Idol Headlines for 07/29/09
American Idol top 10 slotted into clear personas for the 2009 tour
They’re regular folks ‘†the guy who changes your oil, the mall girl with muffin top, your server at Applebee’s.
They’re regular, that is, until American Idol plucks them from obscurity so that we may dissect their every move, judge them harshly, hate them and celebrate them. Fun!
American Idol’s Top 10 contestants let us do it in person, performing Tuesday at the St. Pete Times Forum. The show was slick, corporately smarmy and pretty entertaining.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Lambert wants to see where the music takes him
“American Idol” runner-up Adam Lambert says he’s seen more than a few admirers show up in eyeliner and painted nails.
“I think a lot of the lady fans like to paint their nails and do all the make-up and wear bright colors,” he says.
He says a lot of his fans are wearing T-shirts with the Egyptian symbol for the Eye of Horus in honor of a tattoo he has on his wrist.
“There’s a lot of other stuff, too, it really makes me smile when I see that; I think its cool,” says the 27-year-old singer who many predicted would win this season’s “American Idol.”
Lil Rounds: Backstage At L.A.’s Staples Center
Lil Rounds has been one of the biggest and most pleasant surprises of the Idols Live Tour for me, personally. She seemed to struggle on the program itself–with the judges’ backlash and often harsh critiques, with some sort of identity crisis, and with numerous showings in the dreaded bottom three–but since season 8 of American Idol wrapped, she has completely blossomed. It’s almost like she’s a different person. She’s performing with newfound superstar confidence, she’s doing choreography, she’s rapping (yes, rapping!), and she’s even rocking a fierce-as-Sasha stage outfit so glittery, I wouldn’t be surprised if Adam Lambert is just a little jealous of her rhinestone-studded tour wardrobe.
Phil Stacey CD release event coming up
On August 21, Phil Stacey (Wichita hometown favorite on American Idol in 2007) will have a CD Release party/concert at Westlink Christian Church at 7:00pm. General admission tickets are $15, with Gold Circle seating available for $21. Doors open at 6:00pm. For more information or to buy tickets, go to
American Idol’ Champ Jordin Sparks Says, ‘Keep Paula Abdul!’
With Paula Abdul’s fate on “American Idol” still uncertain, sixth-season winner Jordin Sparks is hoping that someone at the show comes to their senses and decides to keep the judge around.
“I don’t know the inside scoop or anything, but I heard [Abdul's contract might not be renewed] and I was like, ‘Keep Paula!’ ” Sparks told MTV News while promoting her new album, Battlefield. “I don’t even care what’s going on, but she’s one of the original judges.”
Welcome to the new Idol Chatter!
Hi there! Some of you may be visiting the Idol Chatter community for the first time today. If so, we’re glad to have you and hope you find lots of reasons to come back often. You can find out more about the site’s new features here.
One of my favorite new features, @usatodayidol Twitter feed, gets the Melinda Doolittle Seal of Approval. “Love your twitter!” she Tweeted Tuesday, shortly after the launch of the new Idol Chatter look. “It lets me keep up with all my favorites. Thanks!!!”
‘American Idol’ Hopeful Alexis Cohen Remembered In Online Tributes
Shortly after the hit-and-run death of former “American Idol” auditioner Alexis Cohen on Saturday, tributes to the spunky singer began to pop up around the Web.
One of the first members of the show’s cast to comment was judge Paula Abdul, who’s in the midst of a seemingly contentious contract negotiation that might see her leaving the show. She weighed in Sunday night, tweeting, “My heart goes out to the family of Alexis Cohen. She showed great courage at ‘Idol’ and let’s all send our prayers to her family now.”
Simon Cowell picks Shaheen Jafargholi to support Leona Lewis
Shaheen Jafargholi has been picked by Simon Cowell to be the main support for Leona Lewis’s upcoming world tour.
The 12-year-old Welsh singer is reported to be “over the moon” to be get the gig after the Britain’s Got Talent finalist wowed the world with his performance at Michael Jackson’s memorial ceremony.
