Archive for April, 2008

Brooke White is Eliminated Tonight

Tonight – Natasha Bedingfield performs

Safe:

• Jason Castro
• David Archuleta
• David Cook

Bottom 2 – Although Ryan never calls it the bottom 2 and everyone is sitting together on the couches. No Stools of Doom!

• Syesha Mercado
• Brooke White

Very strange business tonight. Jason Castro, David Archuleta and David Cook are declared safe. Syeshsa Mercado and Brooke White are called out to center stage, but Ryan never refers to them as the Bottom 2.

Click the links for Video!

• Tonight’s group song is so bad… Actually, it is just really bad. Nice pointy pose at the end, however.
• Constantine Maroulis and Gina Glocksen are in the audience. Constantine stares into the camera. Ace Young is sitting nearby, but Ryan breezes right past him. Carrie Underwood is featured on this week’s Idol Gives Back postage stamp.
• Paula Abdul’s gaffe last night is touched upon briefly. Ryan Seacrest said that he read what people were saying about her online this morning and that it was all untrue. He said that she’s part of the family and they all love her. Jason Castro was never mentioned.
• However, Jason Castro is quickly declared safe first. I suppose that is meant to be an “apology” of sorts. David Archuleta is declared safe next.
• David Cook is declared safe. Brooke White and Syesha Mercado are left behind.
• Natasha Bedingfield — Zzzzzz. She heads to the couches to meet David Archuleta. He has said that he’d really like to duet with her.
• Ford Commercial, “Catch the Wind” Donovan!
• Neil Diamond sang a gorgeous song called “Pretty Amazing Grace” from his new album.
• Brooke White is eliminated, standing on stage with Syesha Mercado. She performs her singout, choking through tears. I’ve never seen a contestant that broken up while performing a sing out…

ETA: A big shout-out and thanks to DJ Slim for introducing me to my new web host. Thanks to DJ, y’all can get into the site tonight…

I just posted my recap from last night’s show.

Congrats to Week 10 winners!

1 ChrisP13
1 JJRRutgers
1 lolololol
1 RLB777
1 sam
6 ambidext
6 musicwithrocksin
6 teacheramk
9 DJSlim

And the Top 3 overall are:

1 bugsy
2 JJRRutgers
3 maracaibo

Get your picks in by 9 pm ET. Congrats and good luck tonight! Remember, first prize is an iTunes gift card!

Who is staying for sure? Decent performances plus judges pimping = David Cook isn’t going anywhere. Who is a long shot to leave? David Archuleta.   It’s a long shot, but little David could possibly have been lost in the shuffle of last night’s confusing show.   But, his fan base is pretty strong, so probably not. Who is probably safe tonight? Syesha Mercado, who will probably be saved by a combination of decent performances, the pimp spot and Simon’s attempt to throw her under the bus. Who else is probably safe tonight? Jason Castro. His fan base went apoplectic when Paula Abdul screwed up and judged his second performance before he performed it live. He probably got the attention of a few casual AI viewers as well. Who is going home. Brooke White easily had the worst performance of the night, with “I’m a Believer”. Her second performance, “I Am…I Said” was good, but somehow, I think Brooke will be lost in the shuffle as voters, believing they are on the bubble, try to save Jason and Syesha.

Going home tonight: Brooke White.

Check out Paula Abdul’s big-time excuse making on this morning’s Ryan Seacrest show. You can read a transcript of her interview at Entertainment Weekly.She claims that she and the judges only found out about the show setup–that the critiques would wait until after the second round–when Ryan announced it at the top of the show. Geez, the judges should start reading my blog. I knew it at 6:30 ET. Our weekly rehearsal reporter, Caffiend, told me on the phone after she left the CBS studios. I posted that bit of info on the blog. Meanwhile, Paula claims she was in the studio with her family for part of the dress rehearsal.

She also keeps insisting that she mixed up Jason’s Castro’s review with David Cook’s, and that she read “second song” off her notes due to the confusion caused when head of Reality Programming, Mike Darnell, supposedly ordered Nigel Lythgoe, at the last minute, to march the contestants out on stage for an impromptu post-first round critique.

More After the Jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

Ace Young’s debut album is set to be released in July.

Check out the debut of his video for his single “Addicted” after the jump!

Read the rest of this entry »

Chart queen Kirsten is on vacation with her family this week.   I’m starting the weekly Sales post.   If you all could help me out–please post numbers as you find them, and I’ll attempt to compile everything in a nice neat post at the end of the week.   The word to pay attention to here is attempt.   Heh.

A reliable spoiler at Idol Forums spilled the beans.

