Is American Idol Still Emmy’s Biggest Loser?
Last year “American Idol” finally won its first Emmy, which thus, presumably, buried the threat of America’s most successful TV show reigning as the biggest loser of TV’s top award. The record to beat was 25 defeats held by the old “Newhart” series (1982-1990). After last year’s Emmy derby, “American Idol” ended up with 28 losses, one win.
But, wait: Two arguments can be made that “Idol” is still really Emmy’s biggest loser. Read on.
Pope Youth Rally: Kelly Clarkson Performs
Kelly Clarkson sang the “Ave Maria,” at Pope Benedict’s youth rally at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers. The first “American Idol” warmed up the crowd before the pontiff’s arrival with sings ranging from rock to spiritual. Check out the video.
RADIO WAVES
FOOLED AGAIN: You would think that people would be aware of April Fool’s Day when a morning jock makes an outlandish announcement on the first day of the month. But people aren’t. April Sommers, sidekick on the Don Bleu show on KIOI (Star 101.3), reports: “Bleu claimed to have received a press release from the FCC outlining the discovery of a rogue employee at the company who calculates votes for ‘American Idol.’ Said employee ‘fixed’ the vote last season, leading to the early dismissal of Sanjaya Malakar. Bleu managed to get ‘Idol’ producer Nigel Lythoe on the phone (the role of Nigel was played by Star 101.3’s new program director, Andrew Jeffries). He not only confirmed the story but also outlined ‘American Idol’s’ planned remedy: to allow Sanjaya to join this season’s competition. And to make room for Sanjaya, producers decided to eliminate Syesha Mercado, who received the least number of votes the previous week. ‘Idol’ fans were incensed; Don received hundreds of concerned phone calls and e-mails. Once the prank was revealed, Don got even more calls and e-mails.”
Champ Car News
Australian singing sensation Michael Johns, who was controversially voted off American Idol last week, will be hoping to be in “Victory Lane” this weekend at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Johns will be in pit lane to cheer on Team Australia’s Will Power in his Aussie Vineyards entry in the third round of the IndyCar Series on one of the world’s most famous street circuits.
Johns has made headlines around the world after being voted off American Idol, to the disbelief of the live audience, which reacted to the announcement with loud and on-going boos.
David Cook’s friends and neighbors backing their hometown ‘Idol’
Call them his neighbors. Call them his friends.
They call themselves fans, and they can’t wait for front-row tickets to the first David Cook concert.
“I think he’s talented and has a way of picking a song,” said Angela Hart, neighbor of Cook’s mother and president of his official fan club. “He looks like a rock star.”
David Cook, a Blue Springs South High School graduate, is one of the top six finalists on “American Idol,” and Hart along with her family and friends fully expect Cook to win the whole competition.
Haley Scarnato Performs at Fiesta Opening Ceremony
The ceremony included a performance by American Idol contestant Haley Scarnato.
Scarnato sang the 1970’s disco hit “Turn the Beat Around” as she danced across the stage.
Click here to watch part of Haley’s performance.
Stabler’s XOXO Fest this week
Ken Stabler has come up with what he calls a “game plan for hope” to help the less fortunate. His idea: some golf and fishing.
The XOXO Fest, sponsored by the XOXO Stabler Foundation, is slated in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Thursday through Saturday. It will include two days of golf and two days of fishing, and proceeds will benefit various charities in the area.
Celebrities scheduled to appear this year are Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle, former Alabama and NFL linebacker Barry Krauss, Alabama radio play-by-play announcer and author Eli Gold, Alabama director of athletics Mal Moore, former Mississippi State and major-league baseball star Will Clark, New England Patriots’ offensive lineman Wesley Britt, American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, former Southern Miss and Oakland Raiders punter Ray Guy and former Oakland Raiders’ wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff.
Marvin Sapp to perform at Dove Awards
It’s the 25th year of performing for veteran singer-songwriter Michael W. Smith. A musical tribute to him is joined by former “American Idol” finalists Phil Stacey, Chris Sligh and Mandisa, along with 2007 “Idol” winner Jordin Sparks, who once toured with Smith.
