Michael Orland tweeted, “First official meeting of American Idol Season 11. May the games and the fun times begin…..Now!!!!!”
Constantine Maroulis, Nancy Opel Lead Alley Theatre’s The Toxic Avenger
Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the new musical The Toxic Avenger. In a new production, which features several new songs and revised book by the Tony Award-winning creative team of Memphis, Bon Jovi founding member and keyboardist David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, Tony-nominated Constantine Maroulis takes center stage as the righteous superhero in the title role. John Rando (Tony Winner for Urinetown) returns to the Alley to reinvent his hilarious 2009 Off-Broadway staging of The Toxic Avenger following his smashing Alley productions of The Man Who Came to Dinner, Mrs. Mannerly and Be My Baby.
Read more at Broadway World
Post-Split With Mark Ballas, Pia Toscano Dishes on Her Love Life and Her Upcoming Album — Exclusive!
I heard you’re currently in writing sessions. Tell me what’s going on.
Well, I’ve been working so hard on this album. I’ve been in new writing sessions and just putting my own stamp on things, kind of telling my story throughout the whole entire process.
What’s the record going to be like?
It’s going to be very diverse. There’s going to be lots of different things. I feel like people aren’t going to expect certain things, which I like. On American Idol, I was only on for a few shows unfortunately, so I feel like I didn’t get to show America everything. There’s going to be those ballads, but there’s also going to be the up tempo’s, like Randy [Jackson] begged me for.
Read more at WetPaint
Nicki Minaj, LMFAO Join ”Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’
Nicki Minaj, Florence and the Machine and LMFAO will be in New York’s Times Square on New Year’s Eve. The acts are the latest additions to the star-studded lineup for the 40th annual “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”? extravaganza. They join a lineup that already boasts Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga.
Read more at MTV
Carrie Underwood on 2012 Plans, Children, Winning Awards, and Country American Idols
Backstage at the American Country Awards in Las Vegas this past Monday night, Carrie Underwood visited the press room after her multiple guitar wins for the night, whispering to herself ’Don’t fall, don’t fall’ as she walked carefully onto the stage with her dazzling silver and purple shoes.
On plans for 2012:
“An album, of course, in the beginning part of 2012. I’m actually finishing up work on that this week and next week. I’ll have something in my hand and I’m so excited about it because I think these are the best batch of songs and this is going to be the best album. I’ve always been reluctant to say that before, I guess, because I guess, I don’t know, I was waiting for something super, super special and I feel like I’ve got it. So new album, new tour – which we’ll be putting together pretty soon. And I’m just really excited. I think we’re going to surprise ourselves.”
Read more at KeepingItCountry
“The Three Stooges” Trailer
New trailer for the Three Stooges Movie, featuring Jennifer Hudson as a nun.
Album Cover for Kellie Pickler’s 100 Proof
Kellie’s next album, 100 Proof, is due in stores on January 24th
Lythgoe Family Productions Announces Second Year of “A Cinderella Christmas” Starring Fred Willard and Shoshana Bean
LOS ANGELES, Dec 07, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Lythgoe Family Productions and Magic Pictures International announce the second run of “A Cinderella Christmas,” the second show in the 2011 holiday season of traditional British family Panto.
Now in its second season following last year’s successful run, “A Cinderella Christmas” stars Emmy-nominated comedic actor Fred Willard (Best in Show) as Cinderella’s father, Baron HardUp; recording artist and Broadway sensation Shoshana Bean (Wicked) as the fairy godmother; American Idol’s David Hernandez as Dandini; Todd Buonopane (30 Rock) and Veronica Dunne in the title role.
The production is helmed by Bonnie Lythgoe from So You Think You Can Dance AU and choreographed by Dancing With the Stars’ Mark Ballas, with American Idol’s Michael Orland serving as Musical Director. Bonnie Lythgoe, Kris Lythgoe, and Becky Baeling are producers.
Read more at Market Watch
ITV Confirms Simon Cowell Returning To Boost ‘Britain’s Got Talent’
Simon Cowell will return as one of the judges on next year’s Britain’s Got Talent, ITV boss Adam Crozier has confirmed. The X Factor impresario will resume his seat on the talent show following the recent exits of judges David Hasselhof and Michael McIntyre. Speaking to press this afternoon in London, the ITV boss also hinted that ITV Studios may be in the market to buy an American production company, pointing out that the US is the second-liveliest market for independent TV producers apart from the UK. For now though, Crozier is concentrating on wiping out the £612 million worth of debt he inherited by year-end. “When you inherit something that isn’t working, the worst thing you can do is start bolting things on,” he said.
Read more at Deadline
The X Factor’s Astro: I Was Happy I Got Sent Home
Astro, The X Factor’s casualty last week, tells TVGuide.com that, as it turns out, he was happy to be sent home. “It may sound weird but having to do one song a week and having to perform with dancers … that’s not the type of artist I am. I was really uncomfortable.”
Watch the Video at TV Guide
‘X Factor’: Paula Abdul on lessons learned from Drew Ryniewicz’s elimination
She states that what was lacking in Ryniewicz’s performance was “an emotional connection.” It certainly didn’t help matters that the 14-year-old, by her own admission, messed up the song when she missed a key change.
Abdul argues with what many say should be the determining factor in the voting, body of work. “Don’t tell me that you have to look at the consistency or who is going to be marketable,” she says.
That being said, Abdul did have complaints about the lack of diversity in Ryniewicz’s performance in recent weeks. The Arizonan had resorted to a series of ballads. Abdul suggested that Ryniewicz should have offered more.
Read more at Zap2it
Simon Cowell & Paula Abdul Reunite After Drew’s ‘X Factor’ Departure
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Drew’s departure from “The X Factor” caused a rift between Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, after Paula’s vote sealed the contestant’s fate, but Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush helped reunite the pair after not speaking for days.
“Are you mad at her?” Billy asked Simon in his posh trailer on the set of the hit FOX reality series.
“Not now, I was,” Simon said. “I took responsibility [for Drew’s departure,] but look, when you’re close to an artist you get emotional and I was pissed.”
Read more at Access Hollywood
