Zac Efron tipped to star in Simon Cowell remake of Saturday Night Fever
Efron would be likely to take the lead role as the nattily-dressed Tony Manero, originally played by John Travolta.
Timbaland, the hip hop producer who has worked with musicians including Nelly Furtado, Coldplay, Bjà ¶rk and 50 Cent, has been identified as a possible contender to rework one of the most famous film soundtracks of all time.
Cowell, who has his own television production and music label Syco, and was on this year’s rich list with a £120 million fortune ‘ is said to have been in talks with producer Robert Stigwood, who owns the rights to the screenplay, for several weeks already.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
…American Idol Winner Kris Allen Plans Jive Records Debut
Just weeks after being crowned this season American Idol, Kris Allen has inked a deal with 19 Entertainment, which will release his debut album on Jive Records this fall. …As exciting as the last few months have been, Im really looking forward to what is next, Allen said in a statement. …Everyone been asking me what it going to sound like. It will be very similar to what you heard from me on the show ‘ definitely in the pop/rock genre. I cant wait to get started! Allen will join other AI all-stars Jordin Sparks and David Archuleta under the Jive banner, perhaps hinting at the target audience AI hopes Allen will appeal to after Idol.
Adam Lambert: I’ll “Answer All Those Questions”
Who gives an ef about winning a singing competition? Adam Lambert’s just happy he can finally party at all the best H’wood hot spots. “I was living on Melrose and Wilcox in a studio apartment six months ago just hoping I could get into Teddy’s, ” the American Idol runner-up said last night, accepting the Artist of the Year award at the Young Hollywood Awards in Santa Monica. “Now I can!”
Ad couldn’t even wait to get his freak on at the afterbash, ending his thank-you speech insisting that somebody “buy me a drink!”
Adam Lambert: Rolling Out of the Closet?
Adam Lambert promises that he’s about to address all the lingering questions about him.
“At this point, I think everybody knows everything, but once the Rolling Stone article comes out, people will know everything, ” the American Idol runner-up told us last night at the Young Hollywood Awards.
Reportedly, Lambert will officially come out of the closet next week in a cover story for the music magazine…
“I’m excited, ” he said. “I want people to know what’s up. It’s words coming out of my mouth!”
American Idol airplay: Kelly Clarkson stays on top; Kris Allen, Adam Lambert pick up spins
Kelly Clarkson retains the two top spots on USA TODAY’s American Idol airplay chart this week, as I Do Not Hook Up narrows the gap between it and My Life Would Suck Without You. The latest singles from Daughtry, David Cook, Jordin Sparks, Bucky Covington and Kellie Pickler also pick up spins, though Kellie drops one spot, from #3 to #4. The new ones from Taylor Hicks (Seven Mile Breakdown) and Josh Gracin (Enough) look like they’re going to have a hard time catching on, though.
David Cook Gears Up For Summer Tour
David Cook is gearing up to hit the road this summer on an extensive tour that stretches into October, The outing gets underway on June 18th in Del Mar, California and currently winds down in mid-October. Cook will be playing a mix of state fairs, festivals and clubs. This will mark Cook’s first major tour since his brother died from brain cancer earlier this spring.
Cook hits the road to support his self-titled debut album, which arrived last fall. Last year”s American Idol champ tells us the songs on the set reflect what’s happened since winning the competition: “It’s pretty undeniably me, which I’m excited about. I feel like my experiences in the last year — not just with the show — just with life — I have a lot of things to talk about.”
Country stars decorate guitars for Opry charity
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Fans attending Tuesday night’s Grand Ole Opry shows will get a sneak peek of some specially designed guitars.
The Epiphone acoustic guitars were decorated by some of country music’s biggest stars, including Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Charlie Daniels and Pam Tillis.
The guitars will be auctioned Friday at the Ryman Auditorium to benefit the Opry Trust Fund, which helps people in the country music industry who fall on hard times.
The guitars are adorned with song lyrics to hand-drawn sketches and are on display in the house lobby until the auction.
Jordin Sparks Is Out Standing In Her Battlefield
The video for Jordin Sparks …Battlefield made its way to the Internet over the weekend, and on the day that newly minted American Idol winner Kris Allen made his inevitable record deal with 19 Recordings official, it somewhat instructive to see what happens to people who stay in the 19 fold for their second albums.
2nd Annual Golf and Guitars Charity Even Review
Bucky Covington was the night’s head liner, but when John Michael Montgomery arrived without a band or his guitar he ended up joining Covington on stage. Before the set Montgomery walked up to Bucky saying “I don’t have a band or a guitar can you help me out.”
Covington smiled and responded ” I think I have those things.” The two covered Elvis, played each others hits and had an all around great time on stage. Mid set Covington broke three strings on his own guitar which sent member of Love and Theft Eric Gunderson sprinting backstage. He handed Covington his guitar and the set proceeded. Montgomery, who had a drink in hand the entire night, laughed when he forgot most of the words to his own song “Be My Baby Tonight.” The vocals were taken over by the audience, Montgomery turned to Covington and said “Isn’t great when you get to the point in your career that an audience can sing the song when you forget the words.” The set drew to a close with “I Swear.”
Broadway stars have advice for Susan Boyle
Constantine Maroulis, who nabbed a Tony nomination for …Rock of Ages, advised Boyle to stay determined and to never forget who she is.
…Just work hard and believe in yourself. Not to sound too corny. She seems like a nice woman. And the right part for the right person, Maroulis explained. …You never know. Things can work out.
