‘American Idol’ returns
On Tuesday, the Fox juggernaut roars back onto the airwaves, still sending the rivals fleeing for cover (ABC moved “Lost” to Thursday nights to avoid a head-to-head battle). And proving that fortune truly favors the bold, after what many described as a shaky sixth season (with the franchise showing measurable ratings vulnerability by its finale), the show finds the field emptied of rivals and is greeted by a starving audience eager for proven entertainment value.
Tending to TV’s most valuable franchise, the “Idol” team is prepping a season that addresses what they openly admit were missteps last season.
Speaking by phone astride Barbados’ Green Monkey golf course, “Idol” co-executive producer Nigel Lythgoe basked in his final moments of peace before Season 7’s onslaught is unleashed. While the rest of “Idol” nation has slept since Jordin Sparks was crowned champion last May, Lythgoe has been occupied managing two other competition franchise seasons — “So You Think You Can Dance” (on which he also serves as a judge) and the debutant outing of “The Next Great American Band.” But looking ahead to “Idol,” he offered some hints at what lies ahead.
More Idol Headlines After the Jump
It’s Fox’s ‘Idol’ to the rescue
Having come to Fox’s rescue on more than one occasion, “American Idol” this year faces a far tougher mission: keeping the lights on in TV land during one of the medium’s darkest hours.
A one-two punch of lower fall ratings and a crippling writers strike has pretty much put the season in turnaround. Now, just like the return of the latenight talkers, industryites are praying the reappearance of “Idol” will be a shot in the arm for all the nets, not just Fox.
“It’s important to show that network TV is still healthy and able to get through a strike,” one wag says, noting that reality shows are already proving to be potent strike-contingency programming.
WGA STRIKE UPDATE: As Writers Idle, American Idol May Boom
Juggernaut American Idol returns Tuesday on Fox and is expected to see a ratings boom as the writers’ strike could give Simon Cowell and company an advantage.
American Idol
Rival networks seldom even try to compete with Idol airings anyway. That was part of the message from Fox, which now begins its annual dance of trying to lower expectations for television’s biggest show.
Said Fox programming chief Preston Beckman, “We don’t anticipate a surge in viewership, but we assume it will be somewhere around what it seems to do every year for the auditions.”
Paula Abdul and ‘American Idol’ are back on Fox
For Paula Abdul, it starts all over again in late summer.
Viewers must wait until January to see the sometimes painful, sometimes promising auditions that mark the beginning of an “American Idol” season, but the process starts much earlier for Abdul and fellow judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson.
Along with host Ryan Seacrest, they hunt anew for singing stars when the popular talent competition launches its seventh round with a two-part season premiere Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 p.m. on Fox/5.
“I think we have all the makings for the best season we’ve ever had,” Abdul says, having watched auditions in San Diego, Dallas, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Miami, Omaha and Charleston, S.C. “What’s really interesting is that the last three years, I didn’t remember a lot of the kids. This season, it started off a little shaky, but we began seeing some amazing people and getting hopeful. It really is anyone’s game this time, with equal male and female talent.”
“Idol” dilemma — ratings up, sales down
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - “American Idol” is poised to set ratings records when Fox’s talent show returns to the airwaves with a four-hour season premiere on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In 2006, an average of 30 million Americans watched the Wednesday night results show — and it’s expected that those numbers could increase substantially this year thanks to the dearth of alternative viewing options as a result of the Writers Guild of America strike.
But while more and more people are giggling over the off-key auditions and Simon Cowell’s barely contained rage at Paula Abdul, album sales have not kept pace with the increasing number of viewers. Certain contestants have been standouts — most recently, Chris Daughtry with 3.6 million in sales for his eponymous band’s debut album last year, according to Nielsen SoundScan — but the overall trend is erratic.
Will The South Rise Again on ‘American Idol Season 7′? ‘Yes’ Said 40% of Southern Idol Viewers Surveyed vs. ‘No’ From 38% of Northern Viewers
IRMINGHAM, Ala., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ — Why have contestants from Southern states dominated on “American Idol” for six seasons? Will the trend continue in season 7, launching Jan. 15?
These are burning questions Idol fans across the U.S. have asked since the show started, and that subject has generated stories in all media, including The New York Times.
From its hub in Birmingham, Ala., Luckie & Co. has been creating cutting-edge campaigns for the country for more than half a century. Most recently, Luckie took up the challenge of finding out why their fellow Southerners were performing so well on “American Idol” by conducting a nationwide survey.
