American Idol

Taking a Gamble on American Idol Taylor Hicks: A New Back Up Singer

2007-07-03T21:16:00.000-07:00

It all started with an idea, a concert sign, and a dream. Arriving in Atlantic City a day early for the June 24th Taylor Hicks concert at the House of Blues, I asked one of my travel buddies to create a sign that I could take to the show. This idea came to me when I heard Taylor’s backup singer would not be on this leg of the tour.

Taking a Gamble on Taylor Hicks in Atlantic City Definitely Paid Off
Taking a Gamble on Taylor Hicks in Atlantic City Definitely Paid Off

I wanted a sign that read, "Taylor’s New Backup Singer" with a big red arrow pointing downward that would, when held over my head, point right to me. Mind you this was to be ‘just for laughs’ but at four o’clock in the morning, while we were up preparing for the concert like excited teenagers, my friend asked what I would do if Taylor Hicks actually called me up on stage to sing. I laughed hysterically and brushed it off as impossible, never in a million years could she be right…

***

But it did plant a seed of hope. The next evening things got off to a great start. Not only was I carded by security at the House of Blues, which simply made my day, but I also ended up right in front at the stage thanks to two new friends who held a place for me and guarded it with their lives. Now armed with my trusty sign and the perfect spot, I was ready for a fantastic show.

After Mr. Hicks’ opening number I figured that was my chance so I held up my sign and called out his name. He stopped and read it, smiled and went over to his microphone to say, “I’ll think about it”, in that Elvis-like southern drawl.

***

Right then and there I would’ve been satisfied…but it gets better. After Hicks sang a few more hits, consisting of his pre-Idol standards such as “Heart and Soul” and “Hell Of A Day” coupled with fantastic covers of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick In the Wall” and Rod Stewart’s “Young Turks”, I figured I was not going to get my wish. But in a last attempt I raised my sign once more, during a quiet moment between songs, and cleared my throat loudly.

Hicks looked over at me again and asked, “Well, can you sing?”

My buddies vouched for my singing ability, even though they’ve never heard me squeak out a real note. Then I thought about how I had just been screaming and singing along at the top of my lungs throughout the entire concert and wondered well, can I?

He then replied, “You never know what you’ll get if you only ask.”

***

That was enough for me to pull out my digital camera so I could have the video setting ready to roll—just in case. I had snuck the camera into the venue, only to not have much luck getting around the camera Nazis in yellow polo shirts to snap one picture. But there was no way I was not going to video this event…if it actually were to take place.

The concert continued as I waited with bated breath, but once I heard the distinct opening drum line of “The Runaround” I knew that would be the last song of the show. I decided to be satisfied with at least having my sign acknowledged, and grateful for the shout-outs from Hicks.

Then, halfway through the song he made his way to my side of the stage and signaled me to come up!

My heart stopped.

***

Of course I immediately went into panic mode, my buddy and I fumbling the camera between us in a strained effort just to turn it on, all while Hicks stood over us wearing an amused look of “are you comin’ or not?” Finally I managed to make my way through the crowd and took off for the back entrance of the stage.

The House of Blues should provide their security team with a hefty raise due to them giving me the hardest time in allowing me on stage, even after Hicks himself invite me. So there I stood, negotiating with two wet-behind-the-ears college boys who by then I had upgraded to Camera and Security Nazis while Taylor and the band, I’m told, were looking around for me to show up on the stage from somewhere—anywhere.

Eventually I decided to ignore security altogether and ran back towards the stage. I jumped up on the barricade step and realized there was at least a two-foot gap between the chest-high stage and me. There was no way I could vault myself that far without breaking or dislocating a major part of my anatomy. Fans behind me were yelling ‘jump!’ and as I argued that it was impossible to do, Taylor Hicks himself came over and extended his hand to help me up—chivalry does live! When he saw how terrified I was he took me by both hands and yanked me up onstage with the help of the wonderful fans behind me (a big thank you to those who groped my rear to assure my safe flight).

***

I must give major kudos to Taylor Hicks. It takes guts to pull a fan from the audience to perform with you for a number of reasons: first being not knowing for sure if that fan can actually carrying a tune and second, the possibility of that fan being a psycho who could attempt to carry out unmentionable acts with the presented opportunity. I believe Hicks had more faith in my not being a physical threat than my ability to sing, and he stood very near to hear a few notes before grinning a mile wide at the audience and exclaiming “She can sing!”

Now I understand why Hicks lives for life ‘on the road’. My being on stage in front of fans actually cheering for me was an incredible rush. At first I was nervous enough to pass out but he made me feel right at home and I was able to toss the nerves and try my best to keep up with him. Somehow, surprisingly, Hicks and I ‘doing the bump’ even snuck its way into the impromptu performance. I’m not sure what or who was the culprit but he was in an even better mood than usual! I’ve always enjoyed Hicks’ concerts and he seems to have the best times of his life onstage, but Sunday night was above and beyond anything I’m sure any of his fans have ever witnessed.

***

You can view the full video of my stage debut (courtesy of EJ) here on YouTube:

The band, as always, was flawless. Loren Gold (keyboards), Brian Gallagher (saxophone/flute/percussion), Felix ‘D-Kat’ Pollard (drums), Al ‘Boogie’ Carty (bass) and Josh Smith (guitar) – those boys carry Taylor Hicks and do it effortlessly. There have been several times when I’ve stood in awe at what flows from their instruments, and I’m sure that night Smith caught me in the front row with my mouth dropped open—he amazes me, and I haven’t been this fascinated by a guitarist since Brian May of Queen. Musicians are captivating as a whole, and I still don’t understand how I have tried my hand at every instrument known to man and never succeeded at any of them…where was I when God was imparting instrumental talents?

Whether dressed in a suit jacket or T-shirt and jeans, Taylor Hicks makes his audience feel at home. And the more concerts a fan attends the more of a family reunion vibe he sets; always super-charged on a musical high and hell-bent on giving us a good time. Full of surprises, you never know what you will get at his shows, which is what I look forward to the most with every one I attend.

I am still waiting for Hicks to cover “Baby Hold On” by Eddie Money. I’ve been asking for a while now, maybe he’ll make that second dream of mine come true as well?

Maybe I’ll make another sign…

American Idol host hits the big screen

2007-06-06T21:51:00.001-07:00

NEW YORK - Ryan Seacrest is known as a lot of things - slick "American Idol" ringmaster, hotshot radio deejay, ubiquitous E! channel host - but funny guy's not one of them. Which makes his scene-stealing cameo in "Knocked Up" such an amusing surprise.

Even more so because he's the butt of the joke.

Seacrest sends up his pompous image in the Judd Apatow-directed comedy about an ambitious entertainment reporter (Katherine Heigl) whose life is flipped when she learns she is pregnant. She takes her job seriously at E! Entertainment Television - but not as seriously as the film-version Seacrest, who launches into a riotous rant during a scene that lasts barely two minutes.

Seacrest, playing himself, becomes ticked off on the set when Jessica Simpson throws off his busy schedule by arriving at her leisure for an interview.

He angrily suggests that maybe he'll retaliate by asking for her thoughts on an "exit strategy" in the Middle East.

"I don't understand the young talent in this town," the movie Seacrest goes on. "It doesn't make any sense. I got four jobs - hell, I'm more famous than half the people we talk to anyway!"

The rant then escalates into an R-rated diatribe with Seacrest dropping the F-bomb and denouncing the superficial workings of the entertainment industry. The apoplectic host finally has to be ushered into the green room with a promise of a cookie in an effort to calm him down.

Seacrest is not nearly as divalike in real life. ... Or is he?

At the beginning of a recent telephone interview with The Associated Press, the 32-year-old took a moment to jokingly exercise his authority: "Hang on one second - "Linda, WHERE'S MY LUNCH?! ... Sorry, just kidding," he deadpanned, back on the phone.

Seacrest, whose poker-faced demeanor during those ominous "Idol" elimination shows was spoofed recently on "Saturday Night Live," said he relished exposing his not-so-serious side in "Knocked Up."

"Oh, I love it! I don't mind being the butt of the joke. ... It doesn't really bother me. I quite enjoy it," said Seacrest.

Movie debut for American Idol star

2007-06-06T21:50:00.003-07:00

Katharine McPhee, the runner-up on last year's series of 'American Idol', is to make her movie debut in a "dark romantic comedy" called 'The Last Caller'.

The Hollywood Reporter says the film is a coming-of-age story about a self-obsessed woman (McPhee) looking for love and meaning in her life.

Shooting on the film is due to begin in the autumn in the New York area.

McPhee released her debut solo album earlier this year.

American Idol Taylor Hicks & Caroline Lyders Love Triangle

2007-06-06T21:50:00.001-07:00

Caroline Lyders and American Idol Taylor Hicks may have a very good reason for the "just friends" mantra they dished out after being spotted getting cozy on a beach in Hawaii. Lyders the co-anchor of the weekday edition of WISN 12 News This Morning has a longtime boyfriend, insurance businessman Aaron Ruffcorn, reports Star magazine. Is Taylor Hicks the 'other man'? Is Taylor Hicks singing on the cheating side of town?

American Idol Taylor Hicks & Caroline Lyders Love Triangle
American Idol Taylor Hicks & Caroline Lyders Love Triangle

Quite the buzz was created when the "American Idol" winner was recently photographed with a bikini clad Lyders, The two insisted they were just friends — but they were later spotted smooching in a more-than-friendly way. They looked cute together.

***

But that hit a sour note with Lyders’ fella. “[Lyders] was with our family for the [Christmas] holiday and we all had a lot of fun,” Ruffcorn’s father Michael told the tab. “I know they have been talking about marriage for some time.” The two have known each other since high school, reports MSNBC.

His mother told Star that the two are currently dating, but Ruffcorn himself seems less certain. “There is nothing but love and respect between Caroline and myself,” he told the tab. “There is a lot of history between us; all decisions we make are together. Whether there’s a future for Caroline and Taylor, I don’t know. As to whether there’s still a future [for us] at this point, stranger things have happened."

American Idol Carrie Underwood Fans Emailed By Hacker

2007-06-06T21:49:00.000-07:00

Country singer and former American Idol winner Carrie Underwood's page on online networking website MySpace.com has been hacked by a mobile phone ringtone promotion.

Over the last 24 hours, fans of the American star have been receiving emails claiming to be from Underwood herself, urging them to check out "these amazing free ringtones", reports website Tmz.com.

The spam emails read: "Hey, this is Carrie Underwood. Ok here's the deal, I need every single MySpace friend to stop what he/she's doing and go here right now and put your cell # in. You'll receive every ringtone from every myspace artist (including my favourites)..."

Underwood's management have been made aware of the hack.

Who Needs American Idol?: Timberlake Label Signs YouTube Phenom

2007-06-06T21:48:00.002-07:00

Dutch teenager Esmee Denters, who shot up the Web video charts last year with cover renditions of songs by Beyoncé, Alanis Morrisette and Alicia Keys, is the first musician to be signed by Justin Timberlake's nascent imprint Tennman Records.

Denters, who used a simple Web cam to shoot the clips of herself, has racked up over 21 million views on the 59 videos she has posted on the site. Most recently -- perhaps having signed on already -- she posted a clip of herself singing Timberlake's "What Goes Around." People mag quotes Timberlake as calling her "the real deal," and gives some details of what's now to follow:

An album she will write and record is slated for release later this year, and this month she will kick off a concert tour, mostly in Scandinavia.

"Words can't describe how amazing it is. I am so excited!" Denters says in a statement. "It is something I have always dreamed of doing. I have to thank YouTube and its viewers for giving me the opportunity to show the world my voice. I also have to thank Justin, one of the biggest artists in the world, for believing in me and making my dreams come true."

Film for 'Idol's' McPhee

2007-06-06T21:48:00.001-07:00

Season five "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee will make her feature-film debut in the indie romantic comedy "The Last Caller," Zap2it.com reports.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, "The Last Caller" is budgeted for $5 million to $8 million. Production will begin this fall in and around New York. The film will focus on a self-obsessed woman (Miss McPhee) looking for "love, hope and meaning" in the big city. Miss McPhee's role won't involve any singing, the trade publication says.

Peter to play pope
Peter O'Toole will follow his Oscar-nominated turn in "Venus" by playing Pope Paul III on Showtime's "The Tudors," Variety reports.
The legendary actor has booked a seven-episode arc on the second season of the cable network's successful freshman drama. The season two story line will pit Mr. O'Toole's pontiff against Jonathan Rhys Meyers' Henry VIII.
"Peter O'Toole is the holy grail for 'The Tudors,' " Showtime Entertainment President Robert Greenblatt told Daily Variety via e-mail.
Mr. Greenblatt noted that though Mr. O'Toole has appeared in TV miniseries before, this will mark the actor's first regular role in a recurring series.
Interestingly, Mr. O'Toole has played a King Henry before in two movies — but not a Tudor king. He played Henry II in 1964's "Becket" and 1968's "The Lion in Winter."
Also joining the Showtime roster: Keith Carradine, who will be on "Dexter" as a series regular. He'll play an FBI agent who comes to investigate a series of murders that turn out to be the work of the show's title character (Michael C. Hall). He'll end up romantically involved with Dexter's sister (Jennifer Carpenter). Mr. Carradine's recent TV work includes a role as Wild Bill Hickok on HBO's "Deadwood."

County fair features former ‘Idol’ contestant

2007-06-06T21:47:00.002-07:00

PROCTORVILLE — This year’s entertainment lineup at the Lawrence County Fair will feature a few of the traditional mainstays and a country music singer known for her “Red High Heels.”

“We think the music keeps getting better and better,” said Lou Anne Capper, one of the fair’s organizers.

Unlike previous years, Capper said the entertainment is being geared toward the younger generation with acts like a motocross exhibit, demolition derby and even a performance by a former American Idol contestant.

“We are trying to get the younger crowd a lot more excited about the entertainment and we think it is working,” Capper said.

The fair kicks off Saturday, July 7, with a demolition derby beginning at 8 p.m. The following night, on Sunday, there will be motocross at 8 p.m. On Monday, July 9, a kiddie tractor pull will be presented at 6 p.m., followed by a traditional tractor pull at 7:30 p.m. There will be a “daredevil thrill show” featuring the Imperial Stunt Drivers at 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 10, followed by a small car demolition derby at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The entertainment headliner of the fair will be country music singer Kellie Pickler, who will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 12. She has is known for her hit songs “Red High Heels” and “I Wonder,” which she performed during her stint last year on the popular television show “American Idol.”

At 8 p.m., on Friday, July 13, there will be bull riding. The fair will wrap up the following night, July 14, with another demolition derby at 7:30 p.m.

Rains have dampened the entertainment in the past. Last year, heavy downpours led to the cancellation and delay of some of the fair events. Hopefully, Capper said, that won’t happen this year.

“We are hoping that (week) will be the one drought week we have,” she said with a laugh. “But, it never seems to work out that way.”

Reality shows invade TV tonight

2007-06-06T21:47:00.001-07:00

Honestly, the week following the "American Idol" season finale almost landed me in rehab. Initially, I stared at the TV blankly, with my eyes glazed over and my mind desperate for its fix of questionable talent and incoherent criticism.

Thankfully, I'm better now.

That's because I've found summer's new crop of reality TV shows. Sure, they slightly lack the widespread commercial appeal of "Idol," but you'll nonetheless find a train-wreck appeal strong enough to feed your habit.

Consider tonight's TV schedule.

First, there's "So You Think You Can Dance" (8 p.m., FOX). Don't let the title fool you — this guilty pleasure is a little bit "Dancing with the Stars," a little bit "American Idol" and a little bit "Jerry Springer Show." (But not the real Jerry Springer. He's on "America's Got Talent." On Wednesdays.) Anyway, "So You Think You Can Dance" is still in its preliminary rounds, and tonight the remaining contenders hit Vegas in hopes of being named a finalist. Dancers include a chick with a prosthetic arm, the sister of last year's winner and a guy who's allegedly been hiccuping for seven years. Let the games begin.

Not into fancy footwork? Check out "The Next Big Thing" (8 p.m., ABC). This show is all about finding "the greatest celebrity impersonator." Because I have no life, I actually watched the premiere episode last week, when contestants impersonated everyone from Bill Cosby to Dolly Parton. Let's just say the show is one Cher impersonation away from a weekend in Vegas.

