My original idea was to run my own contest. Silly me! As if I have the time to tally (correctly, OMG) hundreds of votes every week. Ha ha.

Instead, I picked the easy thing. I’m partnering with a site that hosts office pools called funofficepools.com. Check out the widget on the sidebar. Just [...]

Nigel Lythgoe gave a press conference yesterday afternoon. It was very interesting!

First some news:

Next week’s theme: Songs from the 60′s. It’s the first time the semifinals will feature a theme. According to Nigel, the producers made sure the singers will sing more familiar songs. Says Nigel, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“These are the 50 songs [...]

‘American Idol’ Top 24 Semi-Finalists Party: Ace Young Performance

Grammy nominated singer and songwriter Ace Young joins the Top 24 along with other “American Idol” alums to perform the first single, “Scattered,” off of his new album.

Access Hollywood

‘Idol’ knows what kids want: Pop-Tarts and Ace Young

Chad is only 14, but [...]

Jordin opens for Alicia Keys

This just in — Jordin will be Alicia Keys’ opening act on Keys’ As I Am tour, starting April 19 in Hampton, Va., and running for 30 dates. Jordin will also perform at the NBA All-Star Game Feb. 15. Here’s the itinerary:

USAToday

ETA: Listen to Jordin Sparks [...]

From Mediaweek:

It was another slam-dunk midweek victory for Fox care of American Idol (Viewers: 24.59 million; A18-49: 9.8 rating/25 share) and the top-rated new series of the season, game show The Moment of Truth (Viewers: 14.47 million; A18-49: 6.2/16). Once again, Fox outdelivered the four competing networks combined among adults 18-49. But [...]

The Spoilers Were Pretty much Right On

The American Idol episode centering around the announcement of its top 24 contestants just ended, and in a sorta disheartening anticlimax, the spoilers that leaked to TV Squad at the end of January were 100% correct. Which means that we won’t be seeing any more of politico-in-training Kyle [...]

First. Congratulations to Joesplace who batted a perfect 500 on the Spoilers. I’m not surprised. Now, on with the recap!

The show opens with Hayden Christiansen (??!?) and Ryan Seacrest sitting in front of a green screen pretending to be in Egypt. I don’t get it. Oh, OK. Hayden is [...]

From Mediaweek:

Led by a two-hour installment of the now Hollywood-based American Idol, dominant Fox beat the four competing networks combined by 5.26 million viewers and 56 percent among adults 18-49. American Idol scored a typically massive 29.87 million viewers and a 12.2 rating/29 share among adults 18-49, building in each half-hour [...]

Idol Related Sales Numbers after the jump (Billboard issue date 02/23/08)

Former “American Idol” star Jessica Sierra is no longer pregnant, TMZ.com is reporting.

The celebrity Web site said the unidentified close family friend who spoke to them wouldn’t say exactly what happened.

Reports of her pregnancy came in December, while the 22-year-old was in jail after she was arrested in Tampa, Fla. for disorderly [...]

No screwing around! This year’s two-hour Hollywood episode wastes no time on trips to the beach, hotel antics or synergistic visits to movies Fox will be releasing this summer. Nope, this year we get all the meat, with very little fat, and I’m liking it a lot.

On the first day, Simon tells the assembled [...]

AI OD: The Top 24 revealed (sort of)

Apparently, Remote Access managed to snag a promo picture that was up briefly at FOX’s site, before quickly getting yanked. I’ve posted it here in it’s entirety, and then split in half so you can see it better. Supposedly it reveals the Top 24, only the contestants [...]

Music from Melinda! Her first single “My Funny Valentine” has been released to iTunes. You can download your very own copy right here: Melinda Doolittle – My Funny Valentine

A message from Melinda:

Okay, so my first recording is being released…digitally…tomorrow! I am way excited and a little nervous too. I can’t [...]

A few more pictures – Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Blake Lewis and Tamyra Gray attend after parties.

Chris Daughtry and John Mayer at the Sony/BMG after-party — Get a Room!

More After The Jump…

Winehouse, West Win Big At 50th Annual Grammys

Alicia Keys “dueted” with a vintage performance by Frank Sinatra of “Learnin’ the Blues” to kick off the 50th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, but the real magic came from leading nominees Amy Winehouse and Kanye West.

Winehouse led the field with [...]