FREAK SHOW ‘IDOL’ IS ALL ABOUT THE PERSONALITIES THIS YEAR
‘AMERICAN Idol” promised to make big changes to the show this season – but this week we’re going to find out that the changes are going a lot further than we thought.
There’s a new judge and fewer train-wreck auditions.
But that looks like it’s only the beginning of what seems like a mission to fiddle with the “Idol” formula.
Fantasia: ‘Cowell didn’t save my house’
Former American Idol star Fantasia Barrino has dismissed rumors former mentor Simon Cowell saved her house from foreclosure.
The singer saved her $1.3 million North Carolina home last month, just days before it was due to be sold at auction, after reaching a deal with financiers.
The National Enquirer suggested American Idol judge Cowell came to Barrino’s rescue with a loan to help her clear her debts.
But the star insists she paid her own bills.
Barrino says, “That’s not true. I’ve been working hard for five years. Don’t believe everything you hear.”
‘Idol, ‘ not idle, judge
LOS ANGELES – Whether she’s butting heads with Simon Cowell or schooling the recently ousted hopeful “Bikini Girl” in vocalizing, songwriter Kara DioGuardi is definitely making her mark as the fourth judge on “American Idol.” The 38-year-old former Billboard magazine employee has already made a serious imprint on the pop charts as the co-writer of a variety of hits, including Gwen Stefani’s “Rich Girl, ” Kelly Clarkson’s “Walk Away, ” and Pink’s current single “Sober.” As the Fox talent show winds up the Hollywood rounds and the 36 semifinalists head into the competition phase next week, DioGuardi, who is also a VP of A&R at Warner Bros. Records, is hoping that viewers will welcome her. We cornered DioGuardi recently at a network party thrown to pose some musical questions.
Local basketball player on “American Idol”
With the crowd on its feet, Markese Morris made all the right moves Thursday night as he sang a stirring rendition of the national anthem.
Then he went ahead and played a great game, too.
The Burlington City High School senior guard turned in a 27-point performance in a victory over rival Delran, showing the same personal touches and creative bursts that characterized his vocal performance.
‘Idol’ infamy
They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. They probably didn’t catch Alexis Cohen on American Idol.
The Philadelphia college student tried out for the Fox singing competition in consecutive years, adopting such contrasting looks and behavior that she made Jekyll and Hyde look like peas in a pod.
Cohen, 24, never made it past the audition round, but she still got more camera time than some Idol finalists. The show even taped her at the one-bedroom apartment in Allentown that she shared with her mother.
Philadelphia has its eyes fixed on local Idol
I know the Examiner has a fantastic American Idol Examiner and I am not stealing any credit from her, but I just found out that Philadelphia has a contestant this year that has reportedly made it very, very far.
Her name is Joanna Pacitti and boy can she can sing. Those rabid Idol fans may remember her from the Louisville auditions where new judge Kara DioGuardi commented she remembered Pacitti from her brief recording days.
David Cook’s Ameristar show sells out in 6 minutes
Forget about getting tickets to American Idol David Cook national concert tour appearance in Kansas City April 22.
Tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. Monday and all 1, 300 seats in the Pavilion show room at Ameristar Kansas City Casino and Hotel sold out in six minutes.
Casino regulars with Ameristar player club cards were given a shot at discounted ducats to the event, but were left standing in line at the casino box office when sales shut down within minutes of opening.
‘Idol’: The 10 Best — and 5 Worst — Song Choices Ever
Like Simon says, song choice can make or break any Idol. Here we look back at the savviest tune selections — and some bafflingly bad musical moves.
American Idol contestant to perform at two LISD schools
Friday Night Live is about to get a little livelier.
American Idol contestant Michael Castro is expected to perform at the next two local Friday Nite Live events, a function that takes place selected Fridays in which middle school students gather for a night of activities from 7 to 11 p.m.
Castro first appearance is set for Friday at Forestwood Middle School in Flower Mound. He is also scheduled to appear March 6 at Huffines Middle School in Lewisville.
