Simon Cowell: Very Big Changes Ahead On ‹American Idol, So Long Top 24?
With auditions for season eight of …American Idol already underway you can expect a major overhaul for the new season, according to everyone favorite snarky judge, Simon Cowell. In a conference call from London with reporters this afternoon, Cowell said he and …Idol producers have already begun meetings in the UK with the production team and Fox executives to discuss what he would like to see happen.
With the exit of executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe recently announced, Simon thinks the show will get a much-needed face-lift.
…You must never depend on one person. I dont think we would have had the success initially without Nigel but we are onto our eighth season. It feels like it going to be a different show this year because of it and we will see whether that an advantage or a negative.
Simon, who helped create the show, is prepared to step into a larger role behind the scenes,
Covais hospitalized for undisclosed illness
“American Idol” veteran and Levittown native Kevin Covais is in an undisclosed New York-area hospital for tests. He had been promoting his big-screen debut, “College, ” which opens Friday.
Celebrity gossip Web site TMZ.com first reported that Covais developed Bell’s palsy – which causes a partial paralysis of the face – but the singer-actor’s publicist, Cindy Collins, would not say what was ailing the 19-year-old. “We cannot officially say either way until tests are done, ” Collins said from Los Angeles.
More Idol Headlines After the JUMP…
Checking in with Jason
Life has been a whirlwind of activity for Jason Castro since Season 7 Finale, and americanidol.com was lucky to catch up with him from the road for a report on how things are going halfway through the 2008 Live Tour. Not surprising, the cool and collected Jason was very positive about the tour. …Seeing the country and getting to sing every night has been awesome, Im having a blast!
American Idols Live! Tour
Touring the nation, the top ten finalists from “American Idol” sang in their order of elimination from the show. Winner David Cook was last (but certainly not least), swooning young devotees with Aerosmith’s “Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” Other popular songs included artists such as The Beatles, Coldplay, Usher, and a final group medley to Rihanna.
Who’s a Big Pop Star? Yes, You Are! David Archuleta’s Post-Idol Chart Debut
During the two weeks I was vacationing, Billboard reported changes atop all three of its flagship charts’ including the blessed end of Katy Perry’s No. 1 reign on the Hot 100, which was displaced by a Rihanna song I like a lot. Even more amazingly, a song that may be the most left-field hit of the decade’ ”Paper Planes” by M.I.A.’ soared into the Top Five.
Now that I’m back, the M.I.A. song is down a bit, and the biggest news on the charts is the post-American Idol debut by tween-and-grandma fave David Archuleta.
It’s a cruel business, this chart-column writing.
Who Looked Better: Beyonce vs. Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls Edition)
Both Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson are gracing magazines this fall doing their thing. Jen landed the cover of Billboard magazine. Beyonce is still hustling House of Dereon for fall.
Who looked better in the mags?
Updated: State of Alabama, IRS want nearly $200, 000 in taxes from Ruben Studdard
American Idol Ruben Studdard of Birmingham owes more than $193, 000 in back taxes to the state and federal governments, according to court filings.
The IRS and the state of Alabama have placed liens on “all property” belonging to the Velvet Teddy Bear for unpaid income taxes in 2003 and 2005.
Byron Perkins, a Birmingham attorney representing Studdard, said the singer is in good shape financially and should be able to pay any debts.
Studdard is the life of the block party
Ruben Studdard (above), season 2 winner of “American Idol, ” wowed the crowd this week at Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s annual summer block party. Called “BWH Street Beat, ” the party was open to the public, and Studdard was very much the star of the show. Though he hasn’t had quite the career of “Idol” winners Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood, Studdard, who turns 30 next month, is clearly still very much a fan favorite.
‹American Idol to pop into casino on Saturday
…American Idol contestant Ace Young and VH-1 performer Justin Nozuka will drop into The Lounge at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa on Saturday. Young is a Denver native, who was eliminated from the competition after the April 18 show. His songs ranged from …We Will Rock You to …In the Still of the Night.
New York-native Nozuka music is blend of R&B and singer-songwriter folk. There is no cover charge for The Lounge at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa. You must be 21 to enter the casino. Agua Caliente Casino is located at 32250 Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage. Information: (888) 999-1995.
From American Idol to House Bunny with Katharine McPhee
Katharine McPhee is living proof that American Idol can turn you into a star in more ways than one. After wowing Idol fans with her vocals, McPhee has now spread her wings into the acting world in the same manner as ex-Idol Jennifer Hudson. Although McPhee hasn’t gotten the big acting break like Hudson did with DreamGirls, Katharine has landed a role as a lost sorority mate in the recently released girl-comedy The House Bunny, next to Anna Faris, Emma Stone, Rumer Willis, Dana Goodman and Kat Dennings.
At the film’s press junket in L.A., McPhee spoke to journalists about bridging the gap between a career in music and becoming an actress.
‘It Was 40 Years Ago Today’
Rundgren’s reverence for the Beatles runs deeply through his own music — even if he did blast John Lennon as “a [blankin’] idiot” in a 1973 magazine interview. Of all the cast members (others include Denny Laine and Christopher Cross), Rundgren had the most fun, pounding out the opening power chords for the title track and putting a big foam flower on his head while singing “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.” Cross had his best moments hitting very high notes in a version of “She’s Leaving Home” that sounded a lot like Radiohead.
Bice, to be fair, gave an adequate reading of “With a Little Help From My Friends.” But were Simon Cowell to judge “It Was 40 Years Ago Today, ” he might point out that the Beatles and this album deserve better than adequate.
