DioGuardi on being `Idol’ judge: It’s not easy
NEW YORK (AP) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ When Kara DioGuardi accepted her job as the fourth judge on “American Idol,” she did not immediately grasp the enormity of a full-time gig on the most-watched TV show in the nation.
“I probably in my own way didn’t really take in what a huge thing it was, just `cause it would be so overwhelming,” she said. “Until I kind of showed up and was like, `Omigod, what am I doing here? This is, like, huge!’ And then it really hit me when we went live that, wow, `I got to speak live in front of 30 million people?’”
Since joining the judges’ panel, DioGuardi has weathered the curve balls of live television, eye rolls from Simon Cowell and criticism of her judging abilities by the viewer peanut gallery. As the eighth season progresses to a showdown between Adam Lambert and Someone Else, the 38-year-old songwriter and producer’s “saving grace” has been connecting with the finalists and helping steer them in the right direction, by way of her industry expertise.
ADAM BEFORE ‘IDOL’
‘AMERICAN Idol”-fa vorite Adam Lambert is about to rewrite the mythology of TV’s most successful talent show ever.
He was not a waitress or a college student or a church singer before becoming the run-away choice to win this year’s edition of “Idol.”
Before there was “Ring of Fire” and “Tracks of My Tears,” Adam Lambert put himself through the Hollywood school of hard knocks.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Adam Lambert Odds On To Win American Idol
Adam Lambert is the odds on favourite in the American Idol betting odds and it looks as though not even the other contestants expect their to be an upset in the American Idol final.
Adam Lambert Looks As Though He Canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t Be Stopped
Adam Lambert is one of just seven contestants still in with a chance in the competition but he is by far the most likely winner. Lambert can be backed to win American Idol at 4/9 with Boylesports, Blue Square and William Hill and he has been the long time favourite in the show.
What Should ‘American Idol’ Top Seven Sing For Disco Week?
It’s Disco Week on “American Idol” (don’t even get me started), and the top seven hopefuls have a huge challenge ahead of them: How do they sound contemporary while sticking to a genre that hasn’t been popular since the pre-MTV era? Song selection is more important than ever, and with two people going home Wednesday night, thanks to the “judge’s save” being used last week on Matt Giraud, the stakes are even higher!
Rest easy, Idols. No reason to get those Camile Velasco butterflies. We’ve got you covered. As long as you skirt the obvious picks and listen to our suggestions, you’re in the clear.
Jennifer Hudsonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s big voice fills the Landmark
Though technically a double bill of two young, respected soul singers, there was little doubt who ruled the Landmark Theater stage last night.
Jennifer Hudson and Robin Thicke are a well-matched touring pair, with each bringing an arsenal of charms — a roaring voice and personable stage demeanor for her, a sweeping falsetto and loverboy charisma for him.
But while the sold-out crowd of more than 3,500 mostly sat and nodded politely during Thicke’s uneven hour-long set, the audience was on its feet to give Hudson, 27, an ovation the moment she sang the opening lines of “One Night Only” while descending a staircase.
Her too-brief 60 minutes on stage were mostly spent showcasing a voice that is so giant, it sometimes bordered on shrill.
Britney Spears’ Peeper Defends Her Snooping
As Britney Spears continues her Circus tour throughout California this week, Spears’ alleged trespasser Miranda Tozier-Robbins spoke exclusively to E! News about why she snuck onto the pop star’s property and the reason she believes things have been blown out of proportion.
Tozier-Robbins, 26, is a former American Idol hopeful who says she has been in Los Angeles for about a month and a half and is actively pursing an entertainment industry career in numerous fields, one being paparazzi-like documentary filmmaking.
According to Tozier-Robbins, Britney’s house was simply chosen because of its convenient location and perfect timingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ she knew Spears would be in L.A. for her tour this week and apparently her address is available online.
“The documentary is more or less just, [me] on the way to Britney’s house, going on the bicycle ride, the camping out in the woods,” says Tozier-Robbins.
