Behind the ‘Idol’ curtain: 3 finalists, 3 days, zero rest
LOS ANGELES ‘ At the glittering sweatshop of a star factory that is American Idol, time to relax is as rare as a kind word from Simon Cowell.
All three Season 8 finalists happily plop down before a catered lunch during a break in filming Sunday at the Ford music video shoot, which airs during tonight’s results show (Fox, 9 ET/PT). But as is often his way, Adam Lambert takes the opportunity too far.
“I just love being outside, ” he says, leaning back from the lunch table in his flimsy folding chair. “We’re always stuck indoors, in the studio, in rehearsals, in the ¦”
Billboard.biz Q&A: ‘American Idol’ Creator Simon Fuller
There have been mixed reports about a plan to return to three judges after this season, that perhaps another judge would be leaving.
That’s just rumor. We added the fourth judge to have four judges. One of the things we’ve learned and will address next year is that there were a couple of shows that we didn’t have enough time on; we tried to cut to an hour too early. Now everyone is in agreement that next year we’ll make those shows hour-and-a-half shows and we’ll have more time to benefit from having four judges.
Cowell recently went on record saying he would consider leaving the show after next season. What’s your response?
Whatever he does, he’ll do with great thought and with good reason. It’s something he and I haven’t really discussed at great length, but I don’t think he’s going to be going anytime soon. I do think he wants to evolve and there are many ways for him to evolve with “Idol.” I can’t imagine Simon not being a part of “Idol” in some way.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
The Rushfield Review: last stand in the Idoldome
Krisallen041209-250 Very few people alive have made it to the end of the classic 80 video game Double Dragon. Such a feat requires hours of continuous play and possibly hundreds of dollars worth of quarters. But for those whom make it, the final screen of Double Dragon offers a cruel surprise. Up until that point, the two players play not against each other but in tandem, fighting their way side by side through the streets of post-apocalyptic New York. However, if they survive the grueling ordeal, pummeling into submission every underling the game can throw at them, defeating Bolo, Roper and even Linda, they suddenly find at the end of their journey, instead of welcome home banquet or “Star Wars”-like awards ceremony for the heroes, they are told: …Now you will battle each other. However far theyve come, only one champion can emerge from Double Dragon.
Ann Powers: Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey and Kris Allen state their ‹American Idol cases
It was the strangest thing. During this week’s “American Idol” elimination round, a truism briefly came true. For the 12 or so minutes when the show’s three top stars-in-training actually performed, this was a singing competition, maybe for the first time this year. But it became so in ways more subtle and meaningful than that usually empty phrase implies.
Krisallen3 Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey and Kris Allen went into this all-important episode ‘ the final before the finale, which like the NCAA Final Four, is usually a tougher and more involving match than the championship ‘ with a certain sense of predestination. Lambert is the front-runner, the judges’ favorite, the one who’s already a media sensation. Gokey is America’s sweetheart, the candidate of the silent majority. Allen has to be getting really sick of the term “dark horse.”
Idol finalist has Vermont ties
It especially easy for those friends who remember Eber Lambert standing on top of an upright piano after the rehearsal for a play at CVU and hamming it up on the Led Zeppelin tune …Whole Lotta Love as if he were Robert Plant singing into an imaginary microphone. Fast-forward 30-plus years and you can find video of a glammed-up Adam Lambert belting that exact same song, out-Planting Robert Plant with his powerful voice and multi-octave range, in front of a full band and an ecstatic …American Idol crowd.
Adam Lambert, it seems, did not fall far from the family tree, say those who went to school in Hinesburg with his father.
What Do People Have Against Danny Gokey?
They say you are the company you keep. And if that’s the case, I hang out with total jerks. That’s because everyone I know positively hates Danny Gokey.
On the surface, it’s easy to see why so many people loathe the “American Idol” semifinalist: His glasses. The heart symbol he makes with his hands. The fact that he dresses like a cross between a figure skater and Charlie Sheen on “Two and a Half Men.” His demeanor ‘ which seems to flit between humility and cockiness ‘ doesn’t do him many favors, either. When he’s being humble, people call him a phony. When he’s being cocky, they call him a jerk. Danny Gokey, it seems, cannot win.
Has Adam Lambert Fever Killed ‘American Idol’ Competition?
A few weeks remain before “American Idol” officially anoints the nation’s new pop icon, but right now, as has been the case nearly all season, it’s all about Adam Lambert.
