American Idol

Who should win American Idol?

But who’s the most deserving of the win? David Archuleta has wowed the judges and audience week after week with his polished vocals, but lacks a commanding stage presence. Syesha Mercado has played the role of the underdog throughout this competition, but has been coming on strong these past few weeks with passion and conviction. David Cook quickly emerged as a front-runner with his powerful rock vocals and innovative arrangements, but is he too limited to be the next Idol?

Let’s just look at each of them, one at a time.

TV Squad

‘American Idol’ hits another ratings low

Another Wednesday, another win for Fox’s “American Idol” — and another five-year ratings low.

“Idol” (22.9 million viewers, 8.2 national 18-to-49 rating and a 21 share) continued to decline at a time of year its ratings usually increase. Aside from its “Idol Gives Back” special, “Idol” has not shown any week-to-week growth since February. Lead-in ” ‘Til Death” (6 million, 1.9/6) was average, but “Back to You” (7 million, 2.1/6) hit a series low.

Hollywood Reporter

Continue reading ‘Idol Headlines for 5/9/08′

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Exclusive Q&As: The “American Idol” Final Four

As the final four “American Idol” contestants — David Archuleta, Jason
Castro, David Cook and Syesha Mercado — vie to be crowned season seven’s champion, the quartet revealed its thoughts on their “Idol” experience, musical pasts and future plans in a series of exclusive Billboard.com interviews.

Billboard

The Kids and the Hall

Jason Castro did the impossible not once, not twice, but three times up on the American Idol stage tonight. With his disappointing performances of ”I Shot the Sheriff” and ”Mr. Tambourine Man,” the gentle, dreadlocked troubadour from Rockwall, Texas, likely gave the Unsinkable Syesha Mercado a free pass into the final three, helped me begin to understand why 90 percent of the people I know are rooting for a David Cook-David Archuleta finale, and, perhaps worst of all, made me momentarily miss Luke Menard. (For those of you fortunate enough to have forgotten, he’s the dude who ‘’sang” ”Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” during the last week of semifinals and who gave a typically cheesy thumbs-up from his seat in the Idol audience tonight. Yeah, him.)

Entertainment Weekly

Idol (Live) Redux: My Heart Goes Out to Jason Castro

Last week, I thought I had it all figured out. If you’re a preteen, you vote for David Archuleta. If you’re a teen-age girl, you love Jason Castro. And if you are a full-grown adult, you are all about David Cook.

But tonight, sitting in the live audience at Idol, I came to the realization that no matter who you are or what your age, when you hear David Archuleta in person, it is hard not to admit: He is so undeniably talented—with a voice so flawless and dynamic and pure, it actually resonates in your soul—that he probably most deserves to be the winner of this year’s American Idol. (It would explain why he got the only full-audience standing O’s of the night—and two of them, at that!)

Still, here’s the truly ridiculous thing you can clown me for (and I know many of you will): The 13-year-old girl in me weeps for Jason Castro!

Eonline

More Idol Headlines After the Jump…

Continue reading ‘Idol Headlines for 5/7/08′

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‘American Idol’ Power List: The Top 4

Entertainment Weekly

Industry insiders envision ‘Idol’ final four’s future

Recent history tells us we’ll be hearing from American Idol’s final four. Exactly what we’ll be hearing is a little harder to predict.

Projecting the shape of albums from the last four contestants would seem to be a snap based on their images. David Archuleta is a teen prodigy with a penchant for inspirational ballads. Jason Castro is what used to be called a “folkie,” a laid-back singer/songwriter type. David Cook is, by Idol standards, a rocker, with a knack for striking arrangements. Syesha Mercado is an R&B belter with a Broadway bent.

USA Today

‘Idol’ finalists need a narrow groove

To reach American Idol’s final four, the contestants have acquired strong fan bases. But when it’s time to make albums — and you can be confident they will make albums, no matter the result of tonight’s performances (Fox, 8 ET/PT) — can they find a commercial niche?

History shows it’s a chancy proposition (Chris Daughtry, yes; Katharine McPhee, not exactly). Each of this year’s quartet has a clear image, but careful refinement is required for recording success.

USA Today

Brainstorming newer, fresher ‘Idol’ theme nights

I know, I know, I write a googillion words a week about American Idol — and I’ve already referenced an unfunny Ben Stiller “Idol Gives Back” joke in the first sentence of this blog item! — but all the recent press about the show slipping in the advertiser-craved 18-34 demographic, and now having a median viewer age of (le gasp!) 42, got me thinking.

As Idolatry viewer Lee Chesnut from Barnard, Vt., griped in a recent e-mail titled “Oldies Idol,” the show has been bizarrely reluctant to allow season 7 contestants to sing contemporary songs. “Neil Diamond Week, Andrew Lloyd Weber Week, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Week, Dolly Parton Week, Beatles Week (twice!), ’60s Week, ’70s Week, ’80s Week…. I mean it’s almost cruel to imagine this season’s winner being turned loose to compete in the ‘real world’,” Lee writes, before hitting the all-caps button. “WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY FAVORITE SHOW??”

Entertainment Weekly

Continue reading ‘Idol Headlines for 5/06/08′

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