How to tell when ‘American Idol’ is playing favorites
I had lunch with Phil Stacey and Chris Sligh last week, and we got into an interesting discussion about how to watch the show and which cues signal the show’s producers and judges’ desire to see particular contestants advance in the competition.
“The judges have way more control than America likes to think they have, ” says Chris, He compares the American Idol judges to the television commentators who work ice-skating events at the Olympics.
“The way that I know ice skating is really good is when Scott Hamilton’s voice goes up an octave, ” he says. “But he could tell me it was horrible, and I’d be, like, ‘Yeah, that was horrible.’
Jason Mesnick & Molly Malaney: First Wedding Pictures!
– American Idol vet Jason Castro performed “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” while the couple walked down the aisle. (You can see his trademark dreads here!)
Paula Abdul Will Not Be Dancing With Any Stars
When you wake up Monday morning to read the list of “stars” who will be on next season’s “Dancing With the Stars” … Paula Abdul’s name will not be on it.
Sources close to Paula tell TMZ the former “American Idol” judge has decided against doing the show — despite the giant bag of money ABC practically threw at her.
As we first reported, the alphabet net offered Paula a $1, 000, 000 development deal … if the agreed to do “Dancing.”
Paula is still in talks with Simon Cowell about joining his upcoming “X Factor” show.
Adam Lambert’s Keyboard Player Leaving the Band
Corrected: Adam Lambert’s has a new keyboard player. Zac Baird, who has been playing dates with Adam recently, announced he’s moving on, via his twitter. “thx 4 ur relentless interest! :) Leno will be my last show. time to get Cam ready for Aprils, & i’m back to KoRn”. Cam is Camila Grey. More about her HERE and HERE. A vid from Camila’s duo, Uh Huh Her HERE.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
‘Idolatry’: Miraculous survivals, new contenders, and a Bowersox concern this week on ‘American Idol’
The first week of American Idol’s season 9 semifinals resulted in some strange days indeed…most peculiar mama (nothing like dropping a random John Lennon reference on a Sunday morning.) But my co-host Missy Schwartz and I have tried to make sense of the insanity. How in the blankity blank did Jermaine Sellers violently assault the melody of Oleta Adams’ “Get Here, ” yet live to survive another week? Are Siobhan Magnus and Lee Dewyze the season 9 dark horses, even if one of the two contestants doesn’t know what, exactly, that means?
Former ‘Idol’ winner David Cook draws a crowd at Morongo Casino
David Cook’s fans will brave lightning, thunder, hail and rain for his shows, and that’s just what happened at a Saturday night show at the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa in Cabazon.
The seventh-season “American Idol” winner last played the Inland region for a New Year’s Eve celebration at Pechanga Casino in Temecula.
Tracy Runco traveled from Michigan to see Cook for the 46th show.
Young at heart–Adam Lambert’s 89-year-old fan
Isabel Paquette wasn’t able to travel more than 10 feet at a time at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio without someone stopping her to chat, take a photo or give her a hug.
The 89-year-old from Marinette, Wis. smiled under her glasses and curly white hair and obliged every time.
Paquette is the newest Internet celebrity, at least in the Adam Lambert community.
CD Review: Gokey can sing; other songs might help
Gokey has chosen to go the modern-country route, which means that, not unlike fellow “Idol” Carrie Underwood, he doesn’t have to sacrifice his pop, rock and soul leanings for the sake of twang. Waylon Jennings might have posed the immortal question, “Are you sure Hank done it this way?” Gokey isn’t interested in even asking such a thing.
However, there’s just enough grit (a la Marc Cohn) in his smoothly tuneful voice to lend some traction to otherwise frictionless neo-Nashville numbers such as the mid-tempo “I Still Believe” and the socially conscious, gently religious ballad “It’s Only.”
INTERVIEW: BRENT KEITH
As American Idol Season 9 Voting rounds begin, I sat down with Season 8 contestant Brent Keith,
who’s stint on Idol was cut very short. He dishes a bit about his experience on the show, favorites in
this year’s group, and future plans. Give a listen…
Underwood to headline Stadium of Fire
Singer/songwriter Carrie Underwood, whose career ignited with a win on the fourth season of “American Idol, ” will be the featured performer July 3 at the Stadium of Fire in Provo.
The announcement was made Saturday during the Brigham Young University-New Mexico basketball game.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on March 5 at 5 p.m., and will be sold simultaneously online at stadiumoffire.com, byutickets.com and at the BYU Marriott Center ticket office in Provo. Members of the Freedom Festival’s e-mail list have the option to purchase tickets before the general public. You can sign up at freedomfestival.org.
Sonestown Teen is rising star on American Idol
Sonestown, Pennsylvania is a small town located in Sullivan County that boasts a population of just over 900. But Sonestown is also home to 16-year old Aaron Kelly – a hopeful on Hollywood’s American Idol.
Kelly’s story of a difficult childhood, combined with his strong vocal abilities, has helped earn Kelly a spot in the Top 24 performers of this season’s preview of American Idol.
But the story behind Kelly is one that won over the hearts of the judges, as well as many of the viewers that are tuning in to see who will earn this year’s title as an American Idol.
Adam Lambert Performs in Front of Packed Crowd in Indio
INDIO – In his first solo concert, “American Idol” runner-up Adam Lambert gave a high-energy performance tonight before a sold-out crowd of “Glamberts” at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio.
Lambert, who is 28 and from San Diego, saw his popularity soar after he lost to Kris Allen on “American Idol” in May.
The flamboyant performer wore what he described as “witch clothes and my peacock feathers, ” along with his trademark heavy eyeliner, at the hour- long show at the casino’s Special Events Center.
About 3, 500 fans from around the world, including Thailand, Australia, Canada and Mexico, came to see the show.
A select group of 600 fans adorned with glitter, black eyeliner and Goth- style outfits packed a two-hour pre-concert party, which was put on by the casino when Lambert fans began talking online about meeting up before the show.
‘American Idol’ dad can carry his own tune
Alan Magnus, the 48-year-old father of “American Idol” finalist and Barnstable native Siobhan Magnus, took to a small stage at the Shipwreck Tavern in Eastham and showed about 40 Cape music lovers where his daughter gets her singing chops.
Last night, Alan Magnus joined Psyd Effects, a local classic rock cover band whose members invited him to sing lead vocals. Psyd Effects bass guitarist Billy Caron used to play in a band with Magnus 20 years ago called Skin Deep, but the two hadn’t spoken in nearly a decade until this week. Caron reached out to Magnus after he saw Siobhan on “Idol.”
Sporting tattoos and a black shirt with skulls on it, Magnus took to the stage and sang in front of a live audience for the first time in more than a year.
American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi puts LA home on market
American Idol judge
Kara DioGuardi has put her Los Angeles home on the market.
The Spanish-style home in the Hollywood Hills is listed for sale at $1, 649, 000.
Public records show DioGuardi bought the two-storey house in 2004 for $1, 199, 000.
She married Maine home builder Mike McCuddy last year and it is believed the couple have bought a new home together.
The gated house, built in 1964, has city and canyon views, wood-beamed ceilings, extensive decks, an outdoor cedar sauna and a spa.