Finally, the night wraps up with "American Inventor" (9 p.m., ABC), the search for America's best inventor. With luck, this season's winner will invent a cure for a bad case of reality TV withdrawal.

American Idol Host Ryan Seacrest Mocks Jessica Simpson at the Movies

2007-06-05T21:39:00.002-07:00

American Idol judge Ryan Seacrest has a lot of jobs. Over the weekend the host had a bit of fun at his own expense and at pop tart Jessica Simpson's as well. That is - if you were one of the many folks that caught the hilarious and highly recommended new romantic comedy 'Knocked Up. His scene-stealing cameo in the film is priceless in a movie filled with laughs.

Katherine Heigl plays an E! Televison reporter and of course that's one of the many jobs Ryan has in real life. The Associated Press has this recap:

***

Seacrest, playing himself, becomes ticked off on the set when Jessica Simpson throws off his busy schedule by arriving at her leisure for an interview. He angrily suggests that maybe he'll retaliate by asking for her thoughts on an "exit strategy" in the Middle East.

"I don't understand the young talent in this town," the movie Seacrest goes on. "It doesn't make any sense. I got four jobs — hell, I'm more famous than half the people we talk to anyway!"

The rant then escalates into an R-rated diatribe with Seacrest dropping the F-bomb and denouncing the superficial workings of the entertainment industry. The apoplectic host finally has to be ushered into the green room with a promise of a cookie in an effort to calm him down.

***

It was classic. For the record, Jess never shows in that scene but does have a cameo later on the red carpet.

American Idol's Katherine McPhee to star in indie film

2007-06-05T21:39:00.001-07:00

Katherine McPhee, season 5's American Idol runner-up, has signed on to star in an independent film, entitled “The Last Caller”. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film is “a coming-of-age tale about a self-obsessed woman (McPhee) who searches for love, hope and meaning during a few random events with other urban seekers.”

The film is supposedly a dark romantic comedy, which is probably the reason the film is independent (big-budget Hollywood romantic comedies tend to be of the “light” variety). This will be the first starring role for McPhee, who has acted before on stage and has appeared in one film, the 2006 movie “Crazy”.

“The Last Caller” was written Michael Albanese, whose only IMDB credits are for directing seven episodes of the 1981 talk show, “Signature”. Wonder where he's been all these years. McPhee is taking a risk with this career move, some might say, because starring in a small independent film could be off-putting for her fan base, depending on the content.

This will be the first big film project for any former Idol since the abomination that was “From Justin 2 Kelly”. Frankly, of all the former Idol contestants, Kat McPhee is probably the best suited for a film/acting career. She has a history on stage, she is young, her music career isn't so successful that acting isn't worth a shot and, well, she's really attractive. Pretty good combo.

Independent films are more or less a crap shoot, however, and McPhee probably isn't a big enough celebrity to give the film a ton of exposure on her own. It's going to have to stand on its own merits.

By the way, if you were one of the lucky people to see Knocked Up this weekend, you were treated to a hilariously self-deprecating cameo by Ryan Seacrest. We're not going to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it, but it's good.

Paula Abdul gushes that judging 'American Idol' is her "purpose in life"

2007-06-05T21:38:00.004-07:00

American Idol has helped numerous singers find their path in life, and apparently its done the same for judge Paula Abdul.

"I didn't find out my purpose in life until American Idol," said Abdul in the June 11 issue of OK! Weekly. "I knew since I was a little girl that I had this profound way of touching people. My purpose is bringing out everybody's best and being that cheerleader to other people's success."

The revelation by the 45-year-old that she hadn't found her place in life until Idol's 2002 premiere could be considered somewhat surprising since her career as a dancer, choreographer and singer were all established prior to that. She initially gained notoriety working as a Los Angeles Lakers' Laker Girl and becoming the eventual choreographer for the group. She then went on to choreograph music videos for numerous artists, from Duran Duran and Dolly Parton to Janet Jackson and INXS. As a pop-star in the 1980s, Abdul sang numerous hits, including "Opposites Attract," "Forever Your Girl," "Rush, Rush" and "Crazy Cool." "Opposites Attract"'s music video won Abdul a 1991 Grammy Award for best short form music video.

"I've had three separate careers and shots at superstardom, the third time around with this show. Being a judge on American Idol overshadows being a Grammy Award winner and selling millions of records," she told OK!.

While appearing as an Idol judge may have been a blessing for Abdul, it's also made her life more hectic than ever. Her Bravo docu-reality series Hey Paula! is scheduled to premiere June 28; she's producing her new Bratz: The Movie project; she's developed her own line of perfumes and cosmetics; has her own originally-designed jewelry line; markets a clothing line she started; and also makes numerous personal appearances.

"If I appear exhausted on television, it's because I am!" Abdul told OK!. "I have a lot of sleepless nights because I'm in so much pain. I was taking far more medications on earlier seasons [of Idol], and nobody said anything. I try to say something and I stumble, and that's what people have picked up on. I'm not polished."

In April 2005, Abdul revealed she suffers from a rare neurological disorder called complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), which causes the chronic pain she feels.

"I have had Botox injections in my neck to numb the nerves but it didn't really work. I had three injections in eight years," Abdul told OK!. "I inject myself with a shot of Humira every two weeks, which is very helpful. I also use Enbrel [which like Humira can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis], Relafan [an anti-inflamatory drug] and the painkiller lidocaine. Two or three times a week I have a specialist message to calm the nervous system. I see an acupuncture specialist who deals in head and spinal-cord trauma."

She's also bee diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, a chronic condition characterized by severe pain that has no cure. However she said much of the pain she feels is no longer a symptom of the condition.

"I have four titanium plates in my neck. I've had 14 surgeries over the years. I had an operation the same evening as the first season finale of American Idol," Abdul explained to OK!. "It can come and go at any time, but I no longer have the intense nerve pain that is associated with RSD, thank God."

Having survived an auto accident when she was hit by a drunk driver in 1987; a plane crash in 1993; as well as eating disorders throughout the early years of her life, Abdul told OK! she's never thought about suicide but does suffer from depression.

"I've survived a number of crises, and with it comes depression," she told OK!. "I have really good therapists. I'm not afraid to ask for help. I need help. I've been through some major s**t where depression could have been a disease for me and led me to not even be here."

In addition to the crises that affected her early life, Abdul has had to endure media scrutiny while serving as an Idol judge. She's constantly heckled by fellow judge Simon Cowell; has to frequently deny rumors she takes drugs recreationally and drinks heavily; constantly deals with reports that she's being replaced on Idol; was at the center of a reported sex scandal with former Idol 2 finalist Corey Clark, who alleged that he and Abdul had a sexual relationship while he was competing on the series; and most recently had an alleged run-in with her dog that ended with her breaking her nose and had to deal with a private phone conversaton she had with publicists being leaked to the media.

"I have felt like an outsider, yet I've always had so much love from my fans," she told OK!. "I've worked very hard. I know how powerful I am. I was rejected, rejected, rejected, and told that I was not meant to be a dancer. I never fit the mold, but I went on to become the most famous choreographer in the world. I'm a warrior. I'm not the best dancer, and I'm certainly not the best singer, but I am an entire package of a great performer."

Abdul aid she's only recently started to date again, but said success is minimal because "men are intimidated by me." While she'd like to become involved in a romantic relationship, Abdul said there's also nothing wrong with being single.

"I would never be in a relationship for the sake of being in a relationship. I feel okay on my own," she told OK!. "Real love is understanding who I am and loving myself even when I didn't like myself. I love being in love. I really do. I'm proud of who I am."

Obesity Campaigner Gets 'Death Threats' Over American Idol Jordin Sparks

2007-06-05T21:38:00.003-07:00

An obesity campaigner who criticised American Idol winner Jordin Sparks' weight has received death threats over her remarks.

MeMe Roth, of the National Action Against Obesity group in the U.S., admits she has been the victim of hate-mail ever since her appearance on a TV show, with fans of the star "calling for my death".

But Roth refuses to retract her opinions, and insists 17-year-old Sparks is in need of severe weight loss, but denies she referred to the singer as "obese".

American Idol Simon Cowell 'Sick With Envy' Over Dancing With Stars

2007-06-05T21:38:00.001-07:00

American Idol judge Simon Cowell confesses he is jealous of friends who taste success - but insists it is healthy to be competitive.

The music mogul also admits he is 'sick with envy' he wasn't the brainchild behind hit U.S. TV show Dancing with the Stars, and secretly wanted the programme to flop.

He says, "If someone I know is doing better than me I get incredibly miserable.

American Idol Simon Cowell's Hairdryer Fetish

2007-06-05T07:08:00.001-07:00

Music mogul Simon Cowell abides by a superstitious ritual before appearing on TV - he "worships" his hair-dryer, according to his co-star.

Cowell's pre-show ritual was exposed by his Britain's Got Talent co-judge Amanda Holden.

The actress explains, "He has a little routine before every show, with his hairdryer, but it's pointless - he looks exactly the same afterwards.

American Idol is Last

2007-06-05T07:01:00.001-07:00

‘American Idol’ runner-up Katharine McPhee has snagged a film role – a lead role in fact.

In “The Last Caller”, she’ll play a self-obsessed woman who searches for love, hope and meaning during a few random events with other urban seekers.

"This is the first thing that I read that I really wanted to do," said McPhee, who added that the role doesn't involve singing. "I'm up for a couple of big studio projects, but they weren't starring roles. I wanted to start off doing something a little different. It's something that a lot of people wouldn't expect me doing."

In fact, the Southern California native said the film's protagonist "is definitely a little darker than me."

With Korea as Model, Bush Team Ponders Long Support Role in Iraq

2007-06-04T23:27:00.002-07:00

WASHINGTON, June 2 — For the first time, the Bush administration is beginning publicly to discuss basing American troops in Iraq for years, even decades to come, a subject so fraught with political landmines that officials are tiptoeing around the inevitable questions about what the United States’ long-term mission would be there.

President Bush has long talked about the need to maintain an American military presence in the region, without saying exactly where. Several visitors to the White House say that in private, he has sounded intrigued by what he calls the “Korea model,” a reference to the large American presence in South Korea for the 54 years since the armistice that ended open hostilities between North and South.

But it was not until Wednesday that Mr. Bush’s spokesman, Tony Snow, publicly reached for the Korea example in talking about Iraq — setting off an analogy war between the White House and critics who charged that the administration was again disconnected from the realities of Iraq. He said Korea was one way to think about how America’s mission could evolve into an “over-the-horizon support role,” whenever American troops are no longer patrolling the streets of Baghdad.

The next day, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates also mentioned Korea, saying that establishing a long-term American garrison there was a lot smarter than the handling of Vietnam, “where we just left lock, stock and barrel.” He added that “the idea is more a model of a mutually agreed arrangement whereby we have a long and enduring presence but under the consent of both parties and under certain conditions.”

Korea is an attractive analogy for the Bush White House for a host of reasons: a half-century later, South Korea is a raucous democracy and one of the world’s biggest economies. The North is a broken, isolated state, though one that, improbably, has not only survived for more than 50 years but has built a small nuclear arsenal.

But Korea is also the kind of analogy that stokes the fears of those who see Iraq leading to unending war. The model suggests a near-permanent presence in Iraq, though presumably with far fewer troops than the nearly 150,000 now in place.

In a Democratic-controlled Congress, which continues to press for a troop withdrawal deadline, talk of permanent bases is not welcome, though many Democrats acknowledge that the United States cannot simply leave Iraq in chaos. Nor is the idea popular in the Middle East, though some countries are desperate for a strategic counterweight to Iran’s growing power.

Critics on the left who have argued for years that the Iraq war was really about oil leap on such talk as evidence that the administration’s real agenda is to put its forces right on top of Iraq’s still-broken pipelines. Those who fear the next target is Iran — including the Iranians — will see the permanent bases as staging areas, in case the United States decides to take military action against Iran’s nuclear program and deal with the repercussions later.

And the analogy rankles analysts who believe the situation is far less similar to Korea than it is to Vietnam in the ’60s or Beirut in the ’80s, where American bases became the No. 1 targets, and a rallying call for extremists, in an endless guerrilla war.

“It’s not that Iraq isn’t vital,” said Leslie Gelb, the former president of the Council of Foreign Relations, and one of the many experts organized by groups opposing Mr. Bush’s Iraq strategy to shoot back in the analogy war. “It’s just that Korea bears no resemblance to Iraq. There’s no strategy that can create victory.”

Historical analogy has been a problem for this administration since the start of the Iraq war in 2003. In the months before the invasion, there was talk of modeling a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq after the successful occupations of Japan and Germany. But even then, historians and analysts were warning against such comparisons, arguing that those were two cohesive societies that were exhausted by years of war and bore little resemblance to the fractured Iraqi society and its potential for internal violence.

The core problem with the Korea comparison, many experts on Asia note, is that when the war ended in 1953, there were bright lines drawn across the 38th Parallel, separating the warring parties. That hardened into the formal Demilitarized Zone, exactly the kind of division that the Bush administration has said it wants to avoid in Iraq.

And while there have been incursions across the Korean border over the years — a famous ax murder, underground invasion tunnels, a few commando raids by boat — those were mostly long ago. Nothing there has approached the Hobbesian state of chaos that is everyday life in Baghdad and Anbar Province.

Some of Mr. Bush’s critics see an effort to reach for any comparison other than Vietnam.

“If we can make this like Korea, then we have been successful,” said the Donald L. Kerrick, a retired general who spent 30 years in the military and has now emerged as one of a cadre of generals criticizing Mr. Bush’s strategy. He said that he did not believe the analogy fit.

Mr. Bush himself has made clear, while in Hanoi late last year for a summit meeting, that he believes America’s mistake in Vietnam was that it gave up too early. “We’ll succeed unless we quit” he told a small group of reporters who asked him what lessons he drew for Iraq. He declined to engage in deeper comparisons, including the fact that President Lyndon Johnson’s dire warnings about what would happen if the United States pulled out of Vietnam — that Communism would spread across Asia — never came to pass.

Administration officials and top military leaders declined to talk on the record about their long-term plans in Iraq. But when speaking on a not-for-attribution basis, they describe a fairly detailed concept. It calls for maintaining three or four major bases in the country, all well outside of the crowded urban areas where casualties have soared. They would include the base at Al Asad in Anbar Province, Balad Air Base about 50 miles north of Baghdad, and Tallil Air Base in the south.

“They are all places we could fly in and out of without putting Americans on every street corner,” said one senior official deeply involved in the development of Iraq strategy. “And our mission would be very different — making sure that Al Qaeda doesn’t turn Iraq into a base the way it turned Afghanistan into one.”

A long-term presence is envisioned by many experts, and it has been raised as a possibility by the Baker-Hamilton Commission, whose report on Iraq has now been embraced by President Bush — five months after he all but dismissed its conclusions. But the problem, as one senior administration official acknowledged last week, is that there is little reason to believe that American bases will stop Iraq from being “the great jihadist training camp it is today.”

As in Korea, the bases may be an effort to prevent calamity and invasion. The question is whether, in the firestorm of Iraq, their contribution to security would outweigh their roles as symbols of occupation or targets of terrorism.

American Idol, The King and The Greatest go private

2007-06-04T23:27:00.001-07:00

The gleam of the American Idol brand is brighter than ever after CNNMoney.com reported that billionaire and media magnate Robert F.X. Sillerman made a successful bid to take the AI franchise owner, CKX Inc (NASDAQ: CKXE) private. CKX announced Friday it accepted the offer from a group led by its current CEO, Sillerman, for $1.3 billion. Since Sillerman and other board members already owned 46% of outstanding capital stock, sale approval was a slam dunk.

The offer of $13.75 per share carried a 29% premium. However, according to the Wall Street Journal's MarketBeat, this fell well short of the $20-25 value investors placed on the stock.

Other CKX holdings include the rights to Elvis Presley, his music and his Graceland estate, as well as the rights to the name, image, and likeness of Muhammad Ali.

