“AMERICAN IDOL” TEAMS UP WITH MYSPACE TO EXPAND AUDITION OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR SHOW’S UPCOMING TENTH SEASON
AMERICAN IDOL, the No. 1 show on U.S. network television for seven consecutive seasons, will revolutionize its audition process by adding an online component via MySpace to the auditions for the first time ever. In celebration of the show’s upcoming tenth season, hopefuls across the country will have the opportunity to get their foot in the door – from the comfort of their own homes.
19 Entertainment, FremantleMedia North America and FOX have partnered with MySpace to launch a dedicated page where aspiring singers will soon be able to submit video auditions. With more than 100 million users, MySpace will bring the AMERICAN IDOL auditions to a huge new online community, making it the biggest talent search in the world. Sign up today at www.myspace.com/americanidol to stay apprised of details as they are announced.
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‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds: Lee Wins The ‘Season Of The Girl’MTV
Backstage at the “American Idol” Finale
“Extra” caught up with “American Idol” Lee DeWyze backstage — just minutes after he was announced the winner. Also, don’t miss our Raw interviews with Randy and Kara!
‘American Idol’ Experts ‘Not Surprised’ By Lee DeWyze’s Win
MJ Santilli, webmaster of “Idol” fan site MJsBigBlog.com, picked DeWyze to win, though she hoped her guess was off. “Don’t get me wrong: He seems like a nice enough dude, ” she said. “And, I’ve heard his pre-‘Idol’ material, and it’s actually pretty good. I may even buy his record when it’s released this fall. But in terms of this contest — and I have to judge Lee by what he did on the ‘Idol’ stage — Crystal Bowersox deserved to win. Lee is easily the worst live performer to ever win the title. He’s not only uncomfortable onstage, but he has problems staying in tune.”
‘American Idol’ Winner Lee DeWyze’s Friends: ‘This Is Only The Beginning’
It was only fitting that Brian Friedopfer and a big group of Lee DeWyze’s friends gathered at the Glenview, Illinois, karaoke bar Potato Creek Johnny’s on Wednesday night to watch the finale of “American Idol.”
After all, it was the place Lee and his pals went on an almost-weekly basis to try out their favorite rock tunes. But as his friend stood on the edge of victory after years of slogging his gear around the Chicago area playing gigs in pursuit of his rock and roll fantasy, Friedopfer said the two-hour finale felt like an eternity. “Man, it felt like eight hours, ” he said on Thursday morning (May 27). “Once it got to where they were standing onstage and Ryan was about to read the result, me and his close friends were holding onto each other, and we were on our toes, our hearts going a million miles a minute.”
DeWyze and Bowersox Ready to Party
Paparazzi outside of the post-finale party
Lee DeWyze Got “One Hour” of Sleep After Winning Idol
After winning American Idol, Lee DeWyze is… tired.
When asked by UsMagazine.com how much sleep he got, the 24-year-old Illinois resident said, “Last night I got one!”
PHOTOS: Inside the American Idol finale
Is taking a nap on the celebration schedule?
“We’ll see, I got a whole list of things I have to take care of, ” says DeWyze, who was a paint store clerk before winning the Fox show. “I’m looking forward to it all, but at the end of it, I’m definitely going to take a nice, long nap.”
Simon Cowell: William Shatner Should Replace me on ‘American Idol’
There is a vacant seat behind the judge’s table on “American Idol” after Simon Cowell gave his closing remarks Wednesday night on the season finale. Tears were shed by contestants, fellow judges, and music legends and all agree it will be a difficult task to replace the witty Brit who founded the show.
Newly crowned champion Lee DeWyze knows that “it’s going to be hard to fill his shoes.” Runner-up Crystal Bowersox labeled Simon as “an undeniable force.” Last season’s winner Kris Allen echoed that “he’s the face of the show.”
It has not yet been announced by FOX who will step up to the plate, but some “Idol” insiders offered some suggestions to ET’s Kevin Frazier.
VIDEO: Simon Cowell’s After Party
After his final appearance on American Idol, Simon Cowell partied the night away at the super hot Sky Bar in the Mondrian and RadarOnline.com has the video.