At last, a theme broad enough that allows the contestants a little breathing room to choose a song that really reflects who they are as artists.   Even though it’s a rock theme, there really is room to stretch the boundaries   beyond rock n’ roll.

The songs will supposedly come from this list of songs from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Just about every genre of music can be thrown into the R n’ R pot.   This could be a very good week for the remaining Top 4.  Ãƒâ€š   Just about anything would be better than this week’s speed-wreck.

Also, Natasha Bedingfield will be the musical guest for tonight’s results show.   Have they given up on featuring past Idols?   Maybe the producers are hoping that a known star will boost their sagging ratings…

On the Scene: The Paula Abdul ‘Idol’ gaffe heard ‘cross the nation

“Oh goshà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ we’ve never had to write these things down, uh, fast enough,” she said. “Jason, the first song, I loved hearing your lower register, which we never really hear.” So far so good. “Um, the second song, I felt like your usual charm, it was missing for me. It kind of left me a little empty.” Huh? The audience began tittering with confusion, and Nigel and Debbie both began quietly freaking out. Paula continued, unaware. “The two songs made me feel like you’re not fighting hard enough to get into the top four.” By this point, several audience members were openly cracking up, Debbie had to stop herself from stepping on camera to end the madness, and Nigel was frantically gesturing a single finger to anyone who could see him: ONE SONG! THEY’VE ONLY SUNG ONE SONG!

“So, David Cook,” Paula continued, until Randy saved the day: “Oh, they’ve just done the first song though, just the first one.” The tension was finally broken with this apology (of sorts) from Paula: “I thought youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ Oh my god, I thought you sang twice!à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦You know what, this is hard! You know what, I’m looking at, it’s your notes, David [Cook]. You were fantastic.” As Simon swooped in for his chance to scold the Idols, Nigel stepped off stage to, I’m assuming, get the on-site EMTs to give him some oxygen. At the ad break, the judges were all whisked out of the studio, Syesha Mercado, David Cook, David Archuleta and Brooke White left waving to the audience, and Jason Castro was left on a stool, stage center, contemplating what, exactly, had just happened.

Entertainment Weekly

Neil Diamond in the Rough

I never thought I would have occasion to feel sorry for Neil Diamond, but “American Idol” always seems to introduce me to new and uninvited emotions. Tuesday’s show, devoted to the songbook of the estimable Tin Pan Alley rocker, did him a great injustice – and it didn’t do much for the tremulous Top Five Idols, either.

Maybe they’re still processing the slaying of Carly last week, or perhaps they’d gotten into whatever made Paula render judgment on Jason Castro’s second song before he sang it – but with one exception, all five contenders seemed a little, well, glazed.

LA Times

More Idol Headlines After the Jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

Bring those perky contestants in! Ha ha!

Click link for video!

• Jason Castro – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Forever in Blue Jeansà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ , w/ Neil Diamond’s comments
• David Cook – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m Aliveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ , w/ Neil Diamond’s comments
• Brooke White – “I’m a Believer”, w/ Neil Diamond’s comments
• David Archuleta – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Sweet Carolineà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ , w/ Neil Diamond’s comments
  
• Syesha Mercado – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Hello Againà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ , w/ Neil Diamond’s comments
• Jason Castro – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“September Mornà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 
• David Cook – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“All I Ever Really Need is Youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 
• Brooke White – “I Am…I Said”
• David Archuleta – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Americaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 
  
• Syesha Mercado – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Thank the Lord for the Night Timeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

Paula is wasted! – Paula becomes very confused in this clip…By the way, I had no idea Paula Abdul was psychic! Slamming Jason Castro’s 2nd performance before he even had a chance to f*cking sing it! That woman is brilliant! Feh. What a disaster.

I hope everyone enjoyed tonight’s edition of “Speed Idol”. I didn’t exactly…

Poor Neil Diamond. He got left in the dust amidst the speed, confusion and controversy that characterized Tuesday’s Top 5 performance show. Packing 10 performances into 1 hour had each one whizzing by so fast, they barely registered. The performances ranged from horrifying to just pretty good. Not a stellar night at CBS studios. And Paula. OMG Paula. Snap out of it. Pay attention. Do your job, and I hope you apologized to Jason Castro for your major f*ck up. Also, nice attempt at throwing Syesha Mercardo under the bus Simon. You suck.

Here’s how it went down: The first performance featured video clips of Neil Diamond working with the contestants. After the second performance, the judges critiqued the first and second performance. At least that’s how it was supposed to go down. Instead, after the first round, the kids were hurriedly assembled back on stage for an impromptu judges critique. That’s when it all went horribly, horribly, wrong…

More after the Jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

The Idols will be singing two songs from the Neil Diamond catalog tonight.