The company is attempting to grow its Presley line by enlisting the help of Cirque du Soleil in creating Presley-themed shows. It already has a deal with MGM Mirage to stage a permanent, live Presley show on the Strip in Las Vegas beginning in 2009. CKX also operates the Heartbreak Hotel, near Graceland, which might be a good place for the stockholders who feel the sale price was low to commiserate.

The company also plans to extend its Idol franchise worldwide. Since Simon (who needs a last name?) is contracted to the company, as well as holding a seat on the board of directors, we can safely assume his involvement won't be affected by the transition.

American Idol: Pundit calls Jordin Sparks obese

2007-06-04T23:24:00.000-07:00

Correspondents, talking heads, pundits, mental midgets; whatever you want to call them, it's becoming all too common for someone on a cable news network to spout a totally ridiculous opinion just to stir up some controversy. A couple weeks back, on FOX News, MeMe Roth from the National Action Against Obesity group, came on Neil Cavuto's show and said that Jordin Sparks should not win American Idol because she is obese and it sends the wrong message to American's youth. Child obesity (and obesity in general) is a serious issue in our country, and MeMe Roth may have had good intentions, but there are much better examples of obesity than Jordin Sparks.

MeMe Roth said, “When I look at Jordin I see diabetes, I see heart disease, I see high cholesterol. That's what's so sad about this. She is not the vision of health; she is the vision of unhealth.”

Besides the fact that “unhealth” is not a word, MeMe is out of line here. Jordin Sparks is, simply, a big girl. Five feet, eleven inches, and the daughter of a former NFL player. Svelteness probably wasn't a genetic option for Jordin. Also, let's not forget that Jordin is 17 years old. She may very well lose her baby fat in the next few years and, even if she doesn't, most viewers would probably agree that she looked relatively healthy throughout the season.

MeMe Roth, since her appearance on FOX News, says she has received death threats for her comments. Whoever issued said threats are clearly insane (as I suppose anyone who issues death threats is), but they are a good indicator of the passionate backlash she has received since targeting Jordin and her weight.

The truth is that, yeah, Jordin Sparks would benefit from losing weight. A lot of people would. But, to target a 17-year old feels wrong, and is indicative of how preposterous much of cable news/talking head segments have become. With so much noise in the media, sometimes the only way to be heard is to opine loudly and/or insanely (I'm looking at you, Skip Bayless).

Britney Spears An American Idol Judge? WTF?!

2007-06-04T23:23:00.000-07:00

Britney Spears may be the next judge on American Idol! Britney Spears, who can't sing and lip-synchs during most of her concerts, may actually become an American Idol judge in place of the 'loopy' Paula Abdul.

According to Mike Walker, a rumor mill/gossip 'expert', Idol is considering switching Paula Abdul, an experienced artist who's worked with countless stars and has been with American Idol since the get-go, with Britney Spears, a young pop star inexperienced in recognizing and building upon a voice talent.

American Idol Helping Radio Stations

2007-06-04T23:22:00.001-07:00

It's no secret, "American Idol" is the most successful show on TV. And that success is filtering down, all the way to your radio.

No matter what radio station you listen to, odds are you'll hear something about "American Idol".

Bruce Kayser a DJ for Sunny 101.5 says, "When "American Idol" comes down to the end, then the calls start coming in and people come in every day for weeks until the excitement wears down. So it's effected radio everywhere."

Stations are reporting an increase in the number of requests from people wanting to hear music from their favorite Idol contestants.

Karen Rite, the Program Director for U93 says, "Well, with the charts the way they are right now, there's a good possibility. I'd say one out of 10. Yeah, about one out of 10."

According to one station in Michiana, country music is a format that's enjoyed the most success.

Clint Marsh, Program Director for B100 says, "Some of the basic themes in country music are very universal. Great stories, great songs. Plus it's possible to have a much longer career in country radio than any other format."

But even Adult Contemporary and Top 40 stations are getting more listeners and they credit it to "American Idol".

Rite says, "We play off that. I mean, we're not stupid. We're gonna play off that. And the fact we play more of the artists because of the format it really helps us out and I love it. It gives us something to talk about."

Jack Reischert, a DJ at Sunny 101.5 says, "It sells and the bottom line is through all the glamor and all the singing and stuff, it's still a business. "American Idol" music as well as the TV show sells."

So as long as "American Idol" remains a hit, its contestants will be all over the airwaves.

Kayser says, "Once they win "American Idol" and even some that don't, it's amazing the fans that will come out in hoards and want to hear songs."

In addition to playing music from "American Idol" contestants, stations set aside time in their morning shows to talk about the show and give listeners are chance to comment.

What Love Our Children USA, American Idol And Dancing With The Stars Have In Common?

2007-06-04T23:21:00.001-07:00

New York, NY (OPENPRESS) June 5, 2007 -- Love Our Children USA is a national charity working to break the cycle of violence and neglect against children. As the Go-To prevention organization for all forms of violence and neglect in the United States, Love Our Children USA has accomplished much in its almost nine year history.

The organization is a voice for over 3 million children in the U.S. who are victims of violence and neglect, for almost 1.8 million who are abducted and for almost 600,000 in foster care.

As the leading national nonprofit that honors, respects and protects children, the organization has been responsible for saving four teens from suicide, getting several kids and their families into counseling, rescuing a teen from an Internet pedophile, helped several kids resolve bullying problems and provided thousands of parents with information and resources. These are just a handful of their accomplishments.

For their important work, Love Our Children USA has been honored as one of 25 charities Who Make Our Home A Better Place To Live through www.25Charities.com and, one of 21 regional charity winners Who Make The World A Better Place at www.Rezoom.com – and going on to compete for votes as the National winning charity with a $100,000 prize.

Not expecting more votes than American Idol, Dancing With The Stars (although its host Tom Bergeron serves on Love Our Children USA’s Celebrity Board of Governors with many other noted celebrities,) or the Presidential election, Love Our Children USA is asking its supporters, celebrity supporters and the public to vote for their organization which, if they win one or both awards, will bring much needed funds to increase their efforts to break the cycle of violence and neglect against children.

Ross Ellis, Love Our Children USA founder and chief executive officer said “We are honored to compete with all of these other hard-working charities. Unlike most others, we don’t cure, treat or heal. Our cause does not tug at heartstrings because our issue is one that many simply don’t understand …because after all, who would harm children? In two words – we prevent. And that takes as many dollars if not more, so we can stop the violence and neglect before it ever starts.”

Window View Publications and Rezoom.com have recognized the contributions of Love Our Children USA and other esteemed charities by creating a voting process for these charities to win votes and money for their hard work.

Anyone can vote for free on www.25Charities.com. However, by purchasing the book for $29.95,
it grants the buyer the equivalent of 100 votes, giving the charity with the most books bought the probability of receiving 20% of gross sales from all books during the promotion dates. And a unique aspect of the book includes the personalization feature, which allows the buyer to customize the first page to the wording of their choice, making it an ideal customized gift for graduations, anniversaries, or other special occasions – giving it the definitive personal touch.

Between June 1 and September 30, 2007, over 25% from each gross sale is given to all World Champion charities. 5% goes to the World Champion charity of your choice, an additional 20% is reserved for the charity with the most votes, and yet an additional 2¢ is donated to each charity in the book, in an effort to give each charity your “Two Cents.”

The personalized hard cover coffee table book with inspiring stories, is a resource for where to turn when people need help, the book, entitled “World Champions: 25 Charities That Make Our Home a Better Place to Live,” and features the missions, pictures, and heartwarming stories of 25 charities, and the impact they have on society.

Through www.Rezoom.com who recognizes the contributions of 21 regional charities who are vying for votes as the national charity Who Makes The World A Better Place and the prize of $100,000, supporters are asked to vote daily. This process begins on July 9th.

Ellis stated “the votes are important as the cash prizes awarded to the winning charity would be used to enhance programs needed to keep children safe. We’re asking our supporters and potentially new supporters to let their votes count through both of these initiatives for Love Our Children USA and for the important work we do to ensure that children grow up to be happy and healthy adults! Our visibility doesn’t come close to these great TV shows but we are hoping that our votes will be abundant.”

About Love Our Children USA
Love Our Children USA is the leading national nonprofit that honors, respects and protects children. Its mission is to break the cycle of violence against children. Love Our Children USA has become the go-to prevention organization for all forms of violence and neglect against children. It works to eliminate behaviors that keep children from reaching their potential. It redefines parenting by promoting prevention strategies and positive changes in parenting and family attitudes and behaviors through public education. It works to empower and support children, teens, parents and families through information, resources, advocacy, and online youth mentoring. Its goal is to keep children safe and strengthen families -- Its message is positive ... one of prevention and hope.

Young Redding musician heads to American Idol camp

2007-06-04T23:20:00.000-07:00

The 14-year-old Joel Barlow High School freshman will be shipping off this summer to “Idol Camp,” an American Idol performing arts camp.

Jilian will be one of 700 people between the ages of 12 and 15 from across the country to attend the camp in its inaugural year.

For 10 days, she and her fellow campers will choose from classes in singing, dancing, acting, songwriting, audition and performance techniques, personal style, video production and set design.

Instruction is given by “respected professionals,” with a series of special master classes featuring guest artists such as “favorite former American Idol contestants, recording artists, and other top industry professionals,” according to the camp’s Web site.

Ace Young, Bucky Covington, Kimberley Locke, Vonzell Solomon, Jon Peter Lewis and Carmen Rasmusen are all former contestants confirmed to be teaching classes this summer.

“The phenomenon of American Idol has awakened interest in the performing arts for many people,” said Camp Director Donna Milani Luther on the camp’s Web site. “Our vision in developing the curriculum for Idol Camp was to create an opportunity for young people newly discovering the arts to find their potential and to develop their particular brand of expertise.”

Only applicants “displaying a desire for personal growth and passion for the arts” were selected for the camp.

Jilian was one of only 16 adolescents from the Tri-State area who was selected to come to the camp this summer, her mother Jo Ann said.

An accomplished singer and musician who plays piano, drums and saxophone, Jilian already has an extensive music resume.

At age nine, she joined the Fairfield County Children’s Choir. When she was in seventh grade, she auditioned and was selected to join the Chamber Choir, which traveled to Hawaii for the Pacific Rim Children’s Chorus Finals.

She has traveled to choral festivals in Canada, England and Ireland and has performed at Carnegie Hall.

She has won scholarships to other music camps and has been selected to sing the National Anthem at a number of sporting events including a Bridgeport Bluefish minor league baseball game.

At Joel Barlow High School, Jilian is in the Chamber Choir, the X-Period a capella group and plays percussion in the school band.

As a pianist, she is enrolled in the National Fraternity of Student Musicians and the National Guild Audition.

She started an all-girls rock band called The Wildflowers that played shows at the Georgetown Saloon and the Mark Twain Library, and is currently the female lead of an otherwise all boys rock group out of Ridgefield.

The saxophone — which Jilian only started playing this past winter — is her favorite instrument, she said.

Her father Chuck, a professional drummer, said Jilian has “perfect pitch,” which is the rare ability to sing or recognize the pitch of a tone by ear.

“It’s really both a gift and a curse,” Mr. Saber said. “You should see her face when someone is singing out of key. It’s torture to her. You can see her mentally trying to bend the note.”

Jilian said she is excited to be going to Idol Camp this summer.

“I’m really looking forward to it and I’m counting down the days until I leave,” she said.

In the application for the camp, Jilian was asked to write a letter asking her hero out to dinner. She chose pop singer Christina Aguilera, whom she considers “an inspiration.”

“Christina has an amazing voice and great hits and such a large vocal range,” Jilian said. “I went to one of her concerts when I was seven or eight years old and was just inspired.”

Jilian said she has been an avid American Idol fan since Season Two, listing Carrie Underwood and Constantine Ruelles as her favorite former contestants.

When asked what she thinks it would be like to stand up on the American Idol stage and perform in front of a national audience, Jilian said the most nerve-wrecking part of the experience would be having to perform in front of the notoriously harsh judge Simon Cowell.

“I wouldn’t mind Randy (Jackson) or Paula (Abdul), but I would be nervous about getting up in front of Simon,” she said.

According to a disclaimer on the Idol Camp Web site, campers will not be placed on the 22-time Emmy nominated show, nor will they get any advantage in the American Idol auditions. Despite this, Jilian said she is looking forward to turning 17 when she will be old enough to audition for the show.

“She’s got a lot of guts,” said Jo Ann Saber. “She gets all these solos that require improvisation and she has the guts to make up the words on the spot... This is really her passion.”

American Idol Buzz: Paula Abdul Out, Britney Spears In?

2007-06-04T23:19:00.001-07:00

This would be a real plan for American Idol. With ratings taking a bit of a tumble this season American Idol may be in for a bit of a shake-up, reports claim. Veteran gossip Mike Walker is reporting that there may be a big change in the seats of the judges and Idol is thinking about bringing in Britney Spears to try out. That would be beyond stunning as one would think that Simon would thump her about three weeks into the show.

American Idol Buzz: Paula Abdul Out, Britney Spears In?

Nevertheless, the National Enquirer reports that here’s hush-hush from their top sources at American Idol. A major house-cleaning is in order triggered by sinking ratings. Is this true- if not it should be.

***

According to the report, that means Randy Jackson is out as a judge next season, Dawg…and so is Paula Abdul! "Ratings this year were the lowest in two years - one week, even ‘House’ beat it,” said a show insider. "The belief is that things gave gotten stale, and ‘American Idol’ is now ‘American Idle.' Or American Idull as Idol guru Shirley Kennedy pointed out.

Walker reports that they really want to mix things up, create a whole new set, institute format changes - and get rid of Paula and Randy, replacing them with younger faces.” Now the kicker Walker issues a "WARNING": Put on your dark glasses before reading this blinding flash, Idol fans - at the top of Fox’s wish list is… Britney Spears! Say What? No way.

New 'American Idol' champ Jordin Sparks a big Sanjaya Malakar fan

2007-06-04T23:17:00.000-07:00

Jordin Sparks may be American Idol's sixth-season winner, but she's also apparently a "fanjaya."

"He had so much guts," Sparks told The Associated Press recently when discussing Idol 6 seventh-place finisher Sanjaya Malakar. "He had so much strength. He got a lot of criticism, but for him to go out on that stage and hold his head high... I really look up to him for that. He's just an amazing kid."

Both Sparks and Malakar had much in common during Idol's recently concluded sixth season. They both auditioned in Seattle, WA; both are only 17-years-old; and each seemed to gain more support from viewers as the season progressed. Once overshadowed by the likes of more established Idol 6 finalists Melinda Doolittle and Lakisha Jones, Sparks was able to carve a niche with the younger crowd and her popularity reached a crescendo just when it mattered the most.

Like Idol 6 runner-up Blake Lewis, Malakar could be described more as an entertainer than a singer, and Sparks said she believes performance is just as important to the average Idol viewer as vocal ability.

"The point of the show... is to keep who you like, who you want to see the next week," Sparks told The AP. "Sanjaya gave that to the people."

American Idol Chooses Supplier Firm For Celebration

2007-06-04T23:16:00.002-07:00

Top-rated television program American Idol selected Images Printed On Chocolate (asi/62242) as the maker of its party favors (2,000 chocolate coins) for a party last week celebrating the 2007 winner, Jordin Sparks. "It was absolutely amazing," says Tracy Michele, president of Images Printed On Chocolate. "The Fox people were very good to work with. I personally love American Idol and watch it all the time, so it was extra special being part of the celebration. It was an incredible opportunity for us."

The company was also on-site for an American Idol celebration earlier in the season that included taking pictures of party guests and printing their photos on chocolate lollipops that were handed out. Images Printed On Chocolate has provided chocolate portraits for celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan, Magic Johnson, Andrea Bocelli and Tom Arnold. The company also provided favors for a party for over 1,000 people celebrating The Simpsons 400th episode.

'American Idol' finalists, other acts set for MontanaFair

2007-06-04T23:16:00.001-07:00

Country-music hit makers, rock stars, arenacross, bull riding and Championship NRA Rodeo are coming to Billings during MontanaFair on Aug. 10-18.

MontanaFair will kick off Aug. 10 with country-music artists Phil Vassar and Josh Gracin.

Vassar is known for his songwriting and enthusiastic performances. Gracin made the top 10 in the second season of "American Idol" and was the first to bring country music to the pop-oriented hit show.

