‘Idol’ finalists deliver in L.A. show
Not a single gold or purple jersey was seen at the Staples Center on Monday night. Instead, the arena was filled with thousands of so called ‘tweenie bops’ and “American Idol” fans who waited anxiously for what would be a full night.
L.A was stop No. 5 for the top 10 Idol contestants who have started on their American Idols Live Tour 2008. The three-hour concert was packed with energy as the contestants each delivered a three-song set aside from runner-up David Archuleta who sang four songs and winner David Cook who sang five. The arena was packed with die-hard fans and “Idol” judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson attended the concert as well.
Idol’s Top 10 Talk About Life on the Road
American Idol top 10 finalists hit the road July 1, heading to Brooke White hometown of Glendale, Ariz., the first stop on the Pop Tarts Presents American Idols Live! Tour 2008, which will make over 50 stops across the country this summer. So how is life on the road? …So far so good, season 7 winner David Cook tells PEOPLE, before performing at L.A. Staples Center Monday. …Were getting our feet wet a little bit and the crowds have been amazing!
Added runner-up, David Archuleta: …It been great at every city [so far] and so much fun ¦ to watch other people perform and see how [the audiences] react to them.
Michael Johns is Signing a Deal With Whom?
There is so much speculation amongst the fans these days, myself included, as to whether or not Michael Johns will soon announce that he’s signed a record deal. Here are my thoughts on the matter. Michael Johns was good enough to sign before he ever considered trying out for American Idol, and was in fact signed by major labels more than once.
The Davids on Tour: Who’s Feeling More Love?
The American Idol tour officially kicked off in Arizona July 1, starting a summer-long bus odyssey of the continental U.S. On day seven of the journey, though, David Cook and David Archuleta are already feeling the heat of mega fandom that they ignited during Season 7 ‘ albeit in their own ways.
For starters, their tour performances represent their respective hot and cool approaches. Cook claims the audience response so far to Archie is already a tough act to follow. He told TVGuide.com, “It’s always fun to go stand in the back and listen to the audience when he first comes out. Crowds have been really noisy for Archie. It’s been really intimidating!” Archie maintains, however, that his performance is “laid back” versus Cook’s, which is “really exciting and full of energy.”
The Tour Comes to the Staple Center
A few very long months ago, these nine singers shared hotel rooms on the other side of downtown with a couple hundred other aspiring superstars summoned for the semifinal round of “American Idol” auditions known as Hollywood Week. Half a year later, the 10 who emerged from those masses touched down momentarily in the filled-to-the-rafters Staples Center to entertain an ecstatic audience that greeted the returning champions like gods falling to Earth as the “Idols Live” tour came home to Los Angeles.
The most frequent criticism a professional “Idol” watcher hears of the show is the “this is not real stardom” saw, that these singers did not rise organically through the grassroots along our mythical (and, largely, no longer existent) path for superstars, playing tiny bars to a handful of drunks in Butte, Mont., rising to a capacity-40 nightclub in Boise until suddenly — and untainted by the touch of the professional music industry — they force their way onto a radio station and instantaneously charm the millions. By contrast, the grudge goes, “American Idol” stars are “invented” TV show confections who have not paid their dues, and their rise is forever tainted by their corporate overlords and sponsors.
American Idols Live
Not every “American Idol” finalist realizes it yet, but the post-broadcast tour is an extended audition that’s just as important as the first go-around that landed them in the money on the Fox TV show. This time, however, they are playing to audiences who pay for music, fans looking for stars to invest in down the road. Those who present coherent stage personas that connect with their “Idol” performances — the two Davids, Syesha Mercado, Jason Castro, Carly Smithson and, surprisingly, Chikezie — are helping their careers. Those who see the tour as a chance to reconnect with past televised glory — Kristy Lee Cook, Ramiele Malebay, Michael Johns — are wasting a golden opportunity.
At the fifth show on a 53-concert tour that ends Sept. 13 in Tulsa, Okla., the complaints and praise are not that changed from the commentary provided by the show’s judges: across-the-board consistency works; not understanding the importance of song selection is a career killer. Each performer is given a solo segment; the bottom six come out for two group perfs prior to a commercial-filled 25-minute intermission, and all 10 end the night with Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music.” (The group songs are blandly sung and choreographed.)
