Ryan Seacrest nears new megadeal
This is … a rich new deal for “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest.
The ubiquitous Seacrest is putting the finishing touches on a contract extension with “Idol” co-producer 19 Entertainment to continue to emcee the top series on TV.
The pact, which is believed to be for three years, will give Seacrest a major pay raise and make him one of the highest-paid reality hosts on tele ¬vision. He made slightly less than $5 million this season for his work on “Idol, ” which breaks down to about $100, 000 per episode.
Additionally, Seacrest is said to be expanding his relationship with 19 Entertainment, possibly to develop series with 19 principal and “Idol” creator Simon Fuller.
“Idol” is produced jointly by 19, Fremantle and Fox. All declined to comment on Seacrest’s new deal, as did his attorneys at Hansen Jacobson, but the agreement is expected to be announced Monday.
Seacrest traveled to the U.K. last month and met with execs at 19 to discuss a new deal.
Disney Dream Ticket winners audition for real for American Idol Season 9
American Idol producers say nearly 10, 000 people turned out for their Season 9 auditions at Orlando’s Amway Arena today, and several of them had a coveted Disney Dream Ticket.
The Dream Ticket is the prize awarded to the finale show winner at the American Idol Experience each day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
‘Idol’ auditions draw 10, 000 in Orlando; Denver next
ORLANDO, Fla. – Chris Rushton, 18, of Chicago wore a headdress. Jake Leavitt, 19, of Boca Raton stood alone, his shirt open, and sang “Let It Be.” Miquette Jackson, 28, of DeBary held a sign that read “I Lost 120 lbs. for American Idol.”
Idol hopefuls took different routes Thursday to stand out in Orlando as nearly 10, 000 of them descended on Amway Arena.
“I really expected 5-6, 000 tops, ” supervising producer Patrick Lynn said. “It’s a huge crowd. … I think more people are just turning out because they see their chance. It took Kris [Allen] and Adam [Lambert] years to come and try out.”
Idol host Ryan Seacrest swept into town to tape an opening for the Orlando episode. Seacrest, full of boyish enthusiasm as he fed off the crowd’s energy, hailed the show’s goal.
Top two Tampa Bay Idol contestants move ahead in ‘American Idol’ auditions at Orlando
In the end, Samantha Leigh’s shot at American Idol fame came down to about 15 seconds; the amount of time she got to blast through Aretha Franklin’s soulful hit Rock Steady during her audition Thursday before American Idol producers in Orlando.
Leigh, a 22-year-old who sings at Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa, got a prime audition spot after winning Tampa Fox affiliate WTVT- Ch. 13’s Tampa Bay Idol contest last week. While an estimated 10, 000 people showed up as early as 5 a.m. Thursday to wait in line around Amway Arena, Leigh was among several contest winners moved to the head of the line for the audition before casting producers.
‘American Idol”s Top 10 on Tour
“American Idol”‘s Top 10, led by Kris Allen and Adam Lambert, are touring America this summer, and ET gets the 411!
“My personal life has become kind of public, ” Adam tells ET about how his life has changed since the “American Idol” finale. “It comes with the territory. I am glad to share my story, but, hopefully, we can move past the controversial topics and look forward to great music. I think [my sexuality] is controversial for some people. It was nice to set the record straight. That is why I did it: ‘Let’s talk about this once and move on.’ There is a lot of great positive support out there. That means a lot to me.”
Tra-la-la! It’s time for “American Idol” tryouts
Hey, you! You with the healthy ego and the craving to be on television! You sound good in the shower, right? When the steam is rising and the acoustics are right, you can fake a vibrato as well as Lil Rounds, croon a soulful ballad in the manner of Danny Gokey, or stomp through a Southern rocker like Taylor Hicks, no?
Soap up: Starting Sunday, you’ll have a chance to impress the producers of “American Idol” enough to win a ticket to the competition.
The Fox phenomenon doesn’t return to the airwaves until January, but the television steamroller known as “American Idol” will hold auditions at Denver’s Invesco Field at Mile High on Tuesday, with preregistration on Sunday and Monday.