Tickets for their fair concert cost $32 for reserved seating and $27 for general admission. Showtime is 7pm.

Two nights of rock music follow.

At 7 p.m. Aug. 11, the main act is Daughtry, the five-man rock band fronted by Chris Daughtry, another top 10 finalist on "American Idol." Daughtry's self-titled debut album spent nine weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. Hits include "It's Not Over," "Home," "Gone" and "What I Want."

A post-grunge band, 12 Stones, will open the show. Tickets cost $37 for reserved seating and $32 for general admission.

Aug. 12 features alternative-rock band Papa Roach. Singles from the group's latest album, "The Paramour Session, include "To Be Loved" and the current hit "Forever."

The 7 p.m. concert will open with Saliva, which released its fifth album, "Blood Stained Love Story," in January. Tickets cost $28 for reserved seating, $28 for festival floor and $22 for general admission.

Arenacross will rumble and race through the Arena at 6 p.m. Aug. 14. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for ages 3-12.

At Aug. 16, bull riding begins at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for reserved seating, $12 for general admission and $10 for kids.

At 7 p.m. Aug. 17 and 18, catch Championship National Rodeo Association action. Tickets cost $15 for reserved seating, $12 for general admission and $10 for kids.

For $60, you can get general admission into all seven nights of entertainment with the MontanaFair Discovery Pass. The pass can be shared with family and friends, and fair gate admission is free with the pass on the event days, which are every day except Aug. 13 and 15. Discovery Pass tickets may be upgraded to reserved seating.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 9, at the MetraPark Box Office, Rimrock Mall Customer Service Counter, four local Cellular Plus stores, online at www.metrapark.com or www.montanafair.com and by phone at 800-366-8538 or 256-2422.

Your ticket purchase includes fair gate admission during the day of the event you are attending. Because of the anticipated interest in these events, all ticket locations will hand out colored, random-numbered wristbands during regular business hours beginning on Wednesday, June 6.

On the first day of sale, people should return to the ticket outlet where they received their wristband. A random wristband number will be drawn at each ticket outlet, and that person will be first in line. Those arriving to buy without a wristband may simply take a place at the end of the line. On the first day of sale only, sales will be limited to eight tickets per person.

MontanaFair also features a variety of free entertainment with the purchase of your gate admission. Gate admission coss $8 for ages 13-64, $5 for ages 6-12, $5 for ages 65 plus, and free for ages 5 and younger.

Purchase advance gate admissions and ride coupons and save. Get eight gate admissions for $30. Get 60 ride coupons for $35. Deadline for advance purchases is Aug. 10.

Horse racing beginning at 1:30 pm on Aug. 17 and 18 at the MetraPark Grandstands, and racing admission is free with MontanaFair gate admission.

A variety of acts will be performing daily at the fair and can be enjoyed for free with MontanaFair gate admission. The Kahuna Beach Party will kick off the fair on Aug. 10 as the premiere free act on Sneak-A-Peek Night and will continue the party all week long.

The Extreme Canines do back flips, handstands, and other stunts. The Bayleats return to Kid's World to provide musical entertainment as well as mural painting. The Bad Larrys offer a musical comedic act on the Exchange Club patio.

Montana native and country music artist, Patricia Ryan, backed by Yellowstone, returns to entertain fairgoers. The Standards, a country-influenced a cappella group, will be back for its second year.

New to MontanaFair, Brandon Cash emulates the true musical legend, Johnny Cash. The Priefert Texas Thunder Draft Horse Hitch will be on display during fair hours and will hitch up twice daily. And the Budweiser Clydesdales march in Aug. 14-18 with daily hitch-ups.

And the public can show items at MontanaFair to win blue ribbons and cash prizes. Details can be found now at www.montanafair.com; just click on the "exhibitors" link.

American Idol News Still Centers On Sanjaya Malakar

2007-06-03T23:45:00.000-07:00

Even though the American Idol 6 finale aired over a week ago, the show continues to make headlines. However, most of the headlines tend to center around a contestant who was eliminated from the competition several weeks ago. In his tenure on American Idol, Sanjaya Malakar attracted some of the most devoted fans and some of the most devoted critics in the history of the show.

Ailing Paula vents

2007-06-03T23:44:00.000-07:00

Paula Abdul, who on Thursday said she is "deeply hurt" that a phone call with her reps was leaked to the press, opened up to People.com about how she's doing.
"Look at me, I'm OK, really I am," the "American Idol" judge, 44, said.
"I'm doing just fine and don't have to explain myself to anyone. It hurts. The leak, that's illegal. That was a private conversation. That was a violation of my privacy and totally illegal."
The phone call was first reported by the New York Post.
On the tape, Miss Abdul talks about having Addison's disease, an adrenal disorder that causes chronic fatigue, muscle weakness and irritability. Asked whether she has the illness, she replies, "I haven't been diagnosed with it. I'm just exhausted. Sometimes I have really low blood sugar levels. It's all because I work very hard, that's it."
"When you work as hard as I do, you become exhausted. That's what happens. I'm working on five different projects right now. And now people are saying I have Addison's. I'm tired," Miss Abdul continued.
In the call, Miss Abdul also talks about her strained relationship with former publicist Howard Bragman. She would not comment about whether she was upset about her split with Mr. Bragman, People.com reports, but said: "I'm not happy about that phone call being leaked. That's illegal."
Finally, Miss Abdul -- who recently broke her nose when, her rep said, she tripped over her Chihuahua -- had a message for concerned fans. "I love my fans," she said. "They mean so much to me. I'm doing fine. I'm a fighter."
Miss Abdul's reality show, "Hey Paula," premieres June 28 on Bravo, Associated Press reports. It follows the star as she films a new season of Fox's "Idol" and develops her own perfume and cosmetics line. The show also promises to feature Miss Abdul playing practical jokes on her assistants and will show how her lack of sleep makes her loopy.
Final trip
Sci Fi Channel's "Battlestar Galactica" will end after this season, the show's fourth, concludes, reports TVWeek.com.

Clinton won’t mix Iraq with faith and an American Idol

2007-06-03T23:42:00.000-07:00

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will not be attending a 90-minute debate on Iraq this week, although she will attend one forum on faith, values and poverty and another one sponsored by organized labor.

Clinton is scheduled to talk at a Monday forum sponsored by Sojourners, a multidenominational Christian advocacy group for social justice, and Saturday at a town-hall style forum sponsored by the AFL-CIO in Detroit.

The reason she won’t be debating Iraq at the Wednesday event sponsored by John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and the Financial Times newspaper?

“We have a prescheduled event,” Clinton’s spokesman, Phil Singer, explained. In addition, she is only attending “a handful” of forums other than the debates that are sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee, according to Singer.

The Wednesday conflict involves a downtown Washington fundraiser that features former American Idol contestant Katharine McPhee and pop singer-songwriter Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds.

Robert Guttman, director of the Johns Hopkins school sponsoring the debate, said he offered to delay the start to as late as 9 p.m. in order to accommodate Clinton’s 5-7 p.m. fundraiser.

The school is a little more than a mile from the Clinton fundraiser.

Clinton isn’t the only candidate Guttman has had trouble getting to attend. As of Thursday only one Democratic candidate – Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware – had accepted.

Clinton will appear with Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina at a one-hour forum at 7 p.m. Monday on faith, values and poverty. CNN, a co-sponsor, will broadcast live from the Washington campus of George Washington University.

Each of the three candidates will appear separately and take questions from an audience of college students and Sojourners members.

Sojourners is planning a similar forum for the three leading Republican presidential candidates in September.

On Saturday, Clinton will be the lone Democratic candidate at the AFL-CIO forum, which is one in a series organized labor is holding for each Democratic presidential candidate.

Jordin Sparks, watch your back. Roanoke has just crowned its own "Idol."

2007-06-03T23:41:00.000-07:00

Jordin Sparks, watch your back. Roanoke has just crowned its own "Idol."

Over Memorial Day weekend, Roanoker Donna Jones won the top spot in the Roanoke Star karaoke competition, a local version of the television hit "American Idol" sponsored by EventZone and Festival in the Park.

The power balladeer beat out hordes of singers during auditions at Valley View Mall in early May and eventually became one of eight contestants chosen to perform before a crowd of thousands in Elmwood Park on Memorial Day. Jones, 41, crooned Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" and "America the Beautiful" for the final round of competition.

Jones was voted the audience favorite, through a combination of applause and the decision of a panel of judges. In winning the top prize, Jones has earned time in a professional recording studio to cut a 4-song demo CD, which will consist of contemporary gospel and R&B tracks. While Jones has won other singing competitions -- such as nabbing the $2,500 grand prize in a talent contest in her hometown of Richmond a few years back -- she hasn't had the opportunity to record in a professional studio.

In between appointments as a staffing specialist at Manpower, Jones took some time out to chat about the competition and her lifelong passion for singing.

Q: How did you get involved with the Roanoke Star competition?

One of my co-workers sent me an e-mail [about the contest]. Anybody who knows me knows that I love to sing. It's my passion and my joy.

Q: Do you sing karaoke often in bars or clubs around town?

I have. Actually, I won $1,500 singing at Cheers [Lounge in Salem]. But I don't really go out much. Church is where I do most of my singing (Jones is a member of the Pilgrim Baptist Church choir).

Q: Are you a fan of "American Idol" and other singing shows?

Yeah. I've thought about trying out for it before, but I can't because of the age limit ("American Idol" contestants must be between the ages of 16 and 28).

Q: When and how did you get started with singing?

I've been singing since my mom had me in church, since I've been 5 or 6 years old. I do weddings, funerals and other things. I even do singing telegrams!

Q: What was it like performing during Festival in the Park? Were you nervous about singing in front of such a large crowd?

I love performing, whether it's for two people or 2,000. It was wonderful, it really was. I got soaking wet [from the rainstorm], and we almost thought that it wasn't going to happen, but when the rain subsided, the show went on.

Q: Beyond recording your demo, what are your hopes for the future?

I'm hoping one day that I can get to wake up and go to sing [as a career]. I know that I've been given a gift.

LETTERS: More education on global warming; Time's up for 'Idol;' Blame oil for fewer trips; Darfur should be priority

2007-06-03T23:40:00.002-07:00

Anna Demarinis (May 28th, "Best thing to do about global warming: Nothing") protests a proposed law to teach global warming in schools. I quote from her own letter verbatim: "Humans shouldn't want to do anything about the greenhouse effect and those who do are crazy." This kind of opinion argues for more instruction on global warming, not less.

Irrespective of Al Gore, science is not on Ms. Demarinis' side. Climate scientists on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently reported, with 90 percent certainty, that climate change is caused by human activities. This is consistent with the current melting of glaciers and polar ice that have existed for thousands of years.

Clearly there are ways to cut back on the 20 tons of carbon dioxide emitted on average by each American.

I am not content to wait passively when there are things we can do. The real danger, however, is to pour resources into solutions that are not scientifically valid or cost effective.

Even the skeptics can find something good in developing clean, renewable energy sources. If we break our dependence on oil, our involvement in the Middle East will change dramatically.

Kenneth Watson Foxboro

Time's up for former American Idol entry

To the editor:

Re: "Our 'Idol' to be at Scooper Bowl" (May 29):

Andy Warhol once said, "in the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." Having seen yet another article about American Idol contestant (not winner, not even top five, just contestant) Ayla Brown in The Sun Chronicle, my question is this: Aren't her 15 minutes up already?

Gerard A. Fortier

North Attleboro

Blame big oil for lack
of family visit, granny

To the editor:

If the cost of gas goes up, the cost of everything goes up. These corporate carpetbaggers are raking in trillions while we in the middle can't afford to drive, let alone anything else.

I've downsized my car, changed my driving habits and still I can't afford to fill my tank.

We've cancelled our trip to visit Grandma this summer.

How dare these robber barons be allowed to commit thievery with impunity!

We the people have had enough!

Audrey Wyatt Mansfield

In Darfur, time and lives are of the essence

To the editor:

President Bush and Secretary Rice must make engaging America's allies a top priority to ensure the passage of a strong resolution at the UN Security Council which includes:

Tough sanctions against a full list of individuals complicit in the genocide and expansion of the Darfur arms embargo to include the Sudanese regime in Khartoum; the authorization of a no-fly zone over Darfur, with specific enforcement mechanisms, and international economic sanctions mirroring those just announced by the U.S.

These U.S. sanctions will only have a chance at success if they are matched by strong multilateral sanctions as well, and those sanctions will only advance if there is U.S. leadership at the UN.

President Bush and Secretary Rice must increase their diplomatic efforts to take full advantage of any room for progress that these sanctions may create.

Although it was delayed for far too long (nearly five months), the White House's announcement of Plan B sanctions against Sudan is a step forward for the people of Darfur.

The above are very real concerns facing the people of Darfur.

If President Bush and Secretary Rice don't respond soon the people there will perish by the hands of a crazed nation.

We need to do something now before it's too late.

Idol finalist back on X Factor

2007-06-03T23:40:00.001-07:00

POP Idol finalist Hayley Evetts is to sing in front of acid-tongued Simon Cowell AGAIN — this time on The X Factor.

She will come face-to-face with judge Simon after getting through the first round of the ITV1 talent contest.

The blonde singer, 30, turned up at “culling” auditions, where producers whittle down the hopefuls before the judges step in. She has just been axed from playing Sandy in a touring production of Grease — to make way for the winners of ITV1’s Grease Is The Word.

A pal said: “Hayley has spent the last year and a half in Grease and she had nothing to lose, so she thought she’d go for it.”

The X Factor will be Hayley’s FOURTH reality show stint. She got through to the last round of auditions for Popstars — the show that spawned Hear’Say. She also hosted the ITV2 spin-off Popstars: The Rivals and got through to the last five in Pop Idol.

Hayley recently sang at a launch party for Grease Is The Word, which picked up an extra 200,000 viewers on Saturday night — peaking at 4.7million.

Simon, 47, is going back on the road today for The X Factor auditions, just two weeks after finishing filming American Idol.

He will be joined by Sharon Osbourne, new judges Danni Minogue and choreographer Brian Friedman, and new host Dermot O’Leary.

Britney Spears Takes American Idol Judge's Advice?

2007-06-03T23:39:00.001-07:00

Britney Spears had what started out as an eventful week. She penned a rambling letter online on her website where she wrote, “Recently, I was sent to a very humbling place called rehab. I truly hit rock bottom. Till this day I don't think that it was alcohol or depression," the 25-year-old pop star wrote. "I was like a bad kid running around with ADD (attention deficit disorder)."

Spears laid much of the blame for her behavior on her November divorce from Kevin Federline. "I realized how much energy and love I had put into my past relationship when it was gone because I genuinely did not know what to do with myself, and it made me so sad. I confess, I was so lost," she wrote.

***

Then a report came out that right before that letter went online she had a tough night. The "Toxic" singer was reportedly spotted being carried out of a men’s room where she had been sick, her makeup smeared and wig askew, with vomit all over her the UK Sun reported. Since then, Britney has been invisible.

Did she take American Idol judge Simon Cowell's advice? He earlier gave this unsolicited advice to Brit: "My advice to her six months ago, was to go home to your family, lock the door, don't go out with your stupid friends, get a sense of reality, have some home-cooked food, go lie in the garden, ok, and then say to yourself, there's more good in my life than bad, I'm still a rich talented girl, now I want to get my career back on track. End of story."

How long will she be out of the limelight for?

American Idol" Jordin Sparks a Sanjaya Fan

2007-06-01T04:05:00.001-07:00

He had so much guts," the 17-year-old "American Idol" winner told The Associated Press. "He had so much strength. He got a lot of criticism, but for him to go out on that stage and hold his head high ... I really look up to him for that. He's just an amazing kid."

The lanky Malakar, also 17, made a strong impression during the sixth season of the Fox competition, transforming from shy guy to media superstar in a span of weeks.

Sparks said "the point of the show ... is to keep who you like, who you want to see the next week. Sanjaya gave that to the people."

The two teens will sing with other finalists on the "American Idol" concert tour, which kicks off July 6 in Sunrise, Fla., and wraps up Sept. 23 in Manchester, N.H.