Judge Simon Cowell came out in full support of Lambert this week, telling Oprah Winfrey that there’s no way the 26-year-old musical theater veteran won’t win because he’s fearless, he’s unique and “he’s got swagger” (as evidenced by his renditions of Aerosmith’s “Crying” and U2’s “One” Tuesday night.)
Adam Lambert Vs. Kris Allen — Our Writers Face Off Over Who Will Win ‘American Idol’
The “American Idol” contestants have been narrowed down to three, and seemingly everyone has a favorite to win. But here in the MTV Newsroom, the heavy favorites are power-piped Adam Lambert and strummy, chummy Kris Allen (sure, there are also some Gokey-ites out there too, but we just can’t seem to locate any of them).
It’s a battle of opposites: flashy showmanship versus no-frills songsmithing, and it could make for the most exciting “Idol” finale in years. The debate has raged all week, so we decided to have two of our most vocal “Idol” fans ‘ MTV News Rock Editor James Montgomery and Senior Writer Gil Kaufman ‘ square off in a spirited point/counterpoint-style debate about just who will win “American Idol, ” and, most importantly, why.
Were Live-Blogging The Top Three ‹American Idol Performances!
Tonight …American Idol live-blog is dedicated to Allison Iraheta, my personal Idol. In honor of the recent oustee, I expect all of you to refuse to give me any credit I might deserve in this live-blog. Your comments should be comprised of backhanded compliments, faint praise and …that ones while you over-praise other bloggers who are lazy and arent deserving of their unstoppable success. Deal?
American Idol Top 3: Too close to call?
Spoilers for the “American Idol” Top 3 performance show coming up just as soon as I note again how pathetic the show is, in that they needed to schedule a 64-minute episode to fit in six performances (in a week when they used to be able to do nine) and they still ran a minute long!
With producer incompetence cutting a song from each contestant, we didn’t get to see what sort of music Clive Davis might have thrust upon these three, nor did we get to see the producers try to sandbag somebody the way they did with Syesha and that silly penguin song last season. Just one choice from the judges, and one from the contestants.
Kris Allen’s ‘Heartless’: The Story Behind The Cover
Kris Allen needed a game changer to prove to the “American Idol” judges ‘ and maybe to America ‘ that he belongs in next week’s finale. And on Tuesday night, he found it.
In one of the boldest moves to date by the understated 23-year-old, Allen stunned the room when he followed up a straightforward take on judge Kara DioGuardi’s pick, OneRepublic’s “Apologize, ” with a solo acoustic ramble through Kanye West’s “Heartless.” The choice even had frequent detractor Simon Cowell admitting that the Conway, Arkansas, native may have punched a ticket to the top two.
Can Kris Allen Make It To The ‹American Idol Finale?
It a tight race to the …American Idol finale finish line. There no Syesha Mercado easy target here in season eight top three. Nope, all three contestants have viable fanbases and oodles of talent. And after watching the top three perform judges choice/ contestants choice numbers, it even harder to predict.
My terrible batting average hasnt stopped me from predicting in the past (Im 0-3 right now, arent I?), so let break down the performance show and predict whose …Idol journey will end tomorrow night.
‘American Idol’ Alum Justin Guarini Isn’t Sure Adam Lambert Will Win
Back in 2002, Justin Guarini came in second to Kelly Clarkson during the first season of “American Idol.” Now, the singer and TV personality has some advice for this year’s top three: Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey and Kris Allen.
“I think it’s going to be very interesting, ’cause everyone assumes Adam will go to the finale, ” he told MTV News. “The competition this week will be Danny and Kris trying to make it as well.”
‹Glee cast sings ‹Idol Lambert praises
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – The …Glee club went back to school, the real-life Santa Monica High School, for the world premiere of their new musical-comedy TV series.
As chilly ocean breezes blew in, they and hundreds of others gathered to watch the …Glee pilot on a big screen in the school amphitheater.
Lea Michele, who starred on Broadway in …Spring Awakening and now co-stars in …Glee, found the night …really exciting.
VIDEO: Idol’s Allison Talks of Adam Getting the Girl, Contract Rumors and More
The American Idol duet between Allison Iraheta and Adam Lambert was destiny, to hear the 17-year-old redhead tell it.
“As soon as we heard about the duets, we looked at each other and were like, ‘We gotta do one, ‘” Allison shares here in Part 1 of her TVGuide.com video Q&A. “We felt bad for Kris [Allen] and Danny [Gokey], because they wanted the girl, but they did good.”
Alas, even being paired with Idol’s season-long front runner could not keep Allison from being voted off.
Also in this sit-down interview:
‘American Idol’ Is Ready For Its Next Act
The crowd isn’t cheering for Simon Fuller.
