Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson Set for VH1 Behind the Music
The new season begins June 7 with scheduled episodes focusing on Courtney Love, Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez. Season 3’s Jennifer Hudson is also on the summer slate.
Then, in the fall, Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino will get a starring “BTM” turn. No date yet for when “BTM” will air, but probably in time for the new season of “Fantasia for Real, ” her VH1 reality show that was recently picked up for a second season. Its January 2010 premiere was the network’s highest-rated show, with 2.3 million viewers. Season 2 was announced to be returning in summer/fall 2010.
Chart Beat Wednesday: B.o.B, Kris Allen, Blake Lewis
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT: Kris Allen pushes 11-10 on Adult Contemporary with “Live Like We’re Dying.” The 2009 “American Idol” champ is the show’s 10th former contestant to reach the chart’s top 10, following Kimberley Locke (seven top 10s), Kelly Clarkson and Chris Daughtry (with Daughtry) (four each), Clay Aiken, David Cook, and Carrie Underwood (two each) and David Archuleta, Jordin Sparks and Elliott Yamin (one).
With “Live Like We’re Dying” having peaked at No. 3 on Adult Pop Songs and No. 10 on Pop Songs, Allen is the series’ first graduate to send a debut single into the top 10 on all three charts.
CAN’T BEAT BLAKE: Beat boxing “American Idol” alum Blake Lewis bounds 5-1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Airplay chart with “Heartbreak on Vinyl.” The song topped the Dance/Club Play Songs survey last month.
With No. 1s on his resume on each chart, Lewis is the first former “American Idol” contestant to top each tally.
Elton John Turns Down Simon Cowell’s ‘Idol’ Spot
With Simon Cowell’s exit from “American Idol” fast approaching, the search to fill his spot at the judge’s table is heating up. Access Hollywood has learned that Sir Elton John is one candidate who will not be taking over for sharp-tongued Brit.
Elton, who was a guest judge on Season 3 of the hit FOX reality series, has turned down a whopping $33 million offer to be a judge on “Idol.” It is not known if the massive payday was for one season or for a multi-year contract.
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DeWyze Show At Arlington
There is a change in venue, should Lee DeWyze, a top four “American Idol” finalist, advance to the television program’s final three and return to his hometown to perform this week.
Instead of performing a mini-concert at Melas Park in Mt. Prospect on Friday, May 14 as originally thought, the Mt. Prospect native will perform in the winner’s circle after the final race at Arlington Park on the same day.
Loggins’ friends text: Crystal’s performance tops on ‘Idol’
Kenny Loggins didn’t see Crystal Bowersox sing his 1980 hit, “I’m Alright, ” on “American Idol” last night.
“I meant to go online and check it out, ” the singer-songwriter said during a call from a tour stop in Red Bank, N.J. “The texts that I got from my friends — I got a half dozen text messages — and they all said she was the best on the show.”
Bowersox selected the theme from “Caddyshack” to perform during movie week. Academy Award and Grammy Award winner Jamie Foxx served as a mentor for the contestants.
Crystal Bowersox tops this week’s Idol Meter
Crystal Bowersox sits comfortable atop this week’s Idol Meter, with the other three contestants barely even registering. Regarding her performance of the Kenny Loggins hit I’m Alright, Ken Barnes wrote: “Crystal contrived both to present a fresh, more soulful take on a hoary hit and to get back in her wailing groove in the liveliest moment of the show. (Not that there was a lot of competition in that regard.)”
Lyrics lacking on Lee DeWyze’s sophomore album
Available evidence suggests that Lee DeWyze enjoys naptime. The second record by the 24-year-old Mount Prospect native, which came out just as this season of “American Idol” started in January, is called “Slumberland, ” and most tunes reference bed or sleep. One is even called “Another Sleep Song.”
But it’s hardly a collection of lullabies. Instead it’s a midtempo, contemporary folk-rock record, nestled somewhere in the acoustic-tinged, edge-of-blues groove occupied by the likes of Ben Harper, Dave Matthews and John Mayer.
Hair
Watching the current “tribe” of the Tony Award-winning revival of Hair, now at Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre — the fourth group of actors I’ve seen since the show’s first Central Park concert staging in 2007 — only makes me admire director Diane Paulus’ handling of the landmark 1967 work even more. Although some of the key players of this extremely energetic troupe don’t quite deliver the necessary emotional goods, the show not only retains its political and social relevance, but remains an ultimately heartbreaking yet joyful piece of theater.
