Gauging the future of ‘American Idol’
As it speeds toward its ninth-season finale Wednesday, fans of “American Idol” may wonder, figuratively speaking: Does the show have its, er, pants on the ground?
Evidence abounds that Fox’s singing contest may be crooning its way to irrelevance. Although it’s still at the top of TV’s programming heap, “Idol” has slipped a worrying 9% in the ratings this year, according to the Nielsen Co, and the show has lost more than one-fifth of its audience since its peak in 2006. Critics have spent much of this spring harping on a crop of finalists that was widely deemed uninspiring, with few moments of spontaneity outside of would-be contestant Larry Platt’s rap, “Pants on the Ground, ” which came during the early audition phase.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Crystal Bowersox, Lee DeWyze discuss highs, lows of ‘American Idol’
Has there been a high point for you during Idol?
Crystal: “A lot of them. (Wednesday), it was hearing Holy Toledo and watching people sing along with it. People knew the words to it in my hometown. That was an amazing, incredible feeling.” As for Idol performances, “People Get Ready. I loved that. My dad was there. It was the one performance he was there for. It’s just the song is all about gratitude for life, for family, for health, for love, for music, for my son, everything.”
Why Lee DeWyze needs the win
All season long, American Idol’s judges have told Lee DeWyze, “Have confidence.”
In retrospect, considering the way the paint-store clerk from Mount Prospect, Ill., has breezed through the competition and the judges’ willingness to tune out his pitch problems, such encouragement sounds less like advice and more like a discreet signal: It’s OK, we’ve got your back.
Simon Cowell Has a ‘Hunch’ Who Will Win ‘American Idol’
Simon Cowell pays a visit to fellow “American Idol” judge Ellen DeGeneres on her daytime gig, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show, ” today. He looks into his crystal ball and predicts who will win “American Idol” this week.
As the saying goes, “In with the new, out with the old.” During Ellen’s first day on the job at “Idol, ” Simon announced he’d be bowing out from behind the judges’ desk to pursue “X Factor.” The usually thick-skinned Simon apologizes to Ellen about the timing of his news, saying he feels “genuinely guilty.”
(Longer Simon interview HERE.)
Simon Cowell ‘Emotional’ About Leaving American Idol
MYFOXNY.COM – When the winner of American Idol Season 9 is announced Wednesday, it will be the last show with Simon Cowell at the judges’ table.
CKX details Sillerman’s exit package
Robert F.X. Sillerman’s exit package from CKX Inc., the parent company of “American Idol” producer 19 Entertainment, includes a cash payout of $3.3 million and a consulting fee of $1 million.
Sillerman, who resigned as chairman and chief executive of CKX earlier this month, is considering making a bid on the company, which he founded in 2005. Michael Ferrel, a former president of CKX, was tapped as acting chief executive and Edward Bleier, an entertainment industry veteran and CKX board member, was named chairman of the board. Sillerman is its largest shareholder, with a 20% stake in the company.
KRIS ALLEN SHARES HIS ‘IDOL’ ADVICE & MORE
Carrie Underwood: Cedars-Sinai Sweet
Carrie Underwood hangs out with Snoop Dogg backstage at the 25th anniversary of Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular, held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel on Sunday (May 23) in Los Angeles.
The 27-year-old country cutie performed at the show, which benefits the ongoing work of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Genetics Institute.
Celebs to help Michelle Obama endorse mentoring
Washington — Hollywood director Spike Lee and basketball legend Magic Johnson will join first lady Michelle Obama in Detroit on Wednesday to stress the importance of being a mentor.
Notable Michiganians joining the first lady include Gov. Jennifer Granholm and her husband, Dan Mulhern; Detroit Mayor Dave Bing; Detroit Democratic Reps. John Conyers and Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick; businesswoman Denise Ilitch; and ex-University of Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr. In addition, national figures expected include U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and singer Kimberly Locke.
