‘Idol’s’ Final 4 on duets, mentors, Casey’s cougar brigade, and more!
Truth be told, it was a stormy night onstage as well. Emotional, soaring duets aside — and both were stellar (thank the producers, in part, for the pairings) — none of the Final 4 quite hit that “Idol” sweet spot. Add a song list that was lacking, to say the least, and it wasn’t exactly the best showcase of Season 9’s commercial appeal. Plus, the judges weren’t going easy on them, either.
Nevertheless, Crystal Bowersox, Michael Lynche, Casey James and Lee DeWyze were upbeat at the end of the night, as they were met by the ever-expanding bubble of press. Read on for a post-show Q&A with the Final 4…
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Crystal Bowersox’s ‘American Idol’ Success Foretold At 1997 Talent Show
Toledo, OHIO — Not many people can legitimately claim to have predicted that season nine “American Idol” contender Crystal Bowersox would be a TV star some day. But Dan Kalo can. Kalo, you see, was the principal at Oak Harbor Middle School near Toledo, Ohio, from 1984 to 2001, during which time Bowersox attended the school, and he famously predicted that she’d make it big.
“She was just so good and it was such a surprise to see this young girl, who was kind of shy and never brought a lot of attention to herself, play a song in front of an auditorium packed with 500 people, ” said Kalo of Bowersox’s performance at the school’s annual talent competition in 1997, when the singer was in seventh grade.
‘American Idol’ contestant Crystal Bowersox is Elliston, Ohio’s small-town wonder
ELLISTON, Ohio — When people say Crystal Bowersox is from the middle of nowhere, they mean it.
The 24-year-old “American Idol” phenom with blond dreadlocks and a voice that “gives you goosebumps” is from Elliston, a place that doesn’t show up on most Ohio maps.
Crystal’s hometown, some 20 miles outside of Toledo, isn’t a town at all. The U.S. Census Bureau considers the burg boasting some 30 houses a “populated place.” The population hovers somewhere around 80, which means there are more souls in the Elliston Cemetery.
‘Idol’ Front-Runner Has Faced Bumps Along The Way
ELLISTON, Ohio — It should be of little surprise that a short hospital stay didn’t derail Crystal Bowersox on ‘American Idol.’
She’s overcome a lot more in her young life.
Maybe that’s why the 24-year-old single mother with dreadlocks has what friends call “an old soul” and a serene stage presence – big parts of her appeal as one of four final contestants on the Fox singing competition.
Her parents divorced when she was a toddler. She grew up faster than a lot of kids around her and felt like an outsider at times in her hometown where there are no more than 100 people, two churches and not a single store.
Lee DeWyze: The reluctant ‘Idol’
It could have been fate, or it might be just a sweet irony. But a year and a half before he cruised through to this week’s final four of “American Idol, ” Lee DeWyze sat on a metal chair in a tiny park in his northwest suburban hometown and helped judge a karaoke contest called “Ice Cream Idol.”
Instead of a V-neck T-shirt like Simon Cowell’s, DeWyze was wearing a ” Run-DMC” tee. One of his fellow judges was a not-very-convincing female impersonator dressed as the John Travolta character in “Hairspray.” A 5-year-old performed. So did a 55-year-old.
Lee DeWyze band far from idle
The spotlight from “American Idol” casts a long shadow. Shining in this coast-to-coast mist is the group once known as the Lee DeWyze Band. The band used to back the “Idol” finalist from Mount Prospect, and its members have a colorful pedigree: Guitarist Louis Svitek was in the popular industrial metal band Ministry and the thrash band M.O.D.
He also co-owns the independent WuLi Records in Chicago, for which DeWyze, 23, recorded two albums.
Lee Dewyze’s Friends Pack Hometown Bar For ‘Idol’ Performance Night
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Illinois — More than two hours before “American Idol” aired on Tuesday, the party room at the Fox and Hound Smokehouse restaurant was already filling up, as superfans angled to get a table close to one of the five big-screen TVs that would soon be beaming in images of hometown hero, Lee Dewyze.
One long table was crowded with joyful moms hawking Dewyze T-shirts and red foam fingers that read “Dewyze Choice – Believe, ” which, like the shirts, had a smiling picture of Lee in place of the “L.”
Dreams of a community and a school hitched to Michael Lynche’s American Idol success
SOUTH PASADENA — Frank Angelelli is a man of unshakeable faith.
Already, he has seen his son-in-law, St. Petersburg-raised Michael Lynche, rise to the top four contestants on Fox TV’s blockbuster singing competition American Idol. So when a technical glitch Tuesday brought an early end to the weekly Idol screening at Tradewinds Christian Church — forcing dozens of Lynche’s friends and fellow church members to hurry home and finish watching his performance on a crucial week — Angelelli was jovial and upbeat, despite the hitch.
‘Idol’ boosts Connick, Sinatra sales
Last week’s Frank Sinatra night on American Idol did wonders for the sales of The Chairman of the Board and mentor Harry Connick Jr. According to Nielsen SoundScan, week-to-week sales of Connick’s Your Songs album increased by more than 500 percent, while two Sinatra compilations jumped into The Billboard 200 chart.
Several Idols also had better weeks, with Carrie Underwood, Adam Lambert, Daughtry, Danny Gokey and Mandisa among those seeing double-digit percentage increases over the previous week.
Memphis Musicians Help Haiti
Dodson knew a song would be the best way to represent Memphis and within 45 minutes they had a song written.
They gathered Memphians like Ruby Wilson, American Idol favorites Alexis Grace and Lil Rounds among many others.