After that, Sparks says she intends to "hit the studio very hard" to finish work on her upcoming solo album, which "has to be out before Thanksgiving." Her main goal, she says, is to record "encouraging" tracks.

"I want people to roll down the windows and blast the music loud. ... It will be just a Jordin album and, hopefully, people will like it."

'American Idol' parent gets $1.3B offer

2007-06-01T03:55:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -- Some very public names may be going private. CKX Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Sillerman said Thursday he and other executives have made a $1.3 billion bid to privatize the company, which controls the names, images and likenesses of the late music and movie icon Elvis Presley and the living boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

The former radio and concert mogul is getting a hand in the effort from Simon Fuller, chief executive of CKX (Charts) subsidiary 19 Entertainment Limited Inc., the British-based firm behind the "Pop Idol" television talent show and its hit U.S. spinoff, "American Idol."
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CNN's Richard Lui speaks with our resident American Idol experts about the big winner Jordin Sparks.
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Sillerman, the company's biggest shareholder, offered to enter into a complex series of transactions that would include a cash purchase of CKX's outstanding common stock at a price of $13.75 per share, which represents a 29 percent premium over the stock's closing price of $10.63.
Lewis vs. Sparks: The real competition begins

With 97.06 million shares outstanding, that would amount to about $1.33 billion. According to a statement, the company's directors have been actively considering the proposal and have scheduled a meeting for early Friday morning to consider the bid and hear the recommendation of a special committee of independent directors.

CKX -- which also operates Graceland, Presley's former home turned tourist attraction -- expects to make a "comprehensive announcement" following that meeting. Top of page

Paula Abdul says judging "Idol" is her purpose in life

2007-06-01T03:54:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (AP) — Paula Abdul says she didn't figure out her purpose in life until she became a judge on Fox network's "American Idol."

"I knew since I was a little girl that I had this profound way of touching people. My purpose is bringing out everybody's best and being that cheerleader to other people's success," the 44-year-old singer-dancer tells OK! magazine in its latest issue.

"Being a judge on 'American Idol' overshadows being a Grammy Award winner and selling millions of records," she says.

Abdul has been diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), a chronic neurological disorder that causes severe pain.

"I have four titanium plates in my neck. I've had 14 surgeries over the years. I had an operation the same evening as the first season finale of 'American Idol,'" she says. "It can come and go at any time, but I no longer have the intense nerve pain that is associated with RSD, thank God."

Abdul — who says she was hit by a drunk driver in 1987 and injured in an emergency plane landing in the early '90s — says she is treated with anti-inflammatory medications and has massage and acupuncture treatments for her pain.

"If I appear exhausted on television, it's because I am!"

she says. "I have a lot of sleepless nights because I'm in so much pain. I was taking far more medication on earlier seasons (of 'American Idol'), and nobody said anything. I try to say something and I stumble, and that's what people have picked up on. I'm not polished."

When asked how she responds to claims that her behavior during "Idol" is sometimes bizarre, Abdul replies:

"I'm sick of it. I've never been drunk. I don't do recreational drugs. It's defamation of character."

The choreographer and former Laker girl also says: "I'm a warrior. I'm not the best dancer, and I'm certainly not the best singer, but I am an entire package of a great performer."

'American Idol' Champ Jordin Sparks Wants Chris Brown, Mario On Debut

2007-06-01T03:52:00.000-07:00

The sixth season of "American Idol" is all over — save the Idols Live Tour — and while most of the world struggles to find a new reason to live (Tuesdays and Wednesdays feel so empty), newly crowned champ Jordin Sparks faces a struggle of a different sort: trying to stay sane.

"This is so intense. It's crazy," she laughed. "I haven't been home yet since I won. I was in L.A. and then New York, and now I'll finally get to go home and spend some time with my friends. I hope."

Such is life for the "Idol" princess. Since taking home the title last week (see "Sparks Flies: Jordin Takes 'American Idol' Crown" and "Jordin Marvels At 'American Idol' Win: 'My Heartbeat Was Pounding In My Ears' "), Sparks has been on a seemingly endless parade of interviews and promotional appearances. And it doesn't look like things will be slowing down anytime soon — quite the opposite, in fact. The show's summer tour kicks off Wednesday, and Sparks already has a deadline for her debut album. That means it's never too early to begin soliciting for collaborators, a list Sparks says includes a couple of crooners popular with the under-17 set.

"I'd love to do a duet with Mario or Chris Brown ... but let's see what happens," she said. "I have a lot of work ahead of me. I have a deadline [for my album] already. It should be out before Thanksgiving. And I'm going to be doing the tour and trying to find songs at the same time. And then after the tour, it's gonna be record, record, record, write, write, write."

And just what will Sparks' yet-untitled debut sound like? Well, according to her, a lot like ... pretty much everything.

"I can't really describe what I want it to sound like. I'm a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll, a little bit pop, a little bit R&B," she said. "I listen to Nat King Cole and Patsy Cline and Bon Jovi and Heart and 'NSYNC and Britney and Christina and Justin Timberlake too. I want to mix it all together. I hope people like it. On the show, [you had to be] versatile. You had to do everything and twist it around and make it your own. So I'm used to being like that."

And while the pressure will undoubtedly be on Sparks to perform on par with former "Idol" champs, she said she's actually more worried about living up to another set of expectations: those of her young fans.

"The other day, I walked outside, and there were these two little girls out there, and they said, 'Jordin, you're my inspiration! I want to be like you!,' and it was so amazing," she said. "I get emotional about it, because I remember being a little girl and looking up to people. And now little girls are looking up to me, and I love it.

"Being a teenager is hard — I mean, you look at magazines, and it's in your face all the time — 'you've got to lose weight or change or you'll never make it' — and I want to change all that," she continued. "I want to break the mold and be somebody girls look up to. I'm not much of a partyer — I don't drink or anything like that — so I don't think you'll catch me out at all those types of things. I'm comfortable with who I am, and I don't want to change. I love being me. I was happy before 'Idol,' and I'll be happy after."

American Idol: Jordin Sparks grab bag

2007-06-01T03:51:00.002-07:00

With the finale of American Idol barely a week gone by, news about champion Jordin Sparks is still in demand. However, with the Idol participants preparing for the American Idol tour and with producers placing all the singers on a short leash, there aren't a whole lot of major newsworthy items floating about. Instead, there have been a number of mini-stories that have been making the rounds in the media over the past few days regarding Jordin Sparks. None are earth-shattering, and none are all that controversial.

Jordin Sparks isn't likely to cause much controversy in her career. She's a nice girl, a churchgoer, someone who isn't going to be found partying at LA hot spots in the wee hours of the night. But, she did do a number of interviews over the past week and the media has done their requisite digging, and these are a few of the things we learned:

Jordin Sparks Height
(Courtesy of Reality TV World)

Jordin is not ashamed of her figure, or height. She embraces it. Jordin was taller than most singers, including the guys and Ryan Seacrest, on this season of Idol. She speaks about the pressure to be a certain body type, but how she has since learned to be proud of who she is. She now shops at a Big and Tall store in Arizona, with whom she actually got a modeling offer for prior to Idol.

Jordin loves Sanjaya
(Courtesy of AP)

Jordin is a big fan of one Sanjaya Malakar, although her comments could be construed as back-handed. She says that it took a lot of courage for him to perform in the face of overwhelming criticism and to just be himself. She admires it. Well, she has to be diplomatic because she'll be touring with him for the next few months, but those are kind words nonetheless.

Jordin's vocal training past:
(Courtesy of Reality TV World)

There's been a slight bit of controversy the last few days over Jordin's singing history. On an internet question and answer, Jordin claims to have never had any formal vocal training. Well, according to her former vocal coach this is not the case, and that she gave Jordin personal, half hour lessons for an extended period of time. This may be true, but I wonder if a few months of private lessons constitutes vocal training. This is really a non-story.

So, that's pretty much the word on Jordin Sparks these days. I'm sure we'll hear more from her once the tour starts, and then later when she begins to put together her debut album.

American Idol Finalists To Join For Fireworks Show

2007-06-01T03:51:00.001-07:00

“American Idol” fans are exuberant to learn that 2007 winner Jordin Sparks will be joined by finalists Blake Lewis and Melinda Doolittle on the live broadcast of the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular which will air from New York on Wednesday, July 4 from 9 to 10 p.m. EST on NBC.

The show will be hosted by Natalie Morales and Tiki Barber of NBC’s Today.

Also appearing will be Martina McBride who will perform “Anyway”.

NBC says the fireworks display, the country’s largest, “will feature nearly 35,000 brilliant shells exploding over New York City set to a sweeping original medley performed by the New York Pops”. The network adds that more than a thousand pyrotechnic shells will be fired every minute.

The American Idol tour will begin two days later in Sunrise, Florida. 5-31-07

American Idol Finalist Bucky Covington Has Number One Video At CMT

2007-06-01T03:47:00.002-07:00

Bucky Covington’s star continues to rise as this week the video for his debut single “A Different World” reaches the #1 spot atop CMT’s Top 20 Video Countdown. Also this week, the video returns to the top of CMT’s fan-voted online Pure Country playlist, where it debuted at #1 in March of this year.
The American Idol Season 5 finalist is fast establishing himself as country music’s hottest new artist, having sold in excess of 140,000 copies of his self-titled debut CD since its release last month. Bucky Covington debuted at #1 on Nielsen SoundScan’s Country Top 75 Chart on April 25th with not only 2007’s biggest unit debut from a new country artist, but also the best first week sales and highest Top 200 debut for any new male country artist since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992.

Next week, Covington will guest on ABC-TV’s Good Morning America on June 7th when the program broadcasts from Nashville for the CMA Music Festival kickoff. Covington will join GMA Weather Anchor Sam Champion for a live report from the rooftop patio of Nashville’s Graham Central Station, overlooking the Festival’s concert venues. Covington will mark his first-ever appearance at the CMA Music Fest with two live performances: he will perform a full-band set from the Daytime Stage at Riverfront Park on June 7th, and on the 8th he will perform an acoustic set from the stage of LP Field, home of the nightly concerts.

After Music Fest, Covington hits the road for a summer of non-stop touring, including several shows opening for Sawyer Brown. SB frontman Mark Miller teamed up with Dale Oliver to produce his debut album, Bucky Covington.

New 'American Idol' champ Jordin Sparks comfortable in her own skin

2007-06-01T03:47:00.001-07:00

"I'm really comfortable in my own skin," said Sparks in the June 1 issue of People. "I learned that I'm not ever going to be a size 2. I would look so weird as a size 2. Somebody would blow and I would fall right over. It just wouldn't be healthy."

Sparks wasn't always so sure about her appearance, as the Glendale, AZ-native was reportedly 5-feet, 10-inches and a size 12 by the time she reached junior high school. To mask her size, she said she tried everything from hunching to wearing oversized clothing.

"I stood out everywhere," Sparks told People. "I'd look at my friends who were just naturally tiny, and maybe they weren't even a size 2, but they were smaller than me and that was good enough. I was like, 'Oh, why can't I look like that?'"

While dieting may have seemed like the simple solution, Sparks said it just wasn't for her.

"I like food too much to do it," she told People. "I would try, like, 'Hey I'm going to diet and I'll be a size 8 by the end of the summer,' but it never worked out."

Frequently searching in vain to find cloths that both fit and flattered her figure, Sparks said she and her mom stumbled across a newly launched plus-size store called Torrid at a local mall.

"It was like angels - 'ahhhhhhhh!' - shining down on it because it's sizes 12 and up," explained Sparks to People. "They have clothes for girls who aren't an average size so they can totally feel cute and flirty and still keep up with the latest trends."

Prior to auditioning for Idol's sixth-season in Seattle, WA last summer, Sparks actually landed a modeling gig with Torrid.

"I think it really helped boost her self-esteem and made her realize she's beautiful as she is," Sparks' grandmother, Pam Weidmann, told People.

That confidence must have carried over to the Idol audition, as Sparks eventually became one of the sixth season's semifinalists. Once the show's stylists started making suggestions on what Sparks should don for each performance episode and results show, she said she began to be even more accepting of her body as is.

"I liked to wear sleeves because they would cover up my arms," she told People about how she dressed prior to Idol. "[When Idol stylists would make suggestions] I'd go, 'This dress is way too beautiful. If I add sleeves it will ruin it.' So I just got over it."

Still taller than most of her fellow Idol 6 finalists -- as well as the show's host, Ryan Seacrest -- Sparks newly found self confidence is evident to those who know her best.

"It was huge to see her confidence level grow... She's standing taller now," her mom Jodi told People.

Paula Abdul Found Her Purpose on 'American Idol'

2007-05-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK -- Paula Abdul says she didn't figure out her purpose in life until she became a judge on Fox network's "American Idol."

"I knew since I was a little girl that I had this profound way of touching people. My purpose is bringing out everybody's best and being that cheerleader to other people's success," the 44-year-old singer-dancer tells OK! magazine in its latest issue.

"Being a judge on `American Idol' overshadows being a Grammy Award winner and selling millions of records," she says.

Abdul has been diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), a chronic neurological disorder that causes severe pain.

"I have four titanium plates in my neck. I've had 14 surgeries over the years. I had an operation the same evening as the first season finale of `American Idol,'" she says. "It can come and go at any time, but I no longer have the intense nerve pain that is associated with RSD, thank God."

Abdul -- who says she was hit by a drunk driver in 1987 and injured in an emergency plane landing in the early '90s -- says she is treated with anti-inflammatory medications and has massage and acupuncture treatments for her pain.

"If I appear exhausted on television, it's because I am!" she says. "I have a lot of sleepless nights because I'm in so much pain. I was taking far more medication on earlier seasons (of `American Idol'), and nobody said anything. I try to say something and I stumble, and that's what people have picked up on. I'm not polished."

When asked how she responds to claims that her behavior during "Idol" is sometimes bizarre, Abdul replies:

"I'm sick of it. I've never been drunk. I don't do recreational drugs. It's defamation of character."

The choreographer and former Laker girl also says: "I'm a warrior. I'm not the best dancer, and I'm certainly not the best singer, but I am an entire package of a great performer."

'Idol' worship pays

2007-05-30T20:39:00.002-07:00

The final two nights of "American Idol" helped Fox easily scoop up its network-record 16th consecutive victory among young adults.

In a May 20-27 frame that included the final three nights of the 2006-07 television season, Fox captured five nights in the 18-49 demo. In addition to the "Idol" nights of Tuesday and Wednesday, the net took Thursday behind the return of "So You Think You Can Dance" and also won Saturday with staples "Cops" and "America's Most Wanted" and Sunday with a NASCAR race.

The Murdoch net also cruised to victory for the week in all other key categories, ranging from persons 12-34 to adults 25-54 and total viewers.

Fox ended up winning the season by the largest margin of any net in five seasons, with its 4.0 rating among adults 18-49 topping CBS (3.7) by 8%, according to Nielsen. Net also won in all younger demos, while CBS prevailed in adults 25-54 and total viewers (Daily Variety, May 23).

Wednesday's 129-minute reveal of the "American Idol" winner towered over all other programs for the final full frame of May with an 11.5 rating/31 share in adults 18-49 and 30.73 million viewers overall. Ratings peaked in the final nine minutes -- no doubt frustrating viewers who had set their recorders to the scheduled two hours -- with a 36 share in 18-49 and about 39.2 million viewers overall.

Despite the gaudy numbers, this year's finale came in 19% below last year's in 18-49 (11.5 vs. 14.2) and 26% lower in 18-34 (9.6 vs. 13.1); among viewers 12-34, this "Idol" conclusion was the lowest rated to date.

"Idol's" Wednesday edition finished as the season's No. 1 program in 18-49, marking the fourth consecutive year that either the performance or results edition of the franchise has finished on top.

Net was hopeful that Tuesday's "Idol" performance show (9.7/27 in 18-49, 25.33m from 8 to 9:03 p.m.) would provide a nice launching pad for new unscripted skein "On the Lot," but the Mark Burnett-Steven Spielberg show settled for soft preview scores (3.6/9 in 18-49, 7.60m) before settling for much smaller numbers when it bowed in its regular Monday slot to kick off the current week (Daily Variety, May 29).

