Sparks delights in afternoon concert
American Idol Jordin Sparks entertained fans Wednesday afternoon and was expected to mingle with celebs through the evening at Peoria’s Skye restaurant.
The homegrown Glendale girl’s concert attracted a lot of the under-18 crowd. Okay, make that younger than 12. Burly security guards held back a sea of screaming 5- to 8-year-olds with “I love Jordin” signs.
Spark’s dad and former New York Giants player Phillippi Sparks said the afternoon concert was to give back to fans who helped launch her career.
“If it wasn’t for them, she wouldn’t be where she is today,” he said.
Sparks was joined by other 2007 AI stars Melinda Doolittle, Chris Richardson and Sanjaya Malakar. Doolittle, who arrived in the Valley in time to catch Phoenix Suns game Tuesday, belted out her anthem I am a Woman. Doolittle said Sparks didn’t have to ask her twice.
Fox beats competition with ‘House,’ ‘Idol’
NEW YORK — One of a handful of new “House” episodes burned brightly Tuesday, overshadowing everything else in the hour, and along with “American Idol” gave Fox a big win.
“House” (22.5 million, 8.6 rating/20 share in adults 18-49) returned in fine form, according to preliminary data released Wednesday by Nielsen Media Research. “House” got its highest 18-49 ratings since May 2007 and was its most-watched episode since last March. It’s up 47% over its season average in viewership and 41% in 18-49.
An hour earlier, “American Idol” (28.1 million, 11.0/27) was dominant. A two-hour “The Biggest Loser” (8.3 million, 3.3/8) was down from last week but rose steadily hour to hour in 18-49.
”American Idol”: Love Is Deaf
I’ll have what Paula’s having! And for that matter, whatever’s in Simon’s and Randy’s big red Coca-Cola cups, too. As American Idol stopped in Miami tonight — sweet use of the Miami Vice font in the opening sequence, by the by! — the show’s judges turned the audition process into an audacious, flirtatious party. And though I’m not certain that the business of finding the nation’s next great singing sensation was priority No. 1, the assorted high jinks made for a pretty terrific hour of television.
Simon gets extra cranky in Miami on ‘Idol’
This has generally been a feel-good season for “American Idol,” with Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell offering helpful advice as often as biting criticism from their perches behind the judges’ table.
From the first auditioner in Miami, it was obvious that this city would be different, and it’s possible that the culprit wasn’t the lack of talent, but the proliferation of nighttime entertainment.
‘American Idol’ Miami auditions
I watch a lot of reality TV. It’s sort of my job. And Wednesday (Jan. 30) night’s American Idol auditions from Miami were like a “Where Are They Now?” special for me. Look, it’s Julie from American Juniors! Whoa, that’s Syesha from The One! Way to bring out the fresh talent, Idol!
Dear viewers, you can all be forgiven if neither American Juniors nor The One: Making a Music Star made any impact on your lives.
Zap2it
Kenosha teen makes it to next round of ‘American Idol’
KENOSHA, — A 17-year-old high school senior from Wisconsin has made it past the first audition on Fox’s “American Idol.”
Angelica Puente’s audition in Omaha, Neb., aired Tuesday. She sang Celine Dion’s “Power of Love” and all three judges passed a visibly nervous Puente through to the next round in Hollywood.
Randy Jackson, one of the judges, told Angelica Puente, who has never had formal training, that she needed to stop listening to records and start developing her own style. Paula Abdul told her she had a promising voice but said not to let her nerves get in the way. Simon Cowell told her “with a bit of effort, you actually could be very good.”
Ruben Studdard files suit against Dallas company
Celebrity gossip alert: TMZ reports that Birmingham’s Ruben Studdard has filed a lawsuit against a Dallas marketing company, Peachez. Documents filed Jan. 28 in the New York county clerk’s office were posted today on the TMZ Web site . They indicate that Studdard is seeking $45,000 for breach of contract.
In 2006, Studdard won a $2 million lawsuit in Alabama against his former manager, Ronald Edwards. A Jefferson County judge awarded Studdard $500,000 for actual losses and $1.5 million to punish Edwards for misappropriating the singer’s money.
Forbes Reveals Earnings of Country’s Women
Forbes magazine has published a list of the female music artists who earned the most money between June 2006 and June 2007. Faith Hill comes in at No. 8, earning $19 million. The Dixie Chicks showed up at No. 9 with $18 million. Martina McBride ranked 13th with $12 million, trailed by Carrie Underwood at No. 15 with $7 million. The totals included revenue from concerts, merchandise, album sales and ancillary businesses, although no taxes, management or agent deductions were included. Madonna ranked No. 1 on the list with $72 million.
An ‘Idol’ Creator Predicts More Growth in Reality
LAS VEGAS — How much reality is too much reality?