Mlive
2 ex-’Idol’-ers give poles-apart performances
Bucky Covington pushed a shock of his wavy blond hair from his eyes, glinted from behind sunglasses and belted out that classic refrain from CCR’s “Fortunate Son”: “It ain’t me /It ain’t me /I ain’t no fortunate one, no,” he wailed in a Southern-fried, rough-hewn baritone that has served him well since his Season 5 early exit from “American Idol.” The crowd loosely filling the reserved seating area and packing the lawn needed little coaxing to sing along, especially after having heard John Fogerty sing it the night before.
But on the Country Thunder stage, Pickler might have earned a no-bill from Simon. She lacked the finesse of a prime-time opener. There was something clumsy about her stage presence. She seemed to be trying too hard, and she ended up talking more than singing. Perhaps it is because she has few songs of her own from which to choose.
From losers to winners
When Michael Johns was eliminated from “American Idol” two weeks ago, fans all over the world loudly protested. Michael was a contest favorite; some music buffs even thought he could go all the way to the top. Alas, the show’s “voting population” thought otherwise. Now his fans are disconsolate—and mad as heck.
Not to worry, Johns loyalists. This is definitely not the end of the road for your favorite, who has “star” written all over him. We can expect him to clinch an album deal soon.
We aren’t indulging in musical fantasy. If you follow the post-“Idol” careers of some of the past finalists, you can get proof positive that winners and losers have benefited greatly from their “Idol” exposure.
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Jason Castro doing “Memory” please no just shoot me now please. I saw the play the song out of his range and an acoustic version no way. Maybe he will actually stand up and sing like Paul Potts?
Jason taking a risk not a good feeling I do not think he is that good of a singer as people say(hides w/ falseto).
Prediction-Jason will go 1st or second nomatter what will do good be called greatand they will build a shrine .
Well…now I just read the post over at IDF and I’m not sure if she meant it as a hint or not. Anyone know if this poster is known for giving little hints like that?
Re: Jason’s song choice…If it’s ‘Memory’…he’s committing suicide. He’s quite good, just caught his ‘crazy’ acoustic performance on youtube and he’s got talent. But not the ‘type’ of talent that can pull of this big, bombastic number which is ICONIC for the play it’s in. Yeah…he could lower it…but at it’s low points it’s in the basement of anyone’s range and at it’s high points…it’s at the ceiling. Carly and Syesha could POSSIBLY pull this off and I think maybe, if the spoilers are true, Jason could have wrestled it away from these two. If he succeeds in making this number good on his own terms, he would have earned his spot in the final 3 in my book.
Re: Cook’s choice…He should run from Gethsemane as fast as he can go. #1) It’s not exactly the MOST well known of ALW’s songs and I think at this point, it’s important to pick well known songs. #2) Takes waaayyyy too long to build. No doubt Cook can sing it though. He could, however, tackle ‘Music of the Night’…it’s well known, he has the range to do it, and it could easily mold itself into a semi-rock/pop ballad.
No clue what Archie will do, but I’m sure he’ll find something. Carly should have taken ‘Memory’ and I guarantee someone will be doing “I don’t Know How to Love Him” from JCS.
I wonder if anyone will do Another Suitcase In Another Hall, or is that not going to be a challenging enough number?
For those who are not belters, I think this song as well as anything in the Evita musical should be fair game. Broadway songs are really unforgiving. They can EXPOSE weak singers so so easily. They often require a certain amount of technique to do them justice…at least the songs from Cats, Phantom, JCS, especially the latter. Like I said, Castro is really really going out on a limb if he took “Memory”…especially with the words…”Touch me…it’s so easy to leave me…all alone with the memory…of my day in the sun..”. If that doesn’t scream..boot me…I don’t know what does.
The Word Nerds would have double Jason’s but the mods just love to erase ALL of our threads! (we are extremely naughty on there)
If it means anything, DC has more fans on the IMDB.com boards - more than any other contestant
Yeah, but he is wearing a “special” jacket instead…Maybe it’ll have AC written on the back in diamonds or it could be a jacket for POTO.
pj, you know I am hoping that Jason takes a risk, but this is a big one! Besides Barry Manilow, is there anyone else that has done a low-keyed, mellow version of MEMORY? I want him to be around for Neil Diamond night!
Baxter, it makes me wonder how David A. is treated by the other contestants and if his Dad is with him all the time?
I really, really hope, too, that Jason would still be around to sing at least two songs in a competition night. He had better bring it this week. (Maybe I should join that JC prayer blog…lol)