Idol Headlines for 9/5/08

Imagine a political convention, only with more Aerosmith tunes — yes, it’s ‘American Idols Live!’

After a long, hard-fought campaign, the victorious candidate stood onstage Thursday night in a crowded arena to stake his claim to the most powerful job in the free world. Well, more or less.

I’m talking, of course, about David Cook, our latest “American Idol.”

Joining the 25-year-old singer from Blue Springs, Mo., for the convention — er, concert — at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center were nine other top finalists from the seventh season of the smash television series.

Cleveland.com

More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…

Reliving my ‘American Idol’ experience at Van Andel Arena

What a day yesterday! Did it really happen? I’m still recovering — literally — from the “American Idols Live Tour, ” which made a stop locally at Van Andel Arena. (Yes, I was injured on the job. More on that later.)

Let me start from the beginning …

Mlive

‘Idol’ Mercado heading ‘home’ to Bridgeport

Syesha Mercado was born in Bridgeport, moved to Sarasota, Fla., when she was just 2 years old and has rarely been back since. Her last visit was because of a death in her family about 12 years ago, so she is quite pleased that her next visit to the Park City will be a much happier occasion ­ ­– as one of the stars of the “American Idols Live” tour, which stops at the Arena at Harbor Yard Saturday night, Sept. 6.

“I haven’t been back since I was 9 when I went to my aunt’s funeral, ” Mercado said in a recent phone interview from a tour stop in Louisiana. “That was bittersweet, to come back and for not a good reason.

Connpost.com

Is the bloom fading?

As the “American Idol” juggernaut rolls into town through Monday for a second round of contestant auditions, Louisvillians’ attention to the biggest show on television is keener than ever.
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But there’s an inescapable parallel question: Going into its eighth season, how long can this undisputed network champion remain on top?

“It’s still the No. 1 show by a pretty good margin on all of television — and that’s a pretty good place to start, ” acknowledges Bill Lamb, general manager at WDRB Fox-41. And while “Idol” ratings “did show some modest declines around the country” after its most recent outing, “it still remained way ahead of where anyone else was.”

courier-journal

Stand Up to Cancer telethon takes over network TV

After seeing what “An Inconvenient Truth” did for environmental awareness, Hollywood producer Laura Ziskin wanted to make a documentary about cancer, a disease she has fought since 2004.

Former Paramount Pictures chief Sherry Lansing, who established a namesake foundation dedicated to cancer research and awareness, was working with television networks to put on a cancer-awareness TV special. So was Katie Couric, who has been an advocate for early cancer screenings ‘  and even televised her own colonoscopy ‘  since losing her husband to colon cancer 10 years ago.

So the women got together ‘  along with other entertainment-industry execs and more than 60 of their famous friends ‘  to create Stand Up to Cancer, a fund- and awareness-raising organization set to hold an unprecedented, star-studded live telethon airing simultaneously on ABC, NBC and CBS on Friday night.

Associated Press

Carrie Calls Jessica Fat!

…She finds Jessica love of putting her life on display pretty desperate, a pal of the …Before He Cheats singer tells OK!. “She laughed at the People cover, because it the same one Jess did about John Mayer ‘  same smile, same look, except she a little fatter.

Now the blondes will take their battle to the country charts, but Carrie is unconcerned. …Carrie doesnt think fans will spend money to watch Jess warble through a few badly written songs, says her friend.

OK Magazine

Carrie Underwood Is “Now” Hot

Sept. 4, 2008 ‘  NOW That What I Call Country packages 20 hits by a variety of artists in one collection, so it no surprise that the CD is the top-selling country album in its first week out. According to Country Aircheck, the disc ‘  featuring music by Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Sara Evans and Lady Antebellum, among others ‘  moved more than 50, 000 copies.

Carrie, in fact, is becoming a poster child for the NOW series. Even before “All-American Girl” landed on this album, her recording of “Before He Cheats” appeared on an installment in the pop series, NOW That What I Call Music 25, which went gold and platinum last year.

GAC

Carrie Underwood glows at ‘Fashion Rocks’ rehearsal

September 4, 2008 (Sawf News) – Five time Grammy Award-winning country pop singer-songwriter Carrie Underwood glowed at a rehearsal for ‘Fashion Rocks’ at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, on Thursday, September 4.

Underwood was casually dressed in silver grey slim jeans and a double-layered blue top with gathered shallow scooped neck and elbow length sleeves.

She accessorized with a snake leather pattern shoulder bag, zebra striped shoes, gold pendant necklace and a gold double band ring on the middle finger of her right hand.

Sawf.org

The rockingest show in town?

This was going to be another snarky column about another swanky late-night RNC party, and a pretty high-profile one at that.

Wednesday’s bash by the One Campaign and the Recording Industry Association of America at Epic nightclub in Minneapolis had the biggest musical act of the conference party scene: Daughtry. Chris Daughtry, that is, the only “American Idol” alum big enough to go with a single name.

He’s not as famous as Kanye West, who played the One/RIAA party in Denver, but the shaved-headed rocker has sold about as many records as the huge-headed rapper. Problem is, he’s about as interesting as Sen. Bill Frist’s toenails.