Simon’s ex Terri Seymour, an Extra correspondent, arrived wearing a red strapless bubble dress. When asked “Are you Simon’s going away present?” The ever-effervescent Terri says “I don’t know if I’d say that.”
American Idol Bids a Fond Farewell
Diana DeGarmo, David Archuleta, and other Idol favorites pay tribute to the departing judge.
‘Idol’ Crystal Bowersox Son’s Top 3 Fave Singers
We asked MamaSox what Tony B’s favorite music is. “My son loves music. I actually play him my stuff, and then Jack Johnson saved my life! He likes the Jewel Lullaby CD and Ray LaMontagne. We’ve got similar taste in music, ” she says.
Is Crystal Bowersox Better Off as ‘American Idol’ Runner-Up?
Lee Dwyze may have claimed the title as ninth “American Idol, ” but runner-up Crystal Bowersox might emerge as the real winner.
As recent history has shown, the top “Idol” crowning doesn’t always translate into a blockbuster career with millions in record and concert sales, endorsements and sponsorships.
Viewers watching seven of the eight previous Idols appear onstage for Wednesday night’s season nine finale could see that some “Idol” winners had fared professionally better than others.
Siobhan Magnus meets her idols!
It’s not every day that you get to witness an “American Idol” contestant meeting one of their Idols, but that’s exactly what happened late Wednesday night at the Mondrian Hotel’s Sky Bar, where Season 9 sixth-place finisher Siobhan Magnus came face-to-face with three guys named Taylor, Zac and Isaac, otherwise known as her favorite band Hanson.
Yours truly was there to capture the moment and it was, in a word, magical. Siobhan looked simply dumbfounded upon first sight of Taylor Hanson, and, in fact, the only sentence she managed to string together once a formal introduction got made was: “I don’t know what to say!” To which Taylor responded, “Well, let me say this: we’re really honored that you feel so inspired and motivated by what we do.”
Seacrest, Cowell All Smiles at ‘Idol’ After-Party
“American Idol’s” stars, VIPs and executives moved from downtown to West Hollywood’s Mondrian Hotel for a six-hour after-party Wednesday night.
Although the party began at 8 p.m. with the show’s West Coast broadcast, most of the top-tier faces (read: not former “Idol” contestants) did not arrive until later.
After a mountain of post-show press, winner Lee DeWyze still looked disastrously uncomfortable when he arrived three hours after his win. It could have been the new ring of security guards that shadowed him everywhere.
Is This the Death of American Idol?
Lee DeWyze is now the third low-key cute white male rocker in a row to win. Richard Rushfield reports on the disappointing finale and whether the show can survive on such a narrow groove.
Ryan Seacrest said it; we didn’t.
In his introduction to General Larry Platt on the American Idol season finale Wednesday night, Seacrest harked back thusly: “So many great memories on this show, like Fantasia singing ‘Summertime, ’ Kelly Clarkson’s performance of ‘A Moment Like This, ’ and Adam Lambert’s version of ‘Mad World.’ But this year history was made with four simple words. Pants. On. The. Ground.”
Aguilera ‘blown away by Idol Stevens’
Christina Aguilera has said that when she heard Katie Stevens singing ‘Beautiful’ on last night’s American Idol finale she briefly wondered if it was a recording of herself.
The 17-year-old took to the stage alongside the other female finalists to perform a medley of that track and Aguilera’s ‘Fighter’ before the singer joined them on stage with a rendition of her new single ‘You Lost Me’.
Speaking on Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS-FM show, she said: “When that one contestant came on and did, ‘I am beautiful’, I was like, ‘Is that me, real quick, on the record?!’
Paula Abdul has a New Website
Check out more vids at her website HERE.
Great American Idol Blog – American Idol Alums Say Farewell to Simon Cowell
After nine seasons at the judges’ table, Simon Cowell said goodbye to American Idol on Tuesday’s finale. His snarky critiques and cheeky British candor captured the attention of millions of fans — and detractors — who tuned in each week not only to see dreams come true, but also to see Cowell crush them. TVGuide.com caught up with several Idol alums on the red carpet at the Season 9 finale as they shared their goodbyes to Cowell:
Hot Tours: Rod Steward, James Taylor & Carole King, Carrie Underwood
Country superstar Kenny Chesney made a two-show appearance at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas on May 14-15 and grossed over $1.2 million in ticket sales, earning him the No. 4 spot on this week’s Hot Tours. With ticket prices ranging from $164.60 to the top price of $494.60, the number of sold tickets was 7, 984 for both nights.
