Today’s Idol headlines after the jump…
Welcome home, Chris
When “American Idol” singer Chris Richardson returns to Hampton Roads on Tuesday, he’ll have come full circle. But his show-business journey is far from complete.
Chesapeake’s Chris Richardson has come a long way since his days overseeing orders of onion rings in the kitchen of a local Hooters. On Tuesday, the young singer and “American Idol” favorite will sing on stage at Hampton Coliseum as part of the American Idols Live! concert tour.
Richardson took a few minutes to answer questions about his career, his music and his years in Hampton Roads…..
Seacrest Surprisingly Not Too Shabby as dual Emmy Host
Although there were probably many other options than Ryan Seacrest to host the Emmy Awards show, he was far from disappointment. From running around questioning celebrities minutes prior to opening the show, Seacrest seemed content and comfortable on the big stage. He even seemed more in touch with his monologue, than he did with some celebrity interviews during the pre-show….
Emmys bleeps and veeps
Highlights from Sally Field riling up censors to Al Gore shilling for interactive TV.
IT was Open Mike Night at the 59th Annual Emmy Awards, organized by your server, um, host Ryan Seacrest. After putting in four hours on the pre-show red carpet meeting-and-greeting for E!, the chillingly ubiquitous Seacrest was presumably too fatigued to do anything like an opening monologue or actual hosting.
So with a quick congratulations to himself for all his hard work (”I am a full-service host”) and a display of couture wisdom, he wisely turned it over to the professionals…..
The 59th annual Primetime Emmy Awards
…As for Seacrest, the fact that there’s very little to say about his perf reps a victory for the omnipresent host of multiple TV shows.
His opening few jokes were lame but brief (and included just a quick “American Idol” mention). He poked fun at rumors about his sexuality (appearing in Tudor dress, he quipped, “This didn’t look that gay on the rack”) and his alleged romance with Teri Hatcher (she didn’t seem to appreciate it).
If anything, Seacrest was perhaps a bit too low-key, popping up once every half-hour at most. But while that meant he didn’t add much to the show, he also didn’t make the night about him — and that’s a good thing. He even demonstrated admirable self-deprecatory skills, joking that just about everyone else in the room had turned down an offer to host the Emmys (not far from the truth)…
ON A HIGH NOTE
…Looking at the telecast at large: Not to judge host Ryan Seacrest too harshly, but anyone expecting to find the kind of grace and wit that NBC’s Conan O’Brien brought to last year’s broadcast got up from the set sorely disappointed last night.
The utility-man performer was chosen as host for two reasons, neither of which has anything to do with talent.
First, as host of American Idol, he works for Fox, which was the TV home of last night’s show. More important, Idol drew as many as 30 million viewers a night - many of them members of the young demographic most desired by advertisers. The thinking by board members of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences was that Seacrest could help a show with an old audience instantly get younger…
Sopranos win at Emmys
more or less; Groundbreaking series takes best drama honours
…As Seacrest took the stage the background music was rapper Chamillionaire’s Ridin’, the opening line of which is “They see me licking rectum,” making it an odd choice for a man who has frequently denied rumours of homosexuality….
This is how not to put on an awards show
…Actually, “amateurish” doesn’t begin to describe Ryan Seacrest, who, thanks to his obnoxious performance on E!’s pre-show, became the first host ever to wear out his welcome before he came in. Had he been content to simply keep the show moving, he might have been bearable, though probably just barely. Instead, he worked the crowd like he was back at “American Idol,” making more of a nuisance of himself with each appearance and joke, apparently not realizing that the occasion called for a classier act…
‘Sopranos’ bling night
HBO’s influential show wins the Emmy for best dramatic series in its final season, but others steal the acting honors.
…The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences once again turned a deaf ear to Fox’s “American Idol,” the most popular show on television. The nation’s most watched reality competition came up empty-handed as the honors again went to CBS’s “The Amazing Race.”
“Idol,” though, did manage to win two Emmys last week, one for technical direction and the other, a special governor’s award, for its two-part fundraiser, “Idol Gives Back,” which raised more than $75 million for the poor in the United States and in Africa….
A Friendly Stage With More Décolletage Than Politics
The choice of Ryan Seacrest to serve as host of the Emmy Awards on Fox last night wasn’t distressing exactly, but it was a little disconcerting — a bit like arriving at a fancy dinner party to discover that the guest of honor is the next-door neighbor. Not that Mr. Seacrest, like the neighbor, is unpleasant, but his presence didn’t exactly bring the evening up a notch….