Top 10 ‘Idols’ head to Ontario
Scott MacIntyre won’t reveal too much about the American Idols Live tour, which stops at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario on July 17, but he does have something to say about the group numbers.
“I can definitely tell you if there’s any doubt in anyone’s mind — they’re not going to be cheesy, ” MacIntyre said laughing, in a recent telephone interview.
Group numbers from “American Idol” contestants not cheesy? Really?
Allison Iraheta: ‘I Was Already Crying When They Said ‘And The Winner Is’ ¦”
Up next in our special ‘Idol’ tour interviews are handsome Kris Allen and pink-haired cutie, Allison Iraheta.
Kris gave us a sneak peek into Allison’s upcoming album, and told us whose hair she dyed on the tour, while Allison sang her praises about Kris’ amazing voice and told us how she felt when he sang Michael Jackson’s ‘Man In The Mirror.’
What was your first impression of Allison?
Grounded, Fast Senior Runner Michael Dyer Ready to Attack Record Books
It’s hard to imagine now but Little Rock Christian senior running back Michael Dyer was at one time bigger than America’s newest ‘Idol, ‘ Kris Allen.
While Conway’s Allen vaulted to national fame on the hit Fox television show ‘American Idol’ this spring, Dyer had been making a name for himself on the football fields across the state since his freshman season in 2006 for the private school in west Little Rock.
Allen may have become an overnight singing sensation, but last season he was just another guy up in the press box filming Little Rock Christian games.
Sheryl Crow, David Cook, Ginuwine, Sara Evans and Nikko Smith to perform at 2009 All-Star Week in St. Louis
On Monday, July 13, rock singer/songwriter and 2008 America Idol season winner David Cook will perform two songs with his band prior to the start of the State Farm ® Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium. Prior to Cook’s performance, Nikko Smith — singer/songwriter and 2005 American Idol finalist, and son of St. Louis Cardinals legend Ozzie Smith — will perform the U.S. National Anthem. Smith performed the U.S. National Anthem prior to Game 4 of the 2006 World Series at Busch Stadium. The State Farm ® Home Run Derby will be televised live on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. ET.
David Cook takes steely determination on the road
David Cook is a man with a mission, and a wicked sense of humor. Calling after a sound check in Amarillo, Texas, he’s feeling good, quick to laugh and dead serious about riding the road of success as long as he can.
“Coming off ‘American Idol, ‘” said the rocker who took top honors in television competition’s seventh season, “I knew anything could happen. I look at this as my only shot, and I want to make it work until someone calls my bluff.”
That’s not likely to happen anytime soon, though. His tour recently was extended to mid-October and now it’s running into December, filling 90-plus percent of available seats. Watch for him Saturday, July 11, at the Chesaning Showboat Music Festival.
Don’t Want To Hook Up? Kelly Clarkson Can Help
Kelly Clarkson is known for a lot of things’â€winning the first season of American Idol; having multiple number one hits; starring in the dreadful From Justin to Kelly. However, according to her official website and Facebook page, Ms. Clarkson might become known for something else’â€rejection.
Miss Independent recently launched the “I Do Not Hook Up hotline”‘â€an aptly titled phone service that not only promotes the singer’s latest single but also gives us all an easy out from any uncomfortable dating situation. The number, 973-409-3267, appears as harmless enough digits and could easily be a number from North Jersey.
Carrie Underwood, We Salute You for Saluting the Troops
This makes me so proud ‘†that a country artist of this caliber would take the time to celebrate our troops with a special concert on Aug. 14. Carrie Underwood isn’t touring much this summer because she’s been prepping her new album, but this Salute to the Troops show is special. She’s doing the show, along with John Rich, Rodney Atkins and Jake Owen, for the soldiers and families of Fort Campbell, Ky., during the Week of the Eagles event. ‘People just expect there to be a military, but they don’t see faces and they don’t know names, ‘ said Underwood. ‘
Jordin Sparks Teams With Plus Sized Torrid
Jordin Sparks is teaming up for an exclusive “Battlefield” preview with plus-size fashion retailer Torrid.