Star Tribune

Former American Idol Contestant Brings Her Voice Along With Improved Technology to the Republican National Convention

ElectionMall’s brain child, VoterSpace.com, is being introduced to the RNC with former American Idol contestant, Antonella Barba, as its spokesperson. Building on this same technology, VoterSpace is the single location where voters can circulate widgets for favorite candidates and send their own “eYardsign” or electronic messages via the web. ElectionMall, a pioneer in the campaign industry since 2000, is showcasing their VoterSpace concept at their 3rd Republican National Convention. VoterSpace makes it possible for hundreds of candidates to have a web presence in minutes and is the one place in virtual space where candidates and voters can find and interact with each other.

Who better to introduce VoterSpace than Barba, whose popularity won her more votes than most politicians? Voters can register to vote, donate, volunteer, interact with candidates and send on-demand print cards to friends and supporters via this website and through U.S. Post, delivered within three days. These new ways to participate can be viewed on the Arizona GOP website, http://www.azgop.org, created by ElectionMall.com.

Emediawire

Taylor Hicks and his harmonica have made “Grease!’ groovy

Soul Patrol takes NYC: Hoover native Taylor Hicks, who’s been performing on Broadway in “Grease!, ” will bid farewell to the musical on Sunday after a three-month run. His performances as Teen Angel have drawn fans to the show in droves, according to a report in the New York Post.

“An insider says Hicks is worth at least $150, 000 in extra ticket sales a week, ” columnist Mike Riedel has said. “Whenever Hicks whips out his harmonica, the audience goes nuts. They’re having such a blast that the ‘Grease’ megamix at the end of the show — this is where the critics ran screaming from the theater — now runs 10 minutes, with Hicks singing the title song and then playing it on his harmonica.”

Bice is nice (but we always knew that): Southern rocker Bo Bice might not be topping the charts, but he remains in the public eye. Even better, Bice is doing his part for social causes.

AL.com

‘Idol’ finalist heats up Riverfest

Phil Stacey’s experience on “American Idol” ‘  he was a top 10 finalist last year ‘  was superlative in every way, the singer says. This weekend, he heats up the Miller Stage at Riverfest.
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Among the musical acts is Stacey, performing at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

A family man living in Hendersonville, where his oldest daughter started school this week, Stacey said being in Hollywood, when he had never even visited California before, was unforgettable.

The Leaf Chronical

Review: McCartney, Sparks love it loud

There wasnt much applause during Jesse McCartney set Thursday night at the Prairie Capital Convention Center ‘  just the sound of hundreds of girls screaming, shrieking and squealing.

Like an Elvis Presley for the Radio Disney set, McCartney elicited yelps from the crowd with every swivel of his hips.

In a double bill with season-six …American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, McCartney played for about 2, 000 girls, boys and the grownups who brought them.

He took the stage more than two hours after the concert began, following Sparks and two opening acts.

sj-r.com

Neil Sean: Simon Cowell Would Love to Take On Movies

LONDON ‘  He’s the king of “American Idol” and “X Factor, ” but Simon Cowell would also love to take on Hollywood movies.

…It the new option for me, but I need to be sure we can do it well ‘  I dont do anything half-hearted, ” he told me. “So ideally if the right script comes along, sure, we will get started.”

FOX News

TRUE SISTER

DON’T believe the speculation that Paula Abdul and the latest addition to “American Idol, ” Kara DioGuardi, hate each other. Fight fans hoping for a claw-baring, back-stabbing cougar clash will be sorely disappointed. “They are having the time of their life rekindling their friendship, ” said one source. During the long hours of taping the new season, the two “Idol” judges are hanging out in their hotel rooms, going to dinner and sharing laughs over their old days in the music biz. Abdul told Page Six: “The ‘American Idol’ cast was such a boys club, now I have a true sister to share the fun with. It’s been amazing.”

New York Post

New Idol Judge Hitting Talk-Show Circuit

New American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi to appear on Fox’s Talkshow with Spike Feresten. By Alex Weprin

New American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi is hitting the talk-show circuit, appearing on Fox own Talkshow with Spike Feresten Sept. 13.

DioGuardi was named as the fourth judge on Idol last month, joining Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

The Sept. 13 episode of Talkshow, also its season premiere, will feature host Feresten traveling to the Republican National Convention on a double-decker bus, as well as interviews and field pieces from the convention.

The US Daily.com

‘America’s Got Talent’ recap: Cheers, jeers, and Sharon whacks Piers

Im getting too old for this. Every night with the same show. Oy. But how could I resist finding out the “critical results” from the night before? And besides, Sharon had vowed “no more Mrs. Nice Woman, ” so this had to get good. First off, Bruce Block was out, and didnt even show up to accept his rejection. But Johnathan Burkin, Sarah Lenore, Joseph Hall, the Taubl family and Sickstep all made it through to the final 20. And with that out of the way, it was time to settle in for another riveting episode of America Got Talent.

Entertainment Weekly

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!