‘Grease’ ready for Chicago stage return
Up next, Broadway In Chicago is bringing “Grease” back to Chicago next month Jan. 6 to 18 at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University for a limited engagement.
“American Idol” Season Five winner Taylor Hicks will star in the Avalon Teen Angel role.
And as a bonus, Allie Schulz, a contestant on NBC’s “Grease: You’re the One That I Want, ” (remember that ill-fated summer reality show from a couple years ago?) will star in the role of bad girl Rizzo.
Automaker’s woes could leave American Idol in the poorhouse
Despite their commitment to Idol, Ford will probably join the other automakers next year in cutting their budgets to make it look like theyre serious people who can be trusted with $25 billion of public money ‘ stepping up the trimming of advertising buy-ins, as well as other economies like replacing the single malt and champagne on the corporate jet with Red Bull and juice packs.
If the government bailout doesnt happen, however, Idol could find itself losing a major sponsor mid-season, as viewers tune in to find that Idol moments are being brought to you by pizza pops, and that the car part of the winner prize package has been replaced by a George Foreman Grill.
Idol Chartwatch, December 1: David Cook Hits the Charts
There good news and bad news for David Cook fans. Despite strong sales, Cook debut album failed to hit the top of the Billboard 200 in its first week on the chart. But the album did impact on four separate charts and a new single from the Season 7 winner also hit the charts this week. Read on for more.
Simon Cowell: I may quit The X Factor
Simon Cowell has rubbished rumours that he plans to retire once he turns 50 next year.
But the music mogul says he may quit as a judge on his hit shows The X Factor, American Idol and Britain Got Talent and move behind the cameras.
‹Im definitely not retiring, he tells Live. ‹But I am going to make a couple of changes.
‹The contracts are all up at the end of next year and what I may well do is stop actually being on TV. Give up the panel.
Simon Cowell’s stalker terror
Simon Cowell is “completely freaked out” after discovering his car had been bugged.
The ‘American Idol’ judge called his full-time security team in to investigate after he noticed a mysterious motorcyclist – clad in a crash helmet and leathers – kept appearing outside the buildings where his meetings were being held.
After experts swept his £140, 000 Bentley Continental, they discovered the tracker magnetically attached to the vehicle’s undercarriage.
Cowell ‘banned from Spears’s dressing room’
Simon Cowell and the other X Factor judges were reportedly forced to huddle in a corridor to meet Britney Spears when she appeared on Saturday’s results show.
Cowell was banned from introducing himself to the singer in her dressing room by security, who apparently swamped the backstage area.
The Sun claims that Spears also admitted that she had not watched the finalists perform her songs, despite there being a television in her dressing room.
Randy Jackson on conquering diabetes
Growing up in Baton Rouge, La., …American Idol judge Randy Jackson and his family lived by the motto, …If it tastes good, it must be good for you. A meal wasn’t a meal unless it included several courses of Southern-fried goodness. Jackson continued his unhealthy eating habits, and watched his weight increase drastically. Over the next decade, he tried every fad diet out there, but it wasn’t until he found himself in the emergency room being diagnosed with diabetes that he realized he needed to take control of his health for good. In …Body With Soul, Jackson writes about his struggle and provides tips for those dealing with or headed toward diabetes. An excerpt.
ETA:
‘Idol’ singers mix secular with sacred in rousing holiday show
Four “American Idol” finalists ushered in the holiday season when they made the Byham Theater the first stop on their holiday tour.
Chikezie Eze, Diana DeGarmo, David Hernandez, and Kimberly Locke started Saturday’s show with a medley of secular Christmas songs, including classics such as “The Christmas Song, ” as well as more contemporary ones such as Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime.”
What followed was nothing short of magic.
The singers kept the audience involved by standing downstage and encouraging each section to sing along with “The Twelve Days of Christmas, ” and Pittsburghers enthusiastically responded.
Legoland California set for tree-lighting showcase
CARLSBAD: Legoland California’s annual tree-lighting ceremony will feature live performances for the first time.
At the 5:30 p.m. ceremony today, the Carlsbad theme park will host performances by Drew Seeley, from …High School Musical: The Concert and …Another Cinderella Story, and Michael Johns of …American Idol.
Four siblings in foster care are to help Seeley and Johns pull the switch on a 30-foot Lego tree. Several foster families from Los Angeles also will attend as special guests, Legoland officials said.
A fireworks show and snow shower are to follow the tree’s lighting.
For more information, go to www.legoland.com./california.
Simon Cowell’s lawyers warn press about harassment
Lawyers acting for The X Factor judge Simon Cowell have warned UK newspapers not to harass their client after a tracking device was allegedly found attached to his Rolls Royce last week.
Law firm Carter-Ruck sent the warning letter to national newspapers on Friday after consulting with the presenter’s publicist, Max Clifford, who told MediaGuardian.co.uk that “enough is enough”.
According to Clifford, the letter pointed out that the use of a tracking device is illegal and could lead to prosecution.
He added that the identity of the journalist who allegedly attached the device is known to him and the individual concerned has been approached.
