Syesha Mercado finding her voice on tour
Bradenton’s homegrown American Idol, Syesha Mercado, has been singing her heart out on the “American Idols Live!” tour for the past two months.
Today, Mercado will find herself in familiar surroundings as the tour - featuring the top 10 contestants from the seventh season of “American Idol” - pulls into the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa to put on a show for the fans.
Though Mercado has thoroughly enjoyed being an Idol, she wonders what the future will hold after the 53-city tour is over in September. Looking back on how far she’s come, Mercado is definitely inspired at the difference a year makes.
Miami’s Mercado upstages the Davids at ‘American Idols’ tour
This year’s American Idols Tour, featuring the Season Seven finalists, Wednesday night at a less-than-full BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, returned to the format of the first season’s tour — albeit on a barer stage and with an uninspired backing band.
Tour leaves David Cook very little idle time
his weekend, Cook reaches another milestone — visiting Houston, where he was born. He’ll perform alongside David Archuleta, Carly Smithson, Kristy Lee Cook and the rest of the gang Sunday at Toyota Center.
“That’s definitely right up there — to see where I was born and really get a firm memory is something that is really important for me,” Cook says, calling from a tour stop in Charlotte, NC.
“I’ve got a couple family members buried in Houston that I’m hoping to get to see. We moved when I was really little, so I don’t really have a lot of memories.
More Headlines After the Jump…
David Cook Inks on the Besotted Line
David Cook ain’t a first timer when it comes to tats—the Idol winner’s already got a splattering of body doodlings, including a gray cancer ribbon on his chest for his sick bro, Adam. So sweet—maybe this Idol David is the more goody-two shoes after all? We would not be surprised at all to discover Archuleta with a skull ‘n’ crossbones tat secretly stuffed somewhere we can’t see.
So if D.C. knows how to do tats right, what the ef’s up with his newest addition—a single-eye inked on his right wrist. Is this alleged ladylove Kimberly Caldwell’s glossy iris?
“American Idol Live”: Even Better Than The Last Time!
The ten 10 contestants of the seventh season of FOX’s ratings monster “American Idol” took the bright and shiny stage at BankAtlantic Center Wednesday night with something to prove. Their previous year’s predecessors sold less tickets, provided less “Wow!” moments, and were ultimately just not as star-powered as the singing hopefuls that went before them. And even though “Idol” still gets roughly a brazillion viewers every week, and even though “The Time of My Life,” the coronation single of Season Seven champion David Cook, was an undisputed hit, the hit-or-miss status of some former winners has inspired whispers of chinks in the lauded “Idol” armor.
But those singers, led by charismatic bearded rocker Cook and cherub-voiced runner-up David Archuleta, can be assured of one thing — whether or not their post-”Idol” careers are an improvement on those of their Season Six predecessors, their live show certainly was. Oh, man, you have no idea how much of an improvement it was.
Kristy Lee Cook Asks An Honest Question
Remember Kristy Lee Cook—the Seattle-born Oregonian who rocketed to “15 Minutes of Shame” during last winter’s American Idol? Well, she has a record coming out on Sept. 16. And we give you the album cover.
In case you didn’t catch that, or you’re visually impaired, the album is called Why Wait, and its cover has Kristy lying sweetly in a very lovely dress, mind you, on the back of a very annoyed horse. It appears that she rode the horse into the middle of a rushing river, and now she just wants to lie on its back lovingly, as it struggles against the current to stand up. Does she understand how difficult it is to stand against the current in a river? Check the horse’s face. That’s a “Bitch, get off my back” look.
Brad Pitt, Jack White Among TIFF Celebrity Guests
The final programming announcements for September’s Toronto International Film Festival were unveiled Tuesday and, as usual, this year’s event will attract a parade of famous faces to the city.
Brad Pitt, John Malkovich and Tilda Swinton are all expected to attend in support of their new movie, “Burn After Reading.” The Coen brothers-directed film was one of 11 gala screenings just added to the festival lineup.
