Tonight, Dancing with the Stars and The Voice eliminate a contestant at 8/7c pm on ABC and NBC respectively. American Idol chooses it’s Top 2 before they perform for your votes, and the crown! 9/8c PM FOX.
SUPERSTAR ARTIST KANYE WEST TO CLOSE THE “2015 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS” – SANTA MONICA, CA (May 12, 2015) – Billboard and dick clark productions announced today superstar Kanye West will close this year’s Billboard Music Awards. Recognized worldwide as one of the great live performers of his generation, this will mark Kanye’s first ever performance on the BBMA stage. The “2015 Billboard Music Awards” will be hosted by Ludacris and Chrissy Teigen and broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 17, on ABC from 8:00 PM–11:00 PM ET. – via dc productions pr
Jennifer Hudson Signs On to Spike Lee’s Musical Comedy CHIRAQ – Screendaily reports that Jennifer Hudson has signed on to the ensemble cast of Spike Lee’s upcoming film CHIRAQ. The Oscar winner joins previously announced cast members Common, John Cusack, Jeremy Piven and Samuel L. Jackson. Described as a “musical comedy” the film will be based on Aristophanes’ classic Greek play Lysistrata, and follows ” a woman’s quest to end gang warfare in Chicago.” In the original Greek play, the women of ancient Greece withhold sex from men to force a peace treaty ending the Peloponnesian War. – Read more at BroadwayWorld.com
Simon Cowell’s Music Competition ‘La Banda’ Renewed by Univision for Season 2 – Univision has renewed “La Banda,” the music-based, multi-media competition show developed by Simon Cowell‘s SYCO Entertainment and Haim Saban‘s Saban Brands and co-produced with FremantleMedia Latin America, for a second season. “La Banda 2” will scour the U.S. and Puerto Rico for the ultimate Latina girl super group. – Read more at The Wrap
Insider: Fox Eyes Simon Cowell Project to Launch After ‘American Idol’ Ends Run (Exclusive) – Fox may be looking to get back in bed with Simon Cowell after “American Idol” wraps its 15-season run. An insider close to the network told TheWrap that top brass are considering a reteam with the mega-producer and outspoken former judge after Fox rests the talent competition format for a year. The project would be eyeing a 2017 TV Season launch, according to the insider. A spokesperson for Fox declined to comment. A rep for Cowell’s SYCO Entertainment has not yet returned TheWrap’s request for comment. “Word all over the lot is that they’re going to take a year after ‘Idol,’ let the time slot breathe, and then they’re going with another Cowell reality project,” the individual said. – Read more at The Wrap
Q&A: Harry Connick Jr. talks American Idol finale – So after auditions you really don’t talk to them at all?
After Qaasim was eliminated, I introduced myself and learned I’ve been friends with his godmother for 30 years, which would have gotten in my head. I don’t wanna know anything about them. I don’t wanna know their family life, I don’t wanna know their backstory. I just need to judge what they’re doing on stage. I love these kids, and I’d love to hang out with them. But that’s not what they hired me to do. – Read more at ew.com
Jordin Sparks sings for the ESPN Upfronts –
Jordin instagramed this photo with the caption, “Sang for the #ESPNupfronts in NY. Then this happened w/ @dwyanewade & @revisislandtwo4. Idk what we were doing. Lol Thanks for having me! :)”
‘American Idol’ Original Judge Paula Abdul Says She ‘Left the Show at the Top’ (Video) – Speaking to “Extra,” Abdul — who sat on the judge’s panel from 2002 until 2009 — declared, “I left the show at the top,” adding, “after I left, my presence, it felt different. And then a year later Simon [Cowell] left, and it feels different. And many years later Randy [Jackson] left.” Abdul added that the show’s current judges, Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr. are “fantastic” and “brilliant at what they do and they’re fun to watch.” However, she noted, ” I think that a certain point maybe everything comes to a close. Maybe it’s run its course.” – Read more at The Wrap
