‘American Idols Live!’ review: Uneven like its TV counterpart
The American Idols Live! Tour 2009 made a stop in Newark on Saturday and Sunday, just about halfway through its 2 1/2-month, 50-city itinerary. Although its TV season concluded in May, fans were clearly not quite ready to let it go. The Prudential Center nearly reached its capacity Saturday evening for the first of the two Newark shows.
Parents and pre-teen girls made up the bulk of the crowd. Some girls brought signs for their favorite singers, but not as many as you’d normally see at a Miley Cyrus or a Jonas Brothers concert. Still, these signs – carefully taped-together fluorescent cardboard adorned with clippings from glossy supermarket tabloids – suggested more dedication and devotion than your average semester-end science presentation.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Jordin Sparks Thinks Paula Abdul Is Irreplaceable
It was only a few weeks ago that Jordin Sparks stopped by the MTV News offices and told us she was rooting for Paula Abdul to stay on “American Idol.” Now, with the news that Abdul will not be returning to the show, the “Idol” winner said she can’t help but feel like the departing judge is irreplaceable.
“Well, when I first heard the rumor a couple weeks ago, I was just like, ‘I really hope it doesn’t happen, ‘ ” she told MTV News at the Teen Choice Awards in Los Angeles. “Now that she’s gone, I don’t think anybody will ever be able to replace Paula. She’s amazing.”
Kelly Clarkson: Skinny and Svelte on Cover of Self, Thanks to Airbrushing
Kelly Clarkson has battled weight ups and downs for years, but on the cover of September’s SELF magazine, she looks slimmer than ever.
That’s because she’s been photoshopped, and the magazine’s not afraid to admit it.
“Yes, of course we do post-production corrections on our images, ” SELF editor in chief Lucy Danziger told “Entertainment Tonight.” “Kelly Clarkson exudes confidence, and is a great role model for women of all sizes and stages of their life. She works out and is strong and healthy, and our picture shows her confidence and beauty. She literally glows from within. That is the feeling we’d all want to have. We love this cover and we love Kelly Clarkson.”
‘Idol’ contestants sound off on Paula Abdul’s departure
Paula Abdul’s sudden departure from the “American Idol” judging panel caught many by surprise when she announced her departure via Twitter last week.
The sudden announcement came less than three months following the finale of the top-rated show’s eighth season, and only one month after the finalists embarked on the arena tour. Their handler at Saturday’s “Idol’s Live!” Tour in Newark requested all reporters to not make the interviews entirely about Abdul. Still, the Idols seemed just as shocked as everyone else.
Daughtry’s rock star act could use some polish
The fans who sold out the Daughtry show at the Vic Theatre on Saturday were exceedingly enthusiastic, and the band played it up, slinging towels, guitar picks and shirts into the crowd’s eager hands throughout the set.
The band is a creation around “American Idol” contestant Chris Daughtry, one of an elite few to have parlayed their popular mainstream presence on “Idol” into a lucrative musical career. While he didn’t win “Idol, ” Daughtry’s rocker approach has served him well. His debut album opened at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. His recently released “Leave This Town, ” on which the band also collaborated, debuted at No. 1.
David Cook Fan Event Announced
(PR) This Tuesday, August 11th, the Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood, CA will host a special fan event with Season 7 American Idol winner David Cook!
Head to Hard Rock at Universal CityWalk for your chance to meet David Cook and receive a signed copy of his self-titled CD. The first 300 people to purchase the CD will get a signed copy by David himself.
In addition, Cook will donate his lace up stage pants from last summer’s American Idol tour which will become a permanent addition to Hard Rock’s world-famous collection.
