‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Producers Settle Lawsuit Claiming Idea Theft
Fox Broadcasting, 19 Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions have settled a lawsuit that claimed that the concept for the hit reality show So You Think You Can Dance was stolen from a celebrity dance instructor and his partner. The agreement comes on the verge of a trial that was scheduled to begin next Monday.
John Cassese, who calls himself the “Dance Doctor,” filed the lawsuit six years ago, claiming that he and his writing partners registered a concept with the WGA entitled “So You Think You Can Dance.”
The plaintiff hired an agent, who shopped it around in 2003, including to CAA. Allegedly, agents then divulged the ideas to 19 and DCP in formal pitch meetings held at Fox. The defendants argued there was no evidence that CAA had accepted the treatment or that the plaintiffs weren’t merely attempting to seek to hire CAA as their own agents.
Read more at The Hollywood Reporter
Adam Lambert Mentors the ‘Minors’
On August 11, a warehouse in Valencia, CA housed 11 aspiring singers who got the shock of their lives when the one and only Adam Lambert interrupted their performance of Whataya Want From Me, which was being filmed for The Hub’s competition series, Majors & Minors.
As the shrieks subsided, Adam put on his mentoring hat and over the course of 90 minutes, doled out astute advice which will hit the airwaves this Sunday when his episode of Majors & Minors debuts.
See the video at Entertainment Tonight
EXCLUSIVE: See the Tween Stars of ‘Majors & Minors’ Chat with Adam Lambert
“Just pretend I’m not here,” Adam sweetly told the starstruck tweens of the show, some of whom were acting like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and Elmo had just walked arm-in-arm onto the set when Adam appeared. But of course, that was impossible; even in a light-makeup look reminiscent of his first “Idol” audition, Mr. Lambert exhibited a major presence that these minors could not ignore.
But soon things got serious, as Adam offered these budding superstars some really great advice about branching out artistically. “One of the things that’s sometimes frustrating about the music industry is everybody tries to put all these artists into a box,” the hard-to-pigeonhole singer told them. “Not everybody is a restaurant dish…like, ‘Oh, he’s Elvis mixed with Freddie Mercury with a side of Marilyn Manson.’ Don’t limit yourself to that. Don’t tie yourself to some other previous artist or lock yourself into a sound.”
See the video at Yahoo Music
How James Durbin is Celebrating Metal Day
“American Idol’s” James Durbin proudly represented his fellow righteous rockers during his headbanging Season 10 run, sharing the stage with Judas Priest and Ozzy axeman Zakk Wylde, covering the Heavy Metal movie theme, and belting out Guns N’ Roses on tour. So when I got a chance to interview him about his supremely rockin’, Mick Mars-assisted (!!!) debut album for Wind-Up Records, Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster, the same week as Metal Day, 11/11/11, I had to ask him if he had any special plans.
See the video at Yahoo Music
Moving On: Danny Gokey explores life after American Idol
A truck driver cum-church musician turned widowed famed country singer turned community philanthropist — in a nutshell, that’s Milwaukee-native Danny Gokey’s life story.
He rose to international notoriety with during season eight of American Idol, maneuvering through countless auditions and hundreds of thousands of hopefuls to earn a third spot behind Kris Allen and Adam Lambert.
Read more at Culture Map
Howard Stern On ‘America’s Got Talent’? Simon Cowell Weighs In
At “The X Factor” viewing party in the Hollywood Hills last night, Cowell was predictably playful when asked if Stern was an actual possibility as a Piers replacement. “You’ll have to wait and see,” Simon told MTV News with a wink and a smile.
This isn’t the first time Stern has lobbied for a spot on a hit show’s judging panel. His name briefly popped up when Paula quit “American Idol” in 2009, but it wasn’t until Cowell announced his own “Idol” departure in 2010 that the “Private Parts” author looked like a real contender for a hot minute. Stern told his satellite-radio listeners that he was on the short list to take over the open spot. “There’s not a better job on the planet than judging a f—ing karaoke contest,” Stern said. “It might be possible; we’ll see.”
Read more at MTV
‘The X Factor’s latest eliminated contestants: Seeing Paula cry ‘hurt worse than actually being eliminated’
For their next steps, Williams is ready to return home to his infant daughter, who was born on the day of The Hogzz’ first audition. “I’m really excited to get back and see her,” he said, “I know she’s gotten a little bigger since the last time I saw her.” After that, he and the guys will hit the studio to record an album. They want to experiment with all types of music, from the showstopping R&B numbers they delivered on X Factor to country and rock. They hope to cross paths again with all the judges and have their sights on a collaboration with Jaden and Willow Smith, who performed her hit “Fireball” on last night’s show. Said Williams, “When we get back in the studio, we’re going to cook up an epic album just like the epic performances you saw.”
Read more at EW
Dancing’s Maks: Hope and I Have Gotten Stronger
Hope and I are so excited to be in the semifinals. I know a lot of people didn’t see this happening a few weeks ago, but we’ve persevered and it’s because of you guys that we’re here. Just like any other couple, Hope and I have had our ups and downs. Yet through our discrepancies I feel that we’ve only gotten stronger. Working past our differences has allowed Hope and me to respect and appreciate each other on a very high level. I don’t regret anything that has happened this year.
Right now, I’m only focused on Hope and trying to come up with great routines for her. I don’t want to think about anything else. The more I notice outside elements, the more I become engulfed in the drama. The show wanted to bring up the Len situation again this week, but I’m not going to waste my energy getting involved with that. It was a misunderstanding and it’s over. We’ve moved on. My next two weeks are dedicated to Hope. I’m going back to my roots and doing what I do best: teaching others.
Read more at TV Guide
‘Dancing With the Stars” J.R. Martinez Promises to Behave at Rehearsal (Video)
“Imagine for 12 weeks, hearing the same person telling you to do this and do that,” Smirnoff tells THR. “It’s hard.”
It’s also hard to keep Martinez from goofing around. The week’s rehearsal package shows that has behind-the-scenes antics have only been escalating closer to the finale. But he says that’s all behind him.
“It’s all worth it,” he says. “It’s amazing how all the feelings and emotions you feel in rehearsals, when you get that great score, all those emotions disappear and there’s just overwhelming joy.”
See the video at The Hollywood Reporter