Meanwhile, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Dakota Fanning and Alicia Keys will be on hand to promote their movie, “The Secret Life of Bees,” based on Sue Monk Kidd’s 2003 novel.
Jennifer Hudson Previews her long-due debut
What can a singer do for an encore, when her debut hits it right out of the park? That’s the happy problem facing Jennifer Hudson, who first found fame on “American Idol” but cemented her stardom by blowing Beyoncé away in “Dreamgirls.” Hudson, who’d never acted on-screen before winning a Little Gold Man for her turn as Effie — and, most of all, for her ferocious rendition of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” a song she mercilessly wrested from the arms of Jennifer Holliday — has now cemented her movie-star status by appearing in the ultimate chick flick of all time. But is she a bankable pop queen? The question still burns.
41 Years Ago Today: Bo Bice & The Beatles
JENNIFER HUDSON HAS has the impossibly late debut album. Clay Aiken has the improbably conceived platonic love child. But of all the “American Idol” alums, Bo Bice has the funnest tag to play “The Name Game” with.
It’s a different ’60s pop phenomenon, however, that he’s paying tribute to Saturday at Wolf Trap. Bice will join studio wiz Todd Rundgren, yacht-rock exemplar Christopher Cross, Foreigner lead singer Lou Gramm and Wings/Moody Blues vet Denny Laine to form a motley supergroup that will perform The Beatles’ magnum opus, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”
Bice confesses that it’s a bit of a stretch for a “Southern-rock guy,” but he welcomes the challenge. “I wanted to step out of my comfort zone,” he says.
Southern rocker a huge Beatles fan
You may know Bo Bice as the runner-up to Carrie Underwood in season four of “American Idol.”
But once you hear his second album, “See the Light,” you’ll know Bo as the Southern rocker who walks the music lines of great bands like the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. It’s pure Bo Bice.
Carrie Underwood Thrills MGM Grand Theater
Agreeing to cover the Carrie Underwood concert in the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods on August 1, was not a daunting task. Given the fact that Carrie earned her fame by winning a national singing competition, it was a safe bet that the girl could sing. Her girl-next-door public persona convinced me that her show would contain the same wholesomeness. However, when I left the theater that evening, I gained a newfound respect for Carrie’s musical abilities. It turns out, she can do more than “G-rated.â€
Nationwide Insurance Unveils New Ad Featuring Sanjaya Malakar
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug 20, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Nationwide Insurance(R) unveiled today its newest Life Comes at You Fast(R) ad, featuring former American Idol contestant, Sanjaya Malakar. In the tradition of Kevin Federline, Fabio and MC Hammer, Sanjaya becomes the latest celebrity to poke fun of himself in one of Nationwide’s commercials. The company’s Web site features the new commercial. A new microsite allows fans to upload a personal image and create their own “Sanjaya” look using the Nationwide Sanjaya widget.
“I think it turned out really funny,” said Malakar. “I know from personal experience that Life really does Come at You Fast. I went from being an unknown singer to appearing before of millions of people as an American Idol contestant. Now I am doing a commercial for Nationwide Insurance. I’m excited to see what happens next in my career.”
Simon Sends Sanjaya a Message
Considering the person sending the message, American Idol alum Sanjaya Malakar received a glowing compliment from former naysayer and Idol judge Simon Cowell during an interview airing tonight on Extra.
“Hello, Sanjaya,” Simon said in the video missive. “In a strange way, I sort of miss you.”
“Well, thank you, Simon. I kind of miss you too,” Sanjaya responded.
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See former American Idol star Sanjaya in a Life Comes at You Fast® moment.
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Sanjaya Malakar Spotted Right By Our Cubicle
t isn’t every day you see a celebrity walking about Ad Age’s Manhattan headquarters, so suffice it to say we were amped when “American Idol” alum Sanjaya Malakar popped in this morning.
