As Seen on TV: American Idols Live at D.C.’s Verizon Center
IF YOU WATCHED “American Idol” this year, you know that the TV singing competition came down to a one-on-one between two guys: Kris Allen and Adam Lambert. Both brought, as competition judge Randy Jackson might say, mad skills (, dawg, ) to the proceedings, but only one could be crowned the winner.
It was Allen. And if you think many of Lambert’s fans don’t still insist their guy got shafted, just do a Google search or two. Or read the comments that poured in after Express’ interview with Allen was published earlier this week. There’s passion there. And maybe just a hint of crazy for flavor.
Paula Abdul leaving ‘American Idol’; makes announcement on Twitter
Sources say Abdul asked for about $20 million to continue with the show. She rejected a 30% raise; an eight-figure multi-year deal.
News comes on heels of newest judge Kara DioGuardi being re-signed to the show. Fellow judge Simon Cowell is locked for nest season. Cowell, who in the spring indicated he may leave at the end of his current deal, is already talking to “Idol” producers for a new contract, reportedly seeking more than $100 million a year.
Meanwhile, host Ryan Seacrest has already agreed to return as part of a broader three-year $45 million deal with 19 Entertainment.
Paula Abdul exit: Reaction from Ryan Seacrest, Blake Lewis, and more…
Following Paula Abdul’s Twitter announcement, and Fox’s confirmation, on Tuesday night that the American Idol judge will not return for the show’s ninth season, here’s what people are saying:
Ryan Seacrest (via Twitter): ‘Idol and the cast have grown with each other over the last 8 seasons. I can’t imagine the panel without Paula. She’s a star @ a great friend.’
Blake Lewis (Idol season 6 runner-up): ‘Paula leaving American Idol is like a honeycomb without the honey. She brought a sweetness to the AI that no one can replace. She will be forever our girl.’
Straight Up: Judging Paula’s “Idol” Replacement
Let’s make one thing clear: We’re here to sing Paula Abdul’s praises, not dance on the grave of her now-dead “American Idol” career.
Paula tweeted goodbye to her fans last night when she announced her intentions not to return for the ninth season for the smash hit.
“With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return, ” Abdul wrote on her Twitter page Tuesday.
Her loopy pronouncements (‘David, you are ridiculous. I wanna just squish you, squeeze your head off, and dangle you from my rear-view mirror, ‘ she memorably told Season Seven runner-up David Archuleta) often were more entertaining than the performers.
Straight Up: Nigel Lythgoe Discusses Paula Abdul’s Idol Exit
I stayed calm by remembering the silver lining here: that SYTYCD producer/judge Nigel Lythgoe had recently declared that Paula would be welcome as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance, if she didn’t return to Idol season 9.
So naturally, after the SYTYCD finale taping, the first interview question I had for Nigel regarded this fascinating possibility. Here’s what he had to say:
‘Idol’ Days Over: Paula Abdul Refuses to Return
According to a source close to the “Opposites Attract” singer, she was offered a contract by FOX and it was her decision to turn it down.
“Paula is actually handling the situation really well, she is in great spirits, ” a close source told Pop Tarts. “She has so many offers and opportunities and has been in New York this week taking meetings.”
Another source said that while the judges had shown the contestants great support through the years it was Abdul who was the one who stayed in closest contact, calling and constantly being there for the finalists as they branched out into the music world.
Adam Lambert Hits a High Note with Pennyroyal Silver’s Signature Collection
Los Angeles, CA, August 05, 2009 –(PR.com)– One of America’s favorite new musical talents has teamed up with Pennyroyal Silver ® to benefit the MusiCares Foundation ®. Charismatic American Idol runner-up, Adam Lambert, has become the latest to contribute an original sketch design to the Pennyroyal Silver ® Signature Collection.
Adam quoted, “I am thrilled to be able to contribute one of my hand drawn designs to the “Pennyroyal ® Signature Collection” to benefit MusiCares ®. The “Eye of Horus” is a sign of protection and I got it tattooed on my wrist once I made the top 36 of American Idol. It has meant a lot to me during this creative process of my career and I am happy to share the design with others.”
Adam Lambert’s Fans Throwing Sex Toys Onstage!
Fans have taken it up a notch from throwing bras and panties at Adam Lambert during the American Idol summer tour. Now they’re tossing up sex toys.
“It’s going further, and somebody threw onstage a red-leather tasseled whip, ” he tells us. “Yeah, and then the next night, I got one that was made out of, like, purple fur. It’s getting really S&M.”
How’s he dealing with the newfound fan freakiness? Find out…
“It interesting, ” he says. “I got some glow-in-the-dark handcuffs. It’s really getting creative. It’s exciting. I think they really want me to play with these toys during the number.”
