San Clemente singer advances on ‘American Idol’
It could happen in 2009. Kai Kalama of San Clemente, who performs at local night spots such as OC Tavern, Molly Bloom’s and BeachFire, was viewed by millions Monday night in televised auditions for “American Idol” on the Fox network.
Performing “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” in San Francisco, Kalama advanced to the next round of the famed talent contest.
Kalama appears regularly in San Clemente with his band, Off White. According to the band’s MySpace page, it plays “soul rock from the broken heart of California.”
Off White has appeared at OC Tavern since the bar opened in 2007. The band draws a local crowd whenever it plays, Tavern employee Brandon Ramminger said.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Idol Geeks: Chat with Jim Cantiello of MTV.com
Were hoping we could make this a regular feature on Rickey TV. We already talk to MJ Santilli from MJ Big Blog after every show, and last night we managed to chat with Jim Cantiello from MTV.
Jim Cantiello is MTV resident pop culture savant and hosts a new online show called Detox.
MJ Santilli runs the always reliable MJ Big Blog.
I would like to thank MJ and Jim for taking time from their very busy schedules to talk to us on Rickey TV every Idol night.
Were Live-Blogging The ‹American Idol Louisville Auditions!
Paging Colonel Sanders! Put on your best hat and sink your teeth into a hot brown sandwich because it time to live-blog …American Idol Kentucky auditions, yall!
Were three episodes into the eighth season of …Idol, and so far, (cue …The Joshua Tree) I still havent found what Im looking for. I have yet to be floored by an audition. I still dont have my Tami Gosnell or Briana Ramirez-Rial or any other singer that I become totally obsessed with and root for all season long. Seriously, the only person Im rooting for this season is Grandma Furney!
‘American Idol’ Recap: Kentucky Blues
Hey, have any of you guys been watching Oprah Winfrey Presents: American Idol this season? In just four episodes, we’ve witnessed contestants struggling to overcome homelessness, failed record deals, deceased spouses, legal blindness, moms with seizure disorders, and even apartments torn asunder by tornados. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say the show’s ad-sales team was looking to add a tissue company to its roster of 2009 sponsors. (Can’t you just imagine a weekly ”Kleenex: Laughter Through the Tears Moment” wedged somewhere between the ”Ford Music Video” and the ”Ritualistic Fondling of the Red Plastic Coca-Cola Cups”?)
Phil Stacey Blog: Louisville Hits a Homerun
The Idol that I love is back. And how could it not be with auditions held in the state of my birth on my birthday! Life would have been much easier for the crew if they just would have had auditions at my family reunion held in Richmond, KY (I think Im related to half of the state) but those whose did come out to Louisville did not disappoint.
We started the night off strong. The first fifteen minutes gave us Joanna Pacitti, the dropped artist with the whole package. Simon loved and recognized her instantly- she will go far…at least top-five week far. We also got Mark Mudd, the type of …bad auditions we like to see and Brent Keith. Judging from commercial coverage, Brent will have much more camera time.
Louisville’s glimpse at things to come
My blogging colleague Phil Stacey believes we might just have seen the next American Idol tonight at the Louisville auditions. We certainly saw our first great A Star is Born moment of the season with the audition in the closing spot of 18 year old Leneshe Young, who brought charisma, major vocal talent and a tearjerker story about her homeless past. (Oddsmakers note, however, that only in one case – that of Fantasia Barrino, has a tearjerker candidate actually won the Idol crown. The 3 – 6 slots is more usually their final destination.) Louisville also saw a handful of other very plausible contenders for the upper ranks including Alexis Grace and Matt Giraud.
‘Idol’ Fix: Show Plants Next Carly Smithson
idol_simon_cowell592.jpgSan Francisco’s finest “stepped out in style” last night. With most of the ridiculousness now drained from auditions, the night definitely had a little less humor, but not much more great talent. I hope the producers have some good stuff in store for the reality-aspect of the show – like cramming the Top 12 under one roof, “Big Brother”-style – because “Idol” has yet to produce its “wow” factor. But, it did introduce viewers to this year’s Carly Smithson.
Coke to launch new ad campaign on ‘American Idol’
Coke’s new “Open Happiness” ad campaign, tied to its “Coke Side of Life” ad slogan, is scheduled to launch on “American Idol.” Ads will continue to show up on TV spots, billboards and in stores over the next few weeks. Part of the campaign includes three ads to run during the SuperBowl on Feb. 1.
Miss America Pageant Considers “American Idol” Format
The long-running Miss America pageant could take on the format of “American Idol.”
The organizers of the 88-year-old pageant say they are considering using a viewer-voting format like that of “American Idol” to help make it popular with the television audience.
For the first time, four contestants will be voted into this week’s pageant finals by viewers of “Miss America: Countdown to the Crown.”
It’s a four-part reality series that ends Friday on TLC.
The winners will be named along with 11 other finalists when the pageant airs live Saturday night from Las Vegas.
Watch your back, Slezak!
While that lazy ass Michael Slezak was sleeping in after a long night of writing about his favorite cereal, I’d woken up extra early to yammer on about last night’s pitiful American Idol on Fox’s Good Day New York. Press play below for the illusion that I am wearing a vest, plus illuminating sound bites such as “This isn’t Rubik’s Cube Idol” and other important clarifications. Who’s the Idol expert now?
Ratings: ‘American Idol’ roars back but gets sidelined by football for the week
Despite being dubbed TV’s biggest television show, Fox’s powerhouse karaoke series American Idol didn’t top the ratings in its season 8 premiere during the week ending Jan. 18. Why? Because we’re still in football season, of course! CBS’s airing of the AFC Championship game — in which the Pittsburgh Steelers took down the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday evening — steamrolled to the week’s top spot, drawing an extremely healthy 40.6 million viewers. (In fact, that NFL showdown was the most-watched telecast on broadcast TV so far all season. Don’t worry, though, the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 will blow that record out of the water.)