The wacky-haired Malakar, who was infamously tossed off during season six of the show, is the latest face of Nationwide Insurance’s “Life Comes at You Fast” ad campaign — following in the footsteps of other 15-second-of-famers such as Kevin Federline, MC Hammer and Fabio.
Perky Anna Faris of ‘Scary Movie’ series makes ‘House Bunny’ funny
Just in time for back-to-school comes “The House Bunny,” which won’t teach you anything new or useful, but it will prepare you for sorority rush.
Well, its depiction of Greek life isn’t all that accurate either, but that’s beside the point. The entire purpose of this late-summer comedy is to serve as a showcase for Anna Faris, star of the “Scary Movie” franchise, whose sunny disposition and solid comic timing make “The House Bunny” a whole lot more enjoyable than it ought to be.
Yes, you’ve seen it all before. It’s essentially a female remake of “Revenge of the Nerds,” with a script from “Legally Blonde” writers Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, so it contains the same type of facetious humour as that 2001 hit. Faris, in all her ditsy glory, functions as a descendant from a long line of supposedly dumb blondes (which includes Reese Witherspoon’s Elle Woods and extends back to Judy Holliday’s Billie Dawn and beyond), but she’s so unafraid of going for the big, goofy laugh at her own expense that she makes this familiar role her own.
‘House Bunny’ Stars Katharine McPhee, Emma Stone, Rumer Willis Claim They’re Awkward On The Inside
An “American Idol” runner-up, a “Superbad” breakout star and the product of one of the most famous celebrity couples of the last 20 years would seem an unlikely trio to play a band of misfits, but that’s why they call it acting. Anna Faris may be the titular star of “The House Bunny,” but this new twist on the “Legally Blonde” concept wouldn’t get anywhere without Katharine McPhee, Emma Stone and Rumer Willis.
Faris plays Shelley, a Playboy Playmate unceremoniously booted from the mansion, only to take up with seven unpopular sorority sisters who are themselves on the verge of being kicked to the curb. MTV gathered McPhee, Stone and Willis to chat about their new film, who really is the most awkward of the three and which one just might be giving McPhee a run for a singing career.
Katharine McPhee’s House Call
ON A hot summer afternoon in the Valley, ” American Idol” finalist Katharine McPhee talks about her recent switch from singing to acting and boils down her role in ” The House Bunny,” which opens Friday, to two words: preggie suit.
“That’s what they call it,” she says, laughing at the memory of playing Harmony, a very pregnant hippie throwback who totes around a tub of peanut butter, spoon at the ready, and wears flower-child dresses.
Directed by Fred Wolf, a former ” Saturday Night Live” writer, the movie stars Anna Faris as Shelley Darlingson, a Playboy bunny who gets kicked out of the mansion, left with her tan and the platform shoes on her feet, and becomes “house mother” to the un-cool Zeta Alpha Zeta sorority.
Katharine McPhee in Harmony with ‘The House Bunny’
Katharine McPhee is one “American Idol†finalist who is forging a career beyond the microphone.
Even though she sings “I Know What Boys Like†as the final credits roll in “The House Bunny,†McPhee, 24, said when she signed on to play Harmony, a pregnant sorority sister, the plan was for her to act - and nothing else.
“The (song) producer is a friend and he asked,†McPhee said, “and we said, ‘Sure,’ but we all worked on it.â€
Why losing Canadian Idol may be good for our Mookie
The Mookie fever that gripped Toronto has ended, with Mookie Morris’s elimination last night from Canadian Idol.
However, the 18-year-old did not leave the stage before making Idol history — no one from Toronto has gotten as far as he did.
In an interview today, Mr. Morris was very soft-spoken and didn’t seem to come across as the guitar-smashing rock star he was last night on Idol.
“I guess it’s bittersweet in a way because I’d love to stay, but I’m excited about what’s to come,†he said.
