Fox Looks at Changing American Idol Audition Shows
There are still 20 contestants remaining in this season’s cycle of American Idol, but Fox executives are already looking ahead to changes for next year.
American Idol
Preston Beckman, the network’s executive vice president of strategic program planning and research, said he wants to see adjustments to the audition shows that kick off the ratings behemoth every year.
“It won’t necessarily be anything radical; we just have to figure out how to start the show next year,” said Beckman, who’s looking for a way to stem a ratings drop the network saw last month. “The early part saw some erosion and then we got to Hollywood.”
Oscar Red Carpet: Jennifer Garner Spices Up Basic Black, Miley Cyrus Gets Sophisticated
Bare shoulders were plentiful on one-shoulder Grecian gowns and sleeveless structured bust-lines. Katherine Heigl, who also wore red (especially on her cheeks), paired her gown with a Marilyn Monroe-inspired blond bob. Her one-shoulder, cinched-waist gown had a keyhole detail that added a nice avant-garde touch. Expectant mother Jessica Alba employed the oldest trick in J. Lo’s book, using a loose-hanging, deep-purple Marchesa gown to cover her bump, along with simple vintage Cartier jewelry. The dress also featured feather detailing across the bust to keep it modest, to the chagrin of men everywhere, we’re sure. Jennifer Hudson went Greek in her white gown with questionable animal-print-inspired rhinestone detailing — but it wasn’t nearly as questionable as the python bolero she wore last year. At least she’s learning!
The 80th Academy Awards ceremony is under way. Here, one hour into what has thus far been an equally charming and totally awkward event, a few thoughts on Awards That Should Be Presented, But Thus Far Have Not Been:
The Worst Presenter Award goes to Jennifer Hudson: Javier Bardem winning Best Supporting Actor: Not a surprise. The realization that Jennifer Hudson has absolutely no sense of dramatic timing: Kind of surprising.
Simon Cowell: Oscars chiefs think I’m the ‘Antichrtist’
Well, we know he doesn’t suffer fools gladly but we never had Simon Cowell down as the Antichrist.
Apparently, Academy Award chiefs reckon the X Factor mogul is the embodiment of evil - and wasn’t welcome at last night’s Oscars ceremony.
Simon snarled to us: “They think I’m the Antichrist. They don’t like us TV people to be part of it - it’s ridiculous. It reeks of snobbery.”
Mirror
‘Idol’ Judge Votes To Resume Singing
TAMPA - Paula Abdul says it’s too early to pick a front-runner in “American Idol,” but “the top 10 this season could be better than all the previous seasons combined.”
The 45-year-old “Idol” judge held court last week with a telephone conference in which she discussed the current season of the Fox hit and her plans to return to recording and performing.
She says the “Idol” field is wide open, and for the first time in the show’s history, she and her fellow judges can’t even begin to predict who might take the prize.
“There are some definite standouts,” she says. “You can’t deny David Archuleta and Jason Castro’s magic. And Michael Johns, and Alaina Whitaker and Ramiele Malubay and Syesha Mercado and Carly Smithson … I would be crushed to lose any of them.”
After ‘Idol,’ Staunton native Berry again focuses on stage
Colton Berry’s pursuit of his “American Idol” dream might be over, but he still has his local theater connections to cushion his defeat.
On Thursday night, the Staunton native was among the first four of the top 24 finalists to be ejected from the singing competition by not getting enough votes.
His performance last week of Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds” received lukewarm comments from judges Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell.
Haitian Model Booted Off American Idol
CaribWorldNews, LOS ANGELES, CA, Mon. Feb. 25, 2008: A Haitian-born model and singer late last week became one of four contestants cut from the seventh season of American Idol.
Joanne Borgella, a plus size model and former Monique`s `Fat Chance` winner, was eliminated in the first round of cuts. Borgella auditioned in Philadelphia and lives in Hoboken, New Jersey. Her musical influences include Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Alanis Morrisette and Andrea Bocelli.
She is the daughter of former `Radio Tropicale` owner, Dr. Joel Borgella, the Haitian Times reports.