Television deserves better than weak Emmys
Awkward stage setup, disappearing host all detract from telecast
…Seacrest explained at one point that the Emmys were environmentally friendly this year, and thus “the stage is made from existing materials.” A noble goal, but also a convenient excuse to not spend any money. Fox could have saved even more on materials by using parts of its “American Idol” set, which looks like someone actually bothered to design it…
Innovations fall flat; Emmy show is a bore
Fox went green Sunday night for Emmy Awards that were about as exciting as watching grass grow.
Efforts to reduce the event’s environmental impact included delivering talent in hybrid cars and carpeting Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium with recycled plastic bottles. Fox also recycled Ryan Seacrest, host of its own “American Idol,” as emcee of the ceremony, a move that might have been economical but wasn’t exactly a grab for greatness…..
Ryan Seacrest, Emmy host: 5 key ingredients
1. Remember why you’re famous and make multiple “American Idol” references. (Dropping Simon Cowell’s name as a skeptic of his hosting abilities. Implying that Paula Abdul actually is a druggie by saying that he hears “Weeds” has “an amazing afterparty. Isn’t that right, Paula?”)………
Contestants relish opportunity to sing Oscar Mayer jingles
…Among those stepping up to the microphone was J. Paul Koehler. The former Rapid Citian competed in the 2005 “American Idol.” He was among 44 “Idol” hopefuls who made it to the semi-finals that year.
Like many other Oscar Mayer singers, Koehler didn’t come to Wal-Mart to sing. He happened by the giant Wienermobile and stopped to see what was going on. A 27-foot hot dog on wheels tends to draw a crowd. And like the others, he decided to give it a shot.
“Why not?” he said with a chuckle. “One thing I learned the hard way on ‘American Idol’ is that it’s all about song selection,” he said. “Hmm, should I sing the wiener jingle or the bologna song?”
He opted for the wiener jingle, and sang it with the same relish that got him to the semi-finals on the TV show.
Koehler, by the way, is still chasing his entertainment dream.
He moved to New York and works as a singing waiter on Broadway, following, he hopes, in Tony Bennett’s footsteps.
He has also helped record a hip-hop video, and he’s working on a musical called “Howe & Hummel,” which is being developed for Broadway. Koehler was in Rapid City for the premier of “Imprint,” a film produced in part by his friends, the Linn brothers of Rapid City….
Lythgoe, Darnell spar at BAFTA panel
Fox’s reality guru Mike Darnell and “American Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe sparred at a lively panel discussion Thursday night about Britain’s role in the reality boom on American television.
At the BAFTA event entitled “Another British Invasion,” hosted by BAFTA and CAA, the two fired several back-and-forth zingers good enough to land them their own improv show.
“He’s either a brilliant programr or an evil genius bent on hastening the end of civilization as we know it,” Lythgoe, who moderated the panel, said in introducing Darnell…….
Daughtry’s rocking his way here
…Since then, Daughtry and his band have hit the road aggressively, touring all over America from stadiums and arenas to fairs and clubs.
And now, he’s coming to Singapore to perform live for fans who’ve followed his career since his American Idol days.
The New Paper is giving away five pairs of passes to this exclusive showcase, which will be held at St James Powerhouse on 20 Sep at 7.30pm, courtesy of Sony BMG…
Daughtry’s power voice impresses
With his rock voice drowning out the roller coasters and carnival barkers on the midway, Chris Daughtry led the band that bears his surname through a 75-minute set on the Comcast Arena stage on the opening weekend of The Big E.
Daughtry has become somewhat of a rock juggernaut since the band’s post-”American Idol” self-titled album hit the top of the Billboard charts and became the fastest selling rock debut of all time……..
Related Posts
Are limits in MP3s and iPods ruining pop music?
Producers complain that final products are ruined by new technology, recording volumes
If it seems like you are listening to music more but enjoying it less, some people in the recording industry say they know why. They blame that iPod that you can’t live without, along with all the compressed MP3 music files you’ve loaded on it.
Those who work behind-the-mic in the music industry — producers, engineers, mixers and the like — say they increasingly assume their recordings will be heard as MP3s on an iPod music player. That combination is thus becoming the “reference platform” used as a test of how a track should sound. (Movie makers make much the same complaint when they see their filmed images in low-quality digital form.)
But because both compressed music and the iPod’s relatively low-quality earbuds have many limitations, music producers fret that they are engineering music to a technical lowest common denominator. The result, many say, is music that is loud but harsh and flat, and thus not enjoyable for long periods of time……..
Baltimore Sun
TOP 100 ALBUMS CHART :: CHART WEEK ENDING DATE 22/09/07
96 TW 63 LW DAUGHTRY DAUGHTRY
UK Charts
RE: EMMY AWARDS BEST REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
Notice how American Idol is nominated every year together with Amazing Race and almost like clockwork, Amazing Race wins everytime ( the 5th consecutive time in fact ).
