Idol Headlines for 04/07/09
Confirmed: Fox fires Roger Friedman
The weekend-long guessing game over the fate of entertainment blogger Roger Friedman is over: Friedman has parted company with Fox News after a controversial post in which he reviewed a leaked, incomplete version of 20th Century Fox’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”
In a statement issued Monday afternoon, Fox News said: “Fox News representatives and Roger Friedman met today and mutually agreed to part ways immediately. Fox News appreciates Mr. Friedman’s 10 years of contributions to building FoxNews.com and wishes him success in his future endeavors. Mr. Friedman is grateful to his colleagues for their friendship and support over the past decade.”
à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Idol’sà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ newest judge has to take criticism, too
Although she said “I do think that there’s a solid front-runner,” she wouldn’t name that person. “My job is to judge what happens week to week,” she said. “To [predict a winner] sort of kills the rest of the season for me. I want to see what people can deliver. You never know.”
Still, she cited highlights, including Adam Lambert’s “outrageous range” and Allison Iraheta, who “sings like she’s an old soul.” Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson have predicted that Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert will end up in the finals, but DioGuardi said that while that’s “a really strong possibility,” it depends upon their performances going forward and whether Iraheta, Kris Allen, and Matt Giraud “keep upping their game.”
More Idol Headlines After the JUMP…
‘American Idol’ Power List: Vote for your favorite from season 8’s Top 8!
1. Adam Lambert: (Last week: No. 1) Riding so high that he manages to look cool (and maintain his top slot) even after choosing Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music.” Would love to see him dial it back and give viewers a second glance at the emotionally connected artist who gave us that devastating cover of “Tracks of My Tears,” but let’s be honest: he could probably belt “Macarena” and still sail through to the finale.
‘Idol’ Meter: Kris on rise; Lil, Anoop dogged
They could pick from a vast universe of iTunes downloads, and the Idol finalists chose à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦Just the Way You Are? Don’t Speak? Play That Funky Music??? Trite (and baffling) song choices led to this season’s least-satisfying show, salvaged by a breakthrough performance by Kris Allen and the overdue departure of worst-by-a-mile Megan Joy. Who looks good? USA TODAY spotlights three contestants.
After 4 weeks of Idol, a quartet of front-runners emerges
There are just four names to remember during this so-so season of American Idol. And no, theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re not Randy, Kara, Paula and Simon.
After four weeks of competition à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ Michael Jackson hits, country classics, Motown and, well, any song ever downloaded on iTunes à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ the real race has come down to good-guy-in-glasses Danny Gokey, guy-linered heartthrob Adam Lambert, cuddly cute Kris Allen and rocker chicklet Allison Iraheta. Thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s all, folks.
Gokey was pegged as this seasonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s golden boy from the beginning. But then Lambert opened his mouth. His polarizing talent and otherworldly vocals have resulted in the seasonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s most dynamic performances (and have made Gokey seem, well, boring).
American Idol Video
ELLE.com staffers weigh in on the contestants’ style
SAFE BET ADAM ODDS-ON TO WIN ‘IDOL’
IT’S official: Adam Lambert is the odds-on favorite to be the next “American Idol.”
Oddsmakers from Latin America to London for the first time this week have made the show-stopping crooner such a prohibitive favorite to win this year’s “Idol” that a $1 bet on him will pay only 80 cents.
The talent show has seen some heavy favorites in the past but nothing quite like Lambert — who is running away from the field with seven other performers still in the running.
Aiken judges aspiring models’ acting abilities
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ Performer Clay Aiken says he thinks his “American Idol” experience helped contestants appreciate his comments when he was a judge in an episode of “America’s Next Top Model” due to be aired Wednesday.
“It was interesting to be on the other side of the table and think of all these things that I went through in 2003,” Aiken told The Associated Press in a phone interview, referring to the year he finished second to Ruben Studdard during the second season of Fox’s hit reality show.
“I think the girls kind of appreciated that, the fact that I had been in a similar position,” Aiken, 30, said in the Friday interview. “I was going to be a judge, yes, but be a judge who understood a little bit about what they’re going through.”
Michael Johns Does Playboy…well sorta
Since skyrocketing into the national consciousness on “American Idol,” Johns has been one busy bee. He got out of the spotlight for a bit to co-write the score of a documentary called, “Don’t Look Down,” and then returned to the spotlight to perform on the West Coast leg of Kanye Westà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Glow in the Darkà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ tour. Who knew?