Pop goes Irish girl Carly’s dream of being the next Idol
An Irish singer hotly tipped to win the American Idol talent contest has been causing a stir online after it emerged she has already been a pop star.
Carly Smithson qualified for the next stage of the competition on Saturday night, sparking an internet backlash after revelations about a past singing career.
In the latest round of the popular programme, broadcast on TV3, Smithson emerged confidently as the second favourite contestant to win - but angry bloggers could now ruin her chances.
Busy Bucky makes time for Flint show
Country singer and “American Idol” veteran Bucky Covington has two sure-fire ways to find success.
“Every place I go, I always keep in my mind, ‘Be easy to work with,’” Covington said.
“Every venue you go to, they work with all kinds of people. I just don’t want to be that (unfriendly) guy. I’ve learned just to be nice to people. I definitely think that helps a lot,” he said.
The second way? “The exposure from ‘American Idol’ - I’m recognizable through that show,” he said. “I’m sure that helps.”
Reba-Kelly Tour Ends As Sell-Out
Carrie Underwood and Josh Turner take the stage at Wachovia Arena
The Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township played host on February 18 to American Idol superstar Carrie Underwood, who took the stage alongside Josh Turner’s deep country voice.
The lights were dimmed promptly at 7:30 p.m. and Turner took the stage offering the down home warmth his fans have come to expect. The country boy wowed the audience with his current hit, “Firecracker,” but also performed his title track, “Long Black Train” off his debut album and “Another Try,” his duet with Trisha Yearwood.
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Not just the most talented top 10 ever but more talented than all the other seasons combined acccording to Paula. LMAO. I guess Sanjaya really put the fear of God in them. I wonder if they have to make a comment like that in every interview they do just in case you didn’t get it the other 100,000 times.
Save some superlative for Season 8, Paula.But I guess by then everyone will have forgotten and it’ll be the bestest season ever again.
There is just the tiniest air of flop sweat about Idol this year, no? Last year I was reading been there, done that, it’s all kinda boring. This year I am reading an air of desperation.
We know they have made sure they are getting the right cannon fodder (cute/attractive, but fed bad songs and poor placement and no pimping) and that they have their sure-fire professionals in place (and they are all uniformly attractive to boot). But still TPTB (including the judges) feel it incumbent to remind us over and over how wonderful it all is this year. NOTHING last past years.
What is the quote from Shakespeare? (Thou) doth protest too much, methinks?
So, anybody verified tomorrow’s theme night yet ?
After hearing the Season 7 contestants sing, I don’t know how Randy and Paula can keep saying (with a straight face) that this is the most talented bunch ever. I haven’t heard Simon say it. Simon seems kind of disgusted with most of them so far.
Haven’t they said that every year? I mean what should they say, “these guys suck, but we’re stuck with them”? I mean it works for me, cause this isn’t season two or five, but it will do. None of these guys are gonna be Daughtry, (thank goodness), none more intertaining than Taylor, or as smooth as Ruben, and none of the girls will be Carrie or Kelly, or Fantasia so they really don’t have the best this year, imho.
THey said on Idol Wrap, which is on the channel that shows you the line up for the next couple of hours scrolling across the bottom that this week is 70’s week and next week is 80’s week!
Simon also chose not to really comment on the Randy/Paula video song, which I found to be funny. Obviously he was as impressed as I, but not willing to bash his co-workers!
Isn’t that what Simon said last year? Maybe he waited until the season was over. He certainly didn’t seem to think he was to blame.
Kirsten, thanks for the heads up on Itunes popularity rating the other day. If I was looking at it correctly yesterday, Jason C and David A were selling more than Jordin Sparks, at least at that point in time. Could that be right?
I’m pleased that Jason C is doing well.
Jason C and David A are my faves so far. I dont really care about the girls which is typical for me.
Well, it is entirely possible that they are outselling a lot of her songs at the moment, but not “Tattoo” or “No Air”. Those songs are both in the Top 100 sellers on iTunes. I’m hoping that if the AI songs end up selling enough, they will be there too.
