NATPE Honors ‹Idol Gives Back
The National Association of Television Program Executives will honor Fox …American Idol fundraiser …Idol Gives Back with the inaugural Reality Innovator Award at the NATPE LATV Festival in Los Angeles July 31.
The Reality Innovator Award recognizes outstanding achievement in reality programming, with recipients displaying passion, leadership and innovation in their platforms.
The award will be accepted by Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer of …American Idol and president of its co-production company 19 Television, at a gala reception held at the The Annex in the Hollywood & Highland Entertainment Complex.
David Archuleta Rehearses For “Idol” Tour And Thanks Fans Online
Hollywood, CA (CNS) – David Archuleta, this year’s “American Idol” runner-up, has been keeping busy working on a new album, preparing for this summer’s “Idol” tour and updating his Myspace.
The 17-year-old has been keeping his fans up to date with news on the tour, his new album and what he did for Father’s Day.
“I hope you guys had a great Father’s Day yesterday. For Father’s Day my dad, a friend of ours and I went to Soup Plantation for lunch haha. I actually really liked the food there, ” the singer wrote Monday. “We also had enough time in the day to go to church before the schedule started and lunch so that was neat to be able to do.”
David Cook’s Brother Discusses Being On Camera After Win
American Idol & David Cook fans may remember the moment when Ryan Seacrest announced the winner of the show and Cook’s brother, Andrew, looked into the camera and said ‘That’s my brother!’ It was a heartfelt connection between the Blue Springs, Missouri brothers. FOX 4 spoke to Andrew about how he ended up on camera & about going up on stage with his brother. Andrew Cook also said his emotion proved to some fans that the show isn’t fixed.
Carrie Underwood Accepts Headlining
Carrie Underwood has spent much of the year on tour as the headliner or co-headliner, and while Carrie might like seeing her name in lights, she didnt initially think she was ready for that role.
“I think I was the last one on board with the whole headlining thing, ” she told the national radio show GAC Nights: Live From Nashville. “A lot of people [said], ‹This is a good idea. We can sell this. Peoplell come.’ And Im like, ‹Are you sure people are going to show up? ‹Cause I dont know.”
The DVD Experience – TobyMac – Alive and Transported
Backed by the eclectic explosiveness of his Diverse City Band, tobyMac has proven himself one of Christian music’s most exciting and charismatic entertainers in recent years. Those qualities are at last captured through top-notch video production, with exceptional camera angles and framework. The set list is chock full of tobyMac’s entire solo career, not to mention a few shout-outs to his dc Talk days. Highlights include the roaring “Ignition, ” the hip-hop drenched funk of “Catchafire (Whoopsi-Daisy), and the sax-smacked neo-soul of “No Ordinary Love, ” plus Mandisa makes a special appearance for “Lose My Soul.” All the while, the stage is adorned with images from Mac’s recent Portable Sounds project, plus an ambitious light show that rivals dc Talk’s concert experience. In addition to the concurrent CD soundtrack, there’s a behind-the-scenes feature offering an hour’s worth of insightful interviews that flesh out the tour further.
18th Annual Pigeon Forge Patriot Festival Is ‹A Family Affair
Pigeon Forge, TN ‘ June 2008 ‘ Pigeon Forge, Tenn., will celebrate Independence Day with the three-day Pigeon Forge Patriot Festival July 4-6. It the festival 18th year, and the 2008 theme is …A Family Affair ‘ Then and Now. The festival is set against the backdrop of an American treasure, Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Activity begins at 1 p.m. July 4 (Friday) in Patriot Park with the Kids Karnival that includes a rock-climbing wall, a mechanical bull, a moonwalk, a bungee run and other games and activities.
StarJam 2008, a concert produced by Knoxville radio station Star 102.1, will provide music. Featured artists are …American Idol contestant Ace Young, Metro Station, Joel and Benji from Good Charlotte, Menudo and Boys Like Girls.
Author set to give presentation at West
Tom Ecker, author of “Olympic Facts and Fables, ” unfolds his humorous and engaging multi-media presentation Friday at 7 p.m. at the West High School auditorium in Salt Lake City.