Johns has also made time for some good deeds in his very busy schedule, contributing to the OneHeart Umbrella Campaign, Red Cross and ALS.
But the thing that is sure to give him bragging rights among the boys is not his admirable work with charitable organizations, but his recent interview in Playboy. In the magazine, Johns discusses his upcoming album, his time on “Idol” and his distaste for desk jobs.
David Cook is My Homeboy
Your A Idiotà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ if you paid money to see American Idol David Cook at Paws.
You could just have waited to see him at an uptown Towson bar, like I did.
Let it be known that I wasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t intentionally stalking him. I do not hold false Idols, for that is a sin.
If you want someone to deify, why not choose a being that is already a deity? Then you donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t have to put in the effort of establishing a silly religion based on them. This is why I follow Dionysus (the Greek god of wine and inspirer of ecstasy), and Dionysus is the reason I was at an unnamed uptown Bar Friday night, not David Cook.
Unfortunately Dionysus was not at the bar influencing people into madness, but plenty of booze and David Cook were there as substitutes.
Visiting with ‘Idol Tonight’
Idol_tonight111 The term à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ no longer refers just to one mere television show, but also to a vast industrial complex of shows (“American Idol” performance and results, “Idol Tonight,” “Idol Extra,” “Idol Wrap” and “Idol Rewind,” live acts and tie-ins, all revolving in orbit around the flagship series).
Each Wednesday, the mothership releases another aspiring singer into the larger “Idol” community à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ a world of records and TV appearances, where some 80 former contestants labor to keep their profiles above sea level.
Here Comes the ‘Bride’: Katharine McPhee!
Who’s the former “American Idol” star wearing a wedding gown? Why it’s none other than Katharine McPhee, starring in the romantic comedy ‘You May Not Kiss the Bride,’ and ET is with her on the set!
Due out next year, the film is currently lensing in breathtaking Hawaii, and Katharine tells ET, “We’re having so much fun, we can’t even believe we’re here working.”
In the movie, Katharine plays the daughter of a Croatian mobster (‘Borat’ star Ken Davitian) who tries to obtain U.S. citizenship by setting her up with an American photographer (Dave Annable of ‘Brothers & Sisters’). Of course, the pair begin to fall in love, much to the chagrin of her father. Mena Suvari and Vinnie Jones also star in the comedy, written and directed by Rob Hedden.
An ‘Embarrassed’ Carrie Underwood Apologizes to Matthew McConaughey Over Sexual Reference in Acceptance Speech
After taking the trophy from McConaughey, a tearful Underwood caused jaws to drop when she said:
“I don’t know what to say. I got nothin’ … I want to see those boots, Matthew.” (The audience erupted into laughter but somehow we don’t think his leading lady, Camila Alves, was so amused). And clearly, Carrie regretted the spur-of-the-moment sexual advance.
“I’m so embarrassed, I totally embarrassed myself. I just blanked,” Underwood told Tarts backstage, burying her head in her hands. “You want to say something eloquent in a moment like that and I embarrassed myself. I’m sorry Matthew, I’m sorry to my family. I’m totally embarrassed.”
Paula Abdul presents guide dogs at graduation ceremony for veterans
Every seven minutes, someone in America becomes blind or visially impaired. American Idol judge, Paula Abdul, was in Palm Springs on Sunday, April 5, to congratulate seven U.S. veterans as they received their guide dogs from Guide Dogs of the Desert.
‘Dancing With the Stars’ Recap: That’s Bull!
Greetings, DANCMSTRs! Inspired by Lil’ Kim (as I am every day), I tried to write this recap on my Buddha Board, but it kept disappearing. What a bust! You’ll have to settle for the non-relaxing, text-based version instead. While I attempt to wrap my head around just how Bob Saget and Cynthia Stevenson managed to travel from a liiiiiiiiiiiiiiive! studio audience to a cozy sofa in a matter of seconds, why not take a trippy trip (emphasis on trippy) down the sequin-encrusted Mammary Lane of last night’s Dancing With the Stars week 5 performance show? Here’s how the nine remaining couples ranked after performing either the paso doble or the Viennese waltz…
Gilles Marini Says Wife Loves His Sexy Dancing
Dancing with the Stars heartthrob and front-runner Gilles Marini says his steamy moves on the show arenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t a problem for his wife, Caroleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ in fact, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“she loves to see that sexiness.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬
The French actor/model, who made a splash last year as Samanthaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s outdoor-showering neighbor in the Sex and the City movie, says he wouldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t be able to perform his high-energy dance routines without his wifeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s support.
