On tonight’s Saturday Night Live, J.K. Simmons hosts with musical guest, D’Angelo.
AIRDATE OF MARCH 25 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) SET FOR “NASHVILLE: ON THE RECORD 2,” – The much-anticipated “Nashville: On the Record 2” special will air WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Deana Carter has been added to the star-studded roster, singing a duet she co-wrote with Charles Esten for “Nashville” entitled, “I Know How to Love You Now.” Direct from Nashville’s world famous Grand Ole Opry House, cast members of ABC’s acclaimed primetime series “Nashville” will take the stage to perform songs from the show and provide candid interviews backstage. The featured cast scheduled to appear includes Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack, Will Chase, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio, Maisy Stella, Lennon Stella and Aubrey Peeples. Superstar guest Reba will make an appearance at the special taping to perform her first single on Nash Icon Records, “Going Out Like That,” which took the #1 spot on iTunes Country Top Songs in the US and Canada upon release. “Nashville: On the Record” will air this spring on the ABC Television Network. All original music is released by ABC Studios, Lionsgate and ABC Music Lounge in association with Big Machine Records. “Nashville: On The Record 2” at the Grand Ole Opry House will tape on Saturday, January 31. – Read more at ABC
A History of ‘American Idol’ Legal Battles, From Corey Clark to Phillip Phillips – American Idol season 14 has started on a sour note with news that Phillip Phillips is suing to void his 19 Entertainment contract. The season-11 champ is the latest in a long line of plaintiffs that have tried to take the Fox singing competition to court. So far, the show has been virutally undefeated in the legal arena. Of course, that won’t stop former finalists and disgruntled auditioners from trying. Among the claims against Idol: racial discrimination, unfair financial terms and defamation. Below, a look back at five high-profile filings: – Read more at Billboard.com
Well played, Justin Guarini: ‘From Justin to Kelly’ is magic – Justin Guarini, first-ever “American Idol” runner-up, star of “From Justin to Kelly” and enduring pop culture punchline, has an excellent sense of humor about his place in history. The actor/singer/hair icon, as his Twitter bio states, has recently begun responding to joking tweets about him and his past work with his tongue fully placed in his cheek. Because it’s Friday, and on Friday why not Google yourself, Guarini began posting screenshots of tweets making fun of him. “Do you ever wonder how different our lives would be if Justin Guarini won American Idol?” asked one. Solid punchline, Guarini. – Read more at Zap2it
‘Voice’ Runner-Up Michelle Chamuel Talks Reality TV Arcs and Usher’s Best Lessons – After releasing the empowering single “Go Down Singing” at the end of 2013, Chamuel is ready to share her debut album Face the Fire hits on Feb. 10 via The End Records/ADA. Written and produced with friends and former band mates, Theo Katzman and Tyler Duncan, the LP’s ten pop-synth tracks touch on two themes: “universal love — love lost and love found,” and, of course, “authenticity, coming to terms with being yourself, facing reality and being as true to yourself as possible.” – Read more at The Hollywood Reporter
‘Empire’s’ Black (Ratings) Power: How Fox’s Targeted Marketing Paid Off? – The hip-hop drama from co-creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong and executive producer Brian Grazer counts 62 percent of its adults 18-to-49 viewership as African-American, according to Nielsen, and the first two episodes averaged a massive 17.1 rating in that demo (compared with a 3.9 rating in 18-to-49 in live-plus-same-day). “Our goal was to make this show an event for a core group of people and make it really tantalizing for a really broad group of people,” says Fox Television Group COO Joe Earley. “It’s broad and niche at the same time.” Luring black viewers, women in particular, involved aggressive advertising on cable networks VH1 and Bravo (Fox wanted The Real Housewives fans), segments on nationally syndicated hip-hop radio stations like New York’s Power 105.1 and more than 40 influencer screenings — many planned with lifestyles-marketing firm Liquid Soul, which made a similar push for black audiences in 2013 with corporate sibling Fox Searchlight’s 12 Years a Slave. – Read more at The Hollywood Reporter
See the cover for Chris Colfer’s ‘The Curvy Tree’ – Glee star Chris Colfer added “New York Times bestselling author” to his résumé with his The Land of Stories series, and now, he can also add “picture-book author.” The Curvy Tree (out Oct. 27) is a companion picture book to the aforementioned series illustrated by Brandon Dorman. EW has a first look at the new cover. (Click “enlarge” up top to see the full image.) Here’s the official description: “Once upon a time, there was a little girl who didn’t quite fit in. When she runs away, she happens upon a curvy tree who helps her understand the importance of being different.” – Read more at Entertainment Weekly