Elsewhere in the week for Fox, "So You Think You Can Dance" (3.7/12 in 18-49, 9.51m) wasn't as strong as its premiere of a year ago, but it beat out its mostly repeat competish on Thursday, while NASCAR's "Coca Cola 600" race did the same on Sunday (2.7/11 in 18-49, 7.50m).

Kicking off the week, the two-hour "24" finale (3.8/10, 10.30m) was down a sharp 31% from last year's.

ABC placed second for the week thanks primarily to "Dancing With the Stars," which won its timeslot both on Monday (5.3/15, 20.19m) and Tuesday (6.7/17, 22.96m).

Also clicking early in the week for the Alphabet were the two-hour finales of "The Bachelor" (4.8/12, 12.67m) and "Lost" (5.9/15, 13.86m). While the dating show was up vs. its most recent cycle, the drama was off about 20% from its year-ago finale.

On Friday, "National Bingo Night" (1.8/6 in 18-49, 5.51m) won its timeslot in demos and was in line with its OK week-earlier premiere.

CBS, whose key Monday and Wednesday series wrapped the previous week, had a quiet frame but was led by a repeat of "CSI" on Thursday (4.1/12 in 18-49, 13.79m).

On Tuesday, the season-ender of "NCIS" (3.4/10 in 18-49, 14.13m) placed second in its slot to Fox's "American Idol" but stood as the week's most-watched scripted telecast.

NBC opened well with the first-season finale of "Heroes" (6.2/15, 13.48m) -- the week's No. 1 scripted program in 18-49 -- but didn't do a whole lot the rest of the way save for the Tuesday season finale of "Law & Order: SVU" (4.1/11, 10.28m).

Not helping NBC's cause was a weak perf for "Friday Night Lights" on Sunday (0.7/2 in 18-49, 2.23m). Fragile first-year show is moving from Wednesdays at 8 to Fridays at 10 in the fall, so the net thought repeats Sunday at 9 was a good idea? Go figure.

TNT was the week's primetime cabler leader in key demos, as three of its NBA Playoff games between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons ranked among cable's top five programs in adults 18-49.

USA still eked out a victory among the cablers in total viewers, led by "WWE Raw" on Monday and boosted by some "Monk" repeats on Sunday.

And in the evening news race, ABC's "World News With Charles Gibson" remained hot (2.0/9 in 25-54, 7.78m), besting NBC's "Nightly News With Brian Williams" for a fifth straight week in all key categories. CBS' "Evening News" with Katie Couric was a distant third (1.5/7, 5.96m), again at historic-low levels for the program.

American Idol: The Sanjaya / Ozzy Osbourne duet that never was

2007-05-30T20:39:00.001-07:00

There is no escaping the constant fear of Sanjaya. It's not that Sanjaya Malakar is a scary fellow, or an intimidating presence. In fact, if one were to bump into Sanjaya on the street or at a party, he would probably be scared of you, regardless of who you are. The real fear is this: that he will never, ever go away. He has already exceeded what any rational pundit would have guessed was his staying power. He is an anomaly, someone whose appeal is altogether indescribable and unknowable, kind of like Carrot Top or Stephen A. Smith.

Sanjaya will be going out on the American Idol tour soon, after which he will likely cut an album with the highest bidder. After that, it's anyone's guess. He could become a national pop icon. He could star in a renowned Nickelodeon comedy about a singing hairstylist. He could go on to become the US diplomat to Cote D'Ivoire. You never know. Everything about and surrounding Sanjaya has been a complete mystery. For example, there's this story that surfaced today:

According to the New York Post, Ozzy Osbourne had been booked to perform on the American Idol season finale last week, but pulled out when he learned that he'd be performing a duet with Sanjaya Malakar. Reportedly, Ozzy said he didn't want to be on stage with “that hairstyle-challenged idiot”. Instead, Idol ended up bringing in Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry to perform an utterly reprehensible rendition of “You Really Got Me”.

A couple things about this story:

The New York Post isn't exactly a bastion of journalistic integrity, and they cite an unnamed source for the story, so take it all with a grain of salt. It certainly could be true, and it doesn't seem out of character for a man like Ozzy to lay a verbal smackdown on someone like Sanjaya.

Wouldn't that have been the absolute weirdest duet in the history of civilized man? If true, whose idea was this? What the hell were Ozzy and Sanjaya going to sing together? It's all quite astonishing, really.

So, that's your Sanjaya news for the week. Hopefully, this will be the last we hear from Sanjaya for awhile, but it probably won't be.

Sam Milby wants to try his luck in "American Idol"

2007-05-30T20:38:00.001-07:00

At 23 years old and with two years of local showbiz, wala na ngang mahihiling si Sam. Moving to Manila from Plaridel, Bulacan, almost two years ago from Ohio, USA, Sam has made one of the biggest leaps from being one of the ousted Pinoy Big Brother housemates Season 1, to one of the most popular matinee idols today.

Sa ikli ng panahong itinagal niya sa local showbiz, nagawa na ni Sam halos lahat—a self-titled album that reached the platinum status and a follow-up album this August; three successful movies, with the fourth already in the works; a high-rating primetime soap debut na magkakaroon na rin ng Book Two; endorsements from some of the biggest and highest profile products; and recognitions and citations from several award-winning bodies.

Despite all his laurels, consistently low-key pa rin ang Filipino-American matinee idol. Sa ngayon, with a break from his hectic career sa pagtatapos ng kanyang soap opera na Maging Sino Ka Man at bago magsimula ang Book Two nito, kasabay ng next movie niya from Star Cinema, may one-month intensive tutorial siya sa Tagalog. Kailangan niya raw ito for him to stay in the business.

"I know that there will come a time that there will be new ones who will be introduced, better looking ones, younger, and better in acting," pasakalye ni Sam during the special solo birthday press con na ibinigay sa kanya ng Star Magic last Monday, May 28.

Dagdag pa niya, "I understand that this is a competitive business and I want to stay."

With his American roots, kataka-takang hindi siya sumubok muna sa Hollywood bago siya umuwi ng Pilipinas.

"When I was in the States, it was just figure-skating and school for me. Acting never crossed my mind and I never did any acting in school or even singing," sabi ni Sam.

For the record, two years in a row nang second placer si Sam sa figure-skating sa buong United States sa kanyang division.

"Because of my figure-skating, I have to be schooled home for about four years and just returned when I went to high school. I was a bit chubby then. I live in a community where we [he and sister Ada Milby] were the only Asians in our school, so it's hard for us just coping with school. Showbiz never entered my mind," kuwento ng matinee idol.

Now that he has tried showbiz here, gusto na niya ring masubukan ang Hollywood.

"Who hasn't dreamt of making it there? I'd like to try it out," pag-amin niya.

Dito niya nadagdag ang American Idol, ang popular na televised singing contest sa Amerika.

"I love the show," sabi ni Sam. "Specially the contestants at the start of the season. Imagine just being part of the line who would go through the line and meet Simon [Cowell] just to get his reaction.

"I know I'm not that good in singing but there are other contestants who are worse. Just the idea of being part of the show is something. I could just imagine Simon's face when I start to sing. But man, that's still an experience!" natutuwang sabi ni Sam.

American Idol Taylor Hicks Mystery Woman: TV Babe Caroline Lyders

2007-05-30T20:35:00.000-07:00

American Idol winner Taylor Hicks created quite a stir when he was photographed lounging and canoodling with an attractive and fit mystery blonde babe on a beach in Hawaii and the pictures were then published online. Taylor looked slimmed down and lean and the short haired blonde was gorgeous. Was it an American Idol love match for Taylor? And who is this woman?

American Idol Taylor Hicks Mystery Woman: TV Babe Caroline Lyders
American Idol Taylor Hicks Mystery Woman: TV Babe Caroline Lyders

The mystery woman has been revealed. Caroline Lyders the co-anchor of the weekday edition of WISN "12 News This Morning," has been identified as the woman in the photos.

***

A report from On Milwaukee notes: It didn't take long for Hicks' fans to identify the bikini-clad woman in the photos as Lyders and link to both her bio on the station Web site -- themilwaukeechannel.com -- and her interview with OMC.

"Yes, Taylor and I are friends," Lyders told managing editor Bobby Tanzilo Wednesday morning, "and as a journalist I respect your asking. But beyond that, I'd rather not comment on my personal life." TMZ.Com snarkily asks - "friends with benefits?" The item notes that Hicks played the Pabst Theater in March, but doesn't have any scheduled gigs soon in Wisconsin. He is playing the Genesse Theatre in Waukegan, Ill. on July 12.

Wednesday's Weekly Diatribe: American Idol Is Rapidly Turning Into A Joke

2007-05-30T20:32:00.000-07:00

I am a huge ‘American Idol’ fan. I have watched every single episode of every single season. There was just something insanely captivating about watching everyday stiffs gradually turn into stars. Over the years, I’ve rooted on George Huff, remained indifferent to Chris Richardson, and shouted epithets at Kellie Pickler, but you know what. I can’t take it anymore. I am sick of this mass produced contest, and I’m not sure if I will even watch next season.

The first season of the Coke-sponsored Juggernaut was insanely interesting. None of the contestants had any idea what the hell they had gotten themselves into, and they behaved accordingly. The producers weren’t even sure if America would care. ‘Big Brother’ had just fallen on its face, and audiences were weary of British exports. The dynamic between the judges was fresh, and you could almost feel Simon’s dislike for Paula screaming its way through the television screen. Tens of thousands auditioned, and Uncle Sam eventually chose Kelly Clarkson as the first, and arguably only deserving, Idol. Then something changed.

By the third season, contestants began to realize exactly how many people were watching them. This caused a large percentage of performers to begin playing to the audience at home. These were no longer everyday people. In fact, most of them were just douche bags hell bent on getting famous. Why would I want to vote for any of these fame-grubbing Madonna wannabes?

It’s like ‘The Real World.’ The first season had genuine people of all shapes and sizes dealing with actual problems. Now the seven people they collect for each season are just a brain dead concoction of bulimics and future Betty Ford patients. Many of these train wrecks even attempt to use the show as a launching pad for fledgling careers. It’s ridiculous.

Sadly, ‘American Idol’s’ biggest problem isn’t even these questionable contestants. The last two seasons, in particular, producers and executives have turned the show into a joke. Between horrid faux Ford commercials, the ‘Golden Idol’ awards, and early editing focusing squarely on the worst singers, ‘American Idol’ is pretty much lampooning itself. No one even claims it’s a real singing competition anymore. It’s the bloated, over broadcasted, laughing stock of TV.

Before you rush to judge me, take a step back and realize that apparently, I’m not the only one who feels this way. This season’s live televised finale was watched by 20% less Americans than last year. It may still be the highest rated show on television, but the once untouchable beast is starting to show its wounds.

Let’s take Taylor Hicks for example. Last year tens of millions of people voted for him, but not even a million bothered to buy his record. Gone are the days where finishing in the top two would guarantee at least one widely purchased, money-making record. Honestly, the vast majority of ‘A.I.’ alums can only be described as complete failures at this point.

Now, let’s take Sanjaya. I realize that a certain percentage of the deaf American public fell in love with this asshole, but let’s take a step back and look at him for exactly what he is: a pathetic, word-forgetting, marginally talented, effeminate suckfest. I wouldn’t give this idiot a glee club solo, and American viewers decided that he was one of the ten best singers. Give me a break. Every time this prick stayed, while a legitimate singer got guillotined, just furthered the perception that this show no longer matters.

Right now there is millions of disenchanted ‘Idol’ fans just like me who are unsure if next year will be worth watching. I, honestly, hope producers begin recognizing this disillusioned fanbase, because one more year of declining interest and ratings may end up vaulting the singing competition off the apex of the cultural landscape and into a spiraling downfall.

Former 'American Idol' finalist Elliott Yamin does music his way now

2007-05-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

Last summer, Elliott Yamin toured the country on the "American Idols Live!" tour, playing sold-out arenas, staying in posh hotels and experiencing the luxury of having a massage therapist at your beck and call.

That was then, however, and this is his now. Yamin currently is in the middle of a 21-date club tour of the United States, which drops by Detroit's St. Andrew's Hall tonight.

What he loses this time around in amenities -- he is now calling his tour bus home, and last we checked St. Andrews didn't have an on-call masseuse -- he gains in creative freedom: This time it's his show, playing his music to his fans.

"It's my own little headlining tour," crows Yamin, on the phone from Los Angeles earlier this month. "I'm really thrilled to get out there and touch the fans and have a blast out there on stage."

This is a different Yamin than the shy underdog viewers were first introduced to on "Idol." But the blue-eyed soul singer slowly came out of his shell over the course of the show and endeared himself to viewers to the point where he ended up coming in third place for the season, behind Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee.

"I always lacked confidence growing up; people always had more confidence in me than I had in myself," says Yamin, adding the validation of the show's judges, viewers and coaches helped boost his self-esteem. "Being on the show helped me realize my talent, and being on such a broad stage really forced me to kind of shed that shyness. Now I live on that stage, man."

After Yamin wrapped his duties on the "Idol" tour, he went home to Richmond, Va., for several weeks before prepping his debut album. He worked on the self-titled release -- a mix of uptempo R&B and hip-hop-lite -- from October 2006 to February of this year, and it was released to positive reviews and healthy sales in March, debuting at No. 3 on Billboard's albums chart.

"We didn't go into the studio knowing what kind of record we were going to make," Yamin says of himself and his team of co-writers and producers, which included ex-House of Pain and Limp Bizkit turntable maestro DJ Lethal. "I had a basic idea, as far as I knew I wanted it to be real soulful, and I knew I wanted it to be a singer's type of record."

Yamin sang the first single, "Wait for You," on "Idol" several weeks ago, and the album has sold 217,000 copies to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The singer stays in touch with his cohorts Hicks, McPhee and Chris Daughtry, and looks back fondly at his time on "Idol," saying it gave him the tools he needs to build what he hopes will be a long-lasting career.

"It was the best learning experience and the best training I could have gotten," Yamin says. "I take everything I learned, and I apply it to what I do now. It was the best crash course I could have ever received."

Report: Katharine McPhee "hurt" by 'American Idol' finale "snub"

2007-05-30T20:29:00.002-07:00

Last May, Katharine McPhee didn't receive enough love from viewers and finished second during American Idol's fifth-season finale. And last week, it was reportedly the same old song for McPhee during Idol's sixth-season finale -- only this time, she was supposedly shunned by the show's producers, not home viewers.

"Katharine called them herself, trying to get on the [finale]," a "source close to the singer" told Us Weekly on Wednesday.

The call was apparently unsuccessful, as McPhee did not appear during last week's sixth-season Idol finale. Of course, McPhee's snub probably wouldn't have been as bad if many of the rest of Idol's fifth-place finalists hadn't been featured throughout Idol's sixth season run.

While McPhee was nowhere to be seen during Idol's sixth season, seventh-place finisher Kellie Pickler performed "I Wonder," a single from her debut album "Small Town Girl," during Idol's sixth-season Top 16 semifinalists results show and third-place finisher Elliott Yamin performed "Wait for You," a song from his recently released self-titled debut album, during the sixth-season's penultimate results show.

Then, during last week's final set of sixth-season Idol broadcasts, fourth-place fifth-season finisher Chris Daughtry performed "Home" -- the ballad that also served as the background music Idol's sixth-season eliminations -- during the last Tuesday's final sixth-season performance episode and fifth-season champ Taylor Hicks also performed "Heaven Knows," a track from his self-titled debut album, during Idol's Wednesday night sixth-season finale.

"She's really hurt," the source told US about how McPhee felt following the reported decision to not invite her to participate in Idol's sixth-season finale broadcast, which also featured performances by original Idol champion Kelly Clarkson, second-season Idol winner Ruben Studdard and fourth-season Idol winner Carrie Underwood along with appearances by numerous non-Idol artists, including Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Gwen Stefani, Tony Bennett, Green Day, Bette Midler, Aerosmith's Joe Perry, and Bebe and Cece Winans.

McPhee's self-titled debut album peaked at No. 2 on The Billboard 200 album sales chart during its first week of sales in early February when it sold 116,000 copies in its first week of release. However it's since fallen to No. 186 and has sold only 326,000 total copies in four months, according to USA Today's Idol Chatter blog.

