Posted Feb 15th 2010 9:45PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: American Idol, Contestants, News and Gossip, Reality-Free
Ladies and gentlemen, remember that if you plan on appearing on the biggest reality show on television, be sure that you don't have an arrest record. Apparently, one of the 'American Idol' hopefuls named Danielle Hayes was ousted because she has had, among other things,
a DUI, theft, driving with a suspended license and marijuana possession.
It's not that big a deal, particularly if she isn't a repeat offender. 'Idol' is likely just afraid of tarnishing its squeaky-clean family-values image, particularly if she ended up getting to the finals or even close to them. Given how drugs and booze are usually associated with the music industry, perhaps they should just let her go directly into the final round.
This is a show that made
William Hung and
Sanjaya into stars. How could they not let Ms. Hayes audition? At the very least, it would lead to some good drama.
Posted Feb 15th 2010 10:30AM by Kona Gallagher
Filed under: American Idol, Contestants, News and Gossip
We've got even more
'American Idol' changes coming this season. Traditionally, the Tuesday episode is for auditions, and the Wednesday (or sometimes even Thursday) episode is for results. However, 'Idol' feels as though they haven't shaken things up quite enough already this season, so they're making yet another change to the formula. This Tuesday, February 16, in a special two-hour episode, not only are we going to see auditions, but we're also going to learn who some of the Top 24 are.
This news doesn't seem to be a change 'Idol' has had planned for very long. The last we heard from FOX,
the entire Top 24 was set to be revealed on Wednesday, February 17. So what's behind the change? Perhaps the folks behind 'Idol' sense that the audience is getting audition fatigue, and we want some more action. Maybe they want to keep the momentum going from Ellen DeGeneres' debut last week.
Continue reading 'Idol' Will Reveal Some of the Top 24 on Tuesday
Posted Feb 11th 2010 9:45PM by Nick Zaino
Filed under: American Idol, Celebrities, Judges, Casting
Just about everyone seemed to love Ellen DeGeneres's debut on
'American Idol' this week, including viewers and fellow host Kara DioGuardi.
TVWeek.com reports that ratings for Ellen's Tuesday night debut were up one percent versus last year's first episode in Hollywood (although they note that the first episode on Hollywood always gets a bump in ratings). The site also reported that 27.7 million people tuned in, the most viewers the show has had this season.
DioGuardi lauded Ellen's
debut to TV Guide, explaining that Ellen "knows more about music than you think she does" and saying she was a good judge of talent who speaks to contestants "with kindness, but also had criticism in there."
Continue reading Everyone Loves Ellen on 'Idol'
Posted Feb 11th 2010 1:18AM by Kona Gallagher
Filed under: American Idol, Judges, Reviewcaps, Contestants, Performances, Host
It's the end of Hollywood week, which means group performances! This is always a crazy point in the season, because it seems more like the Wild West than any other point of the show. People are singing songs they barely know, rehearsing until 4 in the morning, choreographing dance moves -- it's like 'Fame' the movie in miniature and on repeat. It's always interesting to see who cracks and who makes it through.
We start out with a mess of people finding groups and choosing songs. Is this how it always is? I seem to remember people being assigned groups, but maybe I have no idea what I'm talking about. During rehearsals, there seems to be a lot of Lady Gaga, which automatically makes this a lot more interesting than years past. However, while this group day may be more interesting, it is not necessarily better, as poor song choices and nerves end up taking a lot of people down.
Continue reading 'American Idol' - 'Hollywood Round 2' Recap
Posted Feb 9th 2010 11:03PM by Kona Gallagher
Filed under: American Idol, Judges, Reviewcaps, Contestants, Performances, Host, Episode Reviews
(
S09E10) ELLEN! I've been waiting for this. I've been a huge Ellen DeGeneres fan for years, so I was psyched to hear she was going to be a judge this year. A lot of people are worried that she'll rely too heavily on the comedy, so tonight is a big night; we finally get to see how she does.
It's also a big night because it's the beginning of Hollywood week. I always feel terrible for the people who get sent home, but I'm trying to remember this: at least they got a sweet free trip to Hollywood. That's something, right? All in all, it's a pretty good group of people, but there are several who just completely biff their auditions. How does that happen? It's a mystery for the ages. Let's ponder it together, shall we?