Quick Hits: Slipknot/Disturbed, Kanye West, Papa Roach, Usher, Daughtry, Avril Lavigne
Chris Daughtry and his band already have 17 songs in the can for their sophomore album, which they hope to finish writing in the spring. “Chris just sits at the back of the bus and will come out with something and say, ‘I just wrote this thing,’ and it’s amazing,” guitarist Josh Steeley told Gibson.com. “The new stuff isn’t too far from the album that’s out now, but it’s more complex.” Daughtry added that most of his bandmates do their songwriting separately and fit the pieces together later. “Some songs are coming out a little heavier than the last record, and some songs are just way more beautiful,” Daughtry said.
Q & A: Talking with Chris Daughtry
He didn’t win American Idol, but Chris Daughtry and his eponymous band found huge success as the top-selling artists of 2007. He didn’t win American Idol, but Chris Daughtry and his eponymous band found huge success as the top-selling artists of 2007.
Clay Aiken is sore from rehearsing for ‘Spamalot,’ and now he’s sore at us.
Clay Aiken makes his Broadway debut next week in “Spamalot.” Although he didn’t win “American Idol”–he finished second place on the second season of the show–he’s among the show’s most successful contestants (his debut CD, “Measure of a Man,” sold more than 600,000 copies in a single week). And his groupies are so loyal, they’ve banded together online and call themselves the Claymates. In person, Aiken is chatty and witty, until you start asking him questions about his personal life, including his fight last year with Kelly Ripa while he was a guest host on “Regis and Kelly.” As a joke, Aiken covered Ripa’s mouth with his hand to quiet her, prompting Ripa to make a joke (”I don’t know where that hand’s been, honey!”) that Rosie O’Donnell called homophobic–a strange thing to say, since Aiken says he’s straight. Aiken spoke to NEWSWEEK’s Ramin Setoodeh.
Clay Aiken Premiers His New Smile On Broadway
When Clay Aiken makes his Broadway debut in Monty Python’s Spamalot he will be wearing a new smile created by Dr. Bobbi Stanley, a nationally acclaimed cosmetic dentist practicing in Cary, a suburb of Clay’s hometown of Raleigh, NC. Clay will join the cast of the award winning play in the role of Sir Robin on January 18 and continue through May 4.
Without ‘American Idol’ and record label, what’s next for Taylor Hicks?
What a difference a verb makes.
Dropped. Split. Left. Went different ways. Asked to be released from a contract.
This week, “American Idol” watchers have been buzzing about Birmingham’s Taylor Hicks, the 2006 winner who’s no longer signed to J/Arista Records.
APTaylor Hicks says he’s nearly finished with production of a concert DVD, “Whomp at the Warfield.” He hasn’t specified a release date, however.
Rumors about changes in the Hoover native’s recording deal have been circulating for months, mostly among the hardcore faithful in his fan club, the Soul Patrol. They care greatly about everything Hicks does or says — from his record sales to his golf score — and they take pride in tracking and revealing even the tiniest facts.
The latest news item was big, however.
Taylor Hicks and His Maybe-Fake Girlfriend
In May 2007, Hicks was spotted frolicking incognito in the Hawaiian surf with a pixie-cut blonde hard-body. Photos of said frolicking soon surfaced on TMZ, which Hicks’ camp flaunted as proof that their man was, in fact, a heterosexual. (He’d never been linked to a female before). The woman was subsequently identified as one Caroline Lyders, an anchor on a local Milwaukee television network.
Shortly after Lyders was named, however, Hicks fans with a seemingly endless supply of free time on their hands started analyzing photos of the woman on the beach and on-air shots of Lyders, eventually coming to the conclusion that they were two different people. Among the reasons trotted out to buttress the claim were that Lyders and the beach bunny had different mouths, ear lobes, ankle birthmarks, and neck sizes.
The great ‘American Idol’ quiz
Ready for the new season of “American Idol,” which returns for a seventh round this week? Find out by taking our scientifically researched trivia test. Score one point for each right answer.
My American Idol Audition
I’ve spent approximately six seasons watching American Idol, and with each new season, as I’ve endured the warbling of the Haley Scarnato’s, Nikki McKibbin’s, and Jon Stevens’ of the world, I often wondered aloud how far I would get if I were to audition. So in late August, when Idol auditions rolled into Philadelphia’s Wachovia Center, I decided to say “what the hell” and give it a try. What ensued was a marathon of sitting, sweating, and getting squished by large crowds. In other words, it was a lot less fun than I imagined it would be.
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Wonder what Taylor’s rep will say to respond to that Radar article? Being a Taylor fan I hate that it will probably make us all look like idiots if that conspiracy article hits some of the more mainstream media. I wonder what recourse Taylor has to some of this crap- Never been linked to a woman??? Come on!
Hey all! Just stopping in to say I’m EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW SEASON!
And…someone came from here to my game site and made an account…lol..and that’s so cool
HI MJ AND ALL!!
If I were Taylor, I’d be petrified that there were people that invested in my personal life that they’d try to investigate it. Be a fan by buying his music and supporting his tours. Those “conspiracy” fans are just downright scarey and sound like people that need to be locked up… yikes.