Waktins Glenn Int’l news 2010-05-11
WATKINS GLEN, NY (May 11, 2010) — The top names of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will not be the only star power in attendance at this year’s Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen event weekend, August 5-8. National recording artist and former American Idol star Bo Bice will be on-hand to sing the American National Anthem leading up to the fall of the green flag just after 1:00 PM on Sunday, August 8. Bice will not only sing the American National anthem but will also perform a “surprise” concert during the weekend and take part in a Q&A with fans in The Bog Hospitality.
American Idol Sings Netball America’s Praises at Madison Square Garden
Netball America announced today, Season 7 American Idol finalist, Michael Johns, will be performing the American national anthem when Netball showcases at Madison Square Garden in NYC May 16th. The WNBA New York Liberty season opener is expected to be sold out with an estimated crowd of 14, 000.
New York, NY, May 12, 2010 –(PR.com)– “I’m excited to support Netball America, their mission of developing the sport to get it into schools and, of course, to perform in front of a sold out WNBA game at an iconic American venue, ” said Michael Johns. Netball America ticket holders will get a chance to shoot Netball hoops with Michael. He will also promote the game at the Netball America promotional booth prior to the game, signing autographs and taking photos with fans. Tickets are available from NetballAmerica.com.
Dish of Salt: Tuesday TV Dish (Mary Murphy On the ‘SYTYCD’ Switcheroo)
The switcheroo has caused a bit of stir online but Mary told me, via phone this afternoon, the decision to scale back was mutual. “They have been bugging me for the last couple of years, ‘Would I choreograph?’ and I wasn’t feeling it to be totally honest with you, ” she explained.
So what changed? “I have to say I was a little envious of the different choreographers getting Emmy awards. I would still like a few more shots at that, ” Mary told me.
Mary revealed she will be part of the judging panel for the Las Vegas portion of the auditions, as well as the Green Mile episodes, which this season is adding a new twist. The judges will be visiting the homes of the semi-finalist contestants to tell them whether or not they made the top 10. “That was really special to be there with the whole family and to look them in their eyes, ” Mary said.
However, telling a contestant they didn’t make the cut was tough. “I can honestly tell you that the day I had to tell somebody that they couldn’t be one the show, I had to go home and was in bed the rest of the day. I was so upset, ” she revealed.
Kherington Payne and Jonathan Platero Join Cast of Lincoln Theater’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
So You Think You Can Dance alumni Kherington Payne and Jonathan Platero will join the company of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, at Lincoln Theater Napa Valley, June 25-27. Matthew Teague Miller will direct, with music direction by Vivian Bayubay McGlaughlin and choreography by Lisa Clark-Schmeling.
Payne, who is also known for playing Alice Ellerton in the 2009 film remake of Fame, will play Potiphar’s Wife, while Platero will be a Brother. The cast also features Ashley Jarrett and Travis Nesbitt.
Are Erin Andrews & Maksim Chmerkovskiy Dating?
Erin Andrews and “Dancing” partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy chat with Access’ Shaun Robinson about Niecy Nash’s elimination from “Dancing with the Stars.” Also, Erin shows off her ‘90s boy band moves. Plus, are Erin and Maksim dating?
Niecy Nash no longer “Dancing with the Stars”
Nash, the bubbly host of reality show “How Clean is Your House” and an actress on “Reno 911!, ” was joined in the bottom two by NFL footballer Chad Ochocinco after a grueling week in which the routines were upped to two apiece.
But Nash, whose paso doble on Monday failed to match her Viennese waltz, said she was happy to have come this far.
“I am a 40-year-old mother of three, I’ve got three C-sections under my belly, ” she said.
Nash’s elimination leaves four celebrities in the popular show, with Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger considered the front-runner to win the 10th season finale.
‘Dancing With the Stars’ results: Shake it off
Alert: The “Dancing With the Stars” jiggly quotient has gone down precipitously. First, top-heavy actress and model Pamela Anderson exited the ballroom competition. And now this week, it was comedian and all-around joy Niecy Nash’s turn to go. And I’ll miss the “Clean House” host. She had great spirit and loved who she was. Plus, she and her partner, Louis Van Amstel, got along together about as well as a cheeseburger and curly fries. Well, at least now she can have her days back, and won’t have to withhold on the snacks anymore.
Miley Cyrus Gives Adam Shankman a Lap Dance
Uhm. It’s slightly less inappropriate when you take into account that Shankman is gay. But still…
via Rickey
More Headlines:
Allison Iraheta and Orianthi working in the Studio together
Photo tweeted by Allison this morning
Guitar goddess, Orianthi, tweeted this morning: “@AllisonIraheta Hey! I had a great time in da studio..tune sounds rockin!.. ur voice sounds awesome- see ya soon”
Allison will be opening Adam Lambert’s Glam Nation tour on selected dates with Orianthi.
Carly Smithson and Ben Moody buy their new album “Tear The World Down” at Best Buy
The We Are the Fallen Interview — ”Creep Show’
Glee’s Jane Lynch Wants Your Dog to Stop Having Sex
Not that we didn’t know this already, but we’re happy to report that Jane Lynch has proven once again she’s nothing like that crass-talkin’ meanie Sue Sylvester she plays on Glee.
Our favorite musical television funnylady star has joined the fight to fix our pets…
Lynch stars in a new PSA that encourages pet owners to spay and neuter their animals. Alongside her is one of her own dogs.
“The good folks at PETA asked me to say a few words about the importance of good posture and personal hygiene—but I don’t want to talk about that, ” she says in the ad. “I want to talk about the 4 million dogs and cats who are euthanized every year because there aren’t enough homes for all of them.”
