Idol Headlines for 12/17/08

Canadian Idol taking a sabbatical next year, CTV says

A week after the popular So You Think You Can Dance Canada wrapped up its glitzy first season, the broadcaster announced yesterday it would put its other heavyweight reality talent show on a one-year “rest, ” deciding not to air Canadian Idol in 2009.

Idol finished its sixth season this fall.

The show remains a ratings monster, scoring an average of 1.47 million viewers in September, according to ratings tracker BBM Canada.

But with the success of Dance – which crowned Montreal dancer Nico Archambault its inaugural winner earlier this month after some 3.5 million votes were cast – CTV appears to have elected to not to produce Idol in a year when advertising revenues are expected to drop sharply.

Globe and Mail

Carrie Underwood to sing at People’s Choice Awards

LOS ANGELES (AP) ‘  The People’s Choice Awards says Carrie Underwood will perform at its 35th annual ceremony next month.

The awards show, airing Jan. 7 on CBS, will be hosted by Queen Latifah at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, organizers said Wednesday. The People’s Choice trophies go to fan favorites in TV, movies and music.

Underwood went from “American Idol” winner to a country music star whose hits include “Just a Dream” and “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

Associated Press

More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…

Ken Warwick Dishes on the Dramatic Season 8 Changes

Executive Producer of American Idol Ken Warwick spoke to the media yesterday regarding the exciting new changes for season eight, and he made sure to separate fact from fiction. The goal, as always, is to keep the core aspects of everyone’s favorite show in tact while providing elements that give it a fresh feel each season. One way this is done, according to Ken, is smart coverage of the hopefuls during the audition process. After seven seasons, many of them have become what he calls “camera savvy, ” even developing an idea for what they think they should say. Ken said that they tried to shy away from covering these folks this year, as he thinks it looks fairly obvious, and the judges don’t like to see that either.

American Idol

Why Is ‘American Idol’ Taking A Year Off From ‘Idol Gives Back’?

When “American Idol” bigwigs decided two years ago to use their show’s cultural influence to raise money for charity, “Idol Gives Back” became an instant success. Huge stars ‘  from Brad Pitt to Snoop Dogg to Ellen DeGeneres ‘  took part in the events and helped raise millions of dollars for causes around the globe.

So why have producers decided to take a year off from “Idol Gives Back”?

MTV

‘Idol’ drama begins and ends with Abdul

HOLLYWOOD – Paula Abdul has been telling people that the producers of “American Idol” have failed to protect her.

If this is true, it’s shocking. Shocking that the producers would let a valuable asset like Abdul be in jeopardy for even one second. They should build a fortress around her and have it guarded by the most battle-hardened Marines. Because every time Abdul opens her mouth (and sometimes she doesn’t even have to expend the energy to do that), controversy is stirred. This makes the PR job much easier for her main employer, Fox’s “American Idol, ” back for an eighth season next month. This woman is worth more gold than any Senate seat.

Boston.com

‘American Idol’ Pre-Season Reflection

Welcome to another season of American Idol. Auditions are over and publicity is ramping up for the January 19th premiere. I’m going to be your new Zap2it Idol blogger and I’m very excited to start covering it for you, fair readers.

We’ve already had Korbi’s thoughts on judge Paula Abdul, the new American Idol broadcast schedule, and a story on the many changes Idol is making this year. Look for an article later this week about an interview with my favorite judge, Simon Cowell.

Zap2it.com

Idol experience

Even if Ogie Alcasid is already way up there, he still gets a kick out of singing with newcomers. …I learn from them, he says. …I hope they learn from me, too.

He joins forces with …American Idol Season 7 Fil-Am finalist Ramiele Malubay and the …Pinoy Idol Top 3′ Ram Chaves, Jayann Bautista and Gretchen Espina’ with the other nine finalists, and indie rock band Menaya in …The Idol Experience: Ogie Sings with the Idols on Dec. 20 and 21, 8 p.m. at the Aliw Theater in Pasay (911-5555).

Ogie very first idol was Rico Puno. Hardest song to sing? …Di ko kaya R& B songs. It difficult to sing songs for my loved ones because I get too emotional.

What his fave song for his honey Regine Velasquez these days? …And I Love You So.

Love is truly in every line that Ogie sings. And his adoring audience loves him right back.

Inquirer.net

Are You Ready For More Kelly Clarkson???

Will the first American Idol be able to reclaim her pop throne after her disastrous last album?

We hope so!

And, it’s going to happen sooner than you might think.

Clarkson’s new record is expected in the first half of next year, and she’s already shooting the music video for her first single, PerezHilton.com has learned!

According to casting breakdowns sent out to actors, Kelly is filming her new vid in Los Angeles this weekend.

The song is called My Life Would Suck Without You, and it is produced by hitmakers Max Martin and Dr. Luke (Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Pink, etc).

Perez Hilton

Bucky Covington Reflects on 2008

Bucky Covington spread holiday cheer to some lucky folks on Saturday night by performing a free concert at Grandville Avenue in Michigan. He sat down afterwards with the Grand Rapids Press for an interview, and admitted that this has been a banner year for him:

‘”Well, right now, we’ve had a really great year. You know, the first debut album came out. And so far, we’ve had three consecutive top 10s. I couldn’t be much happier with that, ” he said backstage before his over hour-long show.’

American Idol

Sanjaya’s Coming to LI

Sanjaya Malakar, the faux-hawked phenom who dominated most “American Idol” chatter during the 2007 season, won’t go away.