It’s a Cruel, Cruel World
Remember the first time you heard Kelly Clarkson sing? Don’t feel bad, because neither did Simon Cowell, and he had a front-row seat. He couldn’t even recall Kelly’s name. “I just don’t like this girl, ” he mumbled to Paula Abdul, after a performance. It was one of the few times Cowell was wrong about something. For the last nine years, he’s been our pop-culture oracle—or as the New York Post dubbed him, a modern-day P. T. Barnum. He’s acted as the driving force behind the majority of our biggest music icons (Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken, even Susan Boyle). And now it’s time to shed a tear for Simon, because he exits American Idol this week. It’s strange to say that we’ll miss him, because Cowell made a jarring first impression in the summer of 2002. The man with the funny accent and tight undershirts attacked our youth with impunity, and it was startling, like watching a car crash right before your very eyes. “I was so happy, ” Clarkson said after her audition, “because the British man didn’t make me cry.” Simon Cowell wasn’t just cruel. He was so gross, he made you want to shower.
Why are we still watching Fox’s ‘American Idol’ and the reason Lee DeWyze will win season 9
Can you feel the tension? No? You’re not alone.
It says all you need to know about this season’s “American Idol” that, as the finale approaches Wednesday, you hear more people talking about who should replace Simon than who will actually win the thing. For sheer tension, you’d find more at a Tiddlywinks game played at an assisted living facility than you can here.
Simon Cowell: Simply overrated
As you prepare to leave “American Idol” after Wednesday’s season finale, you must take your place next to Ryan up onstage and endure the same unflinching assessment you have delivered for nine seasons of the hit singing competition.
Just to mix things up a little, and because we are never in a hurry to hear “Yo, dawg” and “Check it out, ” we’ll start with the mean judge, the absolutely vital role you so often played, in part because nobody else would.
First of all, Simon, your outfit is ridiculous, this judge says. You’ve obviously done a lot of bench presses, and you can take a certain pride in that. And maybe you are also proud of your chest hair and your retro-’70s-male, open-collar style.
EXCLUSIVE! ‘SYTYCD’ All-Star, tWitch, Tells Me His Secret To Remembering All That Choreography!
When So You Think You Can Dance season four’s runner-up, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, was cast an All-star in the upcoming season of Fox’s hit dance show, all of us fans rejoiced! Today I had the pleasure to chat with the self-proclaimed “Entertainer…and superhero” about the new and improved SYTYCD format and what qualities he’s looking for in the top 10 contestants.
Nigel Lythgoe & Adam Shankman On ‘So You Think You Can Dance 7’
“So You Think You Can Dance” is back for a seventh season starting Thursday, May 27, with several format changes: the loss of Mary Murphy (boo!), the reinstatement of Mia Michaels (yay!), home visits to the contestants, the top 20 slimmed to a top 10, etc. But the most exciting format switch is that the finalists, instead of being paired up with each other, will be partnered, “Dancing With The Stars”-style, with 12 allstar contestants from past seasons (including fan favorite Twitch and my personal favorite, Mark Kanemura). This should make for the awesomest “SYTYCD” season yet.
‘Dancing With the Stars’: The final three
The end of Season 10 is nearly upon us, ballroom fans. After nine weeks of competition, we are thisclose to crowning a winner. The shiny, coveted Mirrorball trophy has assumed its rightful place in front of the judges’ table for all to see. And it was up to the last three remaining competitors – the ESPN reporter, Erin Andrews, the Golden boy, Evan Lysacek and the Pussycat Doll, Nicole Scherzinger – to show us who was ready for that jelly. There were promises to let the nerves go; promises to leave it out on the dance floor. Exhortations that they had to dance perfectly. Both Brooke Burke and Carrie Ann wore big their hair, large and in charge in commemoration of this elevated event.
‘Glee’ Star ‘Gives Props’ To Makeup, Costume Departments For Gaga Episode
Gleeks everywhere — and “little monsters” for that matter — can rejoice! The much-anticipated Lady Gaga episode of “Glee” is set to air Tuesday night (May 25). Fans will finally get to see whether the McKinley High glee club nails some of Gaga’s biggest hits, including “Poker Face” and “Bad Romance.”
But the head of New Directions, Will Schuester, won’t be donning any elaborate headdresses or going without pants à la Gaga, according to Matthew Morrison.