A source said: “Simon is convinced Shaheen can be a global superstar.”
Leona’s tour is planned to include 14 months of concerts, with the choreographer of Jacko’s London O2 arena gigs also on board.
Karina Smirnoff Calls Fianc Maksim Chmerkovskiy ‘Groomzilla’
They dance beautifully together, but planning the wedding may be tricky.
‘He’s the groomzilla,’ Karina Smirnoff says of fianc and Dancing with the Stars costar Maksim Chmerkovskiy. ‘He wants a big wedding and I want it small, so we’re still in negotiations.’
Speaking with PEOPLE at Animal Fair magazine’s 10th Annual Paws for Style fashion show sponsored by Svedka on Monday at M2 nightclub in New York, Chmerkovskiy’s bride-to-be explained his demands.
Exclusive Interview: Katee Shean of So You Think You Can Dance
Yesterday I had the pleasure of chatting with Katee Shean from Season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance and star/instructor for the new So You Think You Can Dance Get Fit DVDs.
Katee and I talked about how she became involved in the DVDs, the difference between teaching dancing to a DVD audience rather than dancers, and the surprising work out that left her so sore she was barely moving the next day. She also took the time to tell me about her thoughts on Season Five, returning to So You Think You Can Dance for the 100th episode, and that little thing called an Emmy nomination.
Sassy Steps, From Salsa to Swing and Australia to Broadway
Jason Gilkison, the director and choreographer of the musical ‘Burn the Floor,’ was channeling his inner grandfather. During a recent rehearsal in a careworn Midtown building, he wiggled his hips, chanted ‘boom-ba-ba-ba’ and flung comments like ‘Sign your name on it’ to a company of lithe, sweaty dancers. It was several days before the musical, the first show of the new Broadway season, was to open, this Sunday at the Longacre Theater.
What Will Happen to the 2 So You Think You Can Dancers Who Stripped Down?
We’re taking a timeout from this season’s So You Think You Can Dance because, after Nigel Lythgoe’s homophobic-y comments, the show has lost most of its pizazz. That is, until two contestants allegedly showed up on GuysWithiPhones.com showing off their goods.
Ade Obayomi, 20, who’s still competing, and ousted contestant Jonathan Platero, 21 ‘†or two men who look remarkably like them ‘†popped up on the site in various states of undress. Platero is shirtless in the mirror; Obayomi looks to have gone into the NSFW region.
‘So You Think You Can Dance’: Jason Glover and Janette Manrara’s final words
After their (some would say surprising) elimination Thursday night, “So You Think You Can Dance” contestants Jason Glover and Janette Manrara chatted Friday with journalists on a conference call about their experiences on the show.
Posted in American Idol
93 Responses to “Idol Headlines for 07/29/09”
@Q3 it has been raining buckets with thunder and lighting in Sunrise today.
a few more Billboard Boxscores from HERE
Wonder if this is true. Thats pretty cool if it is.
Ughhh. How can the Jonas Bros be so successful? Have you heard them sing? Same with Miley.
Yea Jobros are bad,were insanely awefule last yr on idol. Miley sings better then Taylor Swift who is huge and laughable spears. Music isnt about voice or good songs anymore, just crappy computerized nonsense-
i know ur all in denial but every description of adams album=crappy computerized club nonsense-tho he’s suppose to be a rock god from him singing 1 rock song
Adam sang a lot of rock songs/ put a rock edge on songs during his run on the show, but he’s indicated that he’s going to go more pop/dance on his album, which is a smart decision if he wants to succeed long term outside of the AI fanbase.
As for Taylor Swift–she has a terrible voice, but she shouldn’t be included in the same category as the JoBros, because she can really write. And that’s the only reason she made it– she slowly gathered attention and built a fanbase from her self written songs. Otherwise she wouldn’t have been given a chance in the industry. As for Britney… she was one hell of a performer. Still is–can’t dance as well as she used to, but has charisma in spades.
