Cowell downplays ban of ‘Idol’ father
LOS ANGELES, May 10 (UPI) — “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell says contestant David Archuleta’s father may no longer be backstage at the U.S. TV series, but he can be in the audience.
Cowell said Jeff Archuleta, who has earned some notoriety for apparently pushing his son in music competitions, is “banned from being in the rooms where David was learning or rehearsing his songs, ” TMZ.com said Saturday.
Carrie Underwood joins Grand Ole Opry
Carrie Underwood is the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.
The singer joined the cast of the long-running country music show Saturday. Garth Brooks handled her formal induction and Vince Gill sang a duet with her.
The former “American Idol” winner sold 7 million copies of her debut album “Some Hearts” and shot to superstardom almost overnight with hits including “Before He Cheats” and “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”
Are You A David Archuleta Or A Jason Castro?
The general buzz on American Idol this year has been that it’s a dud. I disagree. Watching Andrew Lloyd Webber leer at young male talent is always entertaining. And I watch Ryan Seacrest with morbid fascination: how can someone be that smooth, that good, that professional, that young?
But I’ve been most engrossed in the character contrasts, which is what reality shows are best at. David Cook is a fantastic poseur, very talented but so obviously straining for Seriousness it’s painful to watch at times. There are few people as sad as rock performers who think they are philosophers – especially those who don’t have a drug habit. He’s obviously the smartest performer, and probably the most all-round Archuletaethanmillergetty talented one, but who wants to encourage the pretension?
David Archuleta Fans Give World Another Reason To Believe that Journalism is In a Bad Place Right Now
TMZ first reported it yesterday and now the Associated Press has confirmed it: The American Idol braintrust has banned David Archuleta’s father/musical arranger/puppet-string-puller, Jeff, from the show’s rehearsals, after months of speculation about his stage-dad tendencies and overbearing presence. The final straw? The cheesy “Beautiful Girls” interpolation into David’s performance of “Stand By Me” last Tuesday, which not only made the song’s message completely incoherent, it cost the producers an undisclosed amount of licensing money. This raises a host of questions regarding the junior Archuleta’s last two weeks in the competition (Will the news, and the apparent fact that Jeff is the first person to be banned from the Idol backstage ever, garner a lot of sympathy votes? Will this be his chance to show the haters that he can, in fact, interpret and arrange music without Daddy pulling the strings, or will he wilt under the pressure on Tuesday night? Is this abortion of a season over yet?) But leave it to the Archie-crazed commenters at rickey.org to ask the important questions regardnig this whole story.
American Idol Finalist David Archuleta’s Dad Banned from Rehearsals
Backstage meddling has caught up “American Idol” favorite David Archuleta’s dad, who’s been banned from rehearsals, a person working for the TV talent contest said Friday.
Jeff Archuleta was told this week by producers that he can no longer join 17-year-old son as David as he prepares for the show, the person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person wasn’t authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The show’s action was first reported Friday by the online Web site TMZ.
Archuleta gets brief time to be just a boy at home
David Archuleta thought he’d sign a few autographs then cruise the mall like any teenager.
But when he popped his head out of the black stretch limousine Friday at The Gateway in Salt Lake City, he was stunned by the sea of fans, some of whom were crying.
“That was a total shocker, ” he said during an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune just before a pep rally at Murray High School, where he was a student before he became a contestant on “American Idol.”
“I was expecting just a normal mall population . . . and then I thought maybe I would do some shopping. There were a lot more people than I expected, and it was just really cool.”
Jaguars forced to miss Cook show
Zack Kaltenbach was happy to be on the tennis courts near Belton High School Friday afternoon and as far away from Cook-apalooza as he possibly could get.
…I just got my license three days ago, the sophomore tennis player said, …and the last thing I wanted to do was get in all that traffic at South.
Blue Springs South graduate David Cook, one of the three finalists on …American Idol, was giving a free concert at Larry Stewart Memorial Stadium Friday and a crowd of more than 10, 000 was expected to attend.
