SYMPATHY VOTE? ‘IDOL’ FAVE’S MISERY TURNS TO BACKLASH
AMERICAN Idol” has a new fa vorite – and he’s already hip- deep in controversy.
Depending on your point of view, church music director Danny Gokey’s performance last week of Mariah Carey’s “Hero” was either good enough for viewers to vote him into the Top 12 – or the show’s exploitation of his tragic personal story urging teary-eyed “Idol” fans to pick up their phones by the millions.
‘Idol’ hopeful banks on theatrics to snag a spot
Adam Lambert is the …theatrical one.
The former San Diegan, who performs tomorrow night for a place among this season’s final 12 contestants, got tagged with that label by judge Simon Cowell after singing …Bohemian Rhapsody during an audition in San Francisco.
Lambert’s reply: Thanks for the compliment.
…I am theatrical, Lambert said in a phone interview. …In the current pop scene, lots of performers are going in that direction, more theatrical in appearance, in camp value. So I don’t consider it derogatory at all.
MSA junior Murray seizing moment in ‘Idol’ spotlight
Jasmine Murray, a 17-year-old MSA junior from Columbus, said vocal techniques learned from MSA Vocal Department Director Patton Rice have added to skills and helped her rise from a group of thousands of contestants to the Top 36 on Fox’s “American Idol.”
“It’s helped me prepare in a lot of ways, ” Murray said of her time at MSA. “It’s really helped my voice. Mr. Rice always teaches us inclination, breathing correctly, different stuff like that. He’s definitely stressed that a lot. Leading off, pronouncing my words, the ending – I know I have to remember that in any song.”
‘Idol’ hopeful Matt Giraud is the pride of Ypsi
It’s a recent Friday night in Kalamazoo, and downtown piano bar Monaco Bay is jumpin’.
The floor and bar area are packed with people ages 8 to 68 craning their necks to get a look at the evening’s entertainment: Matt Giraud. The Ypsilanti native has been a regular at Monaco Bay for around two years, but he’s never gotten attention like this.
That’s the power of “American Idol.”
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
‘American Idol’ Power List: Who’s leading the pack for Week Two of the semifinals?
We’re heading into Week Two of the American Idol season 8 semifinals — DVR alert: Performance night falls on Wednesday this week! — and there’s been a shakeup at the top of EW.com’s American Idol Power List. Last week’s No. 3, Ann Marie Boskovich, has fallen out of the top 20 (ouch!) while four brand new contestants enter the countdown. Read on to see where your favorite ranks, then vote in our handy-dandy poll to propel him or her to the top of the EW.com reader chart.
Michael Sarver on the road to becoming the next American Idol
LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) – Family and friends of American Idol finalist Michael Sarver look over pictures and reminisce on their days growing up. Now, the hardworking 27-year-old Idol finalist is all grown up and is living his dream of becoming a singer.
Sarver’s cousin Jimmy Rogers said, “Some people get lucky and these things just falls on them, but that’s no so for Michael. Michael is put his time in.”
‘American Idol 8’ – Much ado about Ricky Braddy
“Braddy Bunch-gate” has now spread all over cyberspace resulting in Ricky having gotten more publicity than if TPTB had just left the whole thing along. Undaunted, his fans have set up a new site, Missing Square (catch the ‘Brady Bunch’ reference) and are playing this to the hilt!
It may be a moot point, however, since Ricky was eliminated Wednesday, and unless he gets a wild card ticket, his ‘Idol’ journey is through. Ironically, late Monday night, the people behind the Braddy Bunch Web site received a call from the people at ‘Idol’ giving them permission to relaunch the site. This gets curiouser and curiouser!
Alexis, Danny make the Idol airplay chart
This week doesn’t see much change at the top of our Idol airplay chart. The Top 10 remains the same as last week, though Kelly Clarkson’s My Life Would Suck Without You, Daughtry’s What About Now and Carrie Underwood’s I Told You So all see significant increases in their spins.
Jennifer Hudson’s If This Isn’t Love moves from 14 to 11, and Pocketbook, her new single with Ludacris, takes the chart’s biggest leap, jumping from 70 to 48. Taylor Hicks’ What’s Right Is Right and Melinda Doolittle’s It’s Your Love both see slight airplay increases.
Idol blogger: Some things never change
In this crazy, mixed-up world we’re living in these days, it’s nice to know that some things never change.
In the case of “American Idol” season eight, there were three things that still managed to stay true, despite all of the changes:
Talking Shop: David Archuleta
David Archuleta won a legion of fans as a contestant on the seventh series of American Idol in 2008.
Although he finished as the runner-up to winner David Cook, the 18-year-old’s clean-cut image and soulful voice have earned him teen heart-throb status.
His debut single Crush entered the US Billboard top 100 at number two in August 2008, with his self-titled album entering the Billboard 200 at the same position.
He is now planning an assault on the UK charts.
Archuleta to perform March 27 at E Center
David Archuleta has added a Utah date to his concert tour ‘ he’ll perform at the E Center in West Valley City on Friday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. At the E Center box office, all Tickmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Reserved tickets are $25 and $35, plus fees.
The 2008 runner-up on “American Idol” had announced a 19-cities-in-28-days tour back in January. But while it would take him to Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Minnesota, Illinois, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada and Idaho, but it included no appearances in his home state of Utah.
American Idol’s Guarini to Star in Reading of New Musical March 23
American Idol runner-up, Justin Guarini, will star in the industry only Equity staged reading of the new musical THE AWAKENING OF ANGEL DeLUNA – with book & lyrics by Judylynn Schmidt, and music & lyrics by Lee Ellis – produced by Kate Griffler on Monday, March 23rd at Theater 80 (80 St. Mark’s Place) at 3:00pm & 7:00pm. Tracy Bersley directs and Barbara Anselmi acts as music director.