Dancing With The Stars: Lil Kim Could Have Value
Though heartthrob, Gilles Marini, is likely to become the runaway favorite on this season’s Dancing With The Stars following Monday night’s passionate paso doble with partner, Cheryl Burke, rapper Lil Kim is still in the thick of things. Marini scored a perfect 29, but Lil Kim tied this week’s slight favorite, Shawn Johnson, with a score of 26.
‘Dancing With the Stars’: Waltz on
Week 5 already, ballroom fans! On the program for the evening: the Viennese waltz and the pasodoble. And thanks to last weekà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s double elimination, there was less of a discrepancy between the top and bottom scorers, which kind of evened out the playing field a bit. Not to say that the leader board had changed all that much, but at least this week the highs were not so high and the lows not so drearily low. Continuing their hot streak at the top of the charts, unsurprisingly, wereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦
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76 Responses to “Idol Headlines for 04/07/09”
Frog! Part 2 of that interview.. that was a little sniffly. I’m not a sniffler either!
He is the most grounded teenager I have seen in a long time. I love how he said that your label will look out for you and take care of you as long as you are making money for them.
I like Allison as well. I think she will end up with something even if she gets booted soon.
Your typical offline American Idol viewer. If I had to pick a demo, I would say middle-age to older couples or women. I don’t think he’s picking up much, if any, of the younger vote.
My highly unscientific, and factually unsupported guesses as to the demos of the remaining contestants:
Adam: teenagers, females aged 20-45, males and females who think Adam represents an anti-Idol contestant (even though clearly the show is pushing him), lots of online Idol-watchers
Kris: teenagers (more female than male), females aged 20-60, female and male Jason Mraz/Jack Johnson fans; lots of online Idol-watchers
Anoop: some teenagers, females aged 20-60; some online Idol-watchers
Danny: females aged 35-60, middle-aged to older married couples, mostly offline Idol-watchers
Allison: teenagers (mostly female), females aged 20-45, mostly online Idol-watchers
Scott: middle-aged to older couples, mostly offline Idol-watchers
Lil: females aged 30-65, female and male R&B fans, mostly offline Idol-watchers
Matt: some teenagers, females and males aged 20-50, mostly online Idol-watchers
I think Lil is splitting her votes the least. Kris, Matt and Anoop are splitting their votes the most, with Adam taking some of their audience as well. Kris is leading the pack, and will probably benefit greatly if/when Matt and Anoop are eliminated. Danny and Scott are probably splitting votes as well, but obviously Danny is getting a much larger piece of the pie. So Danny is probably not splitting all that much. Then again, I don’t think he’ll benefit that much when other contestants are kicked off. Adam could wind up on top because, while he is splitting some younger vote with Kris, et al., I think he also has more younger male votes (regardless of the stereotype of who would vote for a gay contestant), and he’ll probably pick up the votes of any contestant eliminated that has younger voters. I think he also has a lot of 20-45 year old females and, while this may not represent the largest Idol demo, with the other demos he’s picked up it could be enough.
If it came down to Kris and Adam in the finale (assuming Danny’s core fan base can’t carry him that far or TPTB throw him under the bus), it will be interesting. In fact, I think I can come up with a scenario where Kris wins the whole thing. (1) Adam has been more pimped, and regardless of whether TPTB switch their pimpage away from Adam, people will usually only remember early pimpage. Some viewers will vote against who they think is being shoved down their throat by TPTB, whether or not TPTB stopped shoving ages ago. (2) I think Kris has more middle-aged voters, which are a powerful voting block–more powerful than younger voters. (3) Kris is perceived as the underdog. Even if TPTB start pimping him up the wazzoo starting next week, he’ll still be perceived as the underdog as long as the judges keep acting like he is. People love it when an underdog wins, even if he stopped being the underdog awhile back.
Ok, obviously I’m avoiding my work.