Gospel Music Assocation Names Winners At GMA Immerse National Talent Competition
The GMA Academy Artist & Song of 2009 National Competition is the Christian and gospel music community’s premier talent competition for unsigned artists and songwriters that has in recent years seen entrants like Chris Tomlin, Matthew West, Nichole Nordeman, BarlowGirl and American Idol 2007 winner Jordin Sparks go on to successful music careers. Fellow American Idol finalist and another former GMA competition winner Chris Sligh hosted this year’s competition finals. (To watch the Artist Finals which were broadast live at GodBeat.com, visit http://godbeat.com/godbeat-news/live-broadcast-of-immerse-finals.)
‘I need to move on from Simon Cowell’ says Terri Seymour
Simon Cowell’s former lover Terri Seymour has confessed that she is still to break free from the entertainment mogul.
The 35-year-old told Fabulous magazine that she in in constant contact with the X Factor boss, even though they spilt almost a year ago.
She said: “We do still speak every day. Actually we’ll often speak to each other five, even 10 times a day. And when Simon is in LA we see each other daily. We’ll go out with friends, we might even end up at his place until 2am chatting and having a laugh.”
However, she insisted that their relationship was over.
She explained: “But we’re not back together. We’re definitely no longer an item.
Are Simon Fuller and Kate Moss the fashion world’s next big double act?
Simon Fuller, the so-called svengali behind Brand Beckham, is extending his grip on the world of fashion. His company, 19 Management, announces today that it has bought a 51% stake in Storm Model Management, the agency that represents Kate Moss. It was two years ago that Fuller first made a foray into the world of fashion, when he teamed up with designer Roland Mouret to create the label 19RM. That seemed an odd collaboration at the time, but Fuller’s interest in fashion has grown ever since. Two months ago he announced the launch in September of a fashion website, fashionair.com.
Abdul isn’t ruling out ‘Idol’ return
Although ‘American Idol’ is moving ahead with plans to replace Paula Abdul, Abdul herself is not totally sold on turning her back on the show entirely.
‘She didn’t want to leave ‘†she hoped the show would give her the salary she wanted if she said she was walking, ‘ said a source close to Abdul. ‘Although she’s getting other offers, she knows that ‘Idol’ is the best place for her to be. If the show can come up with a little more money, there’s a good chance she’ll return.’
TV: Abdul was key to ‘Idol’ formula
In the more than seven years I’ve been a television critic, I never thought I would write this: Fox made a huge mistake letting “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul go.
There, I said it: Now I ought to just stab myself in the chest.
But whether we realize it or not, like it or not, or support it or not, the loopy, superficial, slightly inept Abdul was an intrinsic part of the “American Idol” formula that’s going to be difficult to recreate.
ETA:
Carrie Underwood to perform at OMHOF concert
Carrie Underwood will be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame on Sept. 17, officials announced today. Underwood will perform in a concert that evening at the Muskogee Civic Center.
Mark Ballas: Just Say No to Paula As Dancing Judge
Mark Ballas wouldn’t mind seeing Paula Abdul on Dancing With the Stars’â€just not as a judge.
“I think we’re good with our judges, ” Ballas told me yesterday at the Teen Choice Awards. “I think she should be on the show as a competitor.”
Considering Ms. Abdul’s dance background, can’t she be one of the show’s professional dancers?
Nope’ ¦
“She can’t be a professional because she’s not a ballroom or a Latin dancer, ” Ballas explained. “She’d be great as a competitor. She’s a great personality, everybody loves her and she makes great TV.”
Taylor Hicks interview for ‘Grease’ show at Fox Theater August 11-16
Taylor Hicks three years ago said his life ambition was to live on a bus and just play music.
After winning ‘American Idol, ‘ the prematurely gray-haired soul singer has gotten that wish. He has no house, no rent or mortgage, no utility bills. ‘I’ve been living out of a suitcase since 2006, ‘ he said in an interview last month to promote his role as Teen Angel in the national tour of ‘Grease, ‘ which is at the Fox Theatre. ‘My bills get sent to my parents.’
But even a vagabond like Hicks says he actually would to have roots again someday.
‘I’d like to have some home setting in five years, some sort of anchor, ‘ he said.
