Idol Headlines For 8/19/08

Idols Live meet and greet at Gwinnett Arena

I got a few more tidbits from Michael Johns about this upcoming post tour plans. He will be working with Andrew Farriss from INXS in October on a song. He also hoping to attend the Elton John celeb-am tennis match in a few months. He also expects to move back to Atlanta next year. He working with the same people as Elliott Yamin to get his album out. He also gave a shout out to www.michaeljohnsonline.com for being such a great fan site.

He described the umbrella bit they did last night at Charlotte, which is already online. Michael, Syesha and I watched it on this computer: Johns said by pure coincidence, he had heard Turner Classic Movies had paid homage to Gene Kelly of …Singing in the Rain fame that same day.

Access Atlanta

‹American Idol Revamps Syndicated ‹Rewind

…American Idol is getting a revamp for its new season’ at least in syndication.

The country top nonscripted weekly syndicated series, …American Idol Rewind, will be added to TV Guide Channel lineup this fall. It also will undergo a format change, combining looks at …American Idol seasons three and four with in-depth interviews with some of the series stars, including Carrie Underwood.

…This year will be more highlight-driven as we focus on the journeys of some of the contestants from seasons three and four who became household names, said Tracy Verna Soiseth, executive producer of …American Idol Rewind.

TV Week

Carey, Cyrus to Stand Up to Cancer

Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Miley Cyrus are among the femme musicians who have teamed to record “Just Stand Up, ” a charitable single to benefit the Stand Up to Cancer Fundraising Campaign.

Also set to perform on the single are Ashanti, Natasha Bedingfield, Mary J. Blige, Ciara, Keyshia Cole, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Fergie, Leona Lewis, Rihanna, LeAnnRimes and Carrie Underwood.

Funds generated by the single, produced by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Antonio “L.A.” Reid, will support cancer research. “Just Stand Up” will be available exclusively on iTunes beginning Sept. 2.

Variety

“American Idol” hopefuls prepare for auditions

Last year, Jane Hayden gave what she thought was a wonderful performance during the “American Idol” tryouts at Philadelphia’s Wachovia Center.

Except she left unhappy, not only because she didn’t make the cut but because she didn’t audition until 8:20 p.m., 20 minutes before her flight home was scheduled to depart.

App.com

8/18: Idols in concert in Gwinnett

After mocking various critics who were forced to watch this concert tour, I come in knowing the purpose of …American Idols Live is somewhat different from most concerts. It merely a celebration of ourselves and the folks we picked to make the top 10, a visual and mental souvenir. We validate ourselves with the success of these singers, many of whom will never sing in venues this large again while a select few will use this as a springboard for bigger and better things.

From that standpoint, the concert was a rousing success, highlighting the depth and breadth of talent this year. Sure, the TV show itself is getting gray around the edges (like me), but there are a few solid reasons the show sold out: David Cook and David Archuleta (with a few Jason Castro fans thrown in for good measure.)

Access Atlanta

With One Jesus, No Angels, Producer Cancels `Godspell’ Revival

Even Jesus can’t put on a show without backers.

A Broadway revival of “Godspell, ” the 1971 Stephen Schwartz pop musical, has been canceled because the producers came up short on the show’s $4.5 million capitalization.

Lead producer Adam Epstein made a last-ditch effort over the weekend to cover the gap after an unnamed backer pulled out two weeks ago. He was unable to secure funding, though, in time to meet a deadline yesterday to guarantee the Shubert Organization- owned Barrymore Theatre, where the show was scheduled to begin previews next month.

“Never say never, ” director Daniel Goldstein wrote in an e-mail to the company over the weekend, the show’s casting director, Bernard Telsey, said yesterday in an interview. Still, the e-mail made it clear that the show would not be produced in the coming season. The revival would have starred Gavin Creel and Diana DeGarmo.

Bloomberg.com

Our American Idol Is Taking His Obsession to the Next Level – He’s Auditioning

You may know MTV News producer Jim Cantiello from his 60-second recaps of …American Idol and …Project Runway, but now he looking to step into the reality-TV spotlight himself.

Hey, Paula, Randy and Simon! After tomorrow, you can call off the rest of the eighth season of …American Idol, because I know youre going to fall in love with one singer in particular: me. That right. Ill be one of the estimated 10, 000 people auditioning for a spot on the show.

