Linda Holmes: 10 Reasons This Was TV’s Decade
And then Survivor came along, and two summers after that, American Idol. Then a whole variety of branches sprang from the same roots of low cost and high (or respectable) ratings: the competition shows like The Amazing Race and The Apprentice; the home-ec line including Trading Spaces and, increasingly, food shows; the celebrity-voyeur shows like Being Bobby Brown; the job shows like Deadliest Catch; the sappy “transformation” shows like the unsuccessful Extreme Makeover and the wildly successful Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The list goes on, and most cable channels and networks have found their own niches.
Winner Kris Allen rings in new year on Fox special
As the seconds ticked down on New Year’s Eve 2008, Kris Allen was hosting a party at which someone’s pants caught fire.
Any blowout involving scorched trousers is a memorable one, but the reigning ‘American Idol’ winner has upped the ante with his plans this year.
Allen and fellow ‘Idol’ finalist Allison Iraheta are among the performers singing live from the Las Vegas Strip as part of ‘Billboard’s New Year’s Eve Live’
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Top TV Stories of 2009: Adam Lambert vs. Kris Allen
Even die-hard viewers of American Idol might have a hard time remembering that Adam Lambert didn’t win the competition earlier this year. Especially considering Lambert’s high-profile persona lately, starting with his sex-filled American Music Awards performance.
But no, the winner of American Idol was, in fact, Kris Allen, who’s seemingly the complete opposite of Lambert. There’s no denying they’re both great singers, but whereas Lambert is brash, theatrical and loves to knock those high notes out of the stadium, Allen is more low-key, folksy and laid back. The fellow contestants were also roommates at the Idol mansion.
Eminem Just Agreed Not to Perform Anti-Gay Songs, And We’re Embracing Him. Why Not Buju Banton?
Eminem, the rapper who suddenly finds himself irrelevant in today’s music marketplace, came up with the oh-so-clever term “fake its” to describe Lance Bass, Adam Lambert, and Clay Aiken in his new song “Elevator.” But supposedly he won’t be calling anyone a “fake it” ‘†or saying anything anti-gay ‘†in Britain come July 2010, because he’s make a pact with organizers of the Wireless Festival in Hyde Park not to make fun of homos. In exchange, the gays won’t protest.
Five Things You Didn’t Know About Carrie Underwood’s Fianc
Now that Carrie Underwood, 26, is engaged to Mike Fisher, 29, who proposed to the former American Idol champ at his West Carleton, Ottawa, home Dec. 20, it’s time to answer this: Just who is the country singer’s hockey-star-turned-husband-to-be?
2009 Picks: Jeff Sherman
Milwaukeean of the year: Danny Gokey, via the marketing power of “American Idol” put Milwaukee on the map in 2009. But, this category is also personal. After 34 years at Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago, my dad, Roger Sherman, retired this year. He’s not nearly done working, but his time at Goodwill is done. The good byes and tributes were heartful and well deserved. It was amazing to hear all the great programs and impact he had in years of service. Here’s to life’s challenge and consulting gig, Dad. I love you.
2009 in review: pop music
Kelly Clarkson, “I Do Not Hook Up”: Trying to reclaim her career proved disastrous for the original American Idol, so Clarkson once again relinquished control to the anonymous Swedish hit-makers and returned with this heavily jolted party-starter.
Cowell named Entertainer of 2009
Susan Boyle dreamed her dream in time gone by, but it was Simon Cowell who made it all possible, let alone worth living.
We don’t have a category for Master Manipulator of the Year in this, our annual year-end look at the world of entertainment. If we did, Cowell would win in a heartbeat. Instead, we’re anointing him Entertainer of the Year for 2009.
Controversial choice? You betcha. Have a read further below; some of our entertainment writers are quite disappointed with the choice.
Rage Against The Machine Drops, Joe McElderry Gets His Number One
Joe McElderry will get his number one song in England afterall. On midweek sales figures from the UK, Rage Against The Machine`s impact from last week has fizzled fast.
That Facebook campaign that got the Rage Against The Machine `Killing In The Name` song to number one in Christmas week as a rage against Simon Cowell was certainly shortlived.
This week, X-Factor winner Joe McElderry has sold almost twice as many singles as Rage Against The Machine.
On midweek sales, ‘The Climb’ by Joe McElderry had sold around 80, 000 copies compared to Rage Against The Machine ‘Killing In The Name’ at around 40, 000.
Last week, Rage’s song sold 500, 000 to McElderry’s 450, 000.