Hey Steve-O!!!!!!!!!!! Good to see you!
This will be great IF the life stories are real and not manipulated to show things about the contestant that just aren’t true. I hope AI will not insult our intelligence with an edited script of the show!
Steve, I am also excited and hope for a better season!!
Hi Lu and Kari! Good to see you guys too :-)
Hopefully Taylor’s rep will not have anything to say about that crazy story. From where, Radar, whatever that is. That whole story goes back to one blog from one lunatic who obviously has some serious issues of many kinds. The whole thing if laughably ridiculous.
Hey, steve-o! :D
Check out Kat’s pic at Rickey’s:
http://www.rickey.org/?p=6839
;D
I’m not into censorship, but I’d like to respectfully request that the radaronline article link be removed. The information is hateful and in my view slanderous toward both Taylor and Caroline. Yes, I know they’re both public figures, but why give this “information” about a private relationship legs by repeating it here.
Rediculous blogs/articles/opinions/snark about all other idols are allowed here, why should this be any different?
Oh please don’t delete that Radar article. I laughed out loud the entire time I read it. Let me get this straight, they started a rumor that a respectable tv reporter went to the tropcis with Taylor to cover up the fact that he’s partying with a floozy. BWAH!!!!
There’s a big difference between snark and slander. I don’t think this article crosses that line, though — although under the right circumstances, a case could certainly be made that the “source” blogs, as ridiculous as they are, do.
May be funny to you but think about how scarey it is that there are people walking amongst us that are so consumed with a celebrity that they would formulate this theory and them spend time trying to prove it and try to get others to believe it too. *shudder*
Oh please don’t delete that Radar article.
Don’t worry–I’m not.
Just to clarify, I didn’t want anyone to think that I considered the “Radar” article slanderous. The original blogs, maybe…but MJ never links to those, so it’s a moot point anyway :)
From the LA Times article:
“I think there are three outstanding candidates this year, one of whom I think could really become an ‘American Idol.’ I’m keeping my fingers crossed. It’s always so difficult to tell. We’re blind sometimes until we see them get on in front of the camera and how they hold their nerve. But one of them, I have high hopes for him.”
Seems as though Nigel wants a male winner this year, too. Hmmmm… Even though I have vowed not to become invested in the status any of the top 12, I may have to rescind my no voting pledge. I just may find the best female singer and spitefully vote my arse off. Afterall, I may be doing this golden boy a favor. Being male and a winner is a kiss of death on this show.
Good God - there’s another nut on the loose.
So Taylor’s people, the same people who refused to promote his album hurting themselves as much as Taylor, paid for some goober/geek to take photo’s of another girl, photoshop legs, lips, height so that the Soul Patrol didn’t find out that Taylor did Las Vegas? gah.
Or, was it because they think Taylor’s gay and, for, like, real, the girl is a pretty boy who had hip replacements, breast implants, butt injections and some serious hair removal so the Soul Patrol would think it was a woman named Caroline?
I’m confused. and this is totally bizarre!
I think Caroline has changed her last name — read and weep:
Shoes that reduce cellulite?
by Caroline Humphreys on Jan 10th 2008 10:15AM
(I guess if anyone is really interested in the shoes, here’s the link. Also, here’s another link ….. youneedhelp.com).
http://www.aisledash.com/2008/01/10/shoes-that-reduce-cellulite/
Wow thanks Carolina!!!! After I saw the headline, I was anxious to purchase the shoes!
She looks beautiful and happy, makes me smile.
Oh, I get it finally. I think. The allegation is not that he is gay which seemed to be refuted by all of those concert goers talking about some blond in the front rows. This blond might be a working girl? Is that it? Otherwise, color me confused. If so what is the story exactly. I am with Carolina, believe me his crack team would not have had the energy to even concoct such a scheme. This is funny!
MN I will be voting for the female too, you are correct, being a male winner is the kiss of death…..
Abbysee, I wonder how many Patty Griffin-Brandi Carlile-type indie singers were shoved by the wayside in the audition process to make room for their Mr. Moneymaker. I swear, if I’m only given power ballad female voices to pimp I’ll be pissed. (Ooops, dialing back the involvement)
I would love to see a level playing field and just let the chips fall where they may. To me isn’t that why they allow us to vote? I don’t want another mariah wannabe, that doesn’t work in this climate. I am excited though, I mean after all there isnt much to watch on tv anyway, right?
From Taylors MySpace Bulletin:
Bob Hope Chrysler Classic (Hosted by George Lopez)
Be sure to tune in to the Golf Channel from 12:00 - 3:00PM PST on January 16 through 20 to watch Taylor participate in this year’s prestigious Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Golf Tournament.
she looks cute. thx