Archive for February, 2008

Blake Lewis Returns to American Idol on 3/6

We can now confirm the rumors that have been swirling about Blakeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s return to American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦he will in fact appear on the March 6th results show to perform his new single, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“How Many Words.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  Yay!

Team Plaid

Studdard to sing ‘Idol’ farewell

Ruben Studdard is back on “American Idol’s” radar.

The Season 2 winner will perform the “farewell song” used to play off contestants as they are eliminated from the top 12. This year, the song will be a cover of Kenny Loggins’ “Celebrate Me Home,” in a new version produced by Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam.

“It’s very soulful, very heartfelt,” Lewis said. “Ruben is singing his pants off.”

As part of “Idol’s” new sponsorship with iTunes this season, “Celebrate Me Home” will be made available digitally starting March 12, the day the first of the top 12 will be sung off. It’s also expected to be included on one of the compilation albums annually released by “American Idol,” according to Iain Pirie, head of 19 Entertainment U.S.

Hollywood Reporter

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Eliminated tonight (click the link for video)

• Jason Yeager is eliminated
• Alexandrea Lushington is eliminated
• Alaina Whitiker is eliminated
• Robbie Carrico is eliminated

thanks rockers94 for the video!

Click the jump for my recap…

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This is from yesterday’s show, but I haven’t had the chance to post them. Thanks to Rockers94 for the vids.

Check out Simon with Reese Witherspoon, and his two-part interview…

thanks rockers94 for the vids…

…after the jump…

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I just fixed an issue with the site mailer.

If you have experienced problems registering on the site, or sending me an email via the contact form, TRY AGAIN!   The issues have been resolved.

Any questions, email me at mjsbigblog@gmail.com.   Thanks.

Idol Gets Beatlemania

It’s been a hard day’s night for American Idol, but the show finally has a ticket to ride.

The music publisher that controls the Beatles’ John Lennon-Paul McCartney composed hits has given Idol the go-ahead to let its contestants have their way with the likes of “Yesterday,” “Let It Be” and, should someone be so brave, “I Am the Walrus.”

The scoop was served up Wednesday on Idol host Ryan Seacrest’s morning radio show in Los Angeles.

“It’s something we’ve waited for for seven seasons now,” Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe told Seacrest. “Sony has agreed to release the Lennon and McCartney songbook to us.”

Eonline

‘American Idol’ to feature Beatles songs when Top 12 finalists perform

“When the Top 12 sing for the first time this season, it will be the music of Lennon and McCartney,” he told Seacrest. “We’ve given them a list because it’s all of the early songs — from ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ to ‘Got to Get You Into My Life.’ These fantastic songs. It’s one of the few areas that everybody knows.”

Idol’s ability to secure the songbook’s usage apparently happened fairly quickly. During a December conference call with reporters, Lythgoe said Idol still didn’t have the rights to the songbook.

“If that Lennon/McCartney songbook were open to us, I would love that,” gushed Lythgoe. “At the same time, I would really like it when we have got our best singers. I would hate to ruin Beatles material. I really would.”

During his conversation with Seacrest, Lythgoe allegedly that the talent level of Idol’s seventh-season contestants is the reason why Sony/ATV made the songbook available.

Reality TV World

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“Let’s begin tonight with song selection,” says Ryan.

So, Ryan, Are you and the judges going to discuss how hard it is to get a song cleared? Or, the fact that the kids only have 50 songs to choose from, and, as rumor has it, they are more than likely not going to get their first choice, unless they are a favored-one?

No? Randy, Paula and Simon going to keep blaming the kids for their “poor song choices?” Well, alrighty then.

These songs TPTB picked for the kids? They suck. The horrible songs the kids have to choose from are really keeping the semis from being as entertaining and awe inspiring as they could be. And it’s NOT the kid’s fault.

The gang is calling Simon “Mr. Happy” now. How fitting.

Tonight, the girls’ performances of 70’s classics get mostly lukewarm responses from the judges. And, from Randy and Paula, we learn that the Glory Note is all that matters.

The video packages feature more fun facts to know and tell – Girl Power edition.

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Idol Related Sales Numbers after the jump (Billboard issue date 03/08/08)

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THE most reliable spoiler out there right now, Joesplace, just posted song spoilers for the Top 10 Girls on her blog. The girls taped their performance show tonight. Check out what the girls sang and in what order…

After the jump…

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Simon Predicts Idol Winner, Addresses Exit Rumors

Simon Cowell might bash contestants right and left, but he has high hopes for at least one them. On Tuesday’s Extra, he predicts this year’s winner: David Archuleta.

Describing why he think’s Archuleta’s winner material, Cowell said “He’s cute. He’s likeable. [He has] a big voice. He’s the one to beat.” But what about the dapper Chikezie? “He’s never going to win unless the other 18 resign.”

