Idol Headlines For 03/11/09

‘American Idol’: On the scene at the Top 13 performance night — special appearance by Chikezie

As for the rest of the show, from my seat it was the most satisfying start to Idol’s final rounds I’ve experienced since I started covering this pop-culture steamroller in season six. This could be due to my drastically lowered expectations for the season — I only counted a single fan-made sign before the show started (“Anoop Dog: Chapel Thrill! Represent!”), which played right into my fear that we’ve barely had time to get invested in any of the contestants this season. But as the show neared its close, my row-mate Chikezie put it as well as anyone: “This is a great night!” After the jump, I’ll give you the full breakdown of the evening, including why so much of Jorge’s performance was shot from the waist up, whether Adam Lambert (pictured) came over better live and in-person or live-on-the-East-Coast and on your TV, and how the audience knew it was Megan’s brother’s birthday well before home viewers did. Also: More commentary from Chikezie!

Entertainment Weekly

The Rushfield Review: Live from the Idoldome

It has been a long time since were last here, on that balmy day last May when two Davids, just anointed the finalists, flipped a coin to see who would go first on the last show of American Idol’s Season Seven.

Whatever the controversy surrounding this season, the Idoldome was packed with a crowd ready to love again. Waiting at the gate, a line stretched far back down the alley, almost silent with stifled anticipation. Near the front I see my first crowd sign of the season: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Alexis Rocks!à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  A harbinger of things to come? At the front of the line, a woman urges the guard to check the list one more time for her name. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Lambert,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  she pleads. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“L-A-M-B-E-R-T.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  Just inside the gate, last seasonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s David Hernandez loitered with friends. A mild frenzy broke out amidst the 14-year-old-girl-heavy crowd waiting to take their seats just outside the Dome doors when amongst the dress rehearsal crowds disgorging from the theater, semifinalist Alexander Wagner-Trugman suddenly appeared. He waved sheepishly to the shrieking teens.

LA Times

More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…

Danny Gokey comes out strong on à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢

The à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  judges shocked everyone a week ago by adding an extra finalist to the mix, and apparently, the show isnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t finished with the surprises.

The beginning of the March 10 Michael Jackson-themed show brought the news that two singers would be sent home on Wednesday, while the ending promised a rule change that would involve the judges, be revealed tomorrow, and might not be approved of by some viewers.

MSNBC

‘American Idol’ recap: This Is Thriller Night!

I’ve complained quite a bit about American Idol over the first 17 episodes of its eighth season, and I have a feeling I’ll be kvetching even more vigorously after Wednesday night’s telecast à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  especially if that ”surprise change to the rules” Ryan hinted at this evening matches my deepest, darkest suspicions. Yes, somebody call 9-1-1, because I fear that the people responsible for arranging not one, not two, but three live performances by Jasmine Murray over the last couple weeks are about to commit felony (ham)burglary by stealing control back from the voting public when it comes to the show’s eliminations.

Entertainment Weekly

Weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re Live-Blogging The Top 13 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ Performances!

Before we get to tonightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  live-blog recap, I just want to say that I feel sorry for à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢sà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  producers. They just didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know what they were getting into with this Top 13 business, did they? Apparently, the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Idol-13à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ³ phone number actually leads to a phone sex line. (HA! I didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t even know those existed anymore!) And the dude who is in charge of putting all the phone numbers up on the screen now has an entirely new number to worry about. Hereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s hoping he doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t put up the wrong numberà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦again

MTV

‘American Idol’ Hopefuls Are Ready for Their Close-Ups

ET is with the “American Idol” contestants to see what happens when seven eager performers are squeezed into one ET Photobooth.

First up, 23-year-old Kris Allen and 24-year-old Lil Rounds “make magic” on camera.

Then, Michael Sarver of Jasper, Texas and Alexis Grace of Memphis, Tennessee pose with Southern charm.

Up next, Matt Giraud, Jasmine Murray and Anoop Desai all crowd in for their close-up.

To see all the Top 13 finalists, watch “American Idol” on FOX.

ET Online

Idol Talk: Hometown Pride, Cougars and the Lucky 13

“American Idol” took weeks to get down to 12 (plus one) and there are more to go. But already some are calling the winner.

Past history dictates that the pets don’t always win: For every Fantasia and Carrie Underwood, there’s Taylor Hicks. The past two seasons, singers showing slow-and-steady improvement moved past early talents like Melinda Doolittle or Michael Johns to win the Fox reality show.

Now even “Idol” title-holders are hauling out crystal ball: Season 3 winner Fantasia has her eye on Danny Gokey, who only has Lil Rounds to face down if judge enthusiasm were the sole factor. (And since Randy Jackson believes a guy will win, Gokey’s got the XY advantage.)

Yahoo.com

Ford’s ‘American Idol’ music videos continue, despite challenges

The economic downturn and some unfortunate marketing research following last year’s “American Idol” season didn’t discourage Ford from creating more American Idol music videos/commercials this season. The first one airs during the “American Idol” broadcast on Wednesday night.