McCartney, Sparks ready for ‘Departure’
Until just a few weeks ago, pop star Jesse McCartney knew of Jordin Sparks, the teen “American Idol” winner from last year, but he had never met her.
But, since Aug. 5, the two singers have been touring together in the “Jesse & Jordin Live” tour. They make a great, complementary combination, says McCartney, who will be coming with Sparks to the Benedum Center, Downtown, on Sunday.
“It’s been going really well, ” says McCartney, 21. “Jordin is an absolute sweetheart, and an unbelievable vocalist.
Pop Stars to Descend on Democratic Convention to Party and Politic
Chris Daughtry, the …American Idol rock singer, is playing both conventions with his band and taking a strictly nonpartisan stance. …Were not trying to tell someone who to vote for, he said, …as much as we are saying, ‹Hey, just get out there and have your voice heard.
Just who will hear Mr. Daughtry message is hard to say. On Tuesday at the Democratic convention, he is playing a private fund-raising event for the Grammy Foundation. (His performance at the Republican convention, on Sept. 3, is presented by the Recording Industry Association and One. It is also private.)
Tragedy propels Fort Worth’s Joshua Allen to front of ‘Dance’ crowd
In fact, Joshua nearly decided not to go on So You Think You Can Dance at all. Two days before he was supposed to leave for Los Angeles to start the competition, his 13-year-old cousin, Danny Allen, was shot and killed.
It happened the night that Fox aired Joshua electric audition.
Police say Danny ‘ who was nicknamed “Bucket” ‘ was shot after stabbing another boy in an argument over an iPod. Bucket was going to attend the watch party for Joshua audition, but didnt make it. Joshua family tried to keep the bad news from him, not wanting to spoil his moment.
Joshua found out when he watched the news and saw a video, taken from a helicopter, of his aunt crying over his cousin body.
He and his cousin always were close, and Bucket had been supportive of Joshua landing a berth on So You Think You Can Dance, showing up to every watch party, hoping to catch a glimpse of his cousin.
Utah dancers taking stage
“Dancing With the Stars” veteran Louis van Amstel says the upcoming “Dancing Under the Stars” performance at the SCERA Outdoor Theatre tonight and Saturday features familiar faces in the world of televised dance.
The performers? Gev Manoukian, Chelsie Hightower, and Matt Dorame from “So You Think You Can Dance”; Hefa Tuita from “High School Musical 3” and “Dance on Sunset”; Ashly DelGrosso and van Amstel from “Dancing With the Stars” and Jason Celaya from the Broadway show “Altar Boys.”
“And what is the great thing about it is the fact that they are all live in Utah, ” van Amstel said.
Mariah Carey, John Legend to headline ‘Canadian Idol’ finale
TORONTO ‘ Pop music superstars Mariah Carey and John Legend will headline a two-hour “Canadian Idol” season finale.
CTV says Carey and Legend will perform on the results episode, airing live Sept. 10, along with Canadian rockers Hedley, last year’s “Idol” champ Brian Melo, and “Idol” mentor, R&B singer Jully Black.
And in a new twist, viewers will have to wait two days instead of one to find out who will be the next singing Idol, although they will still have to vote for their favourite within two hours of the performance episode.
The show’s two finalists will compete in a final performance episode on Sept. 8.
Welcome home Mitch
PORT HOOD ‘ Mitch MacDonald stepped off the stage and back into his rural family life for a glimpse at the momentum that building for the modest 22-year-old singer.
As a member of Canadian Idol top four, Mitch recent life has included regular television tapings, rehearsals and interviews as he continues the competition journey.
…It really crazy. I got a small taste of it when I was home last, but nothing like this, he said, shortly after arriving at the Al MacInnis Sports Centre where he would perform to a crowd of more than 2, 000 fans.
Mitch is the man in C.B.
PORT HOOD ‘ Mitch MacDonald came home to find his name plastered all over Cape Breton west coast ‘ and his mother homemade sweet and sour meatballs waiting for him in the kitchen.
Fire trucks and carloads of cheering fans greeted the Canadian Idol contestant at the Canso Causeway on Friday afternoon. The procession wound toward more than 2, 000 supporters waiting to welcome the 22-year-old carpenter and musician back to his native Port Hood.
Welcome home, Theo
Southern Alberta was abuzz with Theomania on Friday, as Canadian Idol hopeful Theo Tams played two packed shows in front of thousands of screaming fans.
The mayhem began in Coaldale, Tams hometown, where about 1, 500 residents packed a closed Main Street for a chance to hear Tams sing and play. A poster contest was held prior to the concert and it seemed to attract more entries than organizers anticipated. When the event emcee told the crowd to hold up posters for judging, dozens of arms shot up, neon posterboard in hand. The contest took about 20 minutes, with winners receiving T-shirts signed by Tams.
Coaldale resident Charlotte Horvath, one of the hundreds in attendance at the performance, said she saw Tams perform at the Canyon Church Bible Camp in 2007 and knew he was something special even then.
Canadian Idol contestant returns home
EDMONTON – One of Canadian Idol’s final four was all smiles as he passed through Edmonton today, on his way home to Lloydminster.
After meeting with the media here, Earl Stevenson will perform at Lloydminster’s Exhibition Grounds tonight, showcasing one of his own compositions, called Ghost. It’s a feat he’s unable to do on the show.
“I wish I could do all my own songs, ” he said in an interview. “I bug them (Idol producers) all the time about it.”
