`Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ to open worldwide
LOS ANGELES ԠWhen Michael Jackson died in June, he was just days away from launching a 50-show run of comeback concerts in London.
Now, video footage of preparations for those performances have become “Michael Jackson’s This Is It, ” a documentary opening worldwide Tuesday.
The simultaneous showings around the globe will be anchored by a star-studded premiere at the Nokia Theatre, a 7, 100-seat concert venue across the street from Staples Center, where many of Jackson’s rehearsals ‘†and his high-profile public memorial ‘†were held.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Kris Allen, Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta all make the Idol airplay chart
Kelly Clarkson’s Already Gone tops 10, 000 spins on the American Idol airplay chart this week, as the single moves into the Top 10 of USA TODAY’s Mediabase-powered Top 40 chart. It’s one of just two Idol singles in the Top 40’s Top 40 this week, as Jordin Sparks’ S.O.S. (Let the Music Play) moves into the 40 slot.
Elsewhere, Katharine McPhee’s Had It All comes in at #40 on the AC chart, and Daughtry’s new single, Life After You, makes its debut on the Idol chart at #99.
Kris Allen previews three new tracks at Miami Dolphins tailgate party: What do you think?
Who knew you needed to keep up on football to feed your American Idol addiction? Yesterday afternoon, season 8 champ Kris Allen debuted three new songs from his forthcoming debut CD at a Miami Dolphins tailgate party. Two of the tracks ‘†‘Before We Come Undone’ and ‘Written All Over My Face’ ‘†were ones I’d heard back in September, and asked Kris about when I interviewed him at Z100 the day he premiered ‘Live Like We’re Dying.’ The third song, ‘Can’t Stay Away, ‘ is one of 13 ditties that made the final track list for Kris’ self-titled debut, due Nov. 17 from 19 Recordings/Jive. I know there’s been some chatter among music-industry prognosticators that Kris is too low-key to compete in a post-Idol world, but I suspect those folks haven’t actually listened to any of the man’s music. Here’s their big opportunity ‘†all three songs, plus ‘Live Like We’re Dying, ‘ are embedded below! Ch-ch-check ’em out for yourself, then join our informal focus group by way of some exclusive PopWatch polls. (It’s okay to vote ‘woot!’ for all three; I did!)
David Archuleta Christmas Sweaters Took Some Convincing
Last week, David Archuleta and I serenaded MTV staffers with Christmas carols in celebration of his new holiday album Christmas from the Heart. Needless to say, Archuleta’s fans were happier than Ryan Seacrest at a tanning salon. Aside from the expected flailing we received from the Archie-Angels, we got a lot of questions about the Christmas sweaters he and I donned during the shoot. Where did they come from? Is he going to wear that on his upcoming Christmas tour? Did you have to twist his arm to play dress up?
So, by popular demand, here’s the sweater song. (Cue Weezer.)
ABC GOES COUNTRY WITH PROGRAMMING AND APPEARANCES LEADING UP TO THE “THE 43RD ANNUAL CMA AWARDS”
Sunday, November 8 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” Country Music sensation Kellie Pickler joins the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” team in Beavercreek, Ohio, to tell James Terpenning, a wheelchair sports champion and mentor to disabled Iraqi War veterans, that he and his family will have their home rebuilt in seven days. Kellie will be the celebrity volunteer for this build and will perform her new song at the family’s reveal.
Tuesday, November 10 (7:00-9:00 a.m., ET) “Good Morning America” Returning CMA co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will perform live outside the Sommet Center in Nashville. This concert is free and open to the public.
Jennifer Hudson starts in on new album, plans Christmas TV special
A new Jennifer Hudson album is in the works, though fans shouldn’t expect a complete new effort this year, according to Sony Chief Creative Officer Clive Davis.
The veteran starmaker says the song search has begun, and that he’s especially mindful of picking strong, “special” songs for the former “American Idol” star.
“The key is in the material. [Hudson] has only grown as an artist in this past year. She is more soulful. But the real challenge with a ‘pop’ artist is to come up with those songs that are special, ” Davis told HitFix. “That is the challenge for every young artist who is still trying to make a lifelong career. They’re still dependent on radio play… You gotta have the hits. So we have several candidates for it.”