Kelly Clarkson’s Next Album Will ‘Take It Up A Level, ‘ Songwriter Says
Kelly Clarkson’s life might suck without Claude Kelly. So it’s a good thing that the pop star and her “My Life Would Suck Without You” songwriter will soon be hooking up in the studio to work on tracks for her new album, a follow-up to 2009’s All I Ever Wanted.
However Clarkson — who performed on the “American Idol” finale Wednesday night — is feeling these days, Claude Kelly is ready to use it as inspiration for the duo’s next collaboration. “I’m … really, really excited to go back in for Kelly Clarkson, ” Kelly told MTV News at the premiere for “Sex and the City 2” on Monday. He says that if you loved what they did on All I Ever Wanted, they’re not going to settle for anything less this time around.
Diana DeGarmo, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Levi Kreis, Wesley Taylor, et al. Set for Fleet Week Showcase
Cast members from several Broadway shows will put on special performances for visiting members of the armed forces who are in New York City for Fleet Week at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, on Friday, May 28, 12 Noon-1pm. The event will be hosted by Lend Me a Tenor’s Mary Catherine Garrison & Jennifer Laura Thompson.
The entire cast of Hair — including American Idol veterans Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young — will perform, as will Eddie Clendening, Lance Guest, Levi Kreis, and Robert Lyons from Million Dollar Quartet; Brooks Ashmanskas, Sean Martin Hingston, Ken Land and Matthew Loehr from Promises, Promises; Krysta Rodriguez and Wesley Taylor from The Addams Family; and Rebecca Naomi Jones, Mary Faber, Christina Sajous, Alysha Umphress, Leslie McDonel, and Libby Winters from American Idiot.
Gilbert High concert features ‘Idol’ finalist Brooke White
A Gilbert High School event Saturday features “American Idol” Season 7 finalist Brooke White.
“Hope for the Children” focuses on the plight of children through a concert featuring the Mesa native.
White headlines and judges other youth finalists vying for cash prizes and for the titles of junior and senior “Ambassadors for Hope for the Children.”
Can Ellen Do for Music What Winfrey Did for Books?
When Ellen DeGeneres was selected to replace Paula Abdul on “American Idol, ” there were a few grumblings from people who questioned her musical expertise.
While it was clear from her boogying ways on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” that she’s a music fan, DeGeneres had no official role in the industry and had never played a role in creating music.
Now, that’s all changed. With her new record company, eleveneleven, DeGeneres is poised to become more than just a tastemaker; she’s hoping to be a star-maker. And some of music’s top executives and entertainers believe the talk-show host and “Idol” judge is the right person to help a sagging industry.
Kara DioGuardi on Season 9, what she’ll miss most about Simon
Simon Cowell did only a few select interviews at last night’s Season 9 finale, but every last person to walk the red carpet was undoubtedly interviewed about him, including fellow judge Kara DioGuardi, who had this to say on what she’ll miss most about the thorn in her left-hand side: “His naughtiness and his sense of humor, ” she tells Idol Tracker. “He would feed me the wrong information, he’ll pretend it’s time to get up when it’s not and I’m walking off the stage like an idiot, he’d say who won tonight and he’d be kidding. He’s just very, very naughty, and he almost had me a few times this season, but I have a lot of respect for him.”
And with the results now in, it had to be asked: What does this season’s Top 2, who are a long way from Jason Derulo, say about our musical climate? “I think it shows the importance of singer-songwriters and that America does want to feel like there artists come from a place of truth, ” said Kara. “That’s what you saw with these two contestants. When they picked songs that had meaning for them, they really shined.”
Simon Cowell Through the Years with ‘Extra’
“Extra” has loved Simon Cowell from the first time we met him. Our cameras were always rolling, and Simon was never afraid to be himself. Take a trip down Memory Lane — and relive all the fun moments we’ve had with the TV icon.
Plus, Mario Lopez fires up the “Extra” time machine to go one-on-one with Mr. Cowell.
Ha ha ha ha