You see, all day long, Ill be reporting from the audition line in New Jersey. Sadly, cameras arent allowed inside the Izod Center ¦ but BlackBerries are! Once I make it to the indoor holding area, Ill be sending out live updates about the goings-on. Then later this week, well bring you a full video piece all about my …Idol audition experience.

MTV

American Idol Truth Tour’s Final Stop is the Big Apple

WHAT: The American Idol Truth Tour will be stopping in midtown Manhattan at the New York headquarters of FremantleMedia. Former FremantleMedia workers and supporters are demanding that the American Idol producer does the right thing by offering industry-standard pay, working conditions, and benefits to its employees.

Co-sponsored by the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW), the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), the Truth Tour has been following this season’s Idol auditions around the country, including recent stops in San Francisco, Phoenix, San Juan, and Jacksonville, to raise awareness of workers’ rights issues. As American Idol searches for the next pop superstar, the Truth Tour has focused the spotlight on the harsh reality of substandard working conditions in “reality” TV.

Street Insider

Red celebs, blue celebs

But could the upcoming Democratic and Republican conventions ever penetrate the cultural miasma surrounding politics? Possibly, but it depends on the quality of celebrities each party can lure through the convention doors with shiny Barack Obama campaign buttons or promises of sweet Republi-candy.

GOP convention spokeswoman Melissa Subbotin says the party is not ready to announce whether high-profile Republicans Dennis Hopper, Kelsey Grammer, Chuck Norris and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are on the guest list at John McCain’s big party. But Robin Bronk, director of the non-partisan but liberal-leaning Creative Coalition, says, “I would expect to see Kid Rock, Gary Sinise, Patricia Heaton and Taylor Hicks there, at least. Republicans are strategically using the H(ollywood)-factor more than I’ve ever seen this time.”

AZ Central

Chris Daughtry Covers Foreigner’s ‘Feels Like The First Time’ For CNN Voter Initiative

“CNN contacted me about this whole thing they’re doing for the election ‘  trying to encourage people to vote ‘  and they told us they were approaching Chris for the project, ” Jones told MTV News in an exclusive interview Monday (August 18), about Daughtry’s cover of the 1977 hit “Feels Like the First Time.” “I’m a big fan of his. He’s got a great voice, and I thought it would be a really good idea. So I just gave my blessing to the project, and they took it from there.”

Daughtry’s take on “First Time, ” which was recorded in April with producer Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, All-American Rejects), will not only appear on Daughtry Deluxe, a re-release of his band’s gazillion-selling 2006 debut, but it will also serve as the theme for the network’s League of First Time Voters initiative, designed to get first-time voters excited about the upcoming election ‘  one Jones realizes is important for America.

MTV

Carrie Underwood and George Strait Get ICM Awards Noms

The nominees for the 14th Annual Inspirational Country Music (ICM) Awards have been announced. The award show will be held on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. CST at the Trinity Music City USA Auditorium located in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Josh Turner, Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs & The Whites are nominated in the Mainstream act category. Alison Krauss received a nod in the Bluegrass category.

The annual ICM Awards are dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent among artists who perform Christian and Inspirational Country Music.

Country Hound

Movie Preview: The Secret Life of Bees

It’s not every day that the film adaptation of a well-loved book appears to capture the same atmosphere and sentiments that the book does, but in my opinion, the trailer for The Secret Life of Bees looks like it might do just that. I loved the novel by Sue Monk Kidd; it was one of those books that left me feeling sad at the end because I had to part with characters I’d come to care about deeply.

The story follows 14-year-old Lily (Dakota Fanning) whose mother died, leaving Lily with an abusive father. Together with her caregiver Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson), Lily runs away from her father, and the two wind up at a pink house and under the protection of four smart, strong, beekeeping sisters.

Buzzsugar

Oz, the musical’ featuring Idol’ contestants, coming to Lubbock stage

“Oz, the musical, ” a contemporary musical treatment of the popular L. Frank Baum story “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, ” will be staged at 7 p.m. Aug. 29 and 30 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Theatre, 1501 Mac Davis Lane.

The original musical was written by Plainview native Todrick D. Hall.