Moments before his elimination, judge Jake Gold told him no matter what happens, Mr. Morris is to call him on Monday. So does he plan to take Mr. Gold up on that phone call? Mr. Morris laughs: “Yeah I think I’m going to take him up on that.’’
Canadian Idol: Mookie’s Excellent Adventure
“We’ve all said it here Mookie. First of all we all know you’re a star, we all know you’ve got a huge huge future in the music business, you’re the youngest member of the group, whether you stay or you go — call me Monday.” — Jake Gold moments before Mookie Morris was eliminated from Canadian Idol on Tuesday.
The Mookie fever that gripped the nation ended on Tuesday when Toronto-native Mookie Morris was eliminated from Canadian Idol in a guitar-smashing final spectacle.
Talking with Mookie, he seems much quieter and more subdued than the Mookie the Idol audience saw on stage every week. Whenever a compliment is thrown his way he responds with a sheepish, “Aw, thanks.”
The ex-Idol said he is doing well after his elimination this week.
Mookie makes the most of it
Mookie Morris regrets nothing. Well, maybe he shouldn’t have smashed that guitar, but it felt right in the moment and he admits it was the most “rock star” he’s felt so far. We’re sure he’s going to have plenty of those type of moments in his future. The most successful Torontonian ever on Canadian Idol , Morris – who was voted off this week – has his head held high and what seems like a very bright future. While he admits to a little disappointment, he’s nothing but gracious about Idol. Plus the 18-year-old probably has the best “what I did during summer vacation” story ever.
“That’s what’s totally crazy. I don’t know if I’m ready to understand what the show’s done for me,” he says.
Canadian Idol’s Executive Producer John Brunton Sounds Off
John Brunton’s enthusiasm for Canadian Idol is palpable as soon as he comes on the phone. When asked how he is, he begins to say he is fine, and the abruptly stops.
“You know, I’m pretty pissed off about the show [Tuesday] night,” he laughs, “I was a big fan of Mookie’s.”
Despite Mookie’s elimination Tuesday night, Brunton said he was happy to see a Toronto contestant get so far on Idol. This coming a year after Brunton lashed out at Torontonians for not supporting their own contestants. This year, six Torontonians made it to the Top 24, and two of them advanced to the Top 10 (Sebastian Pigott finished eighth).
Sanjaya’s Nationwide commercial is up! Here is the youtube Version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W88_0FI3B00
I guess the reviews were expected since Syesha was on home turf but some are so out of wack compared to the previous 2 mths that it is laughable……..
And we’ll be voyers!
Aww now we won’t have a depressing blog to read for a day or two. :(
“Miami’s Mercado upstages the Davids at ‘American Idols’ tour”
GIVE THE DAVIDS FAKE BOOBS AND LET’S SEE WHO UPSTAGES WHO…or is the article about singing?
I don’t know if they work faster, but they got songs handed to them. Somehow I feel Cookie will want to have a major part in writing for his single. I am convinced it will be awesome too.
It’s funny to see how different the first two tour articles are from the third one. They all seem to be biased towards Syesha since it’s her home town, but at least the last article gave credit to all of the Idols and kept it mostly positive. Syesha is a good singer, but the rest of the group is very talented too.
Let Syesha have her moment. Lord knows she’s been catching it. LOL.
Re the Miami Herald article, I have no problem with the author thinking that Syesha upstaged the Davids at the Sunrise show (YMMV and all that jazz), but his comment that the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus both have “more rock credibility” than DC, is just all kinds of wrong! Is this guy serious?! If so, his glowing review of Syesha just becomes questionable, doesn’t it?
Re the Palm Beach Post article, which I think gives a fairer review of the same show, I do hope somebody posts video of David singing IDWTMAT. I’m curious to see and listen to DC, in his opinion, give his best performance of that song. Must have been awesome! : )
A little hometown love doesn’t hurt. It’s like rooting for your hometown team. I’ll bet Syesha read that, and it made her day.