Amid harrowing times for the Detroit Three, tightening advertising budgets have not yet forced Ford to bail from its 10-season, reported $25-million-plus sponsorship deal with Fox’s “American Idol” show.

LA Times

Fantasia picks Danny Gokey to win ‘American Idol’

WASHINGTONà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ Being an “American Idol” winner herself, Fantasia knows one when she hears one, and Danny Gokey is her pick to win this season.

Fantasia says she’s been voting for Gokey, the 28-year-old from Milwaukee, whose wife Sophia died of a congenital heart defect only seven months before he made the final 13.

Fantasia says she loves singers who can “take a song that’s not theirs, but make it their own.” And Gokey moves her every time she hears him sing.

Mercury News

Taylor Hicks launches his comeback

NEW YORK – Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s OK à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  you can call it a comeback.

Taylor Hicks is starting over with his new CD à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The Distance,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  out Tuesday. Heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s releasing it under his own label, Modern Whomp Records, which launched in January.

Hicks became famous by winning the fifth season of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idol.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  His first, self-titled album went platinum but didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t generate the radio play or hype caused by previous winners like Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood.

MSNBC

Idol champ goes The Distance

American Idol is burning bright yet again, season five champion Taylor Hicks is releasing his latest CD, The Distance. Mr. Soul Patrol took a few minutes from touring the country in Grease to share insight into winning American Idol and life since the confetti flew on the Kodak Theatre stage.

Taylor Hicks, as all American Idol fans know, is a product of Alabama and he credits a challenging childhood with his passion for the blues.

American fell in love with Hicks and his Soul Patrol as they voted him American Idol champ in 2006 over Katherine McPhee. Since then Hicks has hit number one with his debut single, Do I Make You Proud? and written a biography Heart Full of Soul: An Inspirational Memoir About Finding Your Voice and Finding Your Way.

She Knows

Taylor Hicks: ‘The Distance’

The buzz: One of the least musically relevant “American Idol” winners (though probably a notch above velvet teddy bear Ruben Studdard), Hicksà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ still managed to claim the No. 2 spot on the Billboard album chart with his 2006 major label debut. The singer, who seems like heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s practicing to grow up to be Michael McDonald, was dropped from J Records in 2008.

The verdict: Hicks has a natural appeal thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s hard to dislike. But his voice, while fine enough, has less personality and still doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t sound ready for prime time. The songs, each of which seems to emulate a more established, better artist, arenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t likely to attract new members to Hicksà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ “Soul Patrol” fan club either.

AZ Central

Kelly Clarkson comes home to ‘American Idol’

The lucky 13 “American Idol” contenders who made it through to tonight’s live show would do well to take a few minutes out of their hectic day and listen to Season 1 champ Kelly Clarkson as she rehearses for her appearance. After all, she is the prime example of how to handle the sudden success that can come with appearing on this TV talent contest.

Tonight, Kelly Clarkson will be belting out her smash hit “My Life Would Suck Without You.” Back in January, that single broke the Billboard record as it jumped from No. 97 to the top spot in just one week. It was the first cut off her new album, “All I Ever Wanted,” which is out today. And while this is only her fourth album, it is being touted as her comeback.

Gold Derby

Kelly Clarkson Tapes à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Live With Regis & Kelly!à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢

Kelly Clarkson arrives for a pre-taping of Live with Regis and Kelly! in New York City on Tuesday morning (March 10).

The 26-year-old American Idol champà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s performance will air this Friday on Regis. Tomorrow, Kelly and Kanye West
will perform on American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s elimination show.

Just Jared

Kelly Clarkson is a Hale & Hearty Hottie

Kelly Clarkson pays for her lunch with a $100 bill at à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Hale & Hearty Soupsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  in Midtown Manhattan
on Tuesday (March 11).

The 26-year-old American Idol champ opened up to British Cosmopolitan about her romantic life. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve never been in love,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  she admits. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I want to be so badly à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m a hopeless romantic, but I havenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t been there yet.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

Just Jared

David Cook: First On-Screen Kiss!

David Cook readies himself for his first on-screen kiss with actress Sarah Roemer while filming his new music video à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Come Back To Meà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  at LAX airport in Los Angeles
on Thursday (March 5).

The vid is being directed by Gavin Bowden, who has worked with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jason Mraz and Lifehouse.

Just Jared

Since She’s Been Gone

Kelly Clarkson pees in the shower. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Anybody who says they donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t is lying,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  she adds, in her scrubby Texas twang.) At her house outside Fort Worth, she enjoys walking around naked. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m the kinda person who just doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t like clothes.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ) When she blows her nose, she checks the tissue to see what color snot her sinuses disburden. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I mean, if you have a cold, you have to check, to see how sick you are.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ )

These are among the unexpected revelations gleaned from two hours watching Clarkson charm Australian radio and magazine reporters in a suite at the Beverly Hills Hotelà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ before she sits down with Blender for several more hours. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“This is nothing,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  she scoffs. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve done 19 in one day.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ) That whole time, she punts on just two questions (which weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll get back to), in part because accessibility, she knows, is the essence of her appeal. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The thing with me, and my audience in particular is, people look at me like a sister or a daughter,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  she says. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s not like people look at me as unattainable, some kind of star like that. People love the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹realà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ factor thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s involved, I think.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

Blender.com

Kellie Pickler sings for students, friends at Pinson Elementary

If you heard the click of red high heels on Monday at Pinson Elementary School — or maybe a live rendition of the country song — you weren’t imagining things. Singer Kellie Pickler was in the house, serenading a contest winner and her guests.