‘Idol’ documentary to air on Gospel Music Channel
LOS ANGELES (AP) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ The Gospel Music Channel will shine the spotlight on “American Idol.”
Filmmaker David Lewis’ “From Idol to Inspiration” will premiere Thursday before the Gospel Music Association’s 40th annual Dove Awards telecast. The one-hour documentary explores the effect of the Fox network singing competition on Christian music.
The documentary features interviews with several former “Idol” finalists and with Maria Santiago, sister-in-law of current finalist Danny Gokey, who has worked for eight years at Faith Builders International in Milwaukee and at its sister congregation in Beloit, Wis.
Mandisa Hundley, Chris Sligh, Phil Stacey and Melinda Doolittle are the ex-”Idol” finalists featured in the documentary.
Idol Chartwatch, April 20: Kelly Moves Up, Jason Castro Signs a Deal, and More
Nothing new from American Idol on the charts this week, but we do have news about Season 7à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Jason Castro. Kelly Clarksonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s album is still going strong and another Idol reenters the Billboard 200. Read on for more.
Simon Cowell declares he loves Cardiff
Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s the top question on the lips of everyone in Cardiff. What prompted televisionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Mr Nasty, Simon Cowell, to end Saturday nightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s edition of Britainà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Got Talent with a declaration of love for Walesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ capital? More than 13 million viewers across the UK watched as the notoriously prickly record mogul told the cameras as the show closed: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know what it is about here. I just love it.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ RACHEL QUIGLEY suggests six reasons why the toxic-tongued music maestro might have gone weak at the knees for Cardiff
‘Talent’ singer denies Cowell set-up
Shaheen Jafargholi has denied claims that the false start in his Britain’s Got Talent audition had been pre-planned.
The 12-year-old singer from Swansea began his performance by singing Amy Winehouse’s version of The Zutons’ ‘Valerie’ before it was brought to an abrupt halt by judge Simon Cowell.
Cowell said “You’ve got this really wrong”, and asked Jafargholi if he had any other tracks prepared. He then performed The Jackson 5’s ‘Who’s Lovin’ You’ to a standing ovation.
Jafargholi told WalesOnline: “I thought to myself that this was my one chance and I’d blown it. I stood there and thought: ‘What’s gone wrong?’
More Dove Award performers added to live show at Opry House on April 23
The Gospel Music Association (GMA) announced more artists who have confirmed to perform on the Dove Awards, which will be live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. and broadcast nationwide on the awardsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ exclusive television home, the Gospel Music Channel television network, from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. ET on April 23.
The Blind Boys of Alabama, Kierra Sheard and Sandi Patty are among the newest artists confirmed for performances. Previously announced performers include Steven Curtis Chapman, Natalie Grant, Brandon Heath, Mary Mary, MercyMe, Third Day and Chris Tomlin.
Rosie O’Donnell: Susan Boyle Brought Out Simon Cowell’s Humanity
Rosie O’Donnell finally sees the human side of Simon Cowell after his response to hearing the Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle.
“Simon Cowell was genuinely moved when he heard Susan Boyle sing,” O’Donnell, 47, told PEOPLE Saturday night at a Florida showcase of her artwork in Boca Raton’s Wentworth Gallery. “He showed his humanity, and I actually liked him. It was a moment in time.”
Here’s Susan Boyle’s competition… and he’s 12 year-old Shaheen Jafargholi
It looks like Susan Boyle’s got competition as Britain’s new singing sensation. WalesOnline is reporting that last night, a 12 year-old boy named Shaheen Jafargholi, who is said to have “blown away” the judges on Britain’s Got Talent with his performance of a Michael Jackson song, “Who’s Loving You.” The boy from Mount Pleasant, Swansea, sang a rich, gospel-inflected version of the song. An interesting moment occurs early on in this clip, as judge Simon Cowell stops Jafargholi’s initial song-choice and asks him if he’s got something better to sing. He does. Click here to check it out on the Britain’s Got Talent website.