Take Note Blake Lewis: American Idol Snubbed Katharine McPhee

2007-05-30T20:29:00.001-07:00

Blake Lewis was dubbed the Katharine McPhee of American Idol season six. The reasoning behind the label was that the theory is that both singers only made it to the American Idol finals because of their gender. Blake outlasted quality singer and performer Melinda Doolittle and Katharine dumped both Chris Daughtry and Elliott Yamin. But when it came time for all the reunion performances did anyone see Katharine McPhee?

Take Note Blake Lewis: American Idol Snubs Katharine McPhee
Take Note Blake Lewis: American Idol Snubs Katharine McPhee

Will we see Blake Lewis beat box at some point in the finals next year? Us Weekly Magazine notes that scores of American Idol alums turned out to partake in this year's season finale, but noticeably absent from the festivities was last year’s runner-up Kat.

***

Although fellow Season 5 competitors Elliot Yamin, Kellie Pickler, Taylor Hicks and Chris Daughtry all returned for guest spots this season, McPhee, 23, was missing from the rundown – and it was not by choice. “Katharine called them herself, trying to get on the [finale],” a source close to the singer tells Us. “She’s really hurt.”

But she wasn’t the only former Idol who got dissed. When Sony/BMG president Clive Davis addressed the TV audience, he made sure to plug Taylor Hicks’ new single, but failed to mention Kelly Clarkson’s latest single or her forthcoming CD, My December, over which the two have reportedly butted heads.

Cue the reps™: McPhee's rep could not be reached, and Fox had no comment.

Sparks' "American Idol" Victory Tops Hispanic TV Ratings

2007-05-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

A nationwide audience voted 17-year-old Jordin Sparks as its new "American Idol" on the show's Wednesday night season finale, which led all others in the Hispanic TV ratings for English-language programs, according to figures released by the Nielsen Media Group for the week of May 21-27.

Ms. Sparks and runner-up Blake Lewis performed three songs apiece on Tuesday's performance show, which was second place with an 8.6 rating. More than 1.1 million Hispanic households then tuned in for Wednesday's finale. It earned a chart-topping 9.6 mark.

The culmination of another season-long competition, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," and NBC's breakout series "Heroes" also captured the attention of the Hispanic audience. Former Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno won "Dancing with the Stars" on Tuesday's program, which drew a 7.7 rating for third place. Monday night's performance segment of the show was fourth with a 5.4 and the season finale of "Heroes" garnered a 4.3 rating to round out the top five.

Univision telenovela "Fea Mas Bella" came up short in its quest to regain the top spot in the Hispanic TV ratings for Spanish-language programs. It was edged by "Destilando Amor," another Univision telenovela, for the third straight week. "Desitilando Amor" produced a five-night average rating of 22.5 while "Fea Mas Bella" posted a 22.0.

More than 2.7 million Hispanic households tuned in to see Monday's broadcast "Destilando Amor," which garnered a chart-topping 23.5 rating for individual shows.

Nielsen's figures, however, have their detractors. One group has started a petition, hoping Nielsen Media Group will change the way it samples the U.S. Hispanic population in its English and Spanish TV ratings. The Help Change TV group, which has a petition at www.HelpChangeTV.com, claims that Nielsen does not include enough U.S.-born Hispanics in its audience sample, leading to the impression that a vast majority of Hispanics watch Spanish-language TV.

The following lists are TV ratings based on Hispanic viewership. Nielsen's ratings include viewers who watched the program while it aired and others who viewed the shows via digital video recorder within 24 hours of their airing. The group says that the Hispanic TV audience represents more than 11.63 million television households in the United States. The rating is equivalent to the percentage of households or persons watching a TV program during the average minute.

Top 10 English-language shows (May 21-27)
1. American Idol – Wednesday (Fox), 9.6
2. American Idol – Tuesday (Fox), 8.6
3. Dancing with the Stars – Tuesday (ABC), 7.7
4. Dancing with the Stars – Monday (ABC), 5.4
5. Heroes (NBC), 4.3
6. So You Think You Can Dance (Fox), 3.9
6. The Bachelor (ABC), 3.9
8. Lost (ABC), 3.8
9. On The Lot (Fox), 3.7
10. CSI: Miami (CBS), 3.1

Top 10 Spanish-language shows (May 21-27)
1. Destilando Amor – five-night avg. (Univision), 22.5
2. Fea Mas Bella – five-night avg. (Univision), 22.0
3. Cristina (Univision), 20.3
4. Nuestra Belleza – Tuesday (Univision), 19.6
5. Duelo de Pasiones – five-night avg. (Univision), 17.1
6. Don Francisco Presenta (Univision), 16.8
7. Aqui y Ahora (Univision), 16.1
8. Nuestra Belleza – Friday (Univision), 13.1
9. Cine Espeical (Univision), 12.2
10. Sabado Gigante (Univision), 11.0

'Idol' no longer idolized by American viewers

2007-05-30T00:13:00.002-07:00

The best days may still be ahead for Jordin Sparks, but the same may not be said for American Idol.

The 30.7 million people who watched Sparks win last week reflected a sharp drop from the 36.4 million people who saw Taylor Hicks in last year's finale, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Industry observers said chances are that the 2006 season will stand as the peak for audience interest. A lackluster pool of contestants, the general malaise among viewers this spring and the simple laws of TV gravity are all factors.

"People are getting tired of it," said Marc Berman, an analyst for Media Week Online. "I know I am."

Mind you, most TV shows would kill for this kind of "bad news." The Fox phenomenon was still TV's most popular program this season. Barring a major surprise, it will be again next year.

For the first half of this season, ratings outstripped last year. But when water-cooler favorite Sanjaya Malakar was voted off in April, much of the interest left with him.

"The competition down at the end didn't have the excitement that it had in years past," said Tim Brooks, author of The Complete Directory to Prime-Time Network and Cable Television. "It's kind of a rehash to viewers."

Producers have tweaked the show to keep it fresh, this season adding a songwriters' contest and charity drive for those starving in Africa.

The long hiatus each year has also kept interest keen. American Idol won't be back for new episodes until next January.

However, producers have agreed to make a spinoff for Fox, a band contest instead of one for individual singers, that will air Fridays in the fall.

While Berman said it's likely to fail in the same way that American Juniors did, the spinoff still represents a risk in diluting the brand.

"I would steer clear of it," he said.

'Idol' on a slide

Viewers of American Idol's finale slipped this year compared to some previous years.

Year Viewers (millions)

• 2003 38.0

• 2004 28.8

• 2005 30.3

• 2006 36.4

• 2007 30.7

American Idol Supports Greensburg

2007-05-30T00:13:00.001-07:00

A Wichita native who became famous on American Idol returned to his hometown to help Greensburg Tornado victims. Fans filled Central Christian Church to hear their “Idol” sing and raise money for Greensburg.

Stacy, the North West High graduate, made it clear that he wasn’t only there to raise money, but also awareness. He wanted to remind people that even if they don’t have money to give, they can give time. All proceeds raised at the concert go to the Salvation Army for Greensburg Tornado Relief.

Israel hits Gaza, killing 2 members of Hamas' military wing

2007-05-29T21:43:00.000-07:00

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- An Israeli airstrike killed two members of Hamas' military wing early Wednesday, Palestinian security sources said, as Israel kept up pressure on Palestinian militants in the West Bank and Gaza.

Meanwhile, in an effort to defuse the latest flare-up in tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will meet next week, Olmert's office said in a statement released Tuesday. The precise date and location has yet to be determined.

The latest Israeli air raid occurred shortly after 1:30 a.m. Wednesday (6:30 p.m. Tuesday ET), east of the Jabalya refugee camp in Gaza, the security sources said. Two people were killed and one person was wounded, hospital sources said.

The strike came a day after an attack on what an Israel Defense Forces spokeswoman said was a Hamas training facility in southern Gaza. No injuries were reported from that attack.

An Israeli incursion into southern Gaza killed two Palestinian men and wounded a woman, Palestinian security sources said. The IDF confirmed Israeli military activity near the Sufa Crossing, where a spokeswoman said two gunmen were killed.

Israeli aircraft have been pounding Gaza in an effort to stop Hamas militants from firing Qassam rockets into Israeli territory. In recent weeks, at least two people have been killed and dozens wounded in and around the Israeli town of Sderot.

In the West Bank, Israeli soldiers killed a gunman in the village of Kafr Dan, northwest of Jenin, an army spokesman said.

In the West Bank town of Ramallah Tuesday, Israeli soldiers and unknown gunmen exchanged gunfire in a raid that netted a member of the Palestinian parliament.

About 15 Israeli Army vehicles, including armored personnel carriers, entered Ramallah Tuesday afternoon and arrested several people including Jamal el-Tirawi, Palestinian security sources said.

El-Tirawi, a member of Palestinian Authority President Abbas' Fatah party, was arrested at the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, the sources said.

The 41-year-old lawmaker was among four senior operatives of Fatah's militant wing Tanzim who were arrested, the Israeli military said. They had three handguns and were taken into custody, Israeli security sources said, because they had been involved in deadly bombing and shooting attacks against Israeli civilians.

Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti accused Israeli undercover special forces of "executing" a Palestinian man with a shot to the head "at point-blank range" after wounding him in the leg, according to the Information Ministry.

The Israeli army spokeswoman denied the allegation and said the man was armed and had continued to move toward the Israeli forces after being shot, prompting them to shoot him again.

The Information Ministry said Barghouti was at the scene of the firefight, which began about 5:45 p.m. on Ramallah's main street. Israeli special forces had entered a building "full of civilian shoppers and passers-by" and took positions beneath the offices of the Health, Development, Information and Policy Institute, the ministry said.

Israeli forces shot at Barghouti's car as he tried to follow a Palestinian ambulance with the body of Omar Abu Daher and seven wounded Palestinians to Ramallah's Sheikh Zayed hospital, the ministry said.

Romney Says He'd Give Presidential Salary to Charity

2007-05-29T21:42:00.000-07:00

When you're worth $250 million, the annual presidential salary of $400,000 represents a bit less than two-tenths of 1 percent of your net worth.

So it may not have been a big stretch for former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney to acknowledge, as he did yesterday, that he will give away an amount equal to his White House salary if elected president.

"I haven't really thought ahead that far. There are some questions I haven't forecasted, perhaps because that would seem presumptuous of me," he told reporters after an event in New Hampshire. "I presume I would take the salary and then I would donate at least that amount -- or more -- to charity."

As governor, Romney accepted a salary of $1, according to spokesman Kevin Madden. His fortune, reported at somewhere between $190 million and $250 million, was made largely as the founder of an investment company. The governor of Massachusetts is normally paid $135,000 a year.

-- Michael D. Shear

Sheehan's 'Resignation'

On the blog Daily Kos, Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a soldier who died in Iraq and became the face of the antiwar movement with her protest outside President Bush's Texas ranch, announced that she is leaving the limelight.

"This is my resignation letter as the 'face' of the American anti-war movement," Sheehan wrote on Memorial Day on the blog, a center for left-wing activism on the Web. She wrote her son had died "for nothing" and was "killed by his own country which is beholden to and run by a war machine that even controls what we think."

Sheehan also criticized Democrats and the antiwar movement: "[W]hen I started to hold the Democratic Party to the same standards that I held the Republican Party, support for my cause started to erode and the 'left' started labeling me with the same slurs that the right used."

"Good-bye America . . . you are not the country that I love," she wrote, "and I finally realized no matter how much I sacrifice, I can't make you be that country unless you want it."

Some Hitherto Staunch G.O.P. Voters Souring on Iraq

2007-05-29T21:38:00.000-07:00

But Ms. Thompson, a mother of two from this affluent suburb of Chicago, says her views on the war have evolved, and she now wants Mr. Kirk to change, too.

“My patience for this war, it’s run out,” said Ms. Thompson, 53. “I think this is the most expensive, stupidest thing ever done. My frustration has reached a level that is so unsettling, something has to be done.”

Though voters here in the 10th Congressional District have elected a Republican to the House for as long as anyone can remember, there is a newfound hostility about the war that is being directed toward Mr. Kirk, who was narrowly re-elected to a fourth term last November.

Nor is Mr. Kirk alone in his struggle to appease increasingly restless constituents. He and 10 other Republicans in Congress recently delivered a warning to President Bush that conditions in Iraq needed to improve soon because public support of the war was crumbling.

While a majority of Republican voters continue to support Mr. Bush and the Iraq war, including the recent increase in American troops deployed, there are concerns that the war is undermining the party’s political position. A majority of Republicans who were interviewed for a New York Times/CBS News poll this month said that things were going badly in Iraq and that Congress should allow financing only on the condition that the Iraqi government met benchmarks for progress.

In a poll in March, a majority of Republicans said that a candidate who backed Mr. Bush’s war policies would be at a decided disadvantage in 2008. They also suggested that they were open to supporting a candidate who broke with the president on the war.

That change of heart can be seen in many ways around the country. When the North Shore Women for Peace, a small group of antiwar activists from around here, first stood in the breezeway of a high-end strip mall in nearby Highland Park in the months leading up to the war, they drew sneers, expletives and many a thumbs-down.

By 2005, members said, they had found a more neutral audience, given to stares but little else. Recently, people smiled in support, honked their car horns and volunteered to join the cause at a peace rally.

“Anything I can sign?” asked one shopper, Lynne Black, a retiree from Wilmette. “I feel desperation at this point.”

Those feelings are reflected in Congressional districts across the country where Republican backers of the war are taking more political heat. Mr. Kirk would not be interviewed, but one of his biggest backers, the mayor of nearby Kenilworth, Tolbert Chisum, a Republican, described as “remarkable” the meeting between the 11 congressmen and Mr. Bush.

“Given a choice, none of us would want to be at war,” said Mr. Chisum, the committeeman of the largest Republican organization in the North Shore suburbs.

Mr. Chisum expressed confidence that Mr. Kirk would win re-election in 2008 but acknowledged that the battle was shaping up to be fierce, particularly since Democrats won control of both houses of Congress last November.

“I’m a realist,” Mr. Chisum said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen between now and the next election. Who would have thought there would be a complete rollover in the House and Senate?”

Interviews with voters, elected officials and others in Illinois, Minnesota, New York and Pennsylvania — home to 4 of the 11 Republican congressmen who met with Mr. Bush about the war — suggest that more Republican voters are opposing the war, and that independents who might have voted Republican are moving toward supporting a Democrat.

Emmett F. Vanslyke, a musician from Syracuse, is typical of some of the independent voters in those districts. Mr. Vanslyke said he would support his Republican congressman, Representative James T. Walsh, only if Mr. Walsh changed positions on the war by the next election.

“We’ve been over there with the lost cause,” Mr. Vanslyke said. “I would support anybody that would get the soldiers out.”

Democratic voters who opposed the war still do so, they say, and more passionately than ever. The North Shore Women for Peace, for instance, had never gone so far as to call for Mr. Bush’s impeachment — until recently. Now they carry yellow signs with black letters that say “Impeach.”

“Things have changed a lot,” said a member, Annette Jacobson, a retired court reporter from Highland Park. “We have a terrible feeling of anguish that more people are coming to understand.”

A slightly less hawkish Mr. Kirk has emerged in recent months. He voted against the troop surge backed by Congress early this year and wrote on his blog, “The United States should increase the responsibilities of the elected Iraqi government to solve its own problems, while reducing the number of American combat troops sent overseas.”

To some voters, that only made him seem less committed to his convictions, highlighting some of the pitfalls of changing course.

“He’s all over the place,” said Sally Walshe, a psychiatrist and a member of the North Shore peace group. “Wants to have his cake and eat it, too.”

Representative Jim Gerlach, Republican of Pennsylvania, another of the 11 who met with Mr. Bush, faces similar issues. Some voters said they believed that Mr. Gerlach was under pressure and was losing popularity in a marginally Republican district because of the administration’s handling of the war.

“The public wants to hear that the war is going to be over soon,” said Tiffany Hines, a Pennsylvanian who works as a medicine packager in Norristown.

In Pottstown, a peace group that demonstrates against the war every Friday is getting more honks from passing motorists after initially being seen as a bit radical, said Patricia Matson, editor of The Phoenix, a newspaper in Phoenixville, in Mr. Gerlach’s district.