TV Guide

‘Idol’ director may be leaving show

Longtime à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  director Bruce Gowers may be departing the hit Fox competish show.

Particulars behind Gowersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ departure — and whether ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s permanent or a temporary hiatus — were tough to come by over the weekend; when word of Gowersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ departure first surfaced Thursday night, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  was in the middle of a special live broadcast from CBS Television City.

Insiders said an incident on the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  set may have triggered talk of Gowerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s departure. Producer FremantleMedia declined comment, noting that it doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t comment on personnel matters.

Variety

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Performance Videos! with very special thanks to rockers94…awesome ripping…

• Michael Johns - “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac
• Jason Castro – “I Just Want to Be Your Everything” by Andy Gibb
• Luke Menard - “Killer Queen” by Queen
• Robbie Carrico – “Hot Blooded” by Foreigner
• Danny Noriega – “Superstar” by Leon Russell – Danny’s video package.
• David Hernandez – “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” by The Undisputed Truth
• Jason Yeager – “Long Train Running” by the Doobie Brothers
• Chickezie – “I Believe to My Soul” by Donny Hathaway
• David Cook – “All Right Now” by Free
• David Archuleta – “Imagine” by John Lennon

Tonight, the guys take on the 70’s with mixed results. A few of the contestants improved on their performance from last week, perhaps buying them another week (Chikezie, Luke Menard). Others disappointed (Michael Johns). Others brought it (David Cook, David Hernandez). There were also those who could have taken a giant dump on the stage and it would not have mattered (OK, only one–David Archuleta who apparently has already been crowned winner. Should I bother watching the rest of this shiz?)

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Thanks Rowdy Yates!

Like last week, this week’s performance shows will be taped ahead–the guys yesterday and the girls today. This week’s theme is the 70’s. And next week’s theme? You’ll never guess! Yeah, the 80’s.

Just for the record, I hate themes for the semis. It takes away the element of surprise. That first song choice can make or break a contestant, often in a really spectacular way. Narrowing their choices down to a specific genre (and a very small list of songs–50, I’m hearing) neither gives a contestant the opportunity to shine or bomb in way that makes for good TV, or a good introduction to that contestant.

There’s been lots of speculation about why TPTB decided to use themes during the semis. Here is my favorite. The deal with iTunes dictated that contestants pick songs that would be cheap and easy to clear…

But I digress. The guys performed last night, and there are some spoilers floating around the net. I’ll grab what the peeps have been posting in comments and post…

…After the jump!

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Hey, MJ’s Idol pool is going strong with 229 entrants!   Congrats to last week’s winners:

• 1 magicode
• 2 jassmg2024
• 3 docdoom
• 3 dvls
• 3 erin1524
• 3 geekygirl
• 3 Kylee
• 3 monina79
• 3 sam
• 3 WSULeifJ
• 3 yummys girl

You can still sign up (although you’ll receive 0 points for last week) here, or check out the links on the sidebar.   The 1st prize will be an iTunes gift certificate!   There will be a 2nd and 3rd prize to be announced later.

Judge Lets Sierra Sidestep Bureaucracy, Stay In Rehab

TAMPA — A judge has allowed former “American Idol” finalist Jessica Sierra remain in a California drug treatment program, despite what her attorney described as ridiculous bureaucracy.

Florida officials allowed Sierra to go to California for a yearlong stint at an in-house drug treatment facility. She was supposed to transfer her Florida probation to California. West coast officials, however, don’t want her to apply for their probation program while living in California, said Sierra’s attorney, John Fitzgibbons. They want her to fly back to Florida, apply for California probation status, then return to California.

“It’s almost nonsense,” Fitzgibbons said. Fitzgibbons told the judge that every progress report and all indications show that Sierra is doing well in treatment at the Pasadena Recovery Center.

TBO.com

Would You Willingly Refer to Yourself as a Danny’s Fanny?

The more insane American Idol fans out there have a tendency to gather into groups online, with said groups marking their territory via cute avatars, picture-choked signature files, and semi-catchy names. The most nutty/devoted/well-named group is, of course, Taylor Hicks’ Soul Patrol, who make up for their hero’s low SoundScans with fervent comment-section support of their icon; there’s also the Con Con Girls (for Constantine Maroulis and, presumably, the blow-dryer that sets his chest hair just right); the Fanjayas (in support of Sanjaya Malakar and his ever-changing locks) and the Claymates (you can probably guess who they’re rallying behind). But this year, the fan club names over at IdolForums.com seem a bit… lacking.

Idolator

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A snapshot of Idolsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ singles radio play culled from Mediabase charts as of this morning. Find out where your favorite Idol stands on the radio after the jump.

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