are other perks.

Radaronline.com

VIDEO: Idol Confessions with Vonzell Solomon

Season 4′s Vonzell Solomon talks about her favorite “Idol” moments and the Whitney Houston song she still loves to perform.

LA Times

PHOTO CALL: Maroulis, Spanger, Carpinello and Co. Ready Rock of Ages for Broadway

The upcoming Broadway musical Rock of Ages gave the press a sneak peek at a Feb. 2 rehearsal. Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger, Mitchell Jarvis and James Carpinello star.

Kristin Hanggi directs the work penned by Chris D’Arienzo that will play Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Choreography is by Kelly Devine.

Playbill

 
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  • jan

    David Cook’s Heroes used for ACC Basketball Tournament with performance in video:

    Video Promo

  • tinawina

    So mj, when is the deadline to pick an overall contestant in the pool? Before tomorrow night? It reads as if you have to pick someone before the judges announce their wildcard picks.

    ITA with Brian Mansfield, BTW.

  • leome

    Meanwhile, if I were Ricky Braddy, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢d be getting extremely worried right about now.

    Yeah, me too. He’s a lot like all the other guys in the top 12 (other than Adam). I think he deserves to be there more than Kris or Michael, but I also hope the judges go for someone different. Or it will be a really boring top 12.

  • http://www.myspace.com/gwendolyndiane GwendolynD

    A recapper at AI is reporting that Jamar Rogers has been signed to a label. Her info is pretty reliable. However, I have no idea if this is Frankie Jordan related.

    HOWEVER, I have news on the Jamar front….he HAS BEEN SIGNED to a label, and is going to be putting out some singles soon – I will keep you all informed!!!!

  • EmmaJK

    DC sang an abbreviated version of The Truth, from his 1st CD “Analog Heart”, last night in concert.

    He’s killing me.

  • http://myspace.com/girlgeek mj

    ITA with Brian Mansfield, BTW.

    I think he’s been reading the comments here. LOL.

  • leome

    A recapper at AI is reporting that Jamar Rogers has been signed to a label.

    If this is true, I guess it’s better to be cut in Hollywood these days. But how soon can he put singles out there? I don’t think that can happen before November.

  • tinawina

    I think heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s been reading the comments here. LOL.

    Come to think of it I’m sure he does. They all do!

    That kind of freaks me out though. Its not like we know what the hell we are talking about half the time here in the comments section. LOL.

  • mandalay

    Really nice Bo Bice interview.

    The true regret for me would be if my son didn’t come running into my arms every time I called.

    That’s the regret. That’s where you start to have regrets. So, I’m a dad, I’m a husband. I get to play rock ‘n’ roll music and pay homage to the people who came before me and paved the way. And I’m going to keep doing that until they put me in a box. And as I’ve said before: they ain’t gonna have a hearse for me, they’ll carry me in the tour bus and put me in the dirt. And that’s cool, man. I’m blessed to be working. I’m blessed to have fans. So I’m just gonna go out here and try to do what every other American’s doing: Trying to make a living doing what they love. Some don’t love their jobs. I love mine. So I’m blessed.

    http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/ny-etbice0303,0,3531023.story?page=1

  • itsalleternal

    I don’t think they can sign the contract until August 20th, based on past seasons knowledge.

  • mandalay

    Sorry MJ, didn’t see that up there.

  • abbysee

    Sigh. I love Bo Bice. Really, I do. He seems like such a nice guy. His priorities are certainly in order.

    Damn, this pool thing kept me up last night. What to do, what to do? I just need to figure out who the third place guy/girl is. Felicia, Junot, Jorge? Help me, jeebus, help me.

  • http://www.myspace.com/gwendolyndiane GwendolynD

    Woman Falls, Canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t Get Up, Sues Paula Abdul

    I know that’s not supposed to be funny but…well…it is.

  • grayhound

    Can I just say I LOVE me some Bo Bice!!

  • http://www.myspace.com/wn780 k4dc

    Emma JK, thanks for the heads-up on The Truth video (although I couldn’t get the link to work)!! I have been waiting for DC to sing this song for AGES. Fabulous!

  • EmmaJK

    Edit: sorry, tried to re-link and still didn’t work.

  • leome

    Emma JK, thanks for the heads-up on The Truth video (although I couldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t get the link to work)!! I have been waiting for DC to sing this song for AGES. Fabulous!

    here

  • nhd

    Emma JK, here another link

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

  • Jolene

    Oh man, DC should do more songs from Analog Heart on tour, it’s so great to hear them now, because I honestly never expected to hear anything from that album sung live… And I love that album so much.

  • nhd

    DC challenges Neal to play Super Mario Brothers theme

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akKK1XR2TGQ

  • nhd

    David Cook MySpace Bulletin:

    Mar 3, 2009 11:54 PM
    Subject: A Sincere Apology.

    Body: First off, Thank you to everyone at the Carlisle, PA show. the show was amazing, and that is due, in huge part, to the audience. You were loud. You were proud. Loved it.

    However, I have to apologize for two things. One, since the flu bug that we all got reared its ugly head, I haven’t been able to come out after the show to say hello, sign, etc. I hope that everyone understood. As long as I’m/we’re well, you know we’ll come out.

    Two, I want to specifically apologize to the fans that stayed after tonight for us to come out. It was brought to my attention that many of you were turned away before we could come out, and I, myself, witnessed some of you being run off while I was signing/talking/taking pictures with you. I can assure you that that was not our doing, and that any time we have the authority to say so, those kinds of things will not happen. Occasionally, power trips ruin it for everyone, and I’m sad to say that whoever had one tonight, did just that. I sincerely hope that this incident didn’t sour your overall experience tonight of the show. We look forward to coming back into this area ASAP and playing for all your smiling faces again soon.