Several variations of that question were posed to Cecile Frot-Coutaz, the chief executive of FremantleMedia North America, on Wednesday morning.
Ms. Frot-Coutaz, one of the brains behind “American Idol,” not surprisingly said that the format was here to stay. But she demurred when asked by a moderator at the National Association of Television Program Executives conference if reality programming could make up 50 percent of network schedules in the future.
“It used to be 80/20,” with 80 percent scripted programming and 20 percent unscripted, she said, and “I think it will become more of a 70/30 or a 60/40.”
FASHION: Jordin Sparks’ super-duper Super Bowl attire
“American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” while wearing quite the ensemble at Super Bowl XLII.
Fashion designer Lloyd Klein, whose couture collections are shown on the catwalks of Paris and New York, created Sparks’ shadowed midnight blue faille tailored suit with black leather side panels. Klein worked with the vocalist to create a suit that would fit her and the occasion to a tee.
Klein is known for strong, elegant and distinctive designs. His fashions have won the praise of a number of celebs including Eva Longoria, Christina Aguilera and Eve. His designs, which often include intricate Greco fabric draping, have been featured on “America’s Next Top Model.”
American Idol is Gay
After watching the Omaha, Nebraska auditions, I’m once again reminded that American Idol is very gay.
And I’m not talking about the singing.
Seriously, either my gaydar needs a tune up, or else there’s been a disproportionate amount of flamboyant and fruity Idol hopefuls turning up on this season’s auditions.
American Idol: Somewhere in Middle America
The Omaha episode of “American Idol” was short on both Paula and overly obnoxious ghastly singers, but long on a few other things. For one, we were treated to more Hollywood-goers per capita (at least it felt that way) than each of the other four cities. For another, we got to hear Paula get the hiccups, see Simon flirt with Randy, and experience a Bizarro World in which Seacrest is a judge and nothing is as it seems. Also, we were treated to George Lucas attempting to sing “Stuck in the Middle with You.”
Here were the highlights:
American Idol Makes a Play for the Fly Over States
Last night, American Idol abandoned its “big city” auditions and hit Omaha, which is apparently a small, “not very exciting” town, even though it has a population of about 420,000 people. But that doesn’t mean that there weren’t lots of gratutious shots of corn, crop circles, and locals whimsically painting on street corners! Anything to try and make the show interesting at this point, I guess.
Now that the fallout from last season’s “bush baby” comment has apparently settled into a bland pile of Simon Cowell meekly telling hopeless hopefuls that he “likes them” and that they have great personalities, the audition episodes seem to have a lot of the life drained out of them–the freaks are playing to the camera, the decent singers are pretty convinced that they’re going through, and the pacing of the episodes just seems all off. Excruciatingly off, at that. Even the guy near the end with the gold-sequined jacket and the manic version of “Shout” seemed to just be going through the motions, cramming as much of his crummy version of the song as he could into the time that he knew he’d been allotted. Next season, perhaps the producers should condense the audition episodes, or at least work on the pacing, or at least, I don’t know, mix it up a bit somehow?
Idol Committed to Giving Every Small Town their Music Raping Moment
While American Idol positions itself as the greatest singing competition in the history of the world–and, let’s face it…It is! It really is!–it also performs a crucial secondary service for which it too often goes uncredited: Introducing America to the Small Town Gay .
It’s hard to believe, but before Simon Cowell arrived on our shores to douse the dreams of a generation of deeply deluded underachievers, the STG was a practically nonexistent entity on the pop-culture landscape. Thanks to Idol, however, we can regularly familiarize ourselves with these lovable heartland outcasts during their unspoiled formative years–before they come of age, depart their dead-end towns for gay-friendly metropolitan centers, then monopolize all the retail jobs and gym equipment within a 40-mile-radius. So to every STG with a Kelly Clarkson song in his heart and a dream, we salute you. Gay on, our gay brothers.
‘American Idol’ Recap: Omaha Auditions Feature Female Wrestler, First Openly Gay Contestant
“American Idol” packed up its dysfunctional dog and pony show and headed to the heartland Tuesday night, on its virgin voyage to Omaha, Nebraska (not to be confused with previous “virgin voyages” this season, thanks to “Abstinent and Pretending to Love It” contestants Bruce Dickson and Amy Flynn).
Omaha was overrun with lady wrestlers, a jet-lagged judge and — gasp! — could it really be the show’s first-ever openly gay contestant? In other words, tons of fun material worth giving awards to. Chop, chop.
‘American Idol’: Less for success?
Is the idea of a low-key “American Idol” an oxymoron? What happens to the Earth when a juggernaut relaxes? Or when Atlas unwinds? Does the globe topple and shatter?
