Idol Headlines for 12/14/08

INSIDE STORY: How a Gift Allegedly Triggered Jennifer Hudson Murders

Jennifer Hudson’s sister, Julia, celebrated turning 31 on Oct. 23 with cake and a small party at home.

The next morning, police say, Julia’s estranged husband William Balfour ‘ booted last February from the house on Chicago’s South Side where they lived with Julia’s mother and 7-year-old son ‘ showed up and spotted a gift he believed came from another man.

That jealousy is the motive that led Balfour, 27, to return to the house after Julia had left for work and shoot her mother Darnell Donerson, 57, Jennifer’s brother Jason, 29, then take Julia’s son, 7-year-old Julian King, and later kill him as well, prosecutors allege.

People.com

‹American Idol – Art and culture in the Bush Era

Start with the title: in England, the show was called “Pop Idol”‘ but when it migrated here in 2002, it apparently needed an infusion of patriotism. So, much like freedom fries, “American Idol” was born. If that kind of rah-rah branding doesn’t conjure thoughts of President Bush’ go on, world, you know you idolize us’ I don’t know what does. “Idol” is the quintessential television show of the Bush era not just because it’s been the most popular show of his tenure but also because of where it’s popular. You’ll find defenders and detractors all over the country, but this is primarily a red-state show. That’s the reason that Southern contestants win just about every season. Are the people fans vote for (and vote for, and vote for) great singers? Does it matter? What’s important is that they’re our singers, and we love ’em because they’re unthreatening, God-fearing, desexualized kids with stars in their eyes. Whenever those elitist critics on the coasts trash “Idol” as mediocre, middlebrow entertainment, we rally to the show’s defense, whether it deserves it or not.

Newsweek

More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…

12/13: Interview with Ryan Seacrest mom about his show …Momma Boys

I tried in vain last week to get Dunwoody High School grad and busiest man in Hollywood Ryan Seacrest on the phone. I wanted to talk to him about the new reality show he executive producing on NBC called …Momma Boys, which debuts Tuesday at 10.

But alas, Seacrest was too busy. So I buzzed his mom Connie Seacrest, who still lives in Dunwoody for insight into her son. The show itself features three …momma boys mixing it up in a mansion with 32 single women (several from Georgia) and the three moms.

Access Atlanta

‘Unstoppable’ Underwood courts crossover fame

Singer Carrie Underwood tries to be modest about her success since winning “American Idol” in 2005, but there’s no denying she has the total package of talent, looks, attitude and songs needed to become a crossover superstar like Shania Twain.

Despite selling nearly 11 million albums in her short post-“Idol” career, Underwood makes a believable case that she isn’t obsessed with entering the orbit realm of Twain, who used sexy looks, sassy attitude and a slick country-pop sound to go global in the mid-’90s.

Poughkeepsie Journal

DVDs Released This Week, Dec. 14 edition

“THE HOUSE BUNNY”: After being kicked out of the Playboy Mansion, what’s a former Bunny to do? Anna Faris finds out in this mildly amusing comedy from Adam Sandler’s production company and the screenwriters of “Legally Blonde.” Her character finds a new calling as the unlikely housemother to sorority sisters who need a lure for fresh pledges. Colin Hanks (son of Tom), Rumer Willis (daughter of Bruce and his ex-wife, Demi Moore) and “American Idol” runner-up Katharine McPhee co-star. DVD extras: 11 “making-of” documentaries; deleted scenes; music video. *** (PG-13: AS, N, P)

Reading Eagle

Simon Cowell for the Prosecution, Please

Thank goodness for American Idol. Pop culture needed someone ‘  in this case Simon Cowell ‘  to tear it away from the ridiculous notion that everyone deserves the same amount of success no matter how much or how little talent they have.

Every person is not special. Every person is not a winner. There are those who dont deserve a second chance, a push, or a little something extra. They need their ass kicked off stage, or their ass just kicked.

blogcritics.org

X Factor winner Leon hits out at show

CURRENT X Factor champion Leon Jackson has criticised this year’s show, claiming the judges are trying to be the real stars.
The singer says the competition is no longer about the contestants and is more centred on the judges’ egos.

The 19-year-old from Whitburn, West Lothian, is backing Girl’s Aloud star Cheryl Cole to beat Simon Cowell and win this year’s event.

He said: “It gets clouded these days when the judges are having their confrontations. It should be more about the acts.

scotsman.com

About mj santilli 34833 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!