Someone reporting at the boogie that Taylor bought out his contract info coming from Stephen the merchandise guy
Does anyone know all the implications of this?
Oh no! He is pulling a Taylor Hicks over there..
Is this for real?
I don’t know, Lu. I went over to the Boogie Board and couldn’t find anything about it. I did find a thread started by the merchandise guy but didn’t see it mentioned in there.
Jersey, the discussion started in the Tour Recap section under a title dealing with the Newport News, VA show. I forget the exact title.
Thanks, Fran, I found it.
Lu, it seems pretty vague right now. A fan is reporting that the merch guy told her this at a concert. No real details. Interesting though.
‘Idol’-ized Emmys lowest rated of franchise
There was no “American Idol” ratings halo over Fox’s coverage of the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday.
The three-hour show hosted by “Idol’s” Ryan Seacrest posted the lowest ratings ever for the awards show franchise, a 4.3 rating/11 share among adults 18-49 — which is down 17% from last year when NBC carried the ceremony aired in August — and 13.1 million viewers overall, according to early Nielsen data……….
Hollywood Reporter
Tamyra Gray Talks Snowstorms, Rent and Broadway
Over the weekend Times Square was transformed into a concert setting for Broadway on Broadway, essentially bringing Broadway performers to the street and tourists of New York. One of those performers was former American Idol contestant Tamyra Gray. She may not have had Jennifer Hudson post-American Idol success, but she was able to snag the part of Mimi in the Broadway play Rent. Tamyra sang “Out Tonight”..
Whudat.com
That Taylor story sounds liked a third hand rumor but it’s interesting. I wonder how he would “buy out” his contract. I’m hazy on the details but does Clive sign the winner to a three album deal?
I know they’ve all gotten 2nd albums for sure. Taylor and Clive seemed to have no chemistry so maybe it would be best for all concerned.
From HDD’s Rumor Mill:
FUN FACT: The just-released albums from Kanye West, 50 Cent and Kenny Chesney are on target to sell a total of more than 2 million this week, which could well best the entire top 200 from last week, which equaled 2,087,588. Whoa. (9/17p)
I guess having Ryan host the Emmy’s wasn’t such a great idea after all. The Emmy audience was about 1/2 to 1/3 of a top rated Idol. It’ll be interesting to see what the ratings are for the audition shows.
With about 51% of HDD in:
1 KANYE WEST ROC-A-FELLA/IDJMG 352,869
GRADUATION
– 2 50 CENT AFTERMATH/INTERSCOPE 277,154
CURTIS
– 3 KENNY CHESNEY BNA/SBMG NASHVILLE 258,757
JUST WHO I AM: POETS & PIRATES
HITS
23 17 DAUGHTRY RCA/RMG 12,695
DAUGHTRY
43 36 CARRIE UNDERWOOD ARISTA/RMG 7,660
SOME HEARTS
– 44 KELLY CLARKSON RCA/RMG 5,148
MY DECEMBER
– 46 ELLIOTT YAMIN HICKORY RECORDS 4,405
ELLIOTT YAMIN
Since the Britney performance was linked here on the blog, from Hits Daily Double’s Rumor Mill:
KWAT CHUCKS SPEARS: In the wake of the MTV Video Music Awards debacle, The Firm’s Jeff Kwatinetz has fired Britney Spears as a management client. The official statement reads: “It saddens us to confirm media reports that we have terminated our professional relationship with Britney Spears. We have represented Britney for the past month. We believe Britney is enormously talented, and has made a terrific record. But current circumstances have prevented us from properly doing our job. We wish Britney the best.” We’re surprised it took this long for Jeff to get out. (9/17p)
This is from Girls Talkin’ Smack…I haven’t seen it anywhere else, so who knows how reliable it is.
ETA: Fox News is carrying the story. Still not perfectly reputable, but at least a step up from a celeb blog…
A little Britney humor for you…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HSBZVFxF6o
(created using this clip from my other fave reality show)
Eh, apparently all those Brit stories were premature and she didn’t lose custody…
Star just posted this “raw” interview with Blake at Team Plaid. He mentions the possibility of touring with Maroon 5, but it doesn’t sound set in stone. Good interview, though.
http://www.gofish.com/player.gfp?gfid=30-1155555
“Raw” interviews with Haley, Chris R. and Gina here:
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/9807452.html#
Can someone refresh my memory? What was Jordin’s “official” radio day for her single?
I’ve seen Tamyra twice as Mimi and she is excellent. I was a little worried at first, but her performance is very strong.