Kellie Pickler Sets “Days” for Vid Shoot
Feb. 23, 2009 ‘ Kellie Pickler “Dont You Know Youre Beautiful” video has remained in the Top 10 on GAC Top 20 Country Countdown for several months, creating some anticipation for the video she promised for her new single, “Best Days Of Your Life.”
Kellie blocked out the time for the shoot this week in Nashville with director Roman White, who won an award from the Academy of Country Music for his work on Carrie Underwood “Before He Cheats” video.
“The song is a true story, ” Kellie says, of “Best Days, ” “so I think were just gonna do whatever we can to make that song come to life in the video and make that video a reflection of what the lyrics are in the song.”
Was Carrie Underwood Channeling Hank Jr. Style?
Love the Ed Hardy hoodie. Love the black hobo bag. But jeans tucked into brown cowboy boots? Cmon, Carrie. That is so Hank Williams Jr. You can do so much better than that from a fashion standpoint. Im sure Underwood looked fabulously glam at the Oscars last night (Feb. 22). But I was just a little stunned at the photos of her arrival at LAX on Saturday. Then again, even if the look is a little dated, if Underwood wearing it, that certainly makes it cool all over again. And who knows? Maybe deep down she just a big ol Hank Jr. fan.
Dancing the night (and day) away for a good cause
What makes these kids so eager to stay on their feet (and sober) for so long? Three words: entertainment, activities and food. Dancers at UCLA were inundated with constant stimuli that included music and dance performances, guest speakers, group activities, regular meals and celebrity appearances. ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” judge Carrie Ann Inaba showed her support over at USC, and despite a disappointing celebrity no-show (ahem, Lance Bass), many shiny people graced UCLA’s red carpet, including Stacy Keibler (“Dancing With the Stars”), Kate Flannery (“The Office”), Jonathan Bennett (“Mean Girls”) and Kimberly Caldwell (“American Idol”). Alternative hip-hop artist Talib Kweli and “American Idol’s” Kimberly Locke gave high-energy performances, and “America’s Best Dance Crew” champs, “Super Crew, ” threw down an explosive routine.
Attorney for suspect in Hudson family slayings resigns, citing finances
The lawyer for a man accused of killing the mother, brother and nephew of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson has withdrawn from the case.
Joshua Kutnick says he will no longer represent William Balfour, who is the estranged husband of Hudson’s sister Julia.
Kutnick says he believes Balfour is innocent, but the high-profile case involves intense hours, and he can’t support it financially.
Messages left for Kutnick weren’t immediately returned Monday.
Ryan Seacrest praises Hugh Jackman’s hosting. Really?
Ryan Seacrest talked to The Dish Rag as he arrived late at Elton John post-Oscar bash. He talks about Penelope Cruz, Sean Penn, Hugh Jackman’s hosting skills, Oscar fashion and giving Simon Cowell a ride home.
Idol vs. Idol
Or to be precise, host versus host, as …American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, working the carpet for E! ended up right next to a very nice Canadian (maybe that goes without saying?) TV anchor.
…You know, I hosted ‹Canadian Idol for six years, said CTV anchor Ben Mulroney to Seacrest, who we must say seemed a nice fella himself.
…Really? Ive seen that when Ive been up there before, Seacrest replied, sharing the moment.
So whose the bigger star? Depends on how you slice it: Seacrest wins for overall media domination and name recognition ‘ but he has to stand on a box to be almost as tall as Mulroney, who also earns bonus points as the son of the former Canadian prime minister.
Hopkins Volunteers To Play Simon Cowell In ‹American Idol Film
Sir Anthony Hopkins appearance at the Kodak Theatre was completely expected Sunday night. The respected movie badass and former Best Actor winner for …Silence of the Lambs is, after all, an annual fixture for the Academy Awards. What far fewer Oscar watchers likely anticipated, however, was the British film icon confession of love for …American Idol.
…Im an ‹American Idol addict, Hopkins told MTV News in an exclusive interview from the red carpet. Asked to name his guilty entertainment pleasures, the …Beowulf and upcoming …King Lear star offered up his TV habit shamelessly.
Oscars Telecast Attracted More Viewers Than Last Year
An Academy Awards overhauled from top to bottom and littered with appearances by OMG-it’s-Zac-Efron-from-“High School Musical”! clocked 36.3 million viewers Sunday, according to preliminary Nielsen ratings. That makes it the most watched non-Superbowl telecast in two years in any network.
That’s TV-speak for “bigger than the last two ‘American Idol’ season debuts (30.4 million and 33.4 million viewers) and the two most recent ‘American Idol’ season finales (32 million and 31 million). That’s also about 4 million viewers more than last year’s Oscarcast — extremely good news, not only for ABC, which broadcasts the annual orgy of excess, but also for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, given that year’s trophy hand-out had attracted the smallest audience in Oscar history — 32 million viewers.
Julianne Hough Says Boyfriend Chuck Wicks Dancing Is ‹Hilarious
Julianne Hough will have her real-life beau Chuck Wicks right by her side when Dancing with the Stars kicks off again March 9 ‘- and the dancing pro says her boyfriend is a real hoot on the dancefloor.
…It has been so much fun and really hilarious to see Chuck try to dance, Hough writes in her MySpace celebrity blog. …Even thinking about it is funny! He is actually doing very well though. I was really surprised!
Wicks, a country singer, is currently on tour ‘ and Hough has hit the road with him as the two rehearse in between concerts. As she tells it, the experience of touring with her boyfriend while gearing up for DWTS has been a unique experience.