Tickets are $8 for individuals or $20 per family. Also featured on the program are Dana Adams, a juggling act, and a report from Jim Archuleta on his grandson David Archuleta.
American Idol winner, other celebs turn out for autism benefit
MAMARONECK – On a day when Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate battled for the U.S. Open title in California, singer Taylor Hicks was one of dozens of celebrities at Winged Foot Golf Club yesterday to raise an estimated $1 million for the Autism Speaks charity.
Hicks, who won the fifth season of “American Idol” and is guest-starring in “Grease” on Broadway, said the cause is important to him.
“One of my dad’s best friend’s sons has autism, ” he said, moments before practicing his swing at the driving range. “When I heard about this particular event, I wanted to make sure I got out and tried to get involved with it and bring some attention to the disease.”
SCERA offers youths acting workshops
The 4th annual National Youth Theatre sponsored by the SCERA Center for the Arts, 745 S. State, will be June 25-27 for youths ages 12 to 18.
Choreographer and performance coach Cindera Che, who has coached many television, stage and film stars, will teach at the event.
Attendees also will see a concert by “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks. Daily events include:
June 25, from 5 to 10 p.m., dinner, games, an overview of the festival, prizes and the Sparks concert in the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre.
Improvement all around on ‘Nashville Star’
After a fairly dismal start, the contestants of Nashville Star decided to stop being mediocre as a whole and elevate to decent status. Bless their hearts.
Host Billy Ray Cyrus is introduced by a woman named Katie Cook. Looks like Mr. Cyrus has gotten himself a little hosting help. Billy Ray lets us know that the contestants have been broken up into men, women and groups for mentoring by the judges and throws to the package. John Rich got the women, Jewel got the men, and Jeffery Steele got the groups (to his slight chagrin).
“America’s Got Talent, ” and lots of it
There’s something about “America’s Got Talent” ‘ free-form, freestyle, free of rules ‘ that seems to fit its place and time.
“It’s a kind of showcase for all American talent, ” said Piers Morgan, one of the judges and “Celebrity Apprentice” winner. “In that way, we’ve become a sort of patriotic show.”
Two of the show’s three judges (Morgan and Sharon Osbourne) are British; so are two of the three creators, including “American Idol’s” Simon Cowell. (David Hasselhoff is the third judge; Jerry Springer hosts.)
Jugglers and plate-spinners have equal status with cellists and sopranos.
‹America’s Got Talent offers goofy summer fun
NBC found an unlikely jewel in “America’s Got Talent” two years ago. And, as networks often do, it nearly ruined the surprise hit. After a successful debut season, the network announced that “Talent” would leave its comfy summer home and compete with ratings juggernaut “American Idol” in the winter.
Thankfully, that didn’t happen. “America’s Got Talent, ” which returns Tuesday on NBC, is an underdog, and so are its contestants. It couldn’t survive a fight with the likes of “Idol” or “Dancing with the Stars, ” so for a couple of months every summer, a collection of singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, contortionists and more take over TV.
Simon Cowell On ‘America’s Got Talent’
When “America’s Got Talent” launches its second season premiere tonight at 9 p.m. on NBC, there are some really weird acts, including a woman named BUSTY HART, who likes to break things (watermelons, bricks) with her breasts, and a 7-foot-2-inch man who simultaneously drinks milk through his nose while explosives are strapped to his stomach. But there are also some talented people: an 84-year-old who the judges say sings better than FRANK SINATRA and a four-year-old girl who those same judges compare to a young SHIRLEY TEMPLE.
Canadian Idol recap: the top 200
Welcome to Toronto. We went from over 10, 000 down to 200 for the most grueling part of the audition process. I’m not sure how specific they’ll get, so I may not be able to critique everyone, but we’ll take a look at those who excelled, and those who failed (as always, I look to you for any agreements or disagreements).
What is it with Great Big Sea – their music seems to be on everything right now.
Sass’s advice to the group was to feel the song, Jake’s advice was the Idol wannabes have to make the song their own, Farley told them to keep in mind winning the Canadian Idol title and Zack reminded them they have three days and to pace themselves.