Students in grades 3-8 are invited to attend and will have the opportunity to get a picture and autograph with the Rockwall native.
New releases in stores for week of Feb. 10
In stores today: Lily Allen, …It Not Me, It You; Lonely Island, …Incredibad; India.Arie, …Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics; Brothers of the Southland (Bo Bice, Jimmy Hall, Henry Paul), …Brothers of the Southland; Ben Lee, …The Rebirth of Venus; Van Morrison, …Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl; Red, …Innocence & Instinct; Soundtrack, …NCIS: The Official TV Soundtrack
Carrie Underwood Wants Home-Cooked Meal For Valentine’s Day
If Carrie Underwood’s latest beau, hockey player Mike Fisher, really wants to get on her good side this Valentine’s Day, he’ll plan a romantic evening in. The singer says the way to her heart is through a home-cooked meal. “It’s nice to go out, occasionally, but it’s nice to stay in, too. I’m more of a stay-in, probably, kind of girl. And I’ve never had a guy cook for me. So I think it’d be really awesome if the guy just kind of, you know, put a lot of thought into it. . . made the atmosphere nice. Maybe light some candles or make some decorations or something to sit around, and make me a good meal, a home-cooked meal.”
Simon Cowell building £15m Barbados home
Simon Cowell is said to be spending a whopping £15million on a holiday home in Barbados.
The six-bedroom mansion will boast a cinema, gym, swimming pool and bar.
The beachfront property is thought to be located next to a 5-star hotel resort.
And Simon, 49, will apparently get perks including room service, access to restaurants and a 24-hour laundry service.
Neil Tennant slams Simon Cowell’s X Factor
Pet Shop Boys frontman Neil Tennant has accused Simon Cowell of having a narrow view of music – and thinks The X Factor ignores entire genres of pop music.
Neil said that the ITV1 talent show was ‘basically people singing Whitney, Mariah and maybe Elton’.
In an interview with Radio Times, he asked: “Why don’t they have, say, a new-wave week? Or 80s electro week?”
Nick Cannon to host ‘America’s Got Talent’
NEW YORK (AP) ‘ America’s got Nick Cannon as the new host of “America’s Got Talent, ” says NBC.
The musician, comedian, actor and producer will preside over the network’s talent competition series when it returns for a fourth season this summer.
Cannon, 28, had his breakthrough role while a teen on the Nickelodeon series “All That, ” starred in his own MTV show, “Nick Cannon Presents Wild’n Out, ” and has recorded with artists including Kanye West and Diddy.
His film appearances include “Bobby” and “The Killing Room.”
Cannon takes over from former “America’s Got Talent” host Jerry Springer.
Maurice Greene enjoying dance tour
RALEIGH, North Carolina – Maurice Greene’s powerful legs still keep him in the spotlight, but his ballroom dancing shoes, not sprinter’s spikes, pay the bills these days.
The former Olympic and world champion has been traveling by bus across America for the past two months entertaining audiences as part of the touring company of the popular television show “Dancing With The Stars.”
“This is a lot fun-er, ” Greene told Reuters during a recent stop in Raleigh. “When I was competing that was stressful. This is going out and having fun.”
Dance judge Nigel Lythgoe finds a new tune in charity work
Last August the 59-year-old stepped down as executive producer of American Idol. Three months later, he resigned as president of American Idol creator Simon Fuller’s 19 production company.
Then he announced a joint venture agreement with Fuller to produce Superstars of Dance.
Most surprisingly, in mid-November, Lythgoe, who still retains his positions as co-creator and judge on the US version of So You Think You Can Dance, took out a full-page advertisement in entertainment trade publication Daily Variety calling on Hollywood’s rich and famous to help him tackle child poverty in Los Angeles.
And dance is, by its very nature, joyous. What better activity is there to celebrate life?
“It makes people equal and it makes people valued again who may not have felt valued in their lives, ” he says. “It’s got an integrity about it. Doing Idol and Dance, it’s amazing to see this ‘I’m owed’ quality to a lot of the Idol kids. It’s a form of self-entitlement that dancers don’t have.
