Brand new ‘Idol’
For eight No. 1 seasons, the show’s bedrock was the good cop-bad cop repartee between judges Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. It was almost impossible for the often teary-eyed Abdul to say a bad thing about any of the singers. Conversely, it was almost impossible for the condescending Cowell to say anything constructive about any of the singers. With Abdul’s unexpected departure from the show over salary demands, that dynamic, which both studio audience and at-home viewers ate up, is gone.
Adam Lambert: Hotel Cafe Hunk
Taking to the town, Adam Lambert was spotted out in Hollywood, California on Saturday night (January 9).
The American Idol†runner up was joined by a trendy young male as he was spotted leaving the Hotel Cafe after his surprise performance.
Anoop back at home tonight to sing
East Chapel Hill and University of North Carolina graduate, (and diehard Carolina basketball fan), Anoop Desai is scheduled to sing the national anthem before tonight’s 7:45 home basketball game against Virginia Tech.
TV broadcasts usually bypass the national anthem before college games, but Anoop may have a chance to make the TV tonight. He is best known as a participant on the 2009 edition of American Idol, where he placed in the top seven. Fox broadcasts American Idol and Fox Sports Network will televise tonight’s game on cable.
Desai is a one-man media frenzy this month. He joins forces with Marcus Ginyard for a joint interview in the January 2010 issue of Tar Heel Monthly.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
‘Idol’ return amplifies affiliates’ Leno anxiety
For all the buzz since Thursday on NBC’s plan to move Jay Leno out of prime time after barely four months, there is one driving force behind the story that has largely been ignored: The arrival of a new season of “American Idol” on Fox Tuesday night.
A Newly Slim Adam Lambert Opens Up About Oprah
With the controversy of his racy American Music Awards performance in the past, American Idol runner up Adam Lambert reveals that he is more than excited to sit down one-on-one with Oprah Winfrey.
I’m really curious what she is going to ask me, †Adam opens up to Extra about his upcoming appearance on Oprah, Maybe she will dig and make me cryâ€
While many would be nervous to sit down with such a legendary talk show host, Adam is just thankful to be able to meet Oprah.
Adam Lambert ‘Excited’ and ‘Nervous’ for Oprah Appearance
The rocker describes himself as an “open book” and admits he’s willing to talk about anything, but he’s not so fond of discussing his controversial 2009 American Music Awards performance.
“I’m over it, ” Lambert says about the sexed-up performance and backlash. The singer/songwriter’s Nov. 24 appearance on “Good Morning America” was canceled after viewers called ABC to complain. “It’s old news, ” he says.
What’s new is the rumor Adam is set to appear on “Glee, ” but he says, “This is not true.” But that doesn’t rule out a future appearance.
Lambert dishes, “I’d love to do a TV show. I think that’d be fun. It’s be so much fun doing a little cameo.” He hints, “I would die to do ‘True Blood, ‘ ‘Weeds’ or ‘Californication.'”
Bonus ‘Idol’ sales numbers from David Cook, Katharine McPhee, etc.
Thanks to the good folks at Nielsen SoundScan for providing some extra American Idol-related sales data from last week.
Danny Gokey makes his Grand Ole Opry debut
Danny Gokey didn’t know much about the Grand Ole Opry when he sang Opry member Carrie Underwood’s Jesus, Take the Wheel on American Idol back in March. But by the time Danny got to the Ryman Auditorium Friday night for his Opry debut, he’d been brought up to speed.
“He’s freaking out right now, ” manager Rendy Lovelady told me shortly before the show began, while Danny was in a back room with the Opry staff band, running down the two songs he planned to perform.
Kyle Petty, NASCAR return to their racing roots in Nashville
Indeed, Shelton’s friendship with Sadler is indicative of a music genre whose stars have a passion for racing. Bucky Covington, whose debut album debuted at No. 1 on the country album charts in 2007, says he went to Sound and Speed because “I think my dad is still (ticked) that I’m not a NASCAR driver.
“I love coming to these things, ” said Covington, who got a photo with Dale Earnhardt Jr. “When I come to these events, I’m a fan.”
Kyle Petty’s night at the Opry a hit for charity
Williams may be the biggest draw among the country stars, but other artists of substantial magnitude are there to perform in front of a packed house at the Ryman, donating their time to raise money for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Victory Junction Gang Camp.
Sharing the stage with Opry staples Little Jimmy Dickens and Bill Anderson are American Idol Season 8 finalist Danny Gokey, along with Vince Gill, Chris Young, Jason Michael Carroll and Petty, who, like Gokey, was making his Opry debut.
“Here’s the deal, ” Petty said. “I got one shot to go over there and do this. I said it (Friday) night. It is an incredibly humbling place. I grew up on country music. Beating it up and down the highway with my father in station wagons, old cars, going to racetracks all over the country, listening to Floyd Cramer and Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Merle (Haggard), people like that on eight-track.
Blonde has more fun
It’s taken her two records, but 2006 American Idol†runner-up Katharine McPhee thinks she’s finally figured out who she wants to be.
Unbroken, †McPhee’s second album since losing to Taylor Hicks in the fifth season, asks listeners to bear with her just a bit longer as she navigates life, love, art and — in at least one unfortunate case — a disagreement with her record producer. It’s also a 13-track lesson for the new crop of Idol†contestants.
Her advice: Know who you are as an artist, †the 25-year-old says. I just really went on the show because I wanted to be an actress. I thought it would be a vehicle to make a name for myself.â€
Questions for Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia Barrino has been through a lot in the years following her 2004 victory on American Idol.â€
Her first album, Free Yourself, †went platinum, she starred in a Lifetime movie based on her best-selling memoir Life Is Not a Fairy Tale†— where she admitted to being functionally illiterate — then segued to a starring role on Broadway in The Color Purple.â€
But Barrino’s second album, Fantasia, †was somewhat of a disappointment on the charts — and, in 2008, Fantasia almost lost her North Carolina mansion when creditors came knocking on her door. Still only 25, Barrino is now starring in Fantasia For Real, †a new reality show premiering Jan. 11. The show tracks Barrino as she records her third album and interacts with the family members who live with her — all of whom she supports financially.
Heroes Stars and Idols
Featuring Scott MacIntyre, Matt Giraud, Brooke White and Michael Johns, Westworld, Scottsdale AZ, to benefit Childhelp.org. Saturday, January 16, 2010
Ace Young Pictures: EA Sports Active for Life March of Dimes Charity Benefit Photos
Ace Young Pictures: Ace Young attends the EA Sports Active and Nancy O’Dell “Active For Life” charity benefit for the March of Dimes on January 8, 2010 in Culver City, California.
After being sidelined by a knee injury while training for “Dancing with the Stars” and having subsequent knee surgery, O’Dell used EA Sports Active Personal Trainer to get back in shape. She is now fully recuperated and is working out with the new EA Sports Active More Workouts to help maintain balance through her busy work schedule.
Nigel Lythgoe: ‘When I see Simon Cowell I think, There’s my b*st*rdâ€â€™
Is there anyone you’re dying to work with again?
NL: Simon Cowell. I want to be his boss again. I was above him on Pop Idol, so to speak, and that was a lot of fun. I was Nurturing Nigel rather than Nasty Nigel, and he was very smart, as well as honest, which is maybe why some people wanted to take him out with a baseball bat, but that’s all changed.
When you see him on TV now, do you think ‘There’s my boy?’ or ‘Lucky b**tard?’
NL: I think, ‘There’s my b**tard!’