“The Best of Times” for Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy
Dream Theater sounds like something Jim Henson created in the 1980s, but as we all know, it’s actually the name of a pretty killer prog-metal band from, well, the 1980s (and 90’s and today damn it!).
Stone aside, what do you make of the American Idol phenomenon? Should there be a genre-bending night on the show that incorporates you guys?
I hate to admit it, but I watched every episode of the last two seasons! I think America got it right with David Cook and I was very happy to see his great talent recognized and appreciated, but this last season was very disappointing. Although Kris Allen has a great voice, he was just too “safe” (like last season’s David Archuleta, who I thought would win, but was pleasantly surprised to see America give it up to D.C. instead). I was really hoping for Adam Lambert to pull it off as D.C. did. Adam’s voice is just incredible. He is a true star and deserves every bit of fame I hope he gets-he is a truly gifted vocalist — the likes of which we don’t often see in this business (ala Freddie Mercury, Jeff Buckley, Matthew Bellamy, etc.).
Adam Lambert: The ultimate interview, Part One
We know from watching ‘American Idol’ that you were raised in San Diego, but where were your parents living when you were born?
I was born Jan. 29, 1982, in Indianapolis, Ind. I believe I was conceived on their honeymoon in Puerto Rico. I should have a little T-shirt that says, ‘Conceived in Puerto Rico.’ They had me about nine months after their wedding.
My parents moved me out of Indianapolis when I was about a year old. My mom and dad said: ‘This isn’t the right fit for us. We want to go somewhere else.’ So a job opportunity opened up for [my dad] in San Diego and we moved.
A quick Q&A with American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert
Sun writer Sam Sessa interviewed American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert for this piece in today’s paper.
Lambert and several of the other Idol contestants will perform at 1st Mariner Arena Wednesday as part of the American Idols Live tour.
Here are some bits and pieces from the interview that didn’t make it into the article:
Hey, Isn’t That . . . ?
Some, but apparently not all, of the “American Idol” stars fine-dining together Monday night at The Source — Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy, Lil Rounds, plus assorted friends. The boisterous and happy crowd — here for Tuesday night’s Verizon Center show — enjoyed tuna cones, short ribs, lots of mojitos. Sang “Happy Birthday, ” presumably to Megan, who turns 24 on Wednesday. Not seen: winner Kris Allen or superstar runner-up Adam Lambert.
Lambert, Allen, Cook ready for GMA
OK, ABC-TV and Good Morning America is ready for Friday.
The Glamberts, the Kris Allen lovers and David Cook fanatics undoubtedly will all be there.
Central Park, NYC.
8:30 a.m. local time.
Free admission, first-come, first-served.
‘They will each sing one song apiece, ‘ GMA spokeswoman Bridgette Maney said. ‘And I don’t know what order they will go in. I don’t know if that has even been determined yet.’
One good thing is that they will be doing more than one song although you won’t see it on the telecast. For that ‘extra’ song from each you’ll have to go to the ABC website and we’ll provide you a direct link to that later today.
Emmys Revamp Ceremony in Search of Better Ratings
PASADENA, Calif. ԠThe Emmy Awards ceremony is getting a makeover, and a lot of people in Hollywood are not happy about it.
After last year’s ceremony drew the smallest Emmy television audience ever, a survey of viewers revealed that many found the awards to be focused largely on television shows that mainstream audiences did not know and were not interested in.
So the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has decided to prerecord and edit eight awards this year to allow for more time to celebrate shows that are popular with the public but might not be winning the hearts of Emmy voters.
EXCLUSIVE DETAILS: Real Housewife Staub Sinks Her Cougar Claws into Idol Constantine
Season one of The Real Housewives of New Jersey may have ended, but the drama keeps coming for one of its notorious cast members, Danielle Staub.
During last week’s launch party for Mademan.com in New York City, onlookers witnessed Staub, who was celebrating her 47th birthday, getting her flirt on with former American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis, 33.
An eyewitness tells RadarOnline.com exclusively that Staub even slipped her number to the much younger Constantine!
Kellie Pickler picks new single
Kellie Pickler will follow the Top 10 success of Best Days of Your Life with Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You, a song that appears on both her Kellie Pickler and Small Town Girl albums. “I was gonna put it on every album until it was finally released as a single, ” she says. “I guess they figure this might finally shut me up.”
Playlist Rewind: David Cook
When Phillyist went to see David Cook, it was with a level of reserved enthusiasm. We were looking forward to the concert, but weren’t quite sure what we had in store for us. Turns out it was a lot of teens and a lot of cougars in mom jeans. Seriously, we couldn’t get over the fact that there were a lot of older women there, and not with their children. They were legitimately there to see David Cook. We didn’t know he pulled so strongly from that demographic but they sure loved him and Cook loves his fans right back.
