Pop Idol creator quits as Brand Beckham director
LONDON (AP) – The director of the company that handles earnings and endorsements for David Beckham and his wife, Victoria, has resigned.
Simon Fuller, the creator of the “Pop Idol” franchise in England, has left Brand Beckham Limited in a resignation confirmed to the official British company registry Tuesday.
The company oversees Beckham’s earnings from the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS as well as his endorsements with his former Spice Girls wife.
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Gov. Rell urges Conn. residents to vote — for ‘Idol’ contestant Katie Stevens
Apparently there’s nothing more pressing: Gov. M. Jodi Rell has just released a statement urging Connecticut residents to vote tonight for Katie Stevens on “American Idol.”
“Katie’s performances on the national stage have made us all so proud to call her one of Connecticut’s own, ” Rell says in a press release e-mailed by her office. “So, tonight, I am urging state residents to show their support for Katie over and over and over again. Put that number on speed dial and call in for Katie.”
Lee DeWyze’s friends head out to L.A. for tonight’s ‘Idol’
One hot June morning Lee DeWyze and his buddy Vincent Ferrara arrived at the United Center at 4 a.m. to try out for “American Idol.”
Thousands of people had the same idea and DeWyze almost didn’t make it to the front of the line.
“He wanted to go home, ” Ferrara said. “It was so hot out and the line was so long. But I told him no way, you have some serious talent, we’re staying.”
When DeWyze finally got up to the judges, he sang, “Stand By Me” and “Lean on Me.”
Adam Lambert Will Be ‘Really Great’ As ‘American Idol’ Mentor, Randy Jackson Says
It might be tough to think of who could be the perfect person to replace Simon Cowell on “American Idol, ” but Randy Jackson said that he’s excited to have Adam Lambert return to the show just one season after placing second to Kris Allen.
So, what qualities might Lambert bring as a mentor, following in the footsteps of this season’s past mentors like Miley Cyrus? “You know, I think he’s gonna be really great because he knows, first and foremost, what they’re going through [as contestants] and what the feelings are and what’s happening and what’s gonna happen, ” he explained. “So he’s going to be one of the best mentors, I think, all season.”
Adam Lambert Says His Theatricality Made Him a ‘Target’ After ‘American Idol’
“It’s like I have a target on my chest, but it comes with the territory, ” Lambert tells Spinner about his conservative critics. “It’s like that high school mentality: If you’re looking and putting energy into it, something about it is fascinating you, whether you like to admit it or not. I got your attention, that’s why you’re spewing negative hate at me, so I’m doing something right.”
“Dancing w/ Stars” vs “Idol”: ratings battle rages on
Looks like it’s going to be another tight ratings race between Fox’s “American Idol” and ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” this week.
Monday’s “Dancing, ” in which eight of the celebs and their professional dance partners did the tango and the rumba — and Kate Gosselin treated us to another round of moaning and groaning about the tragedy that is her life and then lumbered around the dance floor for a while — clocked 20.3 million viewers according to early stats.
Last week, when the final numbers came in, the numbers on the Monday performance show had gone by about 300, 000 viewers. In part that’s because “Dancing” runs two minutes into the 10 p.m. hour on Mondays, and those two highly-rated minutes don’t get factored into the show’s average until Nielsen issues the final stats later the next day.
AMERICAN IDOL DRIVES FOX TO WEEKLY WIN AMONG ADULTS 18-49, ADULTS 18-34 AND TEENS
Powerhouse AMERICAN IDOL’s Tue/Wed average this week substantially outperformed ABC’s Dancing With The Stars Mon/Tue average by +69% among Adults 18-49 and +13% in Total Viewers. So far this season, AMERICAN IDOL’s average is on par with the same weeks last year with Most Current ratings vs. comparable Most Current, showing 93% retention among Adults 18-49, 94% among Adults 18-34, 97% among Teens and 94% in Total Viewers.
Bringing Broadway Home Concert to Feature Clay Aiken, Lauren Kennedy, Terrence Mann
North Carolina Theatre will present a starry benefit concert in June.
Entitled Bringing Broadway Home, the concert will be held June 21 at 8 PM in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh.
The one-night-only event will celebrate 27 seasons of Broadway at North Carolina Theatre. Currently scheduled to appear are “American Idol” finalist Clay Aiken as well as Lauren Kennedy, Sharon Lawrence, Terrence Mann and Quiana Parler.