ETA: Just heard from Caffiend. Neil Diamond video precedes the contestant’s first performance. The judges judge both songs after the second performance.

Here is the Song Order:

• Jason Castro – “Forever in Blue Jeans” – When one of the fake judges told him he looked comfortable up there, Jason answered “I don’t know about that…”
• David Cook – “I’m Alive” – Both of David’s songs “totally rocked.”
• Brooke White – “I Am … I Said” at the piano – She is going to address forgetting her words tonight.
• David Archuleta – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Sweet Caroline” – Both of his songs were “fabulous”
  
• Syesha Mercado – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Hello Againà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  – She “looks like a star.”
• Jason Castro – “September Morn”
• David Cook – “All I Ever Really Need is You”
• Brooke White – “I’m a Believer”
• David Archuleta – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Americaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 
  
• Syesha Mercado – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Thank the Lord for the Night Timeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

Wardrobe:

What they were wearing: Syesha wore a sexy purple evening dress; Cookie wore a black jacket with jeans and a dark shirt underneath; looked very hot; Jason wore a light shirt with a satiny vest over; Archie wore denim with a striped shirt and denim jacket; Brooke wore a blue ruffly top with a belt and silver pants No wardrobe change, at least at rehearsal.

Spoilers:

Thanks for bringing the songs over Milajoy! The Jason Castro spoiler is from Joan at EW. Fan Blast had half the spoiler “America” right. Shmorla from Idol Forums spoiled Brooke White’s “I Am I Said” and there was a guessing game at Idol Forums introduced by Cinemaniac86. #1 was correct if you were playing along (I was and I was wrong). The rest were filled in by TMZ.

ETA: Caffiend made it into rehearsal, so stay tuned…

Syesha Mercado got the Pimp spot…

‘American Idol’ Power List: The Top 5

Brooke or Syesha: Who will be the last woman standing? See where Michael Slezak ranks the remaining finalists, then vote for your favorite

Entertainment Weekly

Jordin Sparks Exclusive: Singer Tells MTV News Her Voice Is ‘Almost All The Way Healed’; She’ll Be Back On Tour Soon

“I’m feeling good,” she wrote. “I’m supposed to be on full vocal rest, which means no talking, laughing, giggling, and singing. Can I tell you how hard that is!? I want to tell my fans: Thank you for all the prayers and your concern. You guys are what keep me going, honestly. But not to worry! I’ll be better in no time!”

“I laughed when I saw [those reports]. They were saying I would never sing again, and I knew I could because, well, it’s my throat,” she wrote. “My career COULD HAVE BEEN in jeopardy if I hadn’t done anything about it. But I knew something was wrong and that I needed to get it checked out.

“[The reports about the hemorrhage] were actually true,” she wrote. “My left vocal cord was bleeding, and I knew I had to get it checked and take care of it. I got back from the doctor yesterday and it’s almost all the way healed. I’m gonna take a couple more days just to be safe. I should be back on tour in a few more days!! I’ll be alive and kicking … and who knows, maybe my voice will be better than it was before!”

MTV

More Idol Headlines After the Jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

Clay Aiken was promoting a special edition of his upcoming album “On My Way Here” tonight on the shopping channel, QVC. The album drops on May 6. He performed several songs for the studio audience. Check it out after the Jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

I forgot to mention this in my Idol Billboard Update last night. David Cook’s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Analog Heartà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  sold a total of 1,200 copies in the last week it was available. The week before, it sold 300. Prior to Idol, the song moved at most 5 units per week (Source: Idol Chatter).

So much for Fox’s Roger Friedman and his righteous indignation. He was shocked SHOCKED that an Idol contestant had pre-idol music out in the web! OMG, how could TPTB allow a professional in! Of course, if he knew what the hell he was talking about, he’d know all about prior Idols who had music available during the competition.

Read the rest of this entry »

Here is Phil Stacey on the Today Show talking about his upcoming album Phil Stacey. It drops tomorrow. Pre-order it on Amazon:

Check out the video after the Jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

Carly Smithson performs “Here You Come Again” on Live with Regis and Kelly and “Alone” on The Ellen Degeneres Show.

Watch the Videos after the Jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

ETA: My Picks are after the Jump…

It’s down to the Top 5. This week’s mentor is prolific songwriter and singer Neil Diamond.   The remaining Idols will sing 2 songs each from the Neil Diamond songbook on Tuesday.

His career spans 5 decades, beginning as a songwriter in the famed Brill Building writing songs for others. After scoring hits for the Monkees, (“I’m a Believer”) Diamond was signed by a record label and had his first hit “Solitary Man” on the record charts. After that, hits like “Kentucky Woman,” and “Cherry, Cherry” followed.

Read the rest of this entry »