Idol Headlines for 05/05/12

By On 05/05/2012 · 109 Comments · In American Idol, Headlines

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Despite ‘Voice’ challenge, ‘American Idol’ is still music show to beat – Despite mounting evidence that it had been eclipsed by “The Voice” in the network television sing-off sweepstakes earlier this year, “American Idol” remains the music show to beat. Though “Idol” is down from previous years with a particularly uninspiring final four, it still holds a significant lead over its chief competitor: Recent “Idol” shows have averaged about 17 million viewers while “The Voice” is falling short of 11 million, according to the Nielsen ratings. How has “Idol” been able to hold on to its dominant position despite early signs that “The Voice” was coming off as a fresher, younger and hipper alternative? – Read more at Chicago Tribune

CARRIE UNDERWOOD CONFIRMS FIRST TOUR OF AUSTRALIA – From London’s Royal Albert Hall on June 21 to Sydney’s Opera House on July 2 – the 14-million-album-selling, five-time Grammy-Award-winning, 14-US#1-hit-scoring dynamo – CARRIE UNDERWOOD will tour outside North America for the first time and include Australia, promoter Chugg Entertainment confirmed today. Chairman of Chugg Entertainment, Michael Chugg, said it was fitting Underwood would end her first Australian tour at another of the world’s most iconic venues, the Sydney Opera House. Sponsored by Olay, Underwood will play four intimate and exclusive concerts in Australia, including a special show in Tamworth. “The last concert we did in Tamworth was Keith [Urban],” said Chugg, “and we blew the lid off it. – Read more at Facebook

Carrie Underwood Returns With ‘Blown Away’ – Seven years removed from winning ‘American Idol,’ Carrie Underwood is now a country music mega-star. She talks about her new album and the character she presents to the world while keeping her private life private. (May 1)

Taylor Hicks on CMT Insider

American Idol’s Fantasia Barrino Exonerated of $15,000 Theft From Church – Fantasia Barrino, American Idol season 3 winner, and her manager Brian Dickens, were recently exonerated from accusations that they took $15,000 from Harvest Family Church and failed to honor a scheduled appearance at the place of worship. In March, Barrino and Dickens made headlines after Matthew Herman, Music Ministry Team Organizer for Harvest Family Church, made accusations about the singer’s absence from a scheduled appearance. “Fantasia’s Manager agreed on the $15,000 contract and then magically became unavailable. Just like he’s done with other people in the past,” Herman tweeted in March. “I only dealt with Fantasia’s manager because she won’t do business without him. Very unfortunate. Such a sad career for her with him.” – Read more at Christian Post

Hudson murder trial rolls along – Brittany Acoff-Howard, who said she was like a little sister to Balfour, testified he asked her to lie about his whereabouts on the day of the murders at the Hudson family’s South Side home. Acoff-Howard said Balfour told her, “If anybody asks you, I’ve been out west all day.” •Reginald Jones testified he bought drugs from Hudson’s brother and once helped him cook cocaine into crack in the family’s kitchen. Balfour’s attorneys have suggested the murders were linked to the brother’s drug business. – Read more at Chicago Tribune

Jennifer Hudson emotional as brother’s friend testifies – Williams said a couple months before the murders he saw Jason’s gun in a bedroom closet where Balfour was living at the time. It’s alleged Balfour stole Jason’s gun a few weeks before the murders. Williams said he found about the murders on his way back from work during the afternoon of October 24, 2008. Jennifer Hudson wiped her eyes as she watched Williams choke up when he told the jury the news of his best friend’s death was “the worst thing I heard to this day, actually my whole life.” Williams said while he knew Jason Hudson was a drug dealer, he testified Jason wasn’t big time. Williams said Jason never owed anybody a drug debt and didn’t have any enemies. – Read more at ABC Local

Revenge of the rivals: Simon Cowell in ‘secret talks’ with BBC over new Saturday night show – For just over ten years Simon Cowell has been working happily with ITV, but he is now reportedly in talks to jump ship. The X Factor mogul has allegedly been having secret talks with the BBC about a new TV drama he wants to develop for the channel. The 52-year-old, who began his TV career on Pop Idol in 2001, feels betrayed by ITV and has spoken to BBC1 controller Danny Cohen about his new idea. – Read more at the Daily Mail.com

 
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  • Anonymous

    I do agree. The production values have skyrocketed this year. I thought it might be in response to X Factor. It is a bit too much too early. In past years the bigger production numbers were saved for near the end of the show.

