Idol Bits and Pieces

Blake Lewis, Jordin Sparks and Melinda Doolittle aren’t the only Idols having homecoming parties thrown in their honor. (Don’t forget to catch the Final 3 on the Tonight Show tonight, along with Taylor Hicks who will be performing…)

In Chesapeake, VA, Chris Richardson’s party takes place tonight at 6 pm at the Colin L. Hall Stadium where Chris used to play high school football.

Gina Glocksen is honored today in her hometown, Tinley Park, IL.

In Federal Way, WA, 200 fans donated at least a dollar to get an autograph from Sanjaya Malakar at his homecoming. Proceeds were donated to the Federal Way-based World Vision.

Speaking of Sanjaya, it looks like he’s a front runner to be one of 5 contestants in the VH1 reality show I Love New York 2. There’s a short video posted of Sanjaya doing some strange things with gummi bears. Hm. (I’m being told the video is fake, fake, totally fake…for more about Sanjaya’s homecoming check out Rickey.org )

In other Season 6 news, last week, Idol Chatter reported that Top 24 contestant, Sundance Head signed a record deal with Universal. Pretty good.

Chris Sligh’s official fan site has posted two songs from a worship album Chris and his band Half Past Forever recorded in 2004.

For excellent coverage of Blake Lewis’s homecoming (it was reported that 7, 000 came out to see him) check out Team Plaid. They’ve got videos and links to news articles posted. Excellent.

My blogging buddy JD Matthews just posted another Idol interview. This time it’s with one of my favorite Idols EVAH, Jon Peter Lewis. I highly suggest you check it out. JD interviews the Idols, so I don’t have to. Heh.

Justin Guarini has teamed up with the Tea Council of America to launch a nationwide scholarship competition. Applicants can submit a one-to-two minute homemade Internet video that “incorporates some aspect of tea’s many health- related benefits.” The winner gets $20, 000 towards their education and an all-expenses paid trip to New York City.

Finally, an interesting interview with American Idol creator, Simon Fuller. Fun quote: “At 46 you are not too old ‘ as long as you can keep manufacturing celebrities the public will buy.” For my favorite numbers crunchers:

Mr Fuller sold 19 to CKX, the vehicle of US talent mogul Robert Sillerman, for £83 million in 2005. Mr Sillerman is building up a larger version of 19, owning Elvis mansion Graceland and the image rights of Muhammed Ali, but 19 provides three quarters of CKX revenues ($151 million out of $210 million) and the bulk of operating profit ($28.8 million last year). Not bad, particularly as Mr Fuller, who is two years into a six-year contract, only earned $1.56 million as an employee.

Fun facts to know and tell…

thanks as always to the incomparable lisab…

About mj santilli 34841 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!