What you have to be able to do to compare popularity rankings iTunes is to get them on the same page. They are always ranked in relation to the other songs being shown. You can’t compare across to different search results. AI was very kind to put a common phrase in each of the S7 Idol song names. If anybody can figure out how to get Jordin to appear on the same page as S7 Idols, share!
Remember, the sales rankings are just for the polling period that iTunes uses. If a new song is outselling an older song, it doesn’t mean that it is selling more than the total that other song ever sold.
Kristen, just type “american idol” rank by popularity, and when counting, skip artist like Bon Jovi, Edwin McCain, etc.
Jason C is #16 and David A is #17. They’re only selling a small fraction of what Jordin is selling.
Primeminister, that’s how I searched yesterday, but I bet I messed up in how I ranked it. I thought I must be doing something very wonky, because I know Jordin’s download numbers are huge.
It’s interesting all the same, and I agree with you, Lu, Jason and David are my favorites so far. I’m glad they are doing well.
Interesting. Thanks! I was always adding in the word “Performance”. It’s a good thing that only a few of us loons read Idol blogs or internet discussion groups or it might bother Nigel that the competition wasn’t fair.
Yeah, and Nigel is a beacon of fairness, anyway. Oh, excuse me, my eyes are rolling out the door, gotta go get ‘em…
;)
You know what I found very interesting today? That Heaven by David A has over 1 million views on you tube. His shop around has a few hundred thousand..Michael Johns and Jason are the closest but still way behind.
1) And (drumroll), the No. 1 best moment is all about keepin’ it real. It’s cheesy, but this is Oscars night, after all. Following an evening of self-aware schmaltz, glamour and celebrity, best-song winners Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova reminded us all what it’s really about: purity, authenticity and art. Hansard spoke to why they thought Once did so well:
“Someone made this awful comment along the way [we make films],” he said, “that individuals are intelligent but people are stupid, so you can take the piss out of them, the masses will go for anything. If you believe that, there’s no hope for the world. The intention is everything, it’s not about making money, it’s about making something real.”
Multiple Choise answere:
A) Nigel ,Simon fuller and Clive would faint after heaaring or reading this
B) If a contestant starting to say this thier would be a mad dash to quiet them as fast as possible.
C) The producers of AI would wait up and think “thank s it was only a dream “and then kiss thier ben franklin
RE:
OK, since it’s 70’s night… I’d like to play the game — song suggestions that would fit the contestants…
Here’s what I would advise the contestants if I were in the position to do it :
Brooke White — This is your chance to show your Carly Simon vibe. Sing this one ( its never been done before on the show ) — You’re So Vain.
Kristy Lee Cook could try to do the song that Amy Davis couldn’t do justice to — Linda Rostandt’s BLUE BAYOU.
Asiah’ Epperson could show us her rollicking side by trying Donna Summer’s HOT STUFF.
Amanda Overmyer can do Bonnie Tyler’s IT’s A HEARTACHE. Now that could bring the house down with the right attitude.
I’d like to see Ramiele try to out-do her predecessor, Jasmine Trias, who couldn’t do this song justice — Natalie Cole’s MR. MELODY ( yep, I want to hear you scat too ).
Shyesha Mercado can try another Natalie Cole hit if she dares — THIS WILL BE ( AN EVERLASTING LOVE ).
I still believe Kady Malloy has the voice ( she just didn’t choose the right song ). So, she should challenge herself with a Burt Bacharach song sang by Marilyn Mckoo — ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER.
For David Cook, I’d like to see him try THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD.
Jason Yeager gives me the 70’s vibe and he should try Billy Joel’s JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.
I’d like Michael John to show off his vocals instead of simply rocking it like he did before. After all Bo Bice didn’t always rock out. So Michael, how about Elton John’s SKYLINE PIGEON ?
Chikezie can try to outdo George Huff’s recorded version of ME AND MRS. JONES. If he can do justice to it, I promise you, he’ll make people forget his weak first night.
David Archuleta can try entertaining us with some Stevie Wonder — SIR DUKE.