The play’s stars, said Hall, will include four former “American Idol” participants:

Mikalah Gordon as Dorothy. She was the 11th-place finalist on the fourth season. She has been signed to a development deal with Warner Bros., and has been compared to Fran Drescher and Bette Midler. Scott Savol as the Lion. He was the fifth-place finalist on the fourth season. Rickey Smith as the Tinman. He was the eighth-place finalist on the second season. Vonzell Solomon as Glinda. She was the third-place finalist on the fourth season. Now CEO of independent record label Melodic Records; before starting the company, she was the highest finishing “American Idol” contestant not to receive a recording contract afterward.

Lubbockonline

Underwood fan has star in her eyes

How did 17-year-old Towson resident Kelly Wallis end up on the front page of The Tennessean newspaper with American Idol country singer Carrie Underwood?

A devoted fan since she saw Underwood audition for and then win Idol in 2005, Wallis couldnt have asked for anything more. And the funny thing is she didnt even ask for what she got.

…Carrie is my favorite singer, said the teen about the platinum-selling performer known for her wholesome image. …I like everything she represents, and she is an incredible artist.

Explorebaltimorecounty.com

Dean avoids funny socks in Sox debut

Mayor Karl Dean returned Monday from his trip to Boston, but he doesn’t feel like his feet have touched the ground yet.

That’s because the 40-year fan of the Boston Red Sox was invited to throw out the first pitch at the reigning World Series champions’ game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Fenway Park on Sunday.

Dean was just part of the Nashville-inspired game opener. Brentwood’s Melinda Doolittle sang the national anthem, and Crystal Shawanda, who records for Sony BMG Nashville, sang the Canadian national anthem.

Tennessean.com

‘House Bunny’, From Playboy Mansion to New York Red Carpet

With a few days left from its scheduled theatrical release, “The House Bunny” rolled down its red carpet at the Hearst Tower, New York and celebrated its New York premiere on Monday, August 18, evening. Stepping out for the special event were the stars of the comedy flick about the former Playboy Bunny teaching a group of awkward sorority girls how to be themselves, and several celebrity guests.

Dressing to impress, the movie’s cast ensemble display a variety of style. The leading lady Anna Faris brought the classic back with her choice of flowy chiffon with lace detail, while Emma Stone wore a mini dress with splashes of colors. Demi Moore’s daughter Rumer Willis was styled in an ivory strapless and the American Idol season five runner-up Katharine McPhee was seen in a floral blouse and black slacks.

Aceshowbiz

ET’s Exclusive Interview With The Stars Of ‘The House Bunny’

Anna Faris, Katharine McPhee, Rumer Willis and Emma Stone, stars of ‘The House Bunny, ‘ releasing August 22, stepped out in NYC Monday night for a CosmoGirl-hosted party and screening of their new comedy — and ET was with them for the exclusive sit-down interview!

What did it take for headliner Anna to get into Playboy bunny shape? Which behind-the-scenes moments during filming did the fab foursome find funniest? And did any catfights erupt on the set?

News4Jax.com

Paula Abdul: Accessory to a crime at the ALMA Awards!

Paula Abdul was arrested, charged and found guilty of being an accessory to a heinous Crime of Fashion at last night’s ALMA awards.

Her enormous, multi-tiered, black-beaded choker combined with matching black-beaded golfball-size drop earrings, topped by an unneccessarily complex banged beehive was classified as blatant “over-accessorizing, ” usually punishable by a fine of $5, 000 or a donation of half a dozen Manolo Blahniks to the charity of your choice.

LA Times

Canadian Idol Top 5 Recap

(andPOP) – It down to the final five on Canadian Idol and theyre singing (or butchering) Beatles songs, handpicked by the judges.

Opening the show with …With a Little Help from My Friends is Earl Stevenson. Half of the song is sung by the backup singers and it underwhelming. The judges, however, give him a standing ovation. …You did exactly what I thought you would do with it. It was spectacular, says Jake. …It was like being transported into another world, says Sass. …That was bang on, says Zack.

andPOP

Canadian Idol Recap: The Fab Five Perform the Fab Four

This week is judges’ choice week, where the judges picked Beatles songs for each of the Idols (it was supposed to be the week Anne Murray mentored, but that was pushed back).

The show starts with the judges Q and A, followed by a Beatles history lesson for anyone who is living under a rock and doesn’t know who they are. Then we follow the Idols to Camp Oochigeas, a camp for sick kids. The Idols spent a day with the kids having fun. It was a sweet segment.

National Post

About mj santilli 34833 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!