Backstage at American Idol
Through our special correspondents in L.A., we have been privileged to bring you inside peeks at Hollywood. The latest pictures come from The Train (my sister and new sister-in-law to the dazzling newlywed Kirsten). The Train attended the American Idol concert last night and got one of 100 backstage passes. It helped that The Train concert companion is good friends with Brooke White and her husband. Behold, your Idols!
ET Rides Along with Paula Abdul to the ‘Idol’ Concert
The “Pop-Tartsà ¢’ž ¢ Presents American Idol Live Tour 2008” stopped in Los Angeles Monday for a one-night only concert date and ET joined “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul for the limo ride to the Staples Center and backstage as she congratulated the season seven Final 10 on their performances.
Paula spoke one on one with David Cook, David Archuletta, Brooke White and Carly Smithson about everything from dating and wardrobe to having “bus hair.”
The tour continues to zig-zag across the country all summer, wrapping up on September 13 in Tulsa, OK.
Singers vie for Arizona Ido
Nearly 400 contestants came to the Westgate City Center in Glendale Tuesday morning to try their hand at being the next Arizona Idol.
Brittany McGuire was one of those who tried. This is her second attempt. “Well, I auditioned last year and made the top 10 and I just heard about it this morning so I figured why not?” McGuire said.
Samantha loves to sing, but admits she wasn’t comfortable. “I was very nervous, just very nervous, ” Samantha said.
The top ten singers will have a second audition on Thursday to narrow the competition. The five finalists will compete Friday on the Fox 10 morning show, with the winner then getting an audition with the American Idol producers.
It’s opening day for back-to-school shopping
To promote back-to-school shopping, Staples said it is teaming up with Dosomething.org and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks (pictured above); as part of a campaign titled “Do Something 101, ” Sparks will be encouraging teens to collect school supplies and drop them off at the nearest Staples, or make a $2 donation, to help out needy students.
Jordin Sparks: The next step
So, Britain has finally caught up with the rest of the world. ‘No Air’ is a smash. We hear it on the radio, we hear it in the shops, sometimes we hear it when we close our eyes at night and really should be trying to get some sleep, but that’s perhaps a little too much information for 12.45pm on a Wednesday.
Anyway, the trouble with big international hits like ‘No Air’ is that the artist is generally expected to repeat the trick. Chris Brown’s doing just fine with ‘Forever’, but Jordin Sparks, truth be told, is facing an uphill struggle. Nothing on her debut album is in quite the same league as ‘No Air’, and she doesn’t have much of a profile outside the US.
CRAZY, A Film Inspired by the Life of Iconoclastic Guitar Legend Hank Garland, Racks Up Big Wins on 2008 Festival Circuit Including Multiple Best Feature Awards Plus Acting and Writing Honors
In addition to Waylon Payne, CRAZY stars Ali Larter (Heroes, Legally Blonde, etc) as Hank’s beautiful but troubled wife Evelyn — Larter received Best Actress nods at the Hoboken festival and at Method Fest. Cast members also include: Lane Garrison as Billy Garland; Scott Michael Campbell as guitar ace Billy Byrd; singer Stacy Earl as country crooner Goldie Hill; Evans Forde as the legendary Chet Atkins; and Ryan Cross as jazz bassist Joe Benjamin. Mandy Barnett, Shawn Colvin and Katharine McPhee also perform cameos. CRAZY’s
music was produced by multiple-GRAMMY(R)-winner Larry Klein, most recently honored for the 2007 Album of the Year, Herbie Hancock’s River – The Joni Letters.
Jet-Setting Katharine McPhee and Nick Cokas
She been flying under the gossip radar as of late, but yesterday, Katharine McPhee and her hubby Nick Cokas were spotted arriving at LAX International Airport.
The American Idol babe looked cute in a blue t-shirt underneath a grey patent leather jacket with a pair of jeans as she toted her Louis Vuitton handbag and luggage through the terminal.
