Terre Haute’s Adam Cook travels to see brother compete on ‘American Idol’
It was a dream come true for a Terre Haute man as he and his wife left a cold and blustery Hulman Field on their way to California on Sunday.
Wearing a Valparaiso University Law sweatshirt and a navy baseball cap, and waving to friends and family, Adam Cook, with the help of a cane, boarded the Leer jet that would take him almost 2,000 miles to watch his brother, David Cook, attempt to become the next American Idol.
The trip nearly didn’t happen.
Adam Cook, 36, is undergoing chemotherapy for his second diagnosis of brain cancer, which has spread to his spine. A plan to travel to California to see his brother perform was grounded earlier in the week when Adam’s doctors told him he could not fly commercially in his condition.
Stupid changes introduce problems for ‘Idol’
Considering its long-standing status as television’s 900-pound gorilla, you’d think that “American Idol” would have no problems just sitting on its laurels and cursing the need to purchase yet another bill counter to handle all the money pouring in. Add a well-timed writers strike putting the kibosh on its scripted competition and it seems like the show would be content to simply do what it’s always done just the way it’s always done it.
But the current season features the most substantial restructuring since “Idol” began. Despite the show’s longtime attitude of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it (and if it is broke, people will still watch, so don’t fix it then, either),” there have been countless changes to both the presentation and the competition itself.
Carly Smithson - An Undiscovered Idol?
A tattooed Irish coleen with blue eyes, black hair and a voice to die for is causing a huge stir in the USA on hit show American Idol. Simon Cowell sure aint no fan of Carly Smithson, but we were back in 2003 when she won a Meteor Award. Undiscovered talent you say? Hmmmm…
‘Idol’ fave Johns isn’t the only one ’shocked’
It’s American Idol clockwork: First the unexpected ouster, then the speculation.
Michael Johns’ elimination last week drew surprised reaction, from the Internet to the water cooler to the singer himself.
“I would be lying to say I wasn’t shocked,” Johns said in a conference call Friday. “I hadn’t been in the bottom three, and I thought the last two to three weeks have been my strongest. But we’re in the competition and stuff can happen.”
That “stuff” has stirred Idol buzz, drawing more attention to TV’s No. 1 show. (Thursday’s results show, on what is usually a non-Idol night, drew an uncharacteristic 20.1 million viewers, the lowest since a 2005 “worst auditions” special.)
*Now* it’s a party: Marcia Brady, Whitney Houston’s ex & me
Also went to hear Carrie Underwood do her sound check for tomorrow night’s CMT Awards. Amazing fact about Carrie: She can walk and chew gum at the same time! In fact, she can walk, chew gum and sing her hit “All-American Girl” at the same time, too! She did it today. (A lot of artists chew gum to cut down on their saliva.) I like her pretty flatter hairstyle. If she were taking applications for people to comb her hair, I would totally apply!
My best new gal pal, Diana DeGarmo, was there, looking fabulous. She updated me on her meeting Dolly yesterday. She was all excited. She and I will chat more tomorrow. You and I will, too. Riight now, I’m pooped. You know I’ve got to be. After all, I can’t even muster the strength to go hang out with Bobby Brown.
Underwood, Urban worth ticket price
Carrie Underwood screamed to a Bryce Jordan Center crowd Saturday night that there were more people present in the arena than living in her hometown.
She then launched into “I Ain’t in Checotah Anymore,” a song about her modest Oklahoma beginnings.
Although there were a few empty seats for Underwood and Keith Urban’s Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride tour stop at the BJC, more than 10,000 people were in attendance, and it was hard to take one’s eyes off stage while the delightful duo served up excitement and enthusiasm during a nearly four-hour show.
Business calendar
THURSDAY, APRIL 17
Minneapolis Urban League’s 82nd annual dinner. 5:30 to 7 p.m., Hilton Hotel, 1001 Marquette Av., Minneapolis. $80. Call Sylvia Loveless Amos, 612-302-3102. Donna Brazile, founder and managing director of Brazile and Associates, Washington, D.C., and chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Voting Rights Institute, is the keynote speaker. Former Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton will be mistress of ceremonies, and American Idol finalist Paris Bennett will provide entertainment.