ETA: Actually, after reading the Miami Herald review, I found it fair. He actually had some nice things to say about Cookie. His remarks about Mylie/Jonas were a bit of hyperbole to make his point.
BTW, Howard Cohen is the Idol reviewer many love to hate. He has strong opinions, and does not hesitate to express them.
It’s fine that the Miami Herald guy says what he does about Syesha and the Davids and everyone else. Whatever, dude.
But to me, what really reveals the cluelessness that peppers his piece is his reference to Jason’s ukelele accompaniment for Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Would he have dared to dis the ukelele to the late, great, 700-pound Bruddah IZ, who took a beloved classic it into another realm that is no less beloved and could be considered a new classic?
I would have loved to seem him try!
I do think the over the top praise for Syesha is laughable to some extent, but to be expected in her hometown area. It should keep her happy for awhile.
I’m just happy Howard Cohen gave Jason a pretty decent review since he dissed most everyone else. I’ll take a “true original”.
Seriously, you only focused on her face and voice? In that outfit? I hardly think so.
I went back over Cohen’s reviews of the season. He generally wasn’t crazy about DC, with the exception of loving Hello and First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, and reasonably liking Daytripper, Music of the Night, I’m Alive, and I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing. (Funny that two of the songs that he criticized him singing in concert are among the only ones that he liked.) He seems to have consistently thought him not to be a real rocker, and consistently compared him to Daughtry. So, this review was about as good as it was going to get for DC from him.
Miami’s Mercado upstages the Davids at ‘American Idols’ tour
Haha…sure…that happened.
That recreation of Sgt Pepper with Bo Bice, Todd Rundgren et al at WolfTrap looks awesome.
I am glad that Syesha got her day but I doubt she really upstaged the Davids, ONE review says that of the hundreds since the tour began? Good for her though BUT my favorite from the Herald is the following:
“Jason Castro, a fan favorite of some, is the wild card. His laid-back beach bum vocals and choice of instrument (a ukulele, for goodness sakes) paint him as a novelty act. But after the disappointing first half, his simple three-song set, which included a decent pass at Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy and the ’60s ditty, Daydream, proved rather endearing. While the others play to pre-fab pop music characters, Castro could claim credit as the night’s true original.”
Yeah Jason, now HE is someone who has really been getting his due finally too. I think that this guy went in not liking Jason AT ALL but found he wasnt all that bad, right?
I so agree!
mj, thanks for the articles on Mookie! Hubby and I are looking forward to following his career!
We can give the hometown girl her due. It’s not like she’s been getting panned in all the other states. She’s been reviewing solidly, and a good amount are praising her stage presence and many critics, both fan and professional alike have given her raves for Listen. Now as for her self help blogs…..lol!
Furthermore, she’s not the only one showing cleavage, and certainly not shaking her ass any more than KLC, so the dress and boobs is really just a smoke screen imho.
Not to get too technical here, but Ramiele is much more of the Miami home girl than Syesha as Miramar is a suburb of Miami and the Miami reporter certainly was most vicious to her in his review.
Syesha’s true home turf concert is tonight since she’s from Sarasota and had alot of love there. We were actually vacationing in Sarasota during the top 10 week and were watching the Tampa Fox station with Charly Belcher who was having a hard time focusing on the home town girl due to his admiration for DC.
Hopefully Syesha will get a nice home town welcome and the Tampa reviews will be favorable. She may be upstaged if there is any news coming out regarding DC finally meeting Lindsay Rose. (I can’t wait to hear how that goes)
If memory serves me right, Vonzell Solomon was a Floridian too. She received hometown and state support during AI,and, tour. However, to date,she is the only top 3 contestant to never have been signed by a label. Not sure about season 1, because I didn’t watch. So, let Syesha have her moment in the sun, it will soon go down.
(not a Syesha fan , but, oh lo, her blogs sure are inspirational.
Thanks for the Mookie interviews MJ! man, he even seems cool just from how he answers questions…i hope he does get that recording contract….I can’t wait to hear what kinds of songs he comes up with!