Impossible as it sounds, that was the vibe on TV’s biggest hit Tuesday night as Ryan and the gang took Omaha. Taken as a whole, it felt not like a sloppy night — the “Idol” machine never cuts corners — but as if somehow the showâs trademark slowly growing drumbeat towards the Kodak had been dialed down a few notches. It was almost as if the team was becoming a bit too comfortable with its place in history. In Omaha we saw Paula show up late, Simon almost nonchalantly wave half the nightâs contestants (the ones we saw at least) on to Hollywood, another farm boy drawl about the beauty of the prairie and Ryan joke about the judges’ overpaid/underworked lives.
Nebraska’s Newest Star?
Omaha (KPTM) - One of the standout stars of last night’s Omaha Idol episode is 25-year-old Fremont native Chris Bernheisel.
He stopped by the KPTM FOX 42 News at Nine, after watching American Idol with friends and family at a Midtown bar. He also brought along his dad, aunt and grandma to watch his appearance on the news.
He says the attention he’s getting from the show is a “whirlwind.” He’s already heard from Access Hollywood, MTV and an Atlanta-based Idol radio show. In addition to the KPTM FOX 42 News locally, he was also heard on Omaha’s Z-92 Wednesday morning.
Fremont man becomes overnight star thanks to ‘Idol’
Chris Bernheisel has become a star overnight.
Chris Bernheisel gives gifts to Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson on “American Idol.”
After the bubbly 25-year-old Fremont, Neb., native appeared on “American Idol” Tuesday night, he spent Wednesday doing interviews with radio stations in California, New York City, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Dallas and a handful of other cities.
“Oh my God, it’s just insane,” Bernheisel said late Wednesday morning. “I never expected this.”
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Eliott I know is a favorite to most and Ai but bugs on how the producers now are really warming up to him after he got a hit..Ok till this day used him =poster child story good or bad thanks to American Idol. Why?I know this is not knew to them either.
The rueban thing is bad can not get a break at least he still has management with AI producers and was mentioned to be on the “Where are they Now” segment. I also heard of a poll to get his picture also off the opening credits of American Idol like Taylors..Jeeze American Idol producers quite with the fit ya opened a can of worms .
It used to be more fun to watch.
I don’t understand that MSNBC article. I didn’t notice any difference in the tone of last nights show as compared to the rest of the auditions shows so far. I think generally, all of the shows have been “kinder and gentler” than last year.
MJ, you have this day as 1/30/08 for the headlines instead of 1/31/08.
Thanks for the great read.
Thanks. I do that a lot! :)
When did all of the papers get together and write the same article?
We will really know if this is the “kinder, gentler American Idol” when they whittle the top 24 down to the top 12. I would be very surprised is Simon changed his point of view that he needs to “help” America figure out who to vote for.
I missed some of last night’s show and had to watch it this morning. I love Suzanne Toon, what a beautiful pure voice she has. And I double love Corliss and Britney — those girls can both sang. I normally hate “the divas”, but not these girls.
eta: I want to thank Sarah again for pointing me toward Lisa Leushner’s CD. It’s good, very Teena Marie. Lisa definitely needs some PR help though.
I don’t expect him to behave differently once the competition starts. The auditions are a different animal. They were brutal last year.
T2 - I disagree that those two girls could sing. They had personality, that’s what got them through. And as “fatties” they won’t make the finals. The judges are being extremely liberal this season and Simon’s sharp tongue has been silenced. Half the people they let through don’t need to be there….but my guess is that they have a “quota” to meet. Meaning they need like 100 people to go through to whittle it down to 48 and then to 24…something like that.
I liked Suzanne Toon and Syesha Mercado. If Hollywood week doesn’t swallow them up they should be among the 24.
But remember guys — if your fave doesn’t make it through, they can always return the next year like Gina Glocksen did time and time again.
in my ticketmaster alerts for those interested
Bo Bice
House of Blues Atlantic City
Atlantic City, NJ
Fri, 04/04/08
On Sale Sat, 02/02/08 ticketmaster
Saw my favorite artist there a few years back. Great place! Good for Bo. Wish I could see him.
Hope he does well there.
Rickey has some videos up from Jordin’s charity concert yesterday, including C Rich singing “Apologize,” another tune (an original?), and a freestyle jam with Melinda, Sanjaya, and Steph Jones among others.
http://www.rickey.org/?p=6956
Who is Steph Jones?
Why do you say that Pop? Did I miss something?
Looks like Pauler is planning a big comeback - beyond her video/song with Randy Jackson. Her website says she is releasing an album - THIS SUMMER! Wonder how many people are standing around waiting for her on this one…
http://www.paulaabdul.com/Paula.htm
I’m guessing that Carie B will not be among the first in line to by Paula’s cd…. just guessing… :)