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Yay, Caffiend! Good luck!
Nope, I know I saw her in the audience. Cause my thought was “hey, it’s Lacey!” And I’m pretty sure it was before DCook’s pre-performance video package.
Good luck getting in, Caffiend! I’m really nervous about that dreaded #1 spot in the performance order, so it will be good to know in advance. I think Carly or Archie will be in the pimp spot this week and Jason HAS to go in the second half at least.
Yeah, I was just looking up Jason’s top 12 performance order and I think it’s time he’s in the bottom half. He won’t get a pimp spot, but second half is due.
Top 12: 4
Top 11: 8
Top 10: 2
Top 9: 4
Top 8: 3
To whomever was calling him a TCO, I gotta
If I remember correctly, only the Davids and Jason haven’t been in the death slot. One of them are probably slated to fill it in — and considering TPTB seem to be pushing for a David/David finale, I’m quite afraid for Jason. If they stick him in the death slot, it’ll prove TPTB think of him as fodder (and they probably already do) and that they don’t plan on him sticking around for the Top 5.
ETA: Oh, thanks, pj. In that case, I’m not too afraid for Jason anymore. As long as he doesn’t get le slot of death, I’m fine.
Well if they keep the same pattern of boy girl for the performances and we are girl heavy, my guess is that Kristi may go first. I don’t think she has yet this top 12…damn where’s Kirsten when you need her???
Kristi
Little D
Brooke
David c
Syesha
Jason
Carly
I don’t think little D will go in the first half. He is better than Mariah!1. I think they should just put Kristy Lee in the death spot until she’s gone. Actually, I guess Brooke could go first after her pimp spot.
LOL, bax. About Kirsten. Haha.
I agree with your order, though. Actually, the more I look at it, the more I’m convinced that that’s going to be the order…
ETA: Nah, I don’t think they’ll stick Brooke in the death slot again so soon. She went first only 2 weeks ago during Dolly week. It’d almost make it seem as if they’re trying to get rid of her, opposite of how they were pimping Archie with the pimp slot performances on Top 20 and Top 12 nights.
If IRCC, Kirsten said two who haven’t had the pimp spot in the top 24 were Kristy and Jason.
The only three who haven’t had the death slot are David, David and Jason.
I can’t remember who’s had the pimp spot more than once. Archie, I think. Maybe Michael, who’s irrelevant now. I mean, to the competition, of course.
Brooke was just first the week before last though. Kristy or David C will start off the show, I’m thinking. Unless Nigel temporarily loses his mind and puts David A as the opener.
I too think that it will probably be Carly getting the pimp spot and Jason should be toward the end.
Sometimes spots # 2 and 3 can be worse than the #1 spot. Not this year quite as much, but it has been in the past.
It almost seems this year that next to last is the new pimp spot. I haven’t been overly impressed with the pimp spot slots this year. It seems more of a saving tactic than a show-stopping one.
Mm, I think that was definitely true last week, pj. I highly doubt Brooke would have been safe had she not been given the pimp spot (and if Cookie hadn’t effed up so badly).
The pimp slot performances since the Top 12 have been worth it about as much as they were saving acts. We had Cookie on Top 10 night and MJ on Top 9 night as our out-of-the-park pimp performances, and Ramiele in Top 11 and Brooke with just last week’s Top 8’s being more of saving acts than anything. I don’t know what Archie’s pimp slot perf during Top 12 week would count as — he definitely didn’t need any saving whatsoever, but it was by no means the best of the night. JMO, though.
Hisaki-
You can also throw in Syesha and Chikezie from the last round of the semi-finals as “saving them” versus best performance.
That seems like a plausible order. Carly hasn’t been last since final 16th, Kristy first since final 24 and with more girls than boys it would seem that girls would bookend the show (Nigel loves alternating girl/boy).
I think that this might be the week that they make David A go first. He’s not going home tonight and they can get it out of the way (kill that criticism and focus it on the other two who have never gone first). Stick Jason last and they can have him go first next week and be done with him (rev up the truck.
Something like this could happen if Nigel groups the girls together:
David A
Brooke
Carly
David C
Kristy
Syesha
Jason C