Thanks for posting the concert box scores. This set looks pretty good except to Utah. Also, I’m surprised that they didn’t do better in Tulsa since it’s so close to Arkansas and the only one Little Rock concert — sold out in 1 hour.
But considering the economy, they must be very happy with 85%.
23-Jul-09 Dallas, Texas 21 American Idols Live American Airlines Center 11,244 11,938 94% $701,339
16-Jul-09 Los Angeles, Calif. 27 American Idols Live Staples Center 11,327 13,238 86% $646,070
18-Jul-09 San Diego, Calif. 35 American Idols Live San Diego Sports Arena 9,358 10,237 91% $595,294
20-Jul-09 Glendale, Ariz. 37 American Idols Live Jobing.com Arena 8,832 10,710 82% $552,839
17-Jul-09 Ontario, Calif. 40 American Idols Live Citizens Business Bank Arena 8,053 8,240 98% $546,744
24-Jul-09 Tulsa, Okla. 44 American Idols Live BOK Center
8,431 10,581 80% $524,838
14-Jul-09 West Valley City, Utah 60 American Idols Live E Center 6,511 9,702 67% $419,540
Total: 63,756 74,646 85% $3,986,664
Adam meet n greet from today
The show should start in about half an hour. Any word about what happened to Adam last night? I wonder if Sarver was instructed to remain mum about the whole thing. I have a feeling they are going to sweep all this under the rug.
I thought M&G was right after the show, unless they are doing this before because of the weather. And wha’ the heck is that red thing Adam is wearing?
Looking at the tour schedule and ticket sales to date, I am really puzzled why there are so few concerts in the South. Looks to me like they could have put another show in the South. There are only two concerts east of the Mississippi River to North Carolina and south of Cincinnatti and Columbus, Ohio: Memphis (on the river) and Atlanta.
Atlanta is sold out.
Memphis had to be at least 85% sold out.
Since AI viewership is concentrated in the South, I really wonder what they were thinking. And why there isn’t a show in Alabama or New Orleans?
There are a couple of other odd omissions – Houston and Las Vegas.
But there was a show in Tulsa.
A bib.
Actually I think it’s part of his shirt.
I remember there was an uproar about a song in Brokeback Mountain, that was deemed ineligible because it wasn’t loud enough in the scene it was in.
Maybe they are trying to expand their viewership. Isn’t Jordin the only idol winner not from the South?
Meat Loaf probably doesn’t have anything to do with the song. He’s always at Rob Cavallo’s house (where Adam recorded the track) because Rob is producing his new album.
I think so, and out of 16 top two, only five were not from the south: Kat, Jordin, Blake, Archie, Adam.
Because Alabama only shows up when they have an Idol?
S2: 12,384 : $485,838 : Ruben Studdard
S4: 11,004 : $493,458 : Bo Bice
S5: 13,041 : $616,183 : Taylor Hicks
S6: 3,775 : $243,397 (38.9% of tickets available were sold)
They only visited New Orleans once, when George Huff was on the show (it’s his hometown)
S3: New Orleans: 4,891 : $218,091
The did visit Bossier City, LA in S7.
That Tampa Bay review is pretty condescending(while trying too hard to be witty) in my opinion to a lot of the idols…I would have respected her opinion had I not come across a YT tube of the writer singing with her band (Super Secret Best Friends–what?!)….she could be on AI…as one of those horrible auditioners who think they’re all that.
The idol’s days start early (somewhere between noon and 1pm I believe) with Press before the show (5 idols are selected in a rotation, but I believe they’ve had Adam do every one so far), M&G before the show, some idols also go outside to sign autographs. Then showtime. Then post show M&G and I think more press. Then outside to sign autographs. Then back to hotel or onto the next city. Plus, they try to fit in things like special visits for publicity (Graceland, Ford car bit). On top of that Kris, Adam and Allison are also trying to write and record their albums so they get even less sleep and usually don’t get days off when the others do.