But, yes, aside from football, American Idol was TV’s biggest show, coming in with 30.4 million and 30.3 million viewers for its Tuesday and Wednesday airings, respectively. Despite a 33 percent increase in the number of judges on the show (hello, Kara DioGuardi), the Tuesday night premiere was down 9 percent from American Idol’s season 7 debut exactly one year ago.
Is Simon Glad to Have DioGuardi?
“American Idol” lands in Louisville tonight and Simon Cowell is sitting down with “Extra’s” Terri Seymour to talk about the hit show.
The stubborn judge says even though he butts heads with “Idol” addition Kara DioGuardi, he’s happy to have a new face at the table. Simon also spills on how he really feels about Bikini Girl and Christie Brinkley’s unusual “AI” audition.
Source: Jennifer Hudson ‘Knew it Was Time’ to Perform Again
After dropping out of the public eye following her family murder tragedy, Jennifer Hudson now has the strength and the will to give three high-profile performances next month, a source close to her tells PEOPLE.
“So much has happened, but she’s ready, ” the source says. “It’s a new year, she’s excited about performing again. She knew it was time.”
Jennifer Hudson Readies for Return to the Stage
She been reclusive since the tragic slayings of her family members back in October, but yesterday Jennifer Hudson was spotted out and about in Florida.
The …American Idol alum looked comfy in a zip-up hoodie with black stretch pants and UGG boots as she went bed shopping, smiling as she passed the paparazzi.
Taylor Swift makes it lucky seven on album chart
NEW YORK (Billboard) – Teen country star Taylor Swift began a seventh week at No. 1 on the U.S. pop album chart Wednesday, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since Usher spent nine weeks at the top in 2004 with “Confessions”.
Swift’s “Fearless” sold a modest 63, 000 copies during the week ended January 18, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Sales to date stand at 2.3 million.
“Fearless” also becomes the longest-running No. 1 album by a solo female vocalist since Alanis Morissette wore the crown for 12 weeks in 1995 with “Jagged Little Pill.”
‘Idol’ stars toast Fats Waller in ‘Ain’t misbehavin’
American Idol champ Ruben Studdard and show alums Trenyce Cobbins and Frenchie Davis team in a tribute revue to an American idol of the Jazz Age: Fats Waller.
The 30th anniversary national tour of Ain’t Misbehavin’ makes its joint-jumpin’ stop at Jackson’s Thalia Mara Hall Tuesday and Wednesday.
The rollicking, Tony Award-winning musical revue toasts Waller, the roguish, lovable and prolific entertainer who was the comic and musical soul of 1930s Harlem. The creator of such jazz standards as Honeysuckle Rose and This Joint Is Jumpin’ and the title tune, as well as the piano dynamo that made them swing, Waller was an entertainment fixture of his era.
Taylor Hicks Resurfaces With New Album
Former “American Idol” champ Taylor Hicks returns March 10 with a new album, “The Distance, ” the follow-up to his lone major-label release.
The album is preceded Jan. 27 by the digital single “What’s Right Is Right” and will be released on Hicks’ own Modern Whomp Records, with distribution from independent artist services company Artist to Market.
Hicks enlisted Eric Clapton producer Simon Climie for “The Distance, ” and longtime Clapton collaborators Doyle Bramhall II and Nathan East play on the album. Paul McCartney drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. mans the kit.
‘Grease’ is flat, charmless
…Grease opened its two-week Cincinnati engagement on Inauguration night, and watching it made me think not just optimistic thoughts about hope and change but an end to the cynicism that inspires the exhuming of too many Broadway revivals.
Call me old-fashioned, but I like to care about the characters in …Grease.
Sure, there a veritable American Bandstand of tunes, and they are dandy and well sung, but far more interesting than the blonde purity of heroine Sandy and Danny, her leather-jacketed Romeo, it fun to root for tough girl Rizzo, and ever-in-love Marty, beauty school drop-out Frenchy and the romance of chubbies Jan and Roger.
More Sanjaya for the ‘fanjayas’
Sanjaya Malakar, the performing sensation celebrated as “the people idol” and best known for his impressive hairstyles and screaming young fans – or “fanjayas” – is back in the limelight once again. The hot young star returns with a debut EP and autobiography of the same name.
‘Dancing to the Music in My Head’, the all-new EP and book title from the American Idol favorite, is available exclusively on Amazon.com for physical purchase and digital download for 30 days, as of January 20.
The premiere EP showcases the standout style and talent that quickly made Sanjaya a fixture on numerous entertainment programs and magazines and ignited his huge and devoted fan base that remains just as passionate today as it was when the soft-spoken performer stole the show – and the hearts of viewers from coast-to-coast – on American Idol.
Sherri Shepherd to Join Dancing With The Stars
Sherri Shepherd may be taking her point of …view over to another popular show! She slated to join the next season of Dancing with the Stars. But dont worry, that doesnt mean shell be giving up her day job.
A show insider tells In Touch magazine that Sherri is being considered for the upcoming season, and Sherri couldnt be more thrilled! She tells the mag, …Id love to do that show ‘ I am such a fan!
But were not sure if she doing it for the dancing or for the men! Sherri said, …Oh, my goodness! I am so in love with Maksim, but he engaged! And Tony Dovolani married! I mean, theyre all freakin taken! I just want to get a ‹pas doble with somebody on that show!
