I Haven’t Gotten a Phone Call says Jessica Simpson on being asked to Become an Idol Judge
The “With You” singer — who has been dating ex-NFL player Eric Johnson since May — also also sets the record straight about rumors that she’s been asked to become a judge on American Idol.
“I mean, I don’t think so, ” she says. “I haven’t gotten a phone call.”
But if she were to become a judge, is Simpson prepared to offer contestants some words of wisdom?
“I’m not a very judgmental person, so I could probably stick my foot in my mouth a couple times, ” she says. “I am a singer and I do know if it’s going to actually happen for someone or not.”
See the video at Us Magazine
Steven Tyler on ‘Idol’ Could Be ‘Positive’ for Aerosmith, Says Drummer
Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer is, for one, behind the idea of frontman Steven Tyler taking a seat on the “American Idol” judges panel next season.
“It could be a very positive thing, ” Kramer — whose 2009 memoir “Hit Hard: A Story of Hitting Rock Bottom at the Top, ” has just been published in paperback — tells Billboard.com. “We’ve been talking about it the last couple of days, and it’s made me come to realize what a positive impact it could have for [Aerosmith]. The possibilities are kind of infinite with something like that happening, us being exposed to a whole new generation of people. So we’ll see what happens. It should be interesting.”
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‘American Idol’ hot ticket for aspiring pop stars
The crowds of 16, 000 in Nashville and 17, 000 in East Rutherford, N.J., are among the biggest the show has ever seen — eclipsed only by the 22, 000 that auditioned in Washington, D.C., for season four, a show spokeswoman said.
Earlier this year, “American Idol” expanded the pool by lowering the age eligibility a year, from 16 to 15 years old. The maximum age to audition remains 28.
Host Ryan Seacrest suggested another reason for the enthusiasm.
“I think people are sensing that season 10 is a historic moment, and they all want to take a shot at being the 10th American Idol, ” Seacrest said at the New Jersey audition earlier this week.
Read more at Salon.com
‘American Idol’ Judge Job Poses Risks and Opportunities
Amid the past week’s flurry of rumors about who would fill the two vacant judge slots on “American Idol” — Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, Harry Connick Jr. and Chris Isaak among them — one fact remained unspoken: Being an “Idol” judge presents almost as many risks as it does opportunities.
The paycheck is outstanding — according to the Hollywood Reporter, Cowell earned $36 million per year — and with Nielsen Media Research’s tally of more than 20 million viewers twice per week, the promotional platform is unequaled on TV.
But signing on to a TV institution — especially one in flux — is a loaded proposition both professionally and personally. “Here’s the thing about TV: The good news is, it makes you real famous, ” Crush Management founder Jonathan Daniel says. “The bad news is, it makes you real famous.
Read more at Billboard.com
TCA Stunners: Michael Feinstein Calls American Idol “Sad and Dangerous.” Plus Anarchy Stars Diss Emmys
“I have problems with American Idol because I think that we live in a time when it is essential to connect with other people in a way of kindness, ” he began. “To see the bashing of young souls on television for the sake of sport and ratings and a witty line is, I think, unconscionable. I think of how generations of kids are watching this program and are gaining permission to treat other people that way, to judge them and to say nasty things to them. I think that’s a terrible thing. As my life has evolved, I’ve tried to be less judgmental and to try and see something positive in people. And to see a show where souls are dismissed wholesale in that way is a very sad and dangerous thing.”
Read more at the Huffington Post
Bowersox corn maze almost ready to go
According to Duke Wheeler, owner of the corn maze, an artist from Idaho designed the maze and the information to create it was plugged into GPS.
One of Duke’s employees then drove around with a rototiller, following the coordinates across the 16-acre plot of land to create the design. It took about 11 hours of cutting to complete.
Read more at FOXToledo.com
Rodney Ho, Atlanta Journal Constitution interviews Casey James
Read more at the AJC
SomethingPitchy: What It’s Like to Audition for ‘American Idol’ (VIDEO)
Rejected singers told SomethingPitchy that mostly tweens were making it to the next round due in large part to ‘Idol’ lowering its age minimum to 15 this season. Season 10 just might end up being made up entirely of Bieber-a-likes. (Dear god, no.)
We even got a few of them to sing for us on camera — some for the better, and one particular one for the much, much worse.
Watch the video at TV Squad
Fantasia – “Man of the House”
Listen to a new song “Man Of The House” off Fantasia’s forthcoming album “Back To Me” which hits stores August 24th!