Carrie Underwood Cranks Up Chorus of “Undo It”
Thank you, Billboard, for releasing a little bit more of Carrie Underwood’s upcoming album, Play On, every time I turn around. This time, it’s “Undo It.” Before I even listened I knew I’d like it, because who hasn’t had those moments in life when you want to start something over, clean the slate and all that? I was surprised, though, when I heard the intro because it sounds more like a Miranda Lambert song with an acoustic guitar and some sassy, bouncy fiddle. But by the time the chorus rolls around, and Underwood is belting that, “You stole my happy, you made me cry/You took the lonely and took me for a ride/And I wanna uh-uh-uh-uh-uh undo it, ” the music’s big enough to keep up with her voice.
Claude Kelly: Bridging Music
Claude Kelly is a songwriter who penned hits like ‘Party In The USA’ by Miley Cyrus and ‘Circus’ by Britney Spears. In addition to writing those chart topping hits, Claude has also written for Kelly Clarkson, Chrisette Michele, Toni Braxton, and Whitney Houston to name a few. Claude has quickly become one of the most sought after songwriters in the game.
Kelly Clarkson brings house down in Detroit
REVIEW (WJRT) — Pop rock princess Kelly Clarkson has many distinctions since her coronation in 2002.
She will forever possess her own chapter in rock history tomes for being the first American pop singer to ever be voted into the glittery world of superstardom during the inaugural season of “American Idol.”
She will forever be known for having a powerful, angelic voice that belies her irresistible aw-shucks charm.
Bears QBs and ‘Bachelorettes’ on hand for Kelly Clarkson show
Kelly Clarkson performed a five-song acoustic set at Hub 51 (51 W. Hubbard St.) on Monday in front of 101.9 FM contest winners and invited guests, including Jay Cutler. The Bears quarterback had dinner and watched as Clarkson sang locker room favorites “I Do Not Hook Up” and “My Life Would Suck Without You.”
Bears backup QB Caleb Hanie joined Cutler at the show, which means Cutler likely used the phrase “If I’m going down, you’re going down with me” a few times Monday.
Blake Lewis: The Ear Candy interview part 2
Earlier this month I had a conversation with Blake “B Shorty” Lewis on the date his new album, Heartbreak On Vinyl, was released. We chatted about his connection with the local hiphop scene, the making of the album, his tour plans and a few other things. You can read the first part of the interview here.
In the second part of our conversation (see below) we continue to discuss “Heartbreak On Vinyl, ” which is hands down the most original record created by an Amiercan Idol contestant, as well as Blake’s promising new side project called Orchestral Drive-By. Blake played a bit of the project for me (sorry, it is not a part of the recorded interview) and like Blake himself, it’s truly original and unlike anything currently coming from the Seattle music scene.
X Factor’s Simon Cowell rages at Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue
Simon Cowell gave Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole a furious dressing down after Sunday’s X Factor ‘ saying they were more concerned about their looks than their acts.
Cowell was in a bad mood after his act Danyl Johnson was left languishing in the bottom two and had been in the sing-off against girlband Miss Frank.
Afterwards he summoned judges Dannii, 38, and Cheryl, 26, to his dressing room and blasted them for spending too much time on their outfits and not enough on the hopefuls.
And he ordered them to be ready 30 minutes early each week before live shows for a briefing with him.
‘Glee’: Kristin Chenoweth to return! Plus, is Julia Roberts a Gleek?
We have even MORE Glee news to deliver, PopWatchers: Emmy winner Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies) will reprise her role as the boozy glee alum April Rhodes for at least one episode in 2010. (Listen to her sing ‘Maybe This Time’ in the window below.)
Plus, Glee has gotten the stamp of approval of one of Hollywood’s biggest stars: Julia Roberts. Co-creator Ryan Murphy, who is currently filming Eat, Pray, Love with Roberts in Bali, tells EW, ‘We’re on location here and she’s watched episodes and has quite enjoyed them.’ I could totally see Roberts being a major Gleek.
And finally, Murphy also says that he’s planning on using the whole NBC/Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade snafu into an upcoming episode. Look for the glee club to get denied from having a float in the spring festival parade thanks to the villainous Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), standing in for NBC.