Susan Boyle Reunites with Cat Pebbles and Preps for Career
“She’s really happy and on good form, ” a source close to Boyle tells PEOPLE. She has a new manager ‘ Ossie Kilkenny, who worked with U2 on their multi-million dollar deals ‘ while hit-maker Simon Cowell will help with her music.
“This is all been done in agreement with Simon, ” the source says. “Ossie has been brought in and welcomed by all concerned.”
Britain’s Got Victims: As another Simon Cowell talent show ends, former finalists claim they were cynically exploited
Two years ago, Niki Evans was another vulnerable finalist, on Cowell’s The X Factor.
Her father had just died when she took part and she was left aghast at what she saw as producers attempting to exploit her sob story.
‘They spent three hours literally shouting at me to sing Dance With My Father Again live on the show, with the instruction to cry in the middle of it, ‘ recalls Niki, 36.
‘I was in floods of tears, saying: “You can’t make me do this. It’s sick.” I would have completely broken down on live television, in front of millions of people, if I’d sung it – but that was what they wanted.
‘Billy Elliot’-powered Tonys dance to best ratings since ’06
In a time of lowered ratings nearly everywhere else, Sunday’s 63rd Annual Tony Awards ‘ capped by 10 wins for the Elton John musical “Billy Elliot” ‘ actually delivered improved numbers.
An average of 7.4 million total viewers tuned in to the three-hour Tony telecast, up 17% compared with last year and the best figure since 2006, according to early data from Nielsen Media Research.
As usual, the Tony audience skewed older, with a lackluster 1.3 rating/4 share among the advertiser-friendly demographic of adults ages 18 to 49. The program tends to perform much better among viewers 50 and older.
Bret Michaels Breaks Nose, Busts Lip In Tonys Accident
NEW YORK ‘ Bret Michaels performed at the Tony Awards, and all he got was a nose fracture _ and a busted lip. According to Michaels’ spokeswoman, the rock singer had X-rays taken after getting clocked in the head by a descending set piece at Sunday’s Radio City Music Hall ceremony.
Publicist Joann Mignano says Michaels, who performed with his 1980s hair-metal band Poison, fractured his nose and had to get three stitches in his lip. She says he was getting a CAT scan on Monday as a precaution, as he’s had a past neck injury.
Bret Michaels’s Tonys Mishap: Shrek and Donkey Helped Me Up
Bret Michaels may have broken his nose and busted his lip during a scenery-related malfunction at the Tonys on Sunday ‘ but the Poison frontman and Rock of Love star left with his sense of humor intact.
“He told me, ‘All I remember is Shrek and the donkey helping me up, and Liza [Minnelli] giving me a towel, ‘” says his rep, Joann Mignano. “And Bret was laughing when he heard [Tonys host] Neil Patrick Harris said he gave new meaning to ‘headbanging.’ ”
Exclusive: VH1 Shelves Best Week Ever, Possibly Permanently
We hear from a source close to the production of Best Week Ever, which just went on summer hiatus, that the show future is in jeopardy. It will be off the air until 2010, which some employees are considering effectively the same as a cancellation, since Best Week Ever normally breaks for weeks at a time, not months. In fact, we’re told that recent New York City transplant Paul F. Tompkins is considering moving back to Los Angeles. When reached for comment, a spokesperson told us that “VH1’s Best Week Ever has actually gone on its scheduled production hiatus and will return in January 2010. Its companion piece Best Day Ever, which spoofs that day pop-culture news, will return this fall.” No reason was given for the extended time away, but apparently staffers were hopeful that the full 30-minute version would be back this fall.
SYTYCD finalist Asuka Kondoh: ‘My heart is going to want to burst’
Asuka A San Francisco native and UC Irvine graduate, 25-year-old Asuka Kondoh is “nervous for everything” as Wednesday’s first performance episode nears. But even without her longtime ballroom dancing partner by her side, Kondoh is ready to walk the walk, dance the dance and put her best face forward for America.
‘SYTYCD’ finalist Melissa Sandvig is ready to break out of the ballet box
Sytycd_melissa-s_0863_lyFbMelissa Sandvig, 29, may be the oldest contestant on “So You Think You Can Dance” this season, but those closest to this trained ballerina have faith. “This is your year, ” her students and husband told her before she auditioned for the show, for the first time, this season. Her ballet background may also make Sandvig stand out from her fellow contestants, but the Los Angeles native says she is ready to branch out big-time.
‘SYTYCD’ finalist Ade Obayomi: ‘Whoa, this is really happening!’
Sytycd_ade-o_1345_lyFb Chapman University dance student Ade Obayomi, 20, sounds like a kid in a candy store when it comes to “So You Think You Can Dance, ” at least compared with some of his more camera-shy fellow contestants. “I cant wait for everything to be in full force: lights, staging, the audience members, the judges, ” Obayomi said. It obviously helps he has lots of support not only from his fellow contestants on the show but also from his teachers at Chapman University, where he just completed his freshman year. “They were like, ‘Follow your dream!’ ” And it seems that is precisely what Obayomi is doing.
Hamburg hip-hop specialist dances his dream on Fox reality show
Tony Bellissimo, the lanky hip-hop dancer from Hamburg who made it into the top 20 of …So You Think You Can Dance last week, is going nonstop as he and the 19 other competitors prepare to take the stage Wednesday night.
…It just go, go, go, go, he said Monday during a brief break from the whirlwind of …rehearsals, staging, lights, wardrobe, interviews that precede Season Five first performance show, which will be televised tonight from 8 to 10.
But dont get the idea that he is complaining. …It just overwhelming and it so much fun, Bellissimo says. …I feel like Im dreaming.