    ~D

  • Grammie Kari

    Many of my favorites from this season, including Anoop Desai will have another chance to make it into the finals à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ and I am glad for them. I just feel that in the regular format, people like Anoop would not have been voted off in the first place.

    There it is in a nutshell. Phil understands exactly why we feel underwhelmed this season. With the old format, I believe Adam, Lil, Alexis, Anoop, and possibly Jorge would have gotten through. Not too sure about the others. But at least we had more control.

    Well, for 2 weeks, the viewers will decide who will go on the tour. At least that part will be more exciting, right?

  • daenarys

    David Cook MySpace Bulletin:

    Mar 3, 2009 11:54 PM
    Subject: A Sincere Apology.

    Body: First off, Thank you to everyone at the Carlisle, PA show. the show was amazing, and that is due, in huge part, to the audience. You were loud. You were proud. Loved it.

    However, I have to apologize for two things. One, since the flu bug that we all got reared its ugly head, I havenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t been able to come out after the show to say hello, sign, etc. I hope that everyone understood. As long as Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m/weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re well, you know weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll come out.

    Two, I want to specifically apologize to the fans that stayed after tonight for us to come out. It was brought to my attention that many of you were turned away before we could come out, and I, myself, witnessed some of you being run off while I was signing/talking/taking pictures with you. I can assure you that that was not our doing, and that any time we have the authority to say so, those kinds of things will not happen. Occasionally, power trips ruin it for everyone, and Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m sad to say that whoever had one tonight, did just that. I sincerely hope that this incident didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t sour your overall experience tonight of the show. We look forward to coming back into this area ASAP and playing for all your smiling faces again soon.

    ~D

    Love. This. Is the guy human? Also, from the Bo Bice article –

    Q: Have you stayed close with anyone who was in your group, the other contestants?
    A: ……David Cook, I’m rooting like crazy for that cat. Him and I shoot e-mails and text back and forth. If you haven’t bought David Cook’s album — not like he needs my press or my help — he’s a great cat man. Now I’ll tell you something, man, he’s one of those people that I guarantee you standing here today, he won’t change a single bit. He’s just a modest, groovy cat, man. And I’m so proud of him.

    Q: I’ve actually met him twice and agree with you 100 percent. He is about as real as you can get.
    A: Yup. You all keep an eye out for him, man. He’s going to be the next one to sell 11 million. You just hide and watch.

    LOL. 11 million Bo? DC spreads Bromances like no other.

  • EmmaJK

    Thanks, nhd! I was at work and couldn’t get the link to work right.

    I got dust in my eyes listening to DC sing “The Truth”. Dust.

    Jolene, yes to your entire post. I really didn’t think he’d be allowed to do anything except songs from DCTR and a few covers. AH is the “we don’t talk about it” album. But we get Straight Ahead, The Truth, MWK, and a song from the unreleased album (which I love, love). I hope he keeps springing surprises on us.

  • widz

    From Phil Stacey’s twitter:
    is getting ready to go on tour with Melinda Doolittle, Gina Glocksen, and Chikezie… Check out philstacey.com for details.

    So excited for them! My semi-fave Idols!
    http://twitter.com/PhilStacey/

  • bean99

    Could Jasmine Murray have lasted longer if sheà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢d had a few weeks to get over her jitters? Probably. And the Tennessee Titans, owners of the AFCà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s best record last season, probably could have beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals if they hadnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t dropped the ball against the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs. But they did.

    Aw, did he have to mention my Titans? :down_tb: I don’t agree with everything he said but do think the format skews who stays and goes. I don’t know if people caught on that first week how much more important their votes were than in the previous format. That’s why I think Anoop didn’t make it. Phil made some good points too.

  • waffle

    Re David Cook’s myspace bulletin – totally unexpected from the rock star that he is, but it sure does validate Bo’s observations about him. David’s such a sweetheart. He deserves every good thing that comes to him. :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=587900002&ref=name cruzceleste

    If anyone thwarts Scott’s ”journey,” I’m guessing it’ll be the grown man who shed real tears after his performance of the done-to-death-on-Idol ”Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” Yes, Jorge, you now join the ranks of David Archuleta, Bo Bice, Clay Aiken, Justin Guarini, and Jasmine Trias, among the former Idol contestants who’ve tackled this treacle-y chestnut. And while the good news is that you hit pretty much every note of the song, and came across swimmingly during your post-performance interview, you’d still only rank No. 5 (ahead of Jasmine, naturally) in the ”Don’t Let the Sun” Power Rankings. Why? Well, the whole thing was awfully overwrought, dude. I mean, when each word is sung at Full Emotional Throttle, it kind of leaves the performance without any way to crescendo, y’know?

    Slezak, man I love you… word to evrything you said…

  • Jabkmc

    Since I wasn’t watching Season 7 (actually watching on the TV) haha! – I’m not sure if this is new to you guys or not…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw09PEo8iK4

  • PokeSmot

    Jabkmc, thanks for the link. That behind the scenes was hilarious! I love that Dance Machine!! And…..um……dang, them white people can’t rap!!! :doh_tb:

    If there are any AI interns and/or producers lurking about….BAD SONG CHOICE…can we vote you off?

    :smoke_tb:

  • frogcooke

    lol at that vid haha