  • Anonymous

     

    I don’t think I have ever switched my favorites so much before, but
    right now I’m on team Joshua. I hope the judge love doesn’t hurt him.
    I’m impressed with the way Hollie is also showing up now, but I don’t
    think she will, or should win. Jessica is still the better singer. I love P2, but this is the point in the
    competition where someone whose strength isn’t actually the vocals
    usually goes out – if they don’t win. P2 is tremendously talented
    musically, and I flove him, but vocals are not his strength. I know that Joshua oversings, but he has the passion and the vocals and I am seeing growth. I think Jimmy was right about P2 not going out of his comfort zone. But hey, neither did Scotty and that seemed to turn out pretty well for him – lol!

  • escape

      Casey Abrams alone brought more laughs and originality than the entire S11 top 10. Scotty, James, Haley, Stefano, Naimi, Paul, Casey, Lauren, Pia, etc, all had fun pranking each other, we have seen very little of that this season.

    Heejun and Phillip have done a lot of funny stuff. Skylar seems to have a playful personality.  The same with Erika. 

    People like Jessica and Josh just take themselves way too serious.  I just can’t see them making fun of themselves.  

    Josh could have turned that duet wih Phillip into a really light and fun moment.  But no, he was too scared.   IMO = BORING.

  • Anonymous

    All the negative stuff about Idol cracks me up.  Idol is once again the most watched, most profitable show on TV.  

    Last year’s winner currently has a platinum album out. 

    Next topic.

  • http://twitter.com/eilonwya10 Eilonwy

    What has detracted most from this season has been the judges, way too much over-praising, pimping, plus the ridiculous standing ovations every other performance.

    It’s rare that audiences enjoy being treated as if we’re stupid — if we think that’s how we’re being treated, we’ll tend to try to prove we’re smarter than the judges by resisting what we see as manipulation and/or errant idiocy. 

    I’d love to see the judges play the role of people who’ve learned something from their success in the music industry and are willing to share the wisdom with the newbies. I know that in real life, the singers on the show are getting their useful feedback from the mentoring sessions — but let’s go through the motions of showing the judging as intelligent and impartial, simply to show respect for the viewers as also being intelligent.

  • dishwalla

    P2 is tremendously talented musically, and I flove him, but vocals are not his strength. I know that Joshua oversings, but he has the passion and the vocals and I am seeing growth. I think Jimmy was right about P2 not going out of his comfort zone. But hey, neither did Scotty and that seemed to turn out pretty well for him – lol!

    That’s because he’s in a competition, where the focus is all about familiarty and Top 40 mainstream pop music.  That’s not who he is as an artist.  His voice is actually very on par with the kind of music he wants to do.  He also chooses more obscure songs.  His recorded version of The Stone was really a standpoint.  As someone who is starting out, he’s gotten the ultimate compliment.  Stefan Lessar, the original lead guitarist for the Dave Matthew Bands is a huge fan of Phillips.  He said he gave that performance heart and courage.  Of course J-Lo was clueless, and that’s what Phillip’s critics have nailed him for.

  • http://twitter.com/tinawinabina Tinawina

    Last year there was a lot of complaining that Jimmy and his producers were too controlling and the judges didn’t judge. There was also chatter that the XF and Voice stage shows made Idol look stodgy and old fashioned. There was also loud complaining that there were not enough modern songs in the mix. And finally, when Idol cast a lot of “characters’ on the male side there was complaining that not enough of them were good singers.

    So this year, they make the judges actually critique, get rid of Jimmy’s producers and Jimmy now just gives them advice along with the mentor, they upped the stage show game, and stacked the deck with a Top 24 that, for the most part, could actually sing. They have also added more weeks with opportunity to pick modern songs.

    I get all the changes. They all make sense to me.

  • Karen C

    That’s because he’s in a competition, where the focus is all about familiarty and Top 40 mainstream pop music. That’s not who he is as an artist.

    I think that this has been the focus more this season and last, and of Jimmy Iovine and his crew.  I don’t think that the focus before that was necessarily to find someone to fit into pop music, or at least that was the result.  Even the ones that they found that have done well in pop music would most likely not have been normally considered pop. 

    As far as Philip is concerned, I do think his voice is on par with the type of music he wants to do.  And part of the problem with the mentoring now is that it is geared towards being a pop star, and not helping the contestant to become the type of artist they want to be if they aren’t that kind of artist.  

  • Anonymous

    The last 3 years I have been able to pick the top 3 and loved quite a few. This year, sadly, no. To me, the energy went out the door with Colton, Elise and Skylar. 

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