Luke Menard can give us some Frankie Valli ( e.g. MY EYES ADORED YOU, or OH WHAT A NIGHT ), or any of the Jersey Boys’ songs ( he has the Jersey Boy vibe about him ).
As for Danny Noriega, since he gives off the “not so manly” vibe, he should sing a “not so manly” song — Neil Sedaka’s LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER.
Finally, I’d like to see how good ANY of the ladies are by watching someone attempt to sing Minnie Ripperton’s LOVING YOU. Leona Lewis tried it in the UK and acquited herself well. So, Carly Smithson, are you up to the challenge ? Can you it the whistle register ?
At the rate Michael is going, he’ll sing “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
Is 70’s theme actually confirmed? I can only find rumors up to this point.
Hey CarieB, Nigel said that it’d be 70’s week on Idol Wrap on Friday night. After a little research I discovered they call it the ‘tv guide channel.’ DUH!
Thanks, Mrs.T — I did see that on another board but when I went to the tvguide site, I couldn’t find where Nigel said that. It may be true, I just haven’t seen it confirmed yet.
LOL, Kirsten.
You actually have to watch the TV Guide Channel CarieB. There’s a show on there called Idol Wrap that Justin Guarini and Rosanna Tavarez. I think it’s on Friday nights and then the show repeats throughout the week. Half the screen is the show and half is the TV guide.
I am hoping that EVERYONE skips the falsetto/disco songs, so I vote against Oh What A Night for Luke…. though it would be a fun song and maybe a little more exciting for the viewers than last week’s bore of a song. … tries really hard not to put on tinfoil hat after reading about Garrett knowing Luke is supposed to be cannon fodder…
Abbysee I disagree. We don’t know where this will lead to, we don’t know who will grow. They are all very happy to be on TV and performing. They all want to be stars. Let’s see what happens at the end.
Review: Clay Aiken fits as Sir Robin in ‘Spamalot
We know that Fantasia, Aiken’s fellow breakout survivor from gladiator TV, had a phenomenal stage debut last year as a replacement for the star in “The Color Purple.” But what are the chances that another newbie from the South with zero stage experience would be able to slip into a high-maintenance Broadway hit without dragging it down like a boulder tied to its soft shoe?
So it’s excellent news for Aiken and “Spamalot,” not so good for drama schools. Aiken is a charmer. With his aging cherub face and a frizzle-pageboy wig, he goes sweetly and deftly Medieval on Broadway - a world described in the show as “a very special place with people who can sing and dance, often at the same time.”
And so he does, frequently at the same time. Aiken blends into the sophomoric adorableness of the show, even toying with his own girlish charisma at a piano topped with a Liberace candelabra. His voice has range and color. He dances with a childlike skip, he yodels and sings falsetto and gets through the scenes when Robin “soils himself” with no visible humiliation. This is not a debut for cowards.
Newsday
70s week? Then 80s? Well, I guess we can give up on the idea of them doing anything remotely contemporary before the top 12.
Sigh.
That’s the second good review Clay’s gotten for Spamalot. First the AP, now Newsday. I’m very happy for him.
Was that part of the MTV interview?
Where was this?
Edit: Oh, moody beat me to it.
Me too. Actually his first major review was from Broadway.com’s critic and it was a good review as well.
Over and over again, fans have made suggestions on how to make the show better. Have less audition episodes and more Hollywood week features. Make sure every contestant in the TOP 24 receives air time PRIOR to the SELECTION of the TOP 24.
It is so simple, guys!
Moody & primeminister it was on the 2/23 posting from ET right on the front page. I think it was part of all of Garrett’s exit interviews.
Grammie Kari ITA with you! I cannot believe they have to do ‘research’ to ‘figure it out’. I think if you hit a few blogs you could figure it out quickly! I don’t think we’ll get that, but we can dream right?
Thanks, MrsTrep. I thought you meant that Garrett mentioned Luke specifically. Sorry for the confusion!
I agree about wearing the tinfoil hat when you hear some of the things going on behind the scenes and realize how much more we never get to hear about.