Jason Castro’s album: a track-by-track review
I’ll say this for Jason Castro: He’s got his image of his audience down, and he gives them exactly what he thinks they want to hear. On his self-titled album, he creates a fantasy about falling in love, one about having a shoulder to cry on, one about having an escape hatch from a bad relationship and another still about an attentive man who wants nothing more than to hear the mundane details of his lover’s day. With just eight songs, the album doesn’t give Jason much room to explore stylistically, but that’s probably not what his die-hard fans really want him to do at this point. Besides, the album’s budget price might give American Idol fans who kind of liked him (but really couldn’t imagine listening to an hour’s worth of songs from him) an excuse to reacquaint themselves – or, as the song says, to “fall in love again.”
VIDEO: Idol Confessions with Jason Castro
Season 7’s beloved fourth-place finisher, Jason Castro, stopped by the L.A. Times video studio a couple months back to talk about his “Idol” memories — from that nerve-wracking first time on the big stage to his shining moment playing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” during Inspirational Music week. He also performed a couple of songs for us, “Let’s Fall in Love Again” and “That’s What I’m Here For, ” off his debut, “The Love Uncompromised EP.” For more of Jason’s music, check out his self-titled full-length album, which is out on Tuesday.
‘American Idol’s’ Jason Castro on debut album: ‘A real breathing, natural feel’
“American Idol” finalist Jason Castro’s self-titled debut album drops Tuesday, April 13. He tells Zap2it about his favorite songs, playing for “The Bachelor” Jason and Molly’s wedding and keeping in touch with fellow Idols.
Getting to know… Bucky Covington
Country singer Bucky Covington’s success has allowed him to sell hundreds of thousands of albums and play at fairs, clubs and festivals across the country, but this wasn’t always so for the now 32-year-old.
Before going into country music, Covington played in various rock bands for about 10 years, playing guitar, drums, bass and singing.
However, when he got into singing, he felt he didn’t understand what he was singing about when performing rock, he said.
“Country music was something I knew about from the first song, ” he said. “Country music speaks to me. I understand it.”
‘Glee’ Cast Goes (Lady) Gaga At Spring Premiere Party
While fans are raving about the season premiere of “Glee” and the cast have even hinted at some relationship shakeups this time around, it was the upcoming Lady Gaga episode that had the cast talking at Monday’s premiere party in Los Angeles.
“Her music and her influence on pop music right now, it’s so well expressed by ‘Glee.’ The way that that episode goes with Lady Gaga’s music is amazing, ” actor Cory Monteith shared with MTV News. “We’re just in the midst of filming it right now and I can’t wait for you to see it. I can tell you I am not going to be wearing the crime scene tape.”
Glee: What’s ahead for 12 Favs
Before we head back into McKinley High, see what creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk say awaits Rachel, Finn, Will, Sue, Puck, and the rest of the gang.
Jane Lynch Flashes ‘Glee’-ming Engagement Ring
“Glee”‘s Jane Lynch recently announced her engagement to girlfriend Lara Embry and she still seems googly-eyed over the proposal. She gushed to ET about the all-important ring at the spring premiere party of “Glee” in Hollywood.
The exuberant bride-to-be is “thrilled” about her impending marriage. “I have no idea when the wedding is going to be, but I got a ring. She put a ring on it, ” she said. Jane went on to refer to the Beyoncé song “Single Ladies, ” but declined to imitate the Grammy-winner’s famous dance steps.
Heather Morris on Playing Glee’s Resident Dummy, Brittany
Whether confusing ballads with male ducks, losing her wheelchair, or developing a strangely close relationship with fellow Cheerio Santana, Heather Morris’s Brittany has emerged as the stealth player on Glee — an initially minor character whose priceless one-liners have made her an integral part of the show’s ensemble. Gleeks likely already noticed Morris’s above-average dance skills in numbers like “Bust Your Windows;” it turns out she’s a trained hoofer (with a Beyoncé tour under her belt), and Brittany is her first real acting role.
Glee’s Cory Monteith Searching For the Best Mash-Up
On April 13, Glee returns to FOX and actor Cory Monteith returns to the role of Finn Hudson, who will continue to juggle his commitments to both the football team and New Directions glee club at McKinley High. In real life, Monteith is advocating that sort of mix by searching for the best song mash-up by a school music group.
“I sought an opportunity to get involved with something that is promoting the arts, ” Monteith tells PEOPLE about the singing contest, sponsored by Apple & Eve Fruitables and the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. The school choir, group or club to submit the best and most creative combination of two or more songs will receive $10, 000 to go toward their programs.