‘Idol’ Guest Blog: Bo Bice Turns The Spotlight On The Top 4
Well, Well, Well… Idol does movie soundtrack night and none of the contestants did the theme from Blades Of Glory?!?!?! Which leaves me thinking, this show is rigged!!!! But I digress. Now that I have picked up the pieces of my shattered heart, let’s focus on the Top 4’s performance night.
Jamie Foxx, who is one of my favorite actors/singers/comedians, did a great job as a mentor this week. Harry Connick Jr. is a hard act to follow, but Jamie gave him a run for his money. His mix of humor and intensity helped the singers open up. You could see that from the very start while working with Lee on his first song, he was up in Lee’s face making him focus on the relationship of the song. Kudos Mr. Foxx!
Guest blogger Michael Johns on ‘Idol’s’ movie night, the Top 4 and who’s finale-bound
Movie week can be tough. The song list is so diverse, and you’re signing songs that people associate with strong emotions from a movie, so it’s even more intense than, say, loving a track off an album. Overall, I thought the night was not outstanding, but had moments of greatness. Jamie Foxx was fantastic and hilarious. He’s such a talent and I’ve loved him ever since the “In Living Color” days, but nothing really blew me away on Tuesday night. The whole week was strange for me.
Alex Lambert listens to his new demo “I Didn’t Know”
‘Dancing With the Stars’ Niecy Nash on the show’s drama: ‘There’s a whole lot going on!’
Jimmy Kimmel opened up a can of worms when he asked the latest “Dancing With the Stars” castoff about how some of the other contestants don’t seem to get along with their partners.
“There’s a whole lot going on!” exclaimed Niecy Nash. “Baby, I could tell you things!”
So Kimmel obviously wasn’t going to let it go on that note. “Well let’s hear it!” he said, encouraging her to spill the beans.
‘So You Think You Can Dance’s’ Nigel Lythgoe on Mia Michaels replacing Mary Murphy
Early this week, the news that Emmy-winning choreographer Mia Michaels will take Mary Murphy’s permanent spot on the “So You Think You Can Dance” judging panel hit the internets.
Korbi TV got some one-on-one time with executive producer and fellow judge, Nigel Lythgoe, who commented on the decision.
“I do want to keep changing it up, ” he says. “We’ve got lots of different people coming in as judges this season and I find that very exciting to try and give different points of view.”
‘SYTYCD’s’ Lythgoe: Mary Murphy’s No Paula Abdul
If producer Nigel Lythgoe is worried that deafening diva judge Mary Murphy’s departure will do to “So You Can Think You Can Dance” what Paula Abdul’s departure did to “American Idol, ” he isn’t admitting it.
“I’ve never looked on this show as being about the judges and, unfortunately, I never looked at ‘American Idol’ about it being the judges when I produced it. Suddenly after two years we’re talking about judges and for me that is exactly what we shouldn’t be doing, ” he told TheWrap.
“I’m not worried if Mary’s there, if Mia’s there, if Adam’s there or if I’m there — as long as the best 10 dancers are there.”
(Nigel also says the standard of talent has gone down for Idol Season 8 & 9)
‘So You Think You Can Dance’: Mia Michaels will judge and choreograph for Season 7
The Emmy-winning choreographer will replace Mary Murphy as a permanent fixture on the “So You Think You Can Dance” judging panel this season, but according to Michaels, her new role on the show will not keep her from choreographing.
“I’m definitely doing group, but I probably will dabble in and out of some duets. Maybe. We’ll see!, ” she says. “I’m really excited. It’s great to be back home.”
‘Glee’ promo: Already obsessed with ‘Dream On’?
Confession: I may have rewound the promo for next week’s episode of Glee, featuring Neil Patrick Harris as Matthew Morrison’s old rival and current nightmare, three times. And when I say “the promo, ” I really mean just the three seconds of Harris and Morrison belting “Dream On.” That number has a lot to live up to: According to PopWatch polls, Harris was by far the Glee guest star readers were most looking forward to in the second half of the season, and this duet was the most-anticipated number. I find it sort of odd that the promo didn’t mention that the episode is directed by Joss Whedon, but perhaps Fox thinks anyone that matters to already knows. Watch the promo (again) after the jump. How many times did you rewind? How confident are you that “Dream On” will end up being as awesome as Harris’ flashback mullet?
