Kris Allen: The ultimate interview, Part Two
In the second part of this four-part interview with winner Kris Allen, the “American Idol” winner talks about auditioning for the show and the experience of using the bathroom in between Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. Read Part One here.
When did you start watching ‘American Idol’ ?
My wife and I don’t have a TV, so it was hard to keep up. But I was living with my mom last year around the time they were down to the Top Five of Season Seven and I started watching. And once you start watching ‘American Idol, ‘ you really get into it. I didn’t know if I cared who won. It was interesting to watch and see what everyone was going to do. It’s a great show. And it catches you.
EXCLUSIVE: American Idol Secret Focus Groups Paving Way For Paula Abdul ReturnEXCLUSIVE: American Idol
Focus groups are going to help the folks at Fox determine just how much money they need to offer Paula Abdul to bring her back to American Idol, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.
The TV executives want to know how audiences respond to any new judge other than Paula. ‘They know no one can replace Paula, ‘ a source said. The testing will help them see just how damaging it might be not to have Abdul back and figure out just what their new financial offer should be.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
‘Idol’ time
Before ‘American Idol” stars took the stage at TD Garden last night, we were given the opportunity to interview five of the Season 8 finalists. Too bad we couldn’t choose which ones. We were hoping to get some quality face time with Adam Lambert. Instead, we got Anoop Desai, Matt Giraud, Scott MacIntyre, Michael Sarver, and Allison Iraheta. So what are they up to? Desai told us he spent a rare day off this week watching ‘Mad Men” and wishing he could smoke and drink like Jon Hamm’s character Don Draper. Sarver spent some of his time with us explaining the conspicuous mark on his neck, which he claimed was not what it looked like (a hickey).
It’s Lambert who rules the stage for Garden ‘Idols’ party
To go to an ‘American Idols Live” concert is to commit to the entirety of it, the happy, safe mediocrity of the world’s greatest karaoke show. It is to know that you will endure the wobbly warbles of Megan Joy Corkrey before getting to the tougher tones of Allison Iraheta. It is to know that after Adam Lambert rules every inch of the stage, you still have to sit through Kris Allen.
Yes, poor likable ‘Idol” winner Allen, with his plaid shirt and his hi-tops and his acoustic guitar, functioned as a sweet and hardworking anticlimax when he appeared as the last act of the night, crooning such fan favorites as ‘Heartless” and ‘Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone.”
On a stage full of Idols, Adam Lambert is the only star
As traveling pop smorgasbords go, this one was pretty delectable.
American Idols Live! at the TD Garden last night featured 2 hours of performances ranging from mediocre to magnificent, with the Top 10 finalists mixing and matching onstage for duets and group numbers.
A 20-minute intermission was the only true buzzkill, though Season 8 winner Kris Allen’s closing set came in a close second. Yes, some of the Fox-fabricated stars fared better than others.
‘Idol’ kids straight up about Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul’s departure from ‘American Idol’ leaves a hole – but the show will go on, said last season’s Top 10.
‘All I know is that I’m pretty damn happy that we got a chance to work with her, ‘ finalist Allison Iraheta said. ‘She’s rad.’
The Idols were in town to strut their stuff at the TD Garden last night, but before getting onstage five of the 10 chatted with reporters.
Jason Castro talks about his new single, his upcoming debut album, and (not) getting the last laugh
Jason Castro’s jaunty major-label debut single, ‘Let’s Just Fall in Love Again, ‘ premiered last night and is currently streaming at his Web site, www.jasoncastromusic.com. To celebrate the occasion, American Idol’s season 7 third runner-up got on the phone with EW.com to discuss his songwriting process, his collaborators, and how he defines success.
‘IDOL’ CHAMP DAVID COOK’S OLDER WOMAN
DAVID Cook, whose singing career sky rocketed after being named “American Idol” winner last year, has a special female fan he’s been keeping under wraps. She’s Kimberly Johnston, 35, a busty Atlanta model who travels with him as he tours the country. She and Cook, 26, have been con necting since just about the time he won the competition. The lovebirds have been canoo dling at out-of-the-way places late at night after his concerts. She secretly met Cook at the bar of the London Hotel on West 54th Street, according to sources at Da Tom maso restaurant. While in town, Johnston stayed at a budget hotel, the Marrakech on Broadway at 103rd Street. Last Friday, she drove from Atlanta to see him perform in Knoxville, Tenn., sources say. Cook’s reps at 19 Entertainment ignored our calls and e- mails. But we know what’s cooking, David.
Ciara Replaced By Jordin Sparks On Britney Spears Tour
Jordin Sparks will be replacing Ciara on the second leg of “The Circus Starring Britney Spears” tour, reps at Jive Records, both Sparks and Ciara’s label, has confirmed.
In a press release on Spears’ official website, it was announced on Friday (Aug. 14th) that Sparks will be the opening act for the U.S. portion of the trek. The release also states opener Kristinia DeBarge will continue to perform on all dates while up-and-coming acts Girlicious and One Call will appear in select cities.