I’m not following this season all that closely, but I don’t think you can pin Danny doing so well with the fans totally on his church. Even if it is huge. I have to agree with a previous poster that the AI internet fans are a drop in the bucket as compared to the majority of AI voters. For instance, my whole family loves AI but they don’t know anything about these kids past what they see on the show and perhaps on talk shows.
Speaking of Gokey, Chris Sligh blogged about having dinner with him last night. They also a surprise guest in the form of Jason Castro. As a Jason fan, I’m not sure I like him hanging around with Gokey. Ha. Though I think it was the first time they met.
http://frommymindtoyoureyes.blogspot.com/2009/04/american-idol-generationals-reunion.html
I agree with the majority of the EW list. I don’t care for those on the bottom of the list. I still think Danny and Adam are the top 2 contenders.
I could care less about Danny, but I see many many online Danny fans around. (LJ, IDF…) This is not a Syesha situation… I think that’s more Lil’s case.
And this blog and EW, despite being the coolest and most awesome Idol related things out there aren’t really representative. Well, to be honest, I’ve seen many Danny fans here.
Judging by DI, Danny seems to have a more faithful and larger fanbase than Adam.
American Idol Video
ELLE.com staffers weigh in on the contestants’ style
I couldn’t get the video to play and I wanted to see if Adam or Allison’s style was mentioned. Did anyone see the video?
Being key… badumbum… LOL J/K, a little.
I don’t have a representative sample, far from it. But I do live in the city of ultra-conservativeville, bloodred state, usa, and the few casual fans I’ve asked in passing say they like Danny best and invariably note that he’s a music director at his church and he just lost his wife as two reasons why. I know, right? :rolleyes_tb:
double post…
Hm. Sligh hints around that something is going on with Jason’s career. I wonder what it is…
Anoop fans ARE NOT splitting with the likes of Matt and Kris, sorry
Matt and Kris fans split votes between the 2 losers.
Some some some some? I dont get it
^ The “some” is there because they can’t all be voting for him! And in regards to vote-splitting, there are actually a lot of people who like Anoop, Matt, and Kris and are splitting votes between them. Go on IDF and you’ll find plenty.
They didn’t mention Adam, but they talked about Allison a little bit. I don’t really remember what they said, but I think they didn’t like her red hair. It wasn’t a particularly interesting video to me, I don’t thnk you’re missing much
IMHO, I think votes are going to Danny (besides sympathy votes) because he is that fun-loving, simple minded type of individual that many people find non-threatening. Just like Taylor Hicks, before him, families can all gather round the Gokey flag without upsetting the family dynamics or its social moraes. He isn’t a pretty boy, he isn’t polished, he isn’t overly talented, he’s kind of everyman in the way he looks. His clumsy moves are endearing to many people, his “heartfelt” I want to reach out to people with my singing tugs at the heartstrings. He doesn’t appear to be too smart, or too suave, or too talented, or too over-produced, or too needy, or too “gay”. People think he’s funny when he does his little Elvis hip swivel, when he makes fun of other contestants. All the things that make me uncomfortable with Danny are the things that my “normal” friends seem to embrace. They take everything strictly at face value without analyzing anything. They really could give a rat’s ass about what an artist does after AI…their investment with the program and the contestants ends on finals night. They will never buy an album or download a song. They don’t “listen” to the radio, its always just background noise to them.
MJ, there have been rumors going around for the past week or so re: Jason but as they are rumors most seem to be waiting for something more concrete. But I assume it has to do with a record deal. And in the first, the rumors aren’t coming from Jason or anybody in his camp.
Two cool views of David making his entrance on the stage last night in Singapore!
(Video by Team Archie)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEbN_NDxS9s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U5x-nT3H0c
I read something about a record deal, but I can’t remember where.
I know he’s been hinting he has something in the works, but don’t they all, whether its true or not? That others are hinting it too is a good sign, I would think.
I AM ITCHING FOR THE SPOILERS!!!!!
So MJ, you talk to Sligh right? Maybe you’ll get the real Jason scoop?
After taking the trophy from McConaughey, a tearful Underwood caused jaws to drop when she said: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know what to say. I got nothinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ I want to see those boots, Matthew.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ (The audience erupted into laughter but somehow we donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t think his leading lady, Camila Alves, was so amused). And clearly, Carrie regretted the spur-of-the-moment sexual advance.