‘American Idol’ winner makes surprise visit to Smithville community in Cornelius
Residents of the Smithville community celebrated a very special guest’s birthday last week when 2004 American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino stopped for some cake and to sign autographs.
“Now this year I have had so much love. I have had five birthday parties but home town for me is the most special, ” the Charlotte resident said. “It feels really good. I was Celie for a long time (in “The Color Purple” on Broadway last year) and now I’m Fantasia and I am able to enjoy my birthday.”
Barrino stopped by the Smithville Community Center before celebrating her 24th birthday at NV Nightclub and Lounge later that evening.
Spiedie Fest lineup includes Blue Oyster Cult, Disney Demi Lovato
* Aug. 2: Pop day features a 2 p.m. concert with Musso followed by a meet & greet from 3 to 5 p.m.; and a 6 p.m. concert featuring Ace Young, a former …American Idol contestant, and Vanessa Carlton. Festival goers can also meet Bucky Dent and Lovato at 11 a.m.
Kellie Pickler’s “Beautiful” Message
That a key part of the lyrics in Kellie Pickler current single, “Dont You Know Youre Beautiful, ” in which the verses address fear-driven behavior by girls and women struggling with their personal sense of attractiveness. Kellie didnt write the song, but she recorded it because she identified with its message.
“It important that when you look in the mirror, youre happy with what you see, ” she told the national radio show GAC Nights: Live From Nashville. “Ive always said that, and I think that when you walk into a room, be it a man or a woman, you should hold your head high with confidence. I think everyone should look in the mirror and go, ‹Wow, I look good. Im beautiful, you know? You should feel good about who you are.”
‹Idol contender at Dipper
Singer/basketball player. It not a combination you usually find all rolled up into one person. But Ayla Brown is anything but usual, and she has been a standout at both diverse endeavors.
You can catch her musical side during a performance at the Big Dipper all-you-can-eat ice cream event at Elm Park Saturday, to benefit Children Friend programs. She will also sign autographs.
Most people first came to know Brown, 19, after she auditioned for …American Idol in August 2005. She impressed the judges enough to earn a pass to Hollywood and, after surviving a series of grueling cuts, made it to the top 24. She ultimately finished in 13th place.
Nashville Star 6: Pearl Heart and Tommy Discuss Their Eliminations
Last night on Nashville Star, two acts were eliminated from the competition. Right at the start of the show, Tommy Stanley was pulled front and center along with front runner Melissa Lawson. It was clear that the Navy boy with the rock edge was a goner.
What was more surprising was the end of the show when the two finalists up for elimination were Ashlee Hewitt and Pearl Heart, both solid performers that no one wanted to see leave. After giving one of the best performances of the season, it was Pearl Heart that was told to leave the show, much to the chagrin of the studio audience and the judges. This morning, Tommy Stanley and Pearl Heart sat down for a conference call with reporters, and BuddyTV was there to hear all about how they feel the morning after.
So You Think You Can Dance: Kourtni Lind of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’
The minute Kourtni Lind hit 18, she headed to try out for So You Think You Can Dance. On her first try, she made it to Vegas and through to the Top 20. She has studied at her mother’s dance studio since the age of 3 and graduated high school early to get her dance career started. She was paired up with Matt Dorame this season on So You Think You Can Dance and they found themselves in the bottom group more often than they would have liked. Last week proved to be their last as the judges sent both Matt and Kourtni home. Today, after enjoying the holiday weekend, Kourtni talked to BuddyTV in an exclusive interview!
Canadian Idol: The top 16 perform Part II
Wow. Tuesday night’s show was much better than Monday’s. So much so, I’d be more willing to send six competitors home from Monday rather than having a top 12 (come on, you know it’s going to happen). But why worry about the results before Ben gets to announce them? Here’s a rundown of how the final 16 fared Tuesday night. Off the top, Ben asked Jake if any of the competitors could consider themselves safe. Jake responded he would have said yes, until Monday’s show,
“Because I thought last night’s performances, outside of a couple of them, were actually pretty lame, ” he replied when Ben asked him what he meant. Glad to see it was as bad for them in the studio as it was to watch on television.
