Here’s a roundup of American Idol news for ya…
People magazine reports that Jennifer Lopez is excited about her upcoming Idol appearance on April 11. Lopez says that she “thinks” the week she appears will feature a Latin theme.
A Los Angeles Times reporter sat in the Idol audience both Tuesday and Wednesday last week. Some of his observations: Watching the contestants “absorb their fate” in person is truly visceral, one can feel their pain and it is uncomfortable. Some of the performances are better in person than on TV and vice versa. The contestants seem very close.
The reporter is observant, and has some interesting things to say about each contestant, and the judges. Worth the read.
Here is another in-person account of last Tuesday and Wednesday’s shows from Entertainment Weekly’s Popwatch blog. More observations: The stage is teeny-tiny. The judges talk all through the contestants performances. After the first break, the judges work the crowd. LaKisha Jones is a tad aloof. Chris Sligh is a hugger. Chris Richardson and Blake Lewis were both teary-eyed at Brandon Roger’s elimination. Popwatch will be dispatching reports from the CBS studios all season.
Nick Hexum from 311 was in the audience for the men’s Top 8 performance night to hear Blake Lewis sing his band’s song, “All Mixed Up.” As far as Blake’s performance, Hexum feels Blake “did it well…He gave it a cool arrangement that had a little bit more of a straight groove than our version. He changed it around and had a lot of fun with it. I have only positive things to say.” Hexum also added that he thinks Idol is “good TV” and that he’s a Fantasia fan. Added fact: Nick Hexum’s brother Zach is friends with Brandon Rogers who made the connection to the band for Blake.
Ever wonder what the difference is between the Top 24 and Top 12? This article spells it out. When a contestant makes the Top 12, they become AFTRA union members and are covered under their negotiated contracts. The contestants get paid $921 each time they appear on a one hour show and they receive residual payments when a show they appear in is aired again or sold via DVDs or other forms of media. Interesting stuff.
According to Save the Children spokeswoman Wendy Christian, an American Idol film crew was documenting US program sites in Appalachia in the past week. This for the big April 25 results show that features an appeal to viewers to contribute to organizations that help folks in need in Africa and the USA.
Rosanne Simunovic, the Masterclass Lady is again, as she has been since Season 2, critiquing the Top 12 vocal performances. Read her Top 12 critique here.
I’ll leave you with a bit of viral video from a friend of Blake Lewis. And the boys do their best Simon Cowell impressions for Cat Deeley on the British version of American Idol. Chris Sligh’s is especially hilarious.