He’s written a book, “Dancing to the Music in My Head: Memoirs of the People’s Idol” that will be published by Pocket Books on Jan. 20

AND… he’s coming to Long Island. He’ll be signing copies of said “tome” at the Book Revue in Huntington, on Jan. 24 at 7 p.m

Newsday

Youthful cast brings energy to familiar musical

Smooth and slick and fun but emotionally as deep as a 1950s crew-cut, the new Grease lives up to its title in too many ways.

The more-youthful casting works up to a point in the peppy Broadway tour, which opened yesterday at the Palace Theatre.

Taylor Hicks, an American Idol winner, seizes his magical moment. As Teen Angel, he sings Beauty School Dropout with a stirring voice and charming presence that nods with a few grins to his celebrity. Others may prefer the golden-oldie singers who filled the role on film or previous tours, but Hicks gets my vote.

Columbus Dispatch

Taylor Swift Joined By Stars on GAC Special

Dec. 16, 2008 ‘  Taylor Swift welcomes numerous guests ‘  including Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum and Kellie Pickler ‘  on GAC year-end countdown, Top 50 Videos Of 2008.

Chosen in a vote of a country fans, the list finds Taylor among the Top Oct. titles, along with Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley and Trace Adkins, among others. Over 500, 000 people cast votes to reflect the best of country over the last 12 months. Taylor aided by phone calls, video messages and in-person guest appearances by Keith Anderson, Miley Cyrus, Luke Bryan, Little Big Town, Darius Rucker and Chuck Wicks ‘  along with Trace, Kellie, Carrie and Lady A.

GAC Top 50 Videos Of 2008 air nightly, beginning at 8 p.m. ET, from Dec. 29 through Jan. 2.

GAC TV

Pickler poses for pics at DC airport

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kellie Pickler was spotted by TMZ cameras Monday at the Washington Dulles International Airport.

After signing a few autographs she posed for the cameras next to a cardboard cutout of president-election Barack Obama.

Pickler is hosting the CMT Online Awards Nominee Awards on Friday. She hosting the show from her own computer.

Pickler herself has been nominated for Number One Digitally Active Female Artist. The winners will be revealed during the 2008 CMT Online Awards on Dec. 26.

WCNC.com

Kellie Pickler: No Makeup!

A makeup-free Kellie Pickler stops by Andrews Air Force Baselands and then to Washington, D.C., just before heading off to Iraq to support the troops on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old former American Idol contestant was in very good spirits and happy to be supporting the troops with a surprise performance during the holiday season.

Just Jared

Troops unwind, have fun at USO performances

Ramstein was rocking, rolling … and laughing Tuesday.

The tunes and laughs came courtesy of the United Service Organizations Holiday Troop Visit, with the air base Hangar 1 serving as the venue for the first of nine shows on a whirlwind five-country tour to boost the troops spirits.

The headliners were Kid Rock and country music star Kellie Pickler, while comedians Kathleen Madigan, John Bowman and Lewis Black had audience members laughing until their sides hurt.

Stripes.com

Clay Aiken and Reed Kelly: Claymates for life?

Reed Kelly, the son of former St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly and dancer for the Broadway show Wicked, is dating American Idol superstar Clay Aiken, if you believe Star Magazine and the bloggers over at The Pioneer Press.

They apparently met while Clay was preforming in the Broadway show Spamalot. The couple was pictured in this month’s Star Magazine. “Everybody knows Reed as Clay’s guy, ” a Broadway insider was quoted saying.

We can only wonder what is going through the former mayor’s head. He’s been keeping a low profile ever since he lost his bid for reelection when, as a Democrat, he endorsed and campaigned for President Bush in 2004.

City Pages

Wacky & Tacky: Celebrity escapades of 2008

Biggest shocker

We fell off our collective chairs when Clay Aiken revealed his stunning news ‘  no, not THAT disclosure (we knew he was gay before he did). The real surprise of the year was that Aiken had become a baby daddy with his good friend Jaymes Foster ‘  and that Jaymes was a woman.

MSNBC

Jordin Sparks’ Creepy Stalker

Jordin Sparks popped into Take 40 HQ this morning to catch up with us all!

While she was here we asked her to tell us about one of her strangest moments in 2008 – and she revealed to us that she had a stalker!

“I got a fan-mail package, ” Jordin explained, “and this guy was talking about having a long distance relationship and marriage and I was like… hmm, ok??!?!”

“I opened up the rest of the package and he had actually bought me a cell phone, and it had a number and all I had to do was activate it!”

“It’s in my creepy bin file!” she laughed.

Take40.com

Scoop: For Ryan Seacrest, show must go on

The Dec. 16 premiere of …Momma Boys, brought to you by Ryan Seacrest Productions, was in danger of being blocked. A Turkish reality show claimed that the NBC show …willfully appropriated the format of …The Perfect Bride, which aired in Turkey in 2004.

Never fear though, …Momma Boys saw the light of day.

According to an NBC rep on Tuesday, “NBC prevailed in court this morning in a copyright and trademark lawsuit over NBC’s new reality show “Momma’s Boys.” The judge in the federal court in New York rejected the plaintiffs’ request to prevent “Momma’s Boys” from premiering tonight. NBC will seek dismissal of the case.

MSNBC

Nielsen: Fox’s ‘Idol’ Tops In DVR Playback

Broadcast shows had the largest audiences tuning in via DVR in 2008 while cable programs posted the largest rating gains on a percentage basis when DVR playback was factored in (a reflection of their smaller audiences), according to a tally released today by Nielsen Media Research.

Nielsen tallied gains in average household viewing and percentage gain for network and cable shows factoring in DVR playback within seven days of the original telecast. The tallies were based on viewing data from Jan. 1 to Nov. 30, 2008.

Mediaweek.com

About mj santilli 34830 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!