Idol v X Factor and Fuller v Cowell – take your seats for Simon showdown
In an exclusive interview, Fuller dismissed talk of a rivalry between him and Cowell as “grossly exaggerated”. He described The X Factor as the television equivalent of wrestling, a bizarre spectacle incomparable with the “boxing”-type purity of his show.
“I want Idol to be purely about talent, ” he said. “We’re not going to be led into the mud, we’re going to stay on our hill.” If that meant fewer viewers, Fuller said “that’s the way it will be”. He compared winners of his programme such as Kelly Clarkson “who have defined the moment”, with the “Susan Boyle phenomenon, which is not based on anything but the bizarre”. Boyle achieved fame after appearing on Britain’s Got Talent, another of Cowell’s creations.
Fuller plans to keep Idol relevant, with a $40 million budget for Cowell’s replacement and new online auditions that will launch through the MySpace social network next year.
‘Idolatry’: Time travel, evil twins, and Fantasia Barrino spice up our discussion of this week in ‘American Idol’
Hello, Idoloonies, and welcome to the fourth season premiere of Idolatry (in seven parts), featuring a discussion about the ninth season premiere of American Idol and an interview with the magnificent Fantasia Barrino. Part One is as loopy and ambitious as Idolatry has ever gotten, but if you can follow along with a subplot featuring Japanese scientists and text messages from the future, I promise you’ll get a shocking revelation from my cohost Kristen Baldwin that will rock the Most Important Show on the Internet* to its very core.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Kara’s ‘Idol’ Nemesis — It Was All an Act
Andrew Fenlon — the “smartass” Kara DioGuardi ripped into and threatened to spank on “American Idol” — now says his d-bag demeanor was just for kicks.
The bespectacled brat called into The Morning MIX with Scott McKenzie at MIX 105.1 in Orlando yesterday where he said he acted like an ass so he would stand out more … and get some prime TV time.
The best-selling Idol albums from 2009
Some of you expressed an interest in seeing comparative sales data for all the American Idol albums released in 2009. It has taken me awhile to pull it together, but I’ve finally got a list. (One note: The numbers are release-to-date totals, meaning they include the first week of 2010. But I don’t think a strict 2009 sales list would change any of the places.)
‘American Idol Rewind’ takes another look at Taylor Hicks and season five
“American Idol” fans in Birmingham will want to pay particular attention to the latest episodes of “American Idol Rewind.”
Taylor Hicks (Special / Nancy L. Kent)The syndicated series, which airs on the TV Guide Network and other channels, is looking back at season five of the Fox TV reality show. That, you’ll remember, is when Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks went from struggling nightclub perfomer to international TV star.
For a schedule of local listings, see the TV Guide Web site. Today through Monday, “Rewind” will focus on Hollywood week, 2006 edition. After that, it’s on to the top 24 finalists that year.
Taylor Hicks
Since winning the American Idol crown in 2006, Taylor Hicks is on a role… performing at the Fox Theatre as Teen Angel in Grease. “Being able to have a Broadway show and being able to star in one is a dream come true for me, ” said Hicks.
Known for unique performances on American Idol, it’s no surprise Hicks adds his own sparkle to Teen Angel. “They gave me the creative freedom to add R&B horn lines. I designed my own costume. Such a signature role, Teen Angel is a such a signature role, that I wanted to make sure that I made it my own.”
Ruben Studdard joins MLK tribute
Studdard, 31, is on break until embarking on a summer tour, with the exception of a performance at the 27th Annual Black Music and Civil Rights Movement Concert on Sunday at the Meyerson.
“It’s an honor to be part of such an event, ” Studdard said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He paved the way for many African- Americans. I will always take time to pay tribute to such a man. I respect what he did so much. That’s particularly so since I come from Alabama, which is ground zero, as far as civil rights go.”
Ruben Studdard will perform Sunday at the 27th Annual Black Music and Civil Rights Movement Concert at the Meyerson, 2301 Flora St. $15-$30. Show time is 7:30 p.m.