Who’d Syesha pay to write those reviews?
I think Nikki McKibbon placed #3 behind Kelly and Justin. If memory serves me at all I think she was signed but she had creative differences as to the direction of her cd. She wanted to rock, they wanted to country her up.
I was not surprised that Baby V as her fans called her was not signed. She imho skated by on her personality and beauty. I think Syesha is far more talented. Not as ‘likeable’ but vocally on another planet.
I guess this could go here for now. Sorry if it’s in the wrong place. From the pre-show signing/meet-n-greet in Tampa:
“Apparently all the Idols are flying out tonight directly after the show so they set up a big Meet & Greet for everyone out at the buses early from 2-4. Amanda said they even announced the Meet & Greet on the news. All the Idols came out to sign and chat with the fans who showed up early.
Dave was one of the last ones to arrive and when he came out, he was with Lindsey Rose. They were hanging out together while he signed. “
LA Times, Archuleta Talks about ‘Crush’
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2008/08/exclusive-inter.html
Exclusive Interview: David Archuleta’s ‘Crush’ tops charts:
“All my friends keep saying, ‘You should try to hook up with Shawn Johnson,’†confessed “American Idol†runner-up David Archuleta with a giggle.
The topic of conversation –- David’s real-life crushes – was prompted by the outlandish success of his first single, “Crush.â€
So, I just had to ask: Does David have a “Crush†of his own? “I’m just afraid to mention anything now,†confessed David. And he’s right to be afraid.
MORE at the link
Looks like the Larry King appearance for the idols that was taped earlier this week is airing tonight.
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/larry.king.live/
Oh tonight pam? though that was on friday.. lol Im gonna have to try and set the dvr.. lol
————–
Archie’s XM Radio interview in 2 parts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b4u5QL5qhc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tcw2O7CXFk
Btw… he went complete fanboy over Sara Bareilles in this interview. LOL
that la times interview is great! maybe his crush is on sara (space) bareilles?? LOL
Most of us thought it was Friday as well. lol I’m going to watch the first few minutes just in case to be sure.
oops
I hope someone caps it, as I don’t get cable. I wonder if hulu broadcasts LKL? They are my savior when it comes to the Daily Show!
SarahW’s attending tonight in Tampa! Not sure if Spense was able to go, but I hope we get some good recaps!
ETA: I enjoyed the Mookie articles, too. Good luck to the Mookster. He’s one to watch.
Wow,
what a guy!!!
“These songs might be of a vague nature, lyrically, but they’ll also be pretty firm snapshots of my life”
Haha, yup, that pretty much sums up his pre-Idol music. So it sounds like this new CD will be similar enough to please many fans (like me) :)
Just read Palm Beach Post’s interview with David Cook. Great stuff. Here’s the link: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/streeter/entries/2008/08/american_idol_e_2.html
This seems to confirm Ace is going to be in Grease. MDA is auctioning off tickets to the show and dinner with Ace to raise money.
Since Ace is their celebrity spokesperson and co-hosting the telethon, I’m guessing they are in the know.
PS Constantine apparently said in a radio interview in San Fran that he was offered major bucks for the role first, but turned it down because of his off-Broadway gig. I didn’t hear his interview, but that’s what I’m told.
I’m watching Larry King. I think he’s excruciating at the best of times and tonight it’s even worse ’cause there’s a long delay between his lame q’s and their answers. They are cute and clearly slap-happy.
DC’s hair looks really RED! He looks more Irish than Carly, lol.
Several of them have mentioned “Mavid,” but Larry has no idea what they’re talking about–and has a list of questions–so he never follows up on it.
It looks as if they’re all trying not to snort.
Elliott Yamin’s first video blog is finally up at http://etrainstation.com/ (it’s at the top of the page, under the banner). I have yet to watch it but I see it’s a long one (about 30 minutes) so it should be a good one for the E fans. :)