Continue reading 'American Idol' - 'Hollywood Round One' Recap
Posted Feb 9th 2010 5:35PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: American Idol, Celebrities, Judges, News and Gossip
This morning, Brad told you about
the possibility of Howard Stern eventually replacing Simon Cowell on 'American Idol.' Stern didn't exactly do anything to shoot down those rumors, but producers of 'Idol' are.
Richard Rushfield at The Daily Beast says that not only have there been no talks with Stern about replacing Cowell, it has never even been a consideration.
Stern did talk about it a little on
his SIRIUS show, but he never said "yes, I'm talking to the producers" or anything like that. He could be just talking about it to get people talking about him.
Howard Stern on 'American Idol?' That would hurt Stern, actually. His diehard fans would expect him to do something outrageous to sabotage the show, and 'Idol' devotees would instantly say "I'm never watching that show again!" Why not have him judge one of the early audition episodes next season? That might be kinda fun.
Posted Feb 9th 2010 9:10AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Industry, Programming, OpEd, American Idol, Celebrities, Celebrity Commentary, Casting, Reality-Free
Love him or hate him, Howard Stern
has confirmed his interest in Simon Cowell's seat on
'American Idol'. This goes along with
the earlier announcement that 'Idol' producers are interested as having Stern as a judge.
This entire situation seems more sound and fury and it's unlikely that anything would come of it. All Stern has in common with Cowell is the ability to be obnoxious and denigrating of other people. Cowell at least had ties to the music industry before appearing as an 'Idol' judge. While Howard Stern does work in radio, he thankfully has not released a CD of himself singing the Beatles' greatest hits. If he has, I missed it.
Most likely this situation is being used by Stern as a bargaining chip for a renegotiation of his contract with Sirius. Stern would be too much of a turn-off for the majority of viewers for 'American Idol'. If he does end up replacing Cowell, then it could signal the beginning of the end of 'American Idol'.
Posted Feb 6th 2010 10:30AM by Kona Gallagher
Filed under: American Idol, Site Announcements, Alumni, Reality-Free
The folks at our sister site
Cinematical are working hard to give you news and reviews of the best -- and worst -- the silver screen has to offer. Here are some of their musings on the latest blockbusters, indies, and everything in between:
- This isn't a spoiler, because I honestly know nothing about 'Dear John,' but just based on the trailer, I have a feeling that something bad happens to John-- perhaps it's the fact that it's based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks. Is this the next 'The Notebook'? Cinematical has their review here.
- Speaking of lost loves, Cinematical Seven has Romantic Tragedies.
- Eric Dane is in the upcoming film, 'Valentine's Day,' and the character he plays is gay, although you wouldn't know that from the trailer. Cinematical discusses the ugly art of de-gaying films.
- Would you watch a 'Shattered Glass' remake about film critics who plagarize? Here's the pitch.
- American Idol alum, Carrie Underwood is set to star in her first film, 'Soul Surfer,' about female surfer, Bethany Hamilton, who had her arm bitten off by a shark. Underwood plays a church youth group leader.
Posted Feb 5th 2010 11:02AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, American Idol, Celebrities, Judges, News and Gossip, Casting
The question of
who will replace Simon Cowell as an 'American Idol' judge began in earnest today with Page Six claiming that
Howard Stern is the 'Idol' producers' top choice to take Simon Cowell's throne. Stunt casting? Attention-grabbing? Total bull? You can take your pick because this smacks of a PR turn if ever there was one.
For a moment, though, let's consider the possibility. Howard's contract with Sirius XM Radio wraps next January. That contract was in the $100 million neighborhood. Could
'American Idol' fork over a pay-out equal to that? Umm, yes. They make enough. Will they? Hard to imagine. The figure mentioned in the report was $50 million a year, which is what Simon will earn this season, but that's based on the fact that Simon has a track record with 'Idol.'
Continue reading If 'Idol' Producers Get Their Way, Howard Stern Could Replace Cowell
Posted Feb 4th 2010 4:48PM by Kona Gallagher
Filed under: American Idol, Video, Judges, Contestants, News and Gossip
Last night, we just had our
eighth audition episode of 'American Idol,' and I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I'm ready to get to Hollywood. As much as I enjoyed
Neil Patrick Harris and
Kristin Chenoweth, I'm also ready to see what
Ellen DeGeneres is going to do in her new role as Idol's fourth judge.