Although asked, Jive Records didn’t give a reason for the switch.
Life’s A Cabaret For Lauper & Co.
True Colors Cabaret, a monthly series in support of LBGT equality, will make its debut next month at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency featuring artists from the worlds of Broadway and popular music.
The first show, which takes place Sept. 28 at 8 p.m., will be hosted by Lauper and will include performances by singer/actress Stephanie J. Block (‘9 to 5, ‘ ‘Wicked, ‘ ‘The Boy from Oz’ ) and ‘American Idol’ finalist Melinda Doolittle.
The second show in the series is scheduled for October 26 at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., with Lauper hosting singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles and singer/actor Gavin Creel (‘Hair, ‘ ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ ).
Bucky Covington Wants His Life Back
Actually, he said he was very glad not to be working his old job at his dad’s mechanic shop, so that’s not entirely true. But as he prepares for the Oct. 13 release of his next album, Bucky Covington recently stopped by the CMT offices to play a few new songs, and one of them was the album’s first single, “I Want My Life Back.” It’s a story about wisdom found in a homeless man’s refusal of a handout, since money can’t buy what he really wants. The former American Idol contestant also related that Mark Miller, vocalist of the group Sawyer Brown, returns as producer of the upcoming album and that it will feature an unusual choice of a cover song, Nickelback’s “Gotta Be Somebody.” Look for the video for “I Want My Life Back” on CMT.com soon. For now, though, you can hear an extended preview of the song on Covington’s MySpace page.
Hicks goes for camp in spirited ‘Grease’ at TBPAC
He descends from the top of the stage encased in a huge ice cream cone. This Teen Angel is a prematurely gray soul singer who adds a touch of campiness to his song.
Channeling both Cary Grant and Frankie Avalon, former “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks plunges in to ’50s rock ‘n’ roll as he croons “Beauty School Dropout” in a spirited production of “Grease” that opened at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center Tuesday night.
Hicks, a good old boy from Alabama, doesn’t show up until halfway into the second act to appear in a fantasy sequence complete with beauty parlor patrons wearing large cone-shaped hair dryers.
‘DWTS’ advice for Donny Osmond: from Holly Madison, Penn Jillette and me
It became official Monday that Flamingo headliner Donny Osmond will appear on the next season of “Dancing With the Stars.” For some reason the pool of Las Vegas headliners has become an overstocked lake for casting directors of that show to grab contestants. Even former headliners such as Toni Braxton have been summoned.
The most obvious local that Osmond can turn to for advice on how to prepare for and compete on the show is his sister, Marie, who finished third when it was her turn to be on “Dancing with the Stars.” The Buffet, however, reached out to two other “Dancing with the Stars” alums who headline in Vegas to ask what advice they would give to Donny Osmond, as well as chipping in our two cents.
“Dancing With the Stars:” Seven New Contestants Have Rap Sheets
New York (CBS/AP) It’s August and that means it’s time to meet the new cast of “Dancing with the Stars.” But this year’s group of entrants has an unusual twist. Seven of the 16 hopefuls have had brushes with the law.
While the show is sometimes seen as an opportunity to give new life to flagging careers or to rehabilitate tarnished images, the question now is whether the show can clean up the police records of this year’s dancing darlings.
Aaron Carter On ‘Dancing With The Stars’: ‘I Love Competition’
Aaron Carter is ready to hit the dance floor this September as a contestant on “Dancing With the Stars.” The onetime pop singer and star of “House of Carters” is already training for the show and is ready to tackle whatever dancing style they want to throw at him.
“I want to compete on ‘DWTS’ ’cause I love competition. I love learning new things, so it’s going to be really good, ” he told “Entertainment Tonight.” “I’m not really too prone to this dancing style, but you got to learn new stuff all the time. I don’t know any ballroom steps, nothing like that, so it’s a whole new kind of thing for me.”
ETA:
Work and Play with the American Idols
Kris Allen, Adam Lambert and their fellow top 10 contestants of “American Idol”‘s eighth season unleashed the screams of a 10, 000-strong crowd within the TD Garden on Tuesday night, bringing their newly minted star power to Boston for the local stop on a 50-city tour.
The Garden performance gave the Idols a chance to connect with fans who wore out phones and racked up telephone bills voting for them over the course of the talent competition television show’s latest season. The Boston tour date also happened to be preceded by a day off in the tour itinerary, an opportunity for the Idols to connect with the city of Boston in general.
Singers know ‘star’ slot is up for grabs on ‘American Idols’ tour
Chris Daughtry came in fourth and went on top the charts not once but twice. Jennifer Hudson finished in seventh and now sports an Oscar on her mantel.
That leaves Matt Giraud wondering: Is there any love for a guy who finished fifth on “American Idol”?
