Headlines: Keith Urban, Chris Mann, Empire Casting

So You Think You Can Dance will eliminate its first young contestant tonight! 8/7c PM FOX. The Bachelorette continues with HOMETOWN VISITS! 8/7c PM ABC. The Republican National Convention begins tonight, in case you are interested in that sort of thing. We’ll probably cover it here a little bit.

Comedian Julia Scotti breathes new life into her comedy career – “I’m not a transgender comic…. I’m a comic who happens to be transgender,” says Scotti, who has advanced through the Judge Cut rounds and will next be seen competing in Los Angeles for America’s vote as part of the Top 36. (The live shows begin on July 26.) “I think the quality of my material is better, so therefore, it resonates more with the audience. I think the fact that I’m older, too … My age is playing more of a part in my comedy. Young audiences respond because I remind them of their grandmother. Middle-aged audiences respond because I remind them of their mother and older audiences like me, because I’m one of them.” – Read more at North Jersey.com

KEITH URBAN PULLS THE RIPCORD – You’ve always had a strong undertow of pro-female songs, like “Stupid Boy,” “Cop Car” and Ripcord’s “The Fighter” with Carrie Underwood. Are you a feminist? I love Joseph Campbell. He talks a lot about the women-power movement, how the whole thing got so extreme and women got very hardened over by it. The pressure of it all made women tough, and I want to support the purity and beauty of women, that feminine piece of it, so the beauty doesn’t become hardened into something that paves over what’s special. People, especially women, talk about being thick-skinned, and I want to say, “I’m so sorry. What happened?” To be raw and vulnerable, that’s the beauty of it. – Read more at HitsDailyDouble

Kelly Clarkson in the Studio

The original American Idol Kelly Clarkson recently signed a new deal with Atlantic Records, and she’s in the studio now, recording…

Taye Diggs Joins Empire Season 3 in Major Barack Obama-Infused Role – Taye Diggs has signed on for a major recurring role on Fox’s Empire, TVLine has learned. The Private Practice vet will first appear in the Fox drama’s Sept. 21 Season 3 premiere as Angelo Dubois, a city councilman hailing from a respected and affluent New York family. With his pedigree and a Harvard law diploma, Diggs’ Angelo could have made a fortune in the private sector. Instead, he is ruled by his sense of noblesse oblige, and focuses his energies on community organizing and local politics, inviting comparisons to Barack Obama. – Read more at The Hollywood Reporter

Chris Mann meets Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber

The Voice singer Chris Mann is currently on tour as the Phantom in the Broadway production. He recently had to take a few days off for an emergency appendectomy!

About mj santilli 34858 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!