Mary Murphy from So You Think You Can Dance Set for December 22 Burn the Floor
Mary Murphy, who served as a judge and choreographer for the Fox series So You Think You Can Dance, will guest star in Broadway’s Burn the Floor, at the Longacre Theatre, for one night only, Tuesday, December 22 at 7pm.
The show is created, directed and choreographed by Jason Gilkison, and blends Latin and Ballroom dance. It was first conceived as a special performance at Sir Elton John’s 50th birthday celebration in 1997. Two years later, the show made its world premiere in the U.K., and it has since toured globally.
Murphy, who will be partnered with ballroom champion Vaidas Skimelis, is a US Ballroom Dance Champion and an Austrian National 10-dance and Ballroom Champion.
‘Dancing With the Stars’ recap: Mambo No. 9
Monday’s Dancing With the Stars week 6 performance night marked the first-ever competition mambo, regulated by the supreme pre-determinism of hall monitor DANCMSTR and won by Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough. I think it was the 10 seconds Derek spent lying on his back ‘†as a just-eliminated Donny Osmond straddled his bespangled chest and Joanna was left off to the side to shimmy all by her lonesome ‘†that put Derek and Joanna over the edge. Joanna’s use of the corner of her dress as a temporary partner was almost as effective as Derek’s repeated ”Time to lower my breathless lady to the floor so she’s completely at my manly mercy, then bob her tiny lips-dominated noggin up and down in the general direction of my crotch”…move. Every day is crotch-bobbin’ day at Dancing With the Stars! Tom Bergeron’s comment, ”Not sure what that move was, Derek” ‘†uttered in a perfect golf-announcer voice ‘†will go down in Rectagon history as one of the greatest Dancing With the Stars moments ever.
‘So You Think You Can Dance’: Meet your Top 20! (Especially since two of them will be gone tomorrow)
Was tonight’s “Meet the Top 20” episode of “So You Think You Can Dance” essential? No, but the producers has a good idea to give the viewers a little non-competitive introduction to the new season, show what the dancers can do best and, of course, give the audience a chance pick out favorites (like I’ve already done).
Before the dancers were grouped by specialty, the whole cast performed a Wade and Amanda Robson number set in a 1930s bar that was very cinematic and had a lot of flash (and hands on crotches for some reason). It seemed designed to make the dancers all look like sexy stars. It’ll be interesting to see if and how the group numbers evolve as the dancers find their chemistry.
‘So You Think You Can Dance’ recap: Comfort Zone
Well, last night certainly was fun, wasn’t it? I started off watching this season of So You Think You Can Dance with a hint of worry. After all, we knew the new fall season would coincide with the baseball playoffs and World Series, which meant there would be plenty of pre-empting and far less attention paid to a show that usually dominates the schedule when it airs in the summer. So, to me, the decision to run a fall season of SYTYCD was akin to the decision to have a baby: Why do it if you can’t devote the proper time to making sure everything turns out well? (I take my reality TV very seriously, folks.)
The ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Top 20 Special: No Pressure!
One of the biggest problems with TV talent competitions is, as the old adage goes, you only have one chance to make a first impression: Mess up during your first go-’round, and your proverbial 15 minutes of fame will be whittled down to about two minutes and 17 seconds (i.e., you will get prematurely axed–just ask last season’s American Idol also-rans Jackie Tohn or Casey Carlson, for instance). And if you didn’t get a generous amount of screen time during the show’s Hollywood Week (or Vegas Week, whatever), even a totally solid performance might not be enough to save you over more heavily featured contestants who’ve already won America’s hearts during the audition rounds.
‘Dancing with the Stars’ Pro Maksim: This season is one of the hardest
Maksim Chmerkovskiy says the format of the hit show “Dancing with the Stars” may be rethought after this strenuous season.
The dancing pro calls this season one of the hardest, writing on his TVGuide.com blog, “On top of preparing a knockout dance, everyone has their main dance and the mambo group number. … It’s insane.”
I think it will be rethought during the off-season. I can’t wait for that rethinking process to begin because it’s been really hard for everyone. At some point you have to say, ‘That’s not working.'”