Both remarks were adorable and funny! Carrie was simply darling and those words for me represented Carrie’s shining moment. I can’t believe she beat herself up afterwards. She was embarrassed and I think she finally got interesting. It was the first time I thought Carrie may not be a bloodless plastic doll, afterall. I’d like to see her put the overly controlled persona forever behind her. And that’s nonsense about Camila. I bet Camila was as amused as McConaughey was. Carrie truly was funny.
And I didn’t think I’d ever be able to say it… I like a couple of Carrie’s recent songs. I never dreamed I would. Go figure.
It wasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t a particularly interesting video to me, I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t thnk youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re missing much
Thank you, Victoria. : )
Frog- thanks for that singapore interview and gg for those entrances. Amazing!
After watching part 2 of the interview, it makes me sad that “Touch My Hand’ wasn’t his 2nd single. I never knew how much it meant to him- how he could relate to it so much.
Also, hearing “to be with you” in the background of part 4 while he was talking about his family (I always cry when I hear that song)….. :cry_tb:
LK to be with you playing on a few of the vids almost did me in…. TMH has always been my fav song.. lol But its nice to see how much David actually likes the song and loves performing it and how he connects to it.
It was also interesting that he readily admitted that the basis of ALTNOY was his idea and from personal experiences. Even though he got a little embarassed talking about it. lol But it was interesting that he definately said it was instead of alluding to it, like he’s previously done.
Well, they do have the spiritualism in common, and Chris Sligh. Danny is a jerk; Jason is a doll babe. Oh well…
I am hoping Anoop has a good selection and presentation tonight!
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/show/story/0,4136,198230,00.html
THAT adorable little boy whose cheeks you kept wanting to pinch during last year’s American Idol?
Well, he’s all grown up.
Amid smiles and candid laughter, Idol runner-up David Archuleta was full of wisdom yesterday when he met reporters at the Ritz Carlton hotel.
-snip-
Asked for his thoughts on the current season, he said he doesn’t watch it all the time, but was impressed by Kris Allen’s performance last week.
-snip-
In Singapore, both albums have achieved Gold status, awarded to albums which sell over 5,000 copies. Sony BMG declined to release actual figures.
(cookies and david’s both)
Thanks for the link. They talked for 3 1/2 hours!!! I hope that they gave their waitress/waiter a big tip for holding up the table for so long. LOL.
It’s pretty cool of Chris to reach out to new contestants. Last year it was Jason, this year, Danny. Although he went out at number 10, I’m sure that Chris can give them an idea of what they will face in the real world of having a career in music.
I was half kidding about Jason not hanging out with Gokey. I do think it’s cool of Chris to reach out to the contestants though.
I haven’t wanted to say too much about the Jason rumors in the sense I’d rather just wait until someone can actually say something. But I’ll say it started at TWOP last week and the initial rumor involved Kara spilling the beans over something. Though as it was also April Fools Day a lot of people took it with a grain of salt.
Speaking of Gokey, Chris Sligh blogged about having dinner with him last night. They also a surprise guest in the form of Jason Castro. As a Jason fan, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m not sure I like him hanging around with Gokey. Ha. Though I think it was the first time they met.
http://frommymindtoyoureyes.blogspot.com/2009/04/american-idol-generationals-reunion.html
Thanks for the link. They talked for 3 1/2 hours!!! I hope that they gave their waitress/waiter a big tip for holding up the table for so long. LOL.
Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s pretty cool of Chris to reach out to new contestants. Last year it was Jason, this year, Danny. Although he went out at number 10, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m sure that Chris can give them an idea of what they will face in the real world of having a career in music.
Yes, that is awesome of Chris,:-). I wish Phil and Felicia were part of the group, too, lol. It would have ben a gathering of worship leaders/ church singers, all of whom I like. In his blog, Phil said that he had Felicia and her family over at his house, and she shared with him about the contestants. Chris and Phil have become close friends. They are both married, so their wives were each others’ support, I’m sure, while their husbands were on AI. And they did some writing together. Chris is probably the most successful 10-place Idol there is. It was cool to hear Rascal Flatts sing his “Here Comes Goodbye” at the ACM Awards this past Sunday. I am pretty sure that he is looked up to by these other guys.