Maybe Fantasia’s peeps floating the next single? The second season of Fantasia’s reality show, “Fantasia For Real” debuts on VH1 Sept. 19
Listen to the tune at FantasiaOfficial
Taylor Hicks Interview and Performance on FOX 8 Cleveland
Taylor sings “7 Mile Breakdown”
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More at FOX8
Photo Flash: Constantine Tours NYC
While most celebs travel incognito, Tony nominee Constantine Maroulis basked in the spotlight last night. After his performance of ROCK OF AGES, the Tony Award nominee graciously signed autographs for fans who lined up outside the stage door, before crossing the street to his own private CitySights tour bus. The former “Idol” star and his entourage headed over to the show’s after party at B.B. Kings on top of the iconic double-decker blue bus for all passersby to see. BroadwayWorld brings you Maroulis-siting coverage below!
As BroadwayWorld reported yesterday, Maroulis will perform for the last time as “Drew” on Broadway Thursday, September 9 before headlining the First National Tour of ROCK OF AGES, debuting in Chicago on September 21. Joey Taranto to take over the role of “Drew” at Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street).
See the photos at Broadway World
Audio: Hear the So You Think You Can Dance Exit Montage Song!
Dry your eyes, little ones: So You Think You Can Dance is almost over, but here’s a silver lining: a sneak listen to the ditty that will be performed on the August 12 season finale!
NYC rockers Black Gold will perform their breakout single, “Shine, ” live on the Fox telecast, and it can already be heard during the show’s weekly contestant exit montage.
Listen to the track and learn more about the band at US Weekly
So You Think You Can Dance Backstage Report: Why Mia Michaels and AdéChiké Will Never Be BFFs
“I was kind of surprised, ” Mia said, “because his voting has been really high…but I think America got it right. I’m very happy with the three that are in there. I love them all for different reasons and I would be happy if any of those three won. AdéChiké as a dancer has a lot to work on.” Still, she added, “He’s a warrior and his tenacity has got him really far. I think that’s very respectable. He’ll be great at anything he chooses to do. And I’m proud of him.”
About Mia’s harsh criticism throughout the season, a very subdued AdéChiké told us: “I was a big fan of Mia. I still am. Hearing her harsh words…I don’t need for her to recognize me to know that I’m great. If she’s not too crazy about me, somebody else is.”
Read more at E Online
SYTYCD’s Adam Shankman on Directing Glee: “It’s Not the Episode Everybody Thinks It Is”
During the TCA press tour Monday, Glee show runner Ryan Murphy confirmed that Adam would be directing one of the first 10 episodes next season. Read on to hear what Adam told us last night about his episode (including the Michael Jackson rumors) and who he’s most excited to direct…
“I can’t say [which episode I’ll be directing], ” Adam told us backstage last night after the SYTYCD semifinal, “but it’s not the thing everybody thinks it is.”
Yesterday, Ryan Seacrest tweeted that he “got a pretty heavy hint” from Adam “that he’s directing the MJ episode.” “All I went was ‘hee hee’ in Michael Jackson’s voice, ” Adam told us. “I didn’t say yes I was doing the Michael Jackson episode.
Read more at E Online
Gleeful Hookup? Kevin McHale Plays Coy on Jenna Ushkowitz
Kevin McHale has a busy weekend ahead of him what with cohosting the Teen Choice Awards with the other Glee guys.
But he still made time to hit the gift suites. I caught up with Kevin yesterday at Melanie Segal’s Celebrity Retreat presented by TJ Maxx, and grilled him about whether he and costar Jenna Ushkowitz are an item.
“We’re friends, we’re good friends, ” he said. “Of course it’s gonna come up because we’re all around each other 24/7. It’s pictures of us on the beach; we were in Monaco; it was fun.”
Read more at EOnlline
The Frosted Flakes Commercial that Launched Jane Lynch’s Career
In this mid-90s commercial (aptly titled “Stalking Tony the Tiger”) Lynch plays one half of a couple standing outside of the Frosted Flakes headquarters. Sporting Tony the Tiger sweatshirts, the pair eat their favorite cereal while staring at their door to catch their hero walking by. Lucky for Lynch, the commercial was directed by Christopher Guest and the experience led her straight to a role in the director’s upcoming film—cult classic Best in Show.
Watch the video at Gawker
Prison ‘Idol’? Discovery plans jailhouse talent shows
In what has to be the oddest and potentially inflammatory “American Idol” knock-off reality contest yet, Investigation Discovery just announced two prison talent shows.
At the Television Critics Association’s press tour in Beverly Hills, the Discovery-branded crime network announced it’s developing a singing competition titled “Talent Behind Bars, ” and another show called “Dancing Behind Bars.”
The latter is produced by top-shelf reality kingpin Mark Burnett, the former has yet to attach a producing partner.
Network chief Henry Schleiff was candid that the shows were attempting to build off the success of Fox’s “American Idol” and ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.”
Read more at The Hollywood Reporter