Rather, it’s the four talent judges whose appearance just minutes before a recent Wednesday evening “American Idol” telecast causes a loud burst of applause to fill the soundstage at CBS Television City in Hollywood. As they’re introduced one by one like rock stars, Kara DioGuardi, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and-finally-Simon Cowell wave to the fans as they make their way to their customary perches at the base of the stage.
‘Idol’ Expands Its Digital Boundaries
“American Idol” calls the Fox network its home. But for an increasing number of viewers, the show is a very portable obsession.
No, you still can’t vote for your favorite singers online. But from computers to iPods to AT&T-enabled phones, few shows are as tech-savvy as “Idol.”
“It really is the perfect show for a digital extension, ” AmericanIdol.com GM Don Wilcox says. “And we’ve made the most of it.”
That means a Web site that was fully redesigned this year to include a built-in social network (MyIdol), archival downloads, access to exclusive clips, desktop downloads and a video player that users can embed as a widget.
Brands Take The ‘American Idol’ Stage
Each season there is only one American Idol. But the real winners may be the show’s loyal sponsors.
Almost since its inception, “American Idol” has maintained strong ties with three main benefactors: Coca-Cola, Ford and AT&T (previously Cingular). Those brands have reaped a level of promotion on the show that is unrivaled in recent TV history.
“We work very hard to deliver what the sponsors want, ” says Keith Hindle, executive VP of licensing/Americas for the show’s producer Fremantle Media. “We look at the overall feeling of the show in terms of tone and approach, then more specifically at what are the actual parts within the show that can have an organic integration of a brand.”
Constantine Maroulis The American Idol alum on his Tony nomination
Raise your Bartles & Jaymes: Rock of Ages, Broadway ’80s hair-metal jukebox musical, has joined the vaunted ranks of this year Tony contenders, garnering no fewer than five nominations’ including a Best Actor nod for star Constantine Maroulis. Best known for his stint on season four of American Idol, Maroulis is the first contestant from Fox hit series to earn this rarefied distinction. The 33-year-old singer, who plays wannabe rocker Drew Bowie in Rock of Ages (recently optioned by New Line Cinema), spoke with us about the merit of metal, the state of Broadway, and grooming his widely recognizable mane.
Review: Jennifer Hudson, Robin Thicke showcase R&B stylings at Orpheum
For Hudson, embarking on her first-ever tour, the stakes were arguably higher as the Academy Award-winning …American Idol runner-up sought to justify all the hype that preceded the release last year of her eponymous debut album. Hudson has catapulted past most other …Idol contestants based, in part, on her own compelling personal narrative. A fan favorite in the talent show third season, she ultimately came in seventh but came out on top the next year when she won the prized role of Effie in the screen adaptation of the Broadway musical …Dreamgirls, taking home an Oscar for her efforts.
God and Country
Phil Stacey is a man of many perspectives. A preacher’s kid and product of a Bible college, he joined the Navy after 9/11, made it to the Top Five of American Idol, signed with a secular label, made a country record, and is now reintroducing himself to the Christian music world via Reunion Records. A new album is planned for later this summer.
Clay Aiken Channels Mother Teresa
Clay Aiken and a mystery male take a walk together in Los Angeles on Tuesday (May 12).
The 30-year-old former American Idol contestant just blogged a quote from Mother Teresa:
Kara DioGuardi: It Would Be ‹Very Sad If Simon Left Idol
(CNSNews.com) – …American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi told CNSNews.com that it would be …very sad if fellow judge Simon Cowell were to leave the show and that knowing 30 million people are watching her on …American Idol sometimes causes her “brain synapses not to fuse, leading her to misspeak.
DioGuardi spoke with CNSNews.com at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night.
Vintage Video: Paula Abdul Secret Relationship With Michael Bolton Revealed!
The hair in this video is gonna blow your mind. Apparently mullets and Pomeranian shags were totally normal in 1988. Anyway, on to the point ¦
Long before she was making jaws drop with her …strange behavior on American Idol, Forever Your Girl-era Paula Abdul dropped this bomb on a mull-icious MTV interviewer back in 1988: Michael …Balboa Bolton used to be her babysitter!
Just three remain on ‹Dancing With the Stars
The long goodbye: There was a bit of a …one of these things is not like the other feeling to Tuesday night results show. Remember, Melissa Rycroft, Gilles Marini, and Shawn Johnson have all been more or less favorites from the beginning of the season ‘ they were the three top-scoring teams after the first pair of performances. Ty Murray was the opposite, outscoring Steve Wozniak by one point on the very first performance of the year.