South tennis coach Sheri Rehmer had hoped to be among that number.
…I even got a field pass so my kids could see him up close. But the weather didnt cooperate so Im here in Belton with my other kids.
Interviews don’t stop for Syesha
After her live appearance, Syesha Mercado sits down for brief taped interviews. More of the same questions and same answers. Endless repetition. It’s like she’s working in a celebrity factory, manufacturing paragraphs for newspapers and sound bites for TV.
Then she tapes “liners” for the TV station. Again, no problem: “Thank you, Tampa Bay.” “Thanks for voting, Tampa Bay.” “This afternoon on Fox 13.” “Tonight on Fox 13.” When she flubs a line, she apologizes: “Oh, crap, I’m sorry.”
Her energy is infectious. You can feel people enjoying her presence. You can see how relieved they are that she’s making this easy on everyone.
Hannah Home Shelby Fundraiser
“We’ve probably all called Hannah Home to come get some stuff from us at one point in time, ” says Taylor Hicks – musical guest for the fundraising event.”
Hicks even came prepared for the “Boots, Blues, & Barbecue” fundraiser: “It’s a great cause…and I’m wearing the old boots, and got some blues, and I just had some barbecue.”
Alongside Taylor Hicks was Alabama’s first lady Patsy Riley, who was originally supposed to be there with the governor who was unable to attend. Mrs. Riley says she understands the value of what missions like Hannah Home do: “Many mothers have to leave a dangerous situation because they’re not only fearful for themselves with domestic abuse, but they’re very fearful for their children.”
With “On My Way Here, ” Clay Aiken is a step closer to achieving his full potential.
Clay Aiken has always seemed like the most bewildered of the “American Idol” graduates — his insta-fame cut with a bit of what-just-happened? caution, his music a hit-or-miss split between what he wants and what he’s supposed to want.
Five years later, on his second full album of originals, “On My Way Here, ” Aiken is starting to figure it out.
He is at his best when he wraps his big voice around big ballads, usually ones with big messages attached. He maximizes the drama on “As Long as We’re Here” to poignant effect, with booming phrases that would make Celine Dion proud, followed by vulnerable questioning that emo leading men would secretly admire. He undersells “Something About Us” like it was a classic Johnny Mathis ballad and fills “The Real Me” with a quavering uncertainty that makes it work.
June festival changes venue
It’s almost time for the annual Sun Fun Festival, now in its 57th year.
Instead of being held in downtown Myrtle Beach this year, the festival will be held in Grand Park on Farrow Parkway, opposite The Market Common.
Events include:
7 p.m. June 6, The Catalinas perform at Grand Park, kicking off the free Summer Concert Series.
June 7, celebrities are featured at the opening ceremony, including Ruben Studdard from “American Idol” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Cody Linley from “Hannah Montana” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Eric Braeden from “The Young and the Restless” from noon to 3 p.m.; Ace Young of “American Idol” from 1 to 4 p.m.; and Demi Lovato from the Disney movie “Camp Rock” from 2 to 5 p.m. People can take photos and get autographs at Grand Park.
SIMON TO IDOLISE ANT & DEC – TELLY duo Ant and Dec are heading for mega-stardom in the US.
Their pal Simon Cowell wants them to take over as hosts of his American Idol show.
That would catapult Geordies Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, both 32, pictured inset, in front of the biggest TV audience in the world ‘ more than 150 million viewers in 18 countries.
And it will be music to the pair ears after two phone-in scandals in Britain and huge US opposition to their planned American game show Wanna Bet?
A source close to Cowell said: …Simon believes Ant and Dec will become an overnight sensation. He ranks them the best presenters around and he determined to help them break into the US.
The duo chance could come in the next two or three months when current show host Ryan Seacrest is expected to take over a top US talk show from veteran host Larry King, 74. …That will leave the coast clear for Ant and Dec, said our source.