‘Dancing With the Stars’ judge Bruno Tonioli reveals his favorites!
Who are Bruno Tonioli’s picks from this season’s “Dancing With the Stars” competition?
“At the moment, they are all very much … anything can happen,” said Tonioli, who had come directly from the set of “DWTS” to the GLAAD Media Awards last night. “So you have to keep watching.”
A reporter asked if he had any favorite contestants. “I don’t have any favorites!” he insisted, adding, “I’m totally partial!”
Just de-lurking to say I found that comment/complaint that this was a “hate site for David Archuleta” just preposterous. It’s funny that on the David Cook board I frequent there are folks there who think this site is Pro Archie & anti DC! For those two I think MJ has done a fine job of being even-handed.
By the way – Cook’s team in the Race for Hope has now raised over $50,000 in the cause to fight brain cancer/brain tumors and the goal has been upped to $75,000. Yay. I have to say that I lost my father to a brain tumor but never donated to this cause until this event prompted me to. (There have been more opportunities to support the cause to fight the breast cancer which took my mother.)
TESS! Thank you for the laugh. Well done.
LOL.
I think you need to shut off your computer and take a walk.
And, as a matter of fact, you are banned.
I don’t think Adam is pimped because I think he has earned his accolades, and he has been criticized as well as praised. He hasn’t been given a free ride. And I speak fairly objectively as I’m not a fan. I like him some weeks and not other weeks. However I will say that Danny has definitely been pimped, as was Lil, as the judges decided early on that they were the great ones, and continued to praise them even when they didn’t deserve it week after week. Finally they are realizing their error. Meanwhile Adam earned respect by outrageous and often mesmerizing performances.
“Brave” is subjective of course and is an interesting concept. Everyone will have different ideas about what is a brave performance. I thought it was brave of Adam to take off the makeup and sing unvarnished from his soul, without all the hoopla. That was a risk as he made himself very vulnerable. I thought it was brave of David Cook to sing Music of the Night, as it requires powerful vocals and has been sung masterfully by some of the world’s greatest singers, and it was risky but he did okay with it. It was brave of Archie to sing Imagine, which is always going to be compared with John Lennon and others who have done great interpretations of it, and he pulled it off. Those are risks that could have gone either way, and that’s what made them exciting.
When they take a risk and it works out, they are called brave. When they take a risk and fall short, we call it a bad song choice. That’s why it’s brave, it teeters on the edge and could go either way.
Really? And do all those people just happen to be fans of Idols who aren’t named David Archuleta?
One of the things I’ve found covering Idol over the years is that that super invested fans hardly notice what’s written or said about Idols who aren’t their favorite.
So having said that. This blog on blog talk drives me crazy. If you don’t like my blog don’t read it. Don’t bitch about it in the threads. If something is really bothering you, take it to email.
Oh I’m here. *shaking her head*
LOL. We’re sorry mj. I think all of the rabid fanbases over the years should chip in and send you a gift. DCO alone probably owes you at least 2 boxes of really expensive chocolates. I’ll get on that.
:wub_tb:
:huh_tb:
^^^ Let’s not respond any more to musiclvr. If I had caught her post earlier, I would have deleted it.
Could we please just get back on topic, or let the thread die.
As much as a I disagree with the comment that this is an anti-DA site (honestly, there are peeps on DCO who have stopped going here b/c some people’s comments about DC made their blood boil), the “nuclear disarmament” statement above really left me scratching my head. Why, again, is nuclear disarmament a bad thing?
By the way, disco week is gonna be full of suck.
Good point. I remember Paula mentioning it to him in her comments the night he performed Tears and he looked at his unpolished nails. He looked very uncomfortable with the fact that he had done it and it was noticed. It was like he felt naked up there.
You know, the themes that I assume are going to be the biggest trainwreck weeks often turn out to be the best. Maybe we’ll be surprised. *fingers crossed*
(eta: in answer to your question, the ND comment had to do with a discussion on another thread)