Luckily, FOX has just released a promo for Hollywood week, which is next week. At that point, DeGeneres joins the judges table for the first time to whittle down the 181 people who received Golden Tickets to 24 semi-finalists. For those of you who have watched the show in previous seasons, you know it's not a quick process: these contestants will be performing over three nights, with the Top 24 not being revealed until Wednesday, February 17.
Continue reading First look at Ellen DeGeneres on 'American Idol'
Posted Feb 4th 2010 12:40AM by Kona Gallagher
Filed under: American Idol, Judges, Reviewcaps, Contestants, Performances, Host
(S09E08) This is the last episode before we get to Hollywood, and you know it's going to be good for two reasons:
Victoria Beckham's back, and they start it off with "Pants on the Ground" (Although, how could they leave the classic
Brett Favre version out of the montage?).
However, Beckham is only back for a little while, as this is a montage of auditions from all of the stops that we haven't seen yet. It's kind of weird how it's set up, because even though we haven't seen these people before, this still seems like a strange kind of clip show. In any case, it wraps up the audition process, in which 181 golden tickets were handed out, and gets us ready for the real show to start next week, when
Ellen DeGeneres permanently joins the cast, which is what I've been waiting for.
Continue reading Review: 'American Idol' - 'Road To Hollywood'
Posted Feb 3rd 2010 1:22PM by Jane Boursaw
Filed under: American Idol, Reviewcaps, Contestants, Episode Reviews, Episode Recaps
Wow, there were a few whack jobs at the Denver auditions of 'American Idol,' including Bikini Boy (see above). But also an adorable kid who drew pictures for the judges, as well as a few good singers who got sent through to Hollywood. After the jump, let's take a look at some of the Denver auditions.
Continue reading Review: 'American Idol' - Denver Auditions
Posted Feb 2nd 2010 2:28PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: American Idol, Celebrities, Judges
There seems to be two things that
'American Idol' fans have been waiting for patiently. One was the new season of the FOX show to start (duh), and the second is the episode where
Ellen DeGeneres makes her debut as one of the judges (taking over for Paula Abdul). Some fans are probably confused that DeGeneres hasn't already made her first appearance on the show.
Well, relax fans: Ellen's first appearance is set for next Tuesday, February 9. She wasn't been involved in the early audition rounds of the show because most were recorded before she was named as a judge. She began her judging duties when the show went to Hollywood to start winnowing down the huge pool from the auditions. Too bad she wasn't there for some of the early, crazy, awful singers. I would have liked to have heard what she had to say.
Continue reading Ellen DeGeneres' Idol Debut Set for February 9
Posted Jan 27th 2010 11:00PM by Kona Gallagher
Filed under: American Idol, Judges, Reviewcaps, Contestants, Performances, Host
(S09E06) So last night,
Avril Lavigne made me want to kill myself, and
Katy Perry was surprisingly tolerable. I'm thinking things are going to be better tonight, as we have
Neil Patrick Harris who is great, and
Joe Jonas, who is a Jonas Brother, and as such is supposed to be cute and sweet, right? That's their thing? Anyway, we're in Dallas, home of
Kelly Clarkson, so the big question is, does the city have the next Kelly on its hands?
I don't know about that, but I do know that NPH is my new idol. He asserts himself, and is tough while remaining charming. In fact, it seems as though he even takes the lead and goes over Simon's head a little bit: I like that.
Continue reading Reviewcap: American Idol - Dallas Auditions
Posted Jan 27th 2010 4:00PM by Kona Gallagher
Filed under: American Idol, Vs., Celebrities, Project Runway, Contestants
American Idol is still marching along with its auditions, and
last night's episode had us in Los Angeles. We had guest judges
Avril Lavigne and
Katy Perry, but those weren't the only familiar faces we saw. During a segment on contestants who were aping
Adam Lambert, we saw a guy who said that he would be the product of
Susan Boyle and Adam Lambert having sex. He seemed familiar, and now the folks behind
Project Runway have figured it out: It was former
Project Runway contestant
Daniel Franco.
Franco appeared in not one, but two seasons of
Runway, and was
made out to be sort of crazy. He didn't win, and is apparently testing out other avenues in the realm of reality television. He doesn't mention anything about this endeavor on
his website, but then again, he hasn't updated his blog since 2007. It doesn't appear as though Franco got a golden ticket, so we'll never know how his singing ability stacks up to his design ability. More importantly, we're missing out on the
Project Runway/American Idol mashup that we never wanted.
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