Slated for July 18, fans of Sparks will be able to preview her new album “Battlefield” before its release Tuesday, July 21 through a special in store listening party.
“Torrid has had a long and joyful partnership with Jordin Sparks, ” said Chris Daniel, Torrid president.
American Idol’s’ Brooke White previews album in Facebook performance
Brooke White, fifth-place finisher on “American Idol’s” seventh season, held a live performance on Facebook this evening, performing a short set of songs from her upcoming album High Hopes & Heartbreak. Noted for her singer-songwriter sound and similarities to such 1970s musicians as Carole King, White embraces the niche she carved for herself on ‘American Idol’ on her second album.
The event got off to a late start and was met with its share of technical problems (video was eschewed for audio; in the infancy of such technology, both could not coexist), but when it finally began 36 minutes late, the voice of a cheery White greeted both live and blind online audiences.
Yamin bringing ‘Idol’ success to downtown party
Three years since appearing on “American Idol, ” finalist Elliott Yamin still keeps in touch with people from the show.
The R&B singer, who performs at Modesto’s X-Fest on July 18, keeps in contact with judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul. He is closer with Randy and has more sporadic contact with Paula.
“I’ll get phone messages from her, ” he said. “I’ll see some unknown number and it will be her calling from out of the blue.”
He also maintains friendships with fellow contestants Ace Young and Bucky Covington. Covington, incidentally, also is coming to the region, playing the Merced County Fair on July 25.
Sinitta: ‘Simon Cowell was a horrible cheat’
Sinitta has admitted that Simon Cowell was a “horrible cheat” during their on-off relationship which lasted for 16 years.
The former singer, who currently works alongside Cowell on The X Factor, told Heatworld that her romance with the music mogul ended because of his playboy ways.
“He was a horrible cheat. He was always disappearing and stuff, you know, and I’d have to work and he’d almost be laughing as he waved me off on a plane to Japan, like, ‘Great, I’m going to have a really good time while you’re away’, ” she joked.
Bid on Designer Clothes from Paula Abdul and Support PAWS at EBay Auction
July 9, 2009 — Paula Abdul and Auction Cause have teamed up to support PAWS, American Humane’s Pets and Women’s Shelters, and unveil an EBay Auction event that began on June 29th and will continue through the end of the summer.
Some of the featured items include clothing worn by Abdul during the previous seasons of American Idol and others worn to a variety of red carpet events and star-studded celebrations. Visit the EBay Auction to view the items available and place bids. An email alert registration is also available.
Paula Abdul serves as the national spokesperson for the American Humane PAWS program, which is designed to help women who are victims of domestic violence bring their pets along to shelters as a measure of security and comfort. The program helps ease women and children in this transitional phase of their lives by keeping the family pet bond intact.
“The PAWS Program is a critical way of providing a transition for abused women and children into a safer and better life, ” Paula said.
‘So You Think You Can Dance’: No Jackson tribute
I was half right about tonight’s elimination. The half that I didn’t predict was a surprise, but I think a good choice by the judges. But let’s save that for the end.
The dancers led off with a very sharp military-inspired hip-hop dance set to the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army, ” choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon D’umo, that was quite reminiscent of Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation” video. Speaking of which, after acknowledging his 60th birthday, judge Nigel Lythgoe broke the sad news that there would be no Michael Jackson tribute, as the powers-that-be wouldn’t release the music. Ah well, maybe it’s for the best: Even though a “So You Think You Can Dance, ” tribute would have been amazing, after this week’s emotional memorial, perhaps it’s good just to let it rest for a bit.
‘America’s Got Talent’ rises, tops Wednesday
NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and ABC’s “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” rose in the ratings this week, while Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” slipped just slightly.
Fox won the night overall while NBC had the highest-rated and most-watched show with “Talent” (11.7 million viewers, 3.3 preliminary adults 18-49 rating), which went up 14%. At 10 p.m., “The Philanthropist” (5.1 million, 1.4) quit dropping and held steady, though in third place. Fox’s two-hour “Dance” (6.9 million, 2.8) ebbed a bit.