According to spokeswoman for Pickler, the singer performed five songs at the school, courtesy of Paula Sims. Sims had entered a contest called “Text to Bring Pickler to Your Town,” announced in September on NBC’s “Today’” show and on Pickler’s MySpace page.

AL.com

YOU MAY NOT KISS THE BRIDE’ Begins Filming March 16 in Hawaii

Principal photography begins Monday, March 16th on Hawaii Film Partners’ motion picture “YOU MAY NOT KISS THE BRIDE,” a romantic adventure comedy set in Chicago and Tahiti and filmed in Hawaii. Rob Hedden directs from his original screenplay. Rann and Gina Watumull and David Jackson and Shauna Shapiro Jackson are producers and co-owners of Hawaii Film Partners.

Starring are Dave Annable (“Brothers and Sisters,” “Julie & Julia”), Mena Suvar (“American Pie 1&2,” “American Beauty”), Katharine McPhee (“American Idol” finalist and “The House Bunny”), Vinnie Jones (“X-Men 3: The Last Stand,” “Snatch”), Tia Carrere (“Wayne’s World,” “True Lies”) and Ken Davitian (Azamat Bagatov in “Borat”). Additional casting is underway in Honolulu and LA.

PR Newswire

Idol Confessions with Jon Peter Lewis

Season 3′s Jon Peter Lewis talks about dancing on the “Idol” stage and a moment that could’ve been a disaster.

LA Times

Performing with an Idol – The Rhythm Riders pay tribute to country-western greats

The Johnny Cash/Pasty Cline tribute band shared the stage of the Phoenix Shrine Auditorium with Jordin Sparks, the 19-year-old pop/R&B artist who won the sixth season of American Idol, sold platinum with her self-titled debut album and hit high on the Billboard Hot 100.

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Jordin Sparks was an absolute sweetheart to work with,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  band drummer EG Smith said. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“She’s very humble and down to earth, wonderful with her fans and very professional. Plus, her background is country music, so she did a fantastic job covering songs with the Rhythm Riders like à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹The Devil Went Down to Georgia.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“It was a pleasure meeting her and playing with her.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

The Union

Bernie Madoff Mocked at Party!

At an open rehearsal last week, we learned that, on some level, the show is “a celebration of the stupidity of rock,” complete with a love story, a flushing toilet, and the guy who had to drop out of Xanadu. It also stars Constantine Maroulis, the nice Greek-American who belted his way into the top six on American Idol’s season four. “In this climate, this is the perfect show,” Maroulis assured me at the event. “You get a great timeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ we were called a ‘legitimate artistic achievement’ by the press. We might have some trouble convincing the highbrow peeps, but that’s not our crowd anyway!”

The show’s ’80s arena rock, said Maroulis, involves big songs and chords and some very large hair. And you can eventually watch it from arena seating; New Line just bought it for the movies. Will he be in the film? “Let’s hope so,” the rocker said, laughing. “At least I can maybe sing the tracks for Zac Efron or whoever gets the part instead of me.” (Nuh-uh. If anyone gets to force something into Zac’s lips, it’s me!)

Village Voice

Paula Abdul Moves Back into Home Where Crazed Fan Died

American Idol’s Paula Abdul is taking the next step in moving past the disturbing incident that took place last November, moving back into the home where a crazed fan died outside the front gates.

“I can confirm that Paula Abdul has moved back into her home on a permanent basis,” Abdul’s spokesperson Jeff Ballard told RadarOnline.com.

Radaronline

Ratings: ‘Dancing With the Stars’ premiere hits all-time high

Maybe Bachelor jiltee Melissa Rycroft brought the ratings momentum with her, or maybe America is as obsessed with jailbird Lil’ Kim’s ballroom dancing as I am. But for whatever reason, ABC’s Dancing With the Stars quickstepped up to its highest season-premiere ratings ever Monday night with 22.5 million viewers — that’s 10.8 million more than second-place Fox garnered in the same two-hour period. Those stellar numbers boosted the series premiere of lead-out Castle, which charmed 11.6 million viewers (though note that that means only about half of Dancing’s audience stuck around for the Nathan Fillion dramedy). All that ABC excitement left CBS unusually strapped for viewers, with Big Bang Theory (9.5 million), How I Met Your Mother (8.5 million), and Two and a Half Men (13.3 million) all dipping.

Hollywood Insider