“I don’t think it’s overwhelmingly antiwar,” Ms. Matson said, “but more so now than it was a year ago.”

G. Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, said Mr. Gerlach “understands he has a serious political problem.”

In Minnesota, Representative Jim Ramstad, a Republican who has supported the war, won with 72 percent of the vote in 1998 and 2000, but dropped to 68 percent in 2002 and about 65 percent in 2004 and 2006.

“If he comes out and is too strongly critical of the war, he’s going to lose his base,” said Larry Jacobs, a professor of political science at the University of Minnesota. “But if he doesn’t create some space between himself and the president, he could lose the independent voters.”

Mr. Kirk’s case in Illinois is not helped by his being in an overwhelmingly Democratic state where political experts expect large numbers to turn out in 2008 for the Democratic presidential nominee. It will be even harder for Mr. Kirk to hold his seat if that nominee turns out to be Senator Barack Obama of Illinois or Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, who is a native of Chicago.

Bill Wallin is a retired lawyer for the State of Illinois and the Republican precinct captain for his area of Wilmette. Mr. Wallin said his wife, formerly a Republican, now calls herself an independent. He said he thought Mr. Kirk was right to petition the White House.

“We can demand progress,” Mr. Wallin said. “When the war started, I was pretty sure it wasn’t a bad idea. Everything the Bush administration was telling us, I believed. Now I think the war was a mistake. I just think it is a horrendous situation.”

Mad about beauty

2007-05-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

Since I am still recovering from surgery, I was able to watch the live telecast of the 2007 Miss Universe pageant from Mexico City yesterday. I think the last time I actually sat through a whole Miss Universe pageant—and it was the primetime telecast that I caught—was when Miriam Quiambao won as first runner-up. It was the last time the Philippines came close to winning the international beauty contest.

Crowned Miss Universe was 20-year- old Riyo Mori from Japan.

And no, Binibining Pilipinas Anna Theresa Licaros did not make it. Four Asians were among the 15 semifinalists: Thailand, Korea, Japan, and India. The two other candidates with Filipino blood in them, Miss Germany (whose father is 100 percent Filipino) and Miss Finland (whose mother is Filipino), did not make it too. Why do I know these obscure facts about Mesdames Germany and Finland? Because ABS-CBN, the station that bagged the franchise to telecast this year’s Miss Universe pageant, went to town with that information, as if their victory, if ever, would be credited to the Philippines.

In fairness to ABS-CBN, the telecast was mercifully short. I think the telecast was done in two hours and the advertisement load was not very heavy. I remember how RPN’s telecast of the pageant would often last four or five hours in the past.

A number of things struck me while watching the 2007 Miss Universe pageant yesterday.

First, either there is some cloning factory somewhere in the world that we haven’t heard about yet or the standards for beauty has really become global. I wonder what happened to celebrating diversity and natural beauty?

The five finalists, regardless of race and skin color, looked the same. The final five included an African-American (Miss USA), two Latin Americans (Brazil and Venezuela), and two Asians (Japan and Korea) but except for a slight difference in the shape of their eyes, they could come from the same super human gene pool. They had the same body and facial structure, the same gait and bearing, even the same way of smiling and waving. In short, these people did not fit the common and ordinary definition of what comprises beauty.

Perhaps it is really true: Beauty contests do represent a kind of beauty trap. More and more today, it promotes a specific standard of beauty, one that is heavily biased in favor of the Western or Caucasian model. One has to have flawless skin, a well-sculpted nose, a perfect chin, a wide forehead, luscious hair, and a whistle-bait figure. For a while there, I thought Miss Tanzania, the only finalist who was from an African country and the only one who challenged the generic definition of beauty (she was bald to begin with) would get into the magic five, but alas, she did not make the final cut. So much for appreciating diversity.

If the finalists were made to wear the same gowns, it would have been really difficult distinguishing one from the other.

So this we know: There is a specific requirement, a specific set of criteria used to choose winners of international beauty titles. I am not saying winning international beauty titles is that important, but if we join these contests we might as well do so with the expressed intent to win.

Let’s stop this crap about joining these contests to promote world peace and international unity and friendship. Let’s please stop this nonsense about how the results are secondary, that win or lose, the candidates are already winners in their own right. We know these are wimpy excuses for losers.

Let’s join these contests to win! And the best way is to pick contestants who fit the global standard of beauty. The other countries who always land in the magic five (Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, etc.) make no bones about the fact that they re-sculpt the faces and bodies of their contestants through cosmetic surgery to fit the global standards. If we have qualms about using science to enhance our chances of winning, if we want to take the higher moral ground and insist on competing using high ethical standards, then let’s stop joining these contests altogether. There is simply no point in joining a contest if we do not want to win.

I was once asked what I thought of the country’s bid to bag certain titles such as this or that capital of the world. I remember what I said, and I still hold the same opinion. I think there is nothing inherently wrong with being called Call Center Capital of the World, or Entertainment Capital of the World, or even Beauty Capital of the World as long as we don’t stop there. We must seek to be renowned for a number of distinctions, the more the better. Of course I am against titles that paint a derogatory image of the country; I do not write for newspapers that make a fortune doing that every day.

Anyway. Going back to the Miss Universe pageant. Since beauty contests are popular and no amount of pointing out how socially irrelevant they are seem successful in making them obsolete, I hope that organizers of these contests really make an effort to make these contests more politically correct. I have always wondered why these beauty contests insist on asking the candidates the same trite and staid questions. Variations of the same questions were asked this year: What powerful lesson can you share with the world, what kind of man will you choose, what superpower will you pick, etc. Yawn.

I wish they would ask real, controversial questions such as: “Why is USA having difficulty electing a black or a woman president?” Or “Should there be a separate contest for those who have had surgical enhancements to distinguish those who are natural and artificial?” Or perhaps even “What can you say about atrocities against women in Afghanistan or Pakistan?”

Another observation I made was that Mexicans take losing in beauty contests more seriously than they do in boxing. Their bet got into the final 10, but failed to make it to the final five. Thereupon, the audience chanted “Me-hi-co!, Me-hi-co!” almost all throughout the pageant, their chanting almost drowned out the questions and answers during the interview portion.

But then, I know a number of countries are crazy over beauty contests, they are not just as rabidly fanatical as Mexico. Let’s face it, even the Philippines is crazy over beauty contests—our candidate, Anna Theresa Licaros, won as Miss Photogenic once again. And in case you still do not know, the selection for this particular award is done through voting in the Internet. So once again, Filipinos from all over the world seemed to have rallied behind Miss Philippines. If only we can generate the same level of support for other causes.

American Idol's Simon Cowell Abashed At Revealed Sex Secrets

2007-05-29T19:34:00.000-07:00

Simon Cowell has been left red-faced after his sex secrets were exposed on a TV tribute show about his life.

Simon's fellow 'American Idol' judge Paula Abdul joked about the music mogul's performance in the bedroom while recording her contribution for the episode of British show 'This Is Your Life'.

Paula, 44, quipped: "Simon is an egomaniac. He's the only man I know who screams his own name when having sex. And his idea of foreplay is staring at himself in the mirror."

The incident was made even more embarrassing for Simon, 47, as Paula made the comments in front of an audience including his 80-year-old mother Julie.

Simon's older brother Tony, 55, also let slip the music mogul would wear make-up to feign illness to get out of going to school.

He said: "He used to wear pale make-up to look ill so he could get out of going to school."

The programme - presented by veteran British newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald - is to be broadcast on June 2, when viewers will see Simon reunited with various faces from his past.

Fellow 'The X Factor' judge Sharon Osbourne, his singer ex-girlfriend Sinitta and TV presenting duo Ant and Dec were all involved with the show.

Even pop manager Louis Walsh appeared to show there were no hard feelings after being axed from Simon's UK talent show 'The X Factor'.

After filming, Simon's girlfriend Terri Seymour threw a lavish bash for the star and all his friends and family

American Idol: Blake Lewis vs. Jordin Sparks, American Idull Part Deux

2007-05-29T19:31:00.000-07:00

The numbers are in: Jordin Sparks is the new American Idol, and the show’s ratings are way down. Is anyone surprised at either outcome? The show this year has included everything from bad karaoke-like performances to unexplained pre-taped “appearances” by members of the music community that served no purpose other than to take the attention away from the competitors.

I’ve got to give it to American Idol: They are the masters of hype. “This is the best finale ever,” crowed Simon. I beg to differ; it was long and painful. I have some words of wisdom for this show (no surprise there), but I will hold those words until later. Let me just say that, for me, there were but two highlights during this year’s finale: Melinda’s performance with gospel royalty Bebe and Cece Winans, and Jordin’s duet with Ruben Studdard. Speaking of Ruben, it was great to see all the former winners on the show, except Fantasia, who is, of course, busy with “The Color Purple.”

American Idol on the ropes?

American Idol has closed the door on another season, and 'The Powers That Be' know they’re in trouble. Not only are the ratings down, but the talent pool seems to be quickly drying up. Before we look back at this past season, if you haven’t recently visited the American Idol homepage, you should do so soon.

You can participate in a poll, requesting fan feedback on aspects of the show that need to be changed. Of course, the bad voting process is not addressed, which is the major modification the show needs. Not only did American Idol lose out to Dancing With the Stars in ratings, but I would be willing to bet money that their tour sales aren’t going well either. Now, on with the show.

Predictable finish

Jordin and Blake’s sing-off was fairly predictable. Blake started off the show by reprising his performance of Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love A Bad Name.” I will agree with the judges that his performance was entertaining; however, beat-boxing is not singing, and it’s not going to sustain a career. Blake’s next performance, Maroon 5’s “She Will Be Loved,” helps to understand why he employs the beat-box. Can you say “mediocre?” “Mediocre” best describes Blake’s singing ability, and that point really comes home on his performance of the songwriting competition winner, “This Is My Now.”

It was painful. He was off-key for most of the song, and it was just awful. Simon said that if we judge him on only two of his performances, he did well. No, you don’t judge him on only two performances; you judge him as the one-dimensional artist that he is. To bring that point home, let’s look at Jordin’s final performances.

She started the night by covering Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter.” Jordin’s performance was both good and bad. It was good because she sounded almost exactly like Christina. Christina is one of the more talented vocalists in the business today, and to be able to emulate her says a lot about Jordin’s abilities; however, because the performance was virtually identical, one would believe that Jordin has yet to find her musical identity, which is no surprise given her age.

Her next song, “Broken Wing” calls for standing behind the mic and belting out the song, which she did without hesitation. Jordin sings “Broken Wing” quite well, though I wouldn’t insult Martina McBride by saying she sang it “better than the original,” as Simon said. Let’s just say she did a great job with the song and leave it at that. Finally, Jordin got her shot at “This Is My Now.” The song suited Jordin better, which was also no surprise. While Jordin sang the heck out of “This Is My Now,” the end result was a very anti-climactic final sing-off and another American Idull finish to the season.

No more Sanjaya's, please

As for the final show, I am trying to figure out why they felt the need to continue to hype that no-singing Sanjaya and, once again, show us “the American Idol crier.” Sanjaya is a complete joke, but the joke is no longer funny. One would think that if the producers are worried enough about the show to post a survey, they would stop with all the foolishness. I figured Joe Perry was making faces like most artists do when they perform, but in retrospect, he was probably tuning up in response to Sanjaya’s horribly off-key singing and shouting.

Judges, please leave the Sanjaya-type singers out of the competition next year. In fact, leave out ALL the male contestants if they sing no better than this group. The standout among the men, far and away, was Phil Stacey. He shined in the group numbers, and the full-length, studio versions of his performances on the show are very good. I strongly believe that Phil has a future, something I can’t say for sure about the remaining men, including Blake.

Looking forward

Chris might possibly have a career if he takes advantage of the skills he does have. While everyone spent the season comparing Chris to Justin Timberlake, he is really more like Adam Levine of Maroon 5. After seeing Maroon 5 on the show, which is a very good band, I have found Chris Richardson’s vocal double. Instead of giving off the fake R&B vibe, why didn’t Chris sing some Maroon 5 songs? I might have actually liked him. It’s very important for an artist to stick with what works. Adam Levine is not a necessarily strong singer, but he has the “package” and a dynamite band, so the vocals work for him. There you go, Chris. He should be paying me for my advice.

As for the women, I expect both LaKisha and Melinda will have careers. LaKisha still needs to tone down her wardrobe, but she sounded fabulous in the group number with Gladys Knight. Melinda displayed strong gospel ability, but with her talent, she is not limited to that genre. I was almost as shocked to see two incredible gospel singers on this show as I was to see Prince last year, for different reasons. Melinda really sparkled on “Hold Up The Light,” and the reason is obvious. For those who don’t know, Melinda is a devout Christian, and she sings back up on the original version of this song. The show could not have chosen better celebrities for her performance. The Winans are a well-known, incredibly talented gospel family, and Melinda fit right in.

Year-end advice for American Idol

Now, it’s time for my year-end advice for American Idol. First, leave out the canned performances. Unless they want to sign up as mentors, these celebs can and should peddle their wares elsewhere. This show is supposed to be about the young people who are competing, and the show did this group a disservice by removing that focus. Second, make the voting more fair. Stop the unlimited voting, as it really serves no purpose other than to show who is most popular not who is the better vocalist. Thank God that at least one of the better vocalists won this year. Last and most important, stop lying to the American public.

There is no way this season received any of the vote totals Ryan spewed from the big stage. My sister voted faithfully each week, and she reveals that she got through to Jordin—the winner—by 9:30 p.m. While we both had to turn to text messages to vote for Elliott Yamin last year and could never get through to vote for Ruben Studdard the year he won, she had absolutely no trouble voting for Melinda and Jordin this season—ever. Sixty-three million votes my patootie.

Access Hollywood | Life After 'Idol:' Finalists Visit Access Hollywood | Celebrity and Hollywood News Access Hollywood

2007-05-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

Access Hollywood | Life After 'Idol:' Finalists Visit Access Hollywood | Celebrity and Hollywood News Access Hollywood
Life After 'Idol:' Finalists Visit Access Hollywood

LOS ANGELES (May 29, 2007) -- Following her "Idol" coronation, Jordin Sparks made an exclusive stop by the Access Hollywood stage to show off her winning vocal chops.

And what's the only thing better than one exclusive visit? How about eight of them all at once, as eight of "American Idol's" final 10 visited the Access stage to chat about life in the spotlight and their new found fame.

"It was a year ago and nobody knew who you were," Access' Shaun Robinson joked with the group.

"Five months ago," Melinda Doolittle joking corrected her.

One thing is for sure – everyone knows them now! But the top eight apparently still aren’t used to seeing themselves on camera, as they took every opportunity to ham it up on our set before the interview began, with Sanjaya Malakar smothering LaKisha Jones with kisses.

"Sanjaya you kiss me one more time and I'm gonna beat you down," she smiled.

In that regard, it looks like LaKisha stands alone, because plenty of girls are clamoring for smooches from Sanjaya.

"It's very awkward sometimes though because you're walking down the street and someone will be like, 'Hey Sanjaya! How you doing?' and I'm just like 'Hi,'" he told Shaun.

"It's weird because I thought Sanjaya was the most non-popular person on the show," Chris Richardson joked, getting a big laugh from the rest of the group.

But no doubt, with his luscious locks Sanjaya was the stand out of this "Idol" season – even if it wasn't for typical reasons.

But how did all of the controversy impact the musical Malakar?

"I was just focusing on what I had to do each week because that's what you have to do," he told Shaun. "You can't get distracted by that stuff."

So did his fellow contestants feel all of the attention helped Sanjaya stick around a little longer than he would have otherwise?

"I think the press certainly helped Sanjaya get votes, but I also think he deserved it," Phil Stacey said.

"He stuck through it too," Chris Richardson added. "Especially being his age and having so many people just coming down on him, he still would come in with a smile every single day."

But in a bizarre twist, "Idol's" most talked about commodity might not even be who he says he is!

In a popular video on YouTube last week, Sanjaya claims his name is Bill Vendall, a 25-year-old grad student who's been playing the role of "Sanjaya" as an art project.

Shaun asked Sanjaya about the video.

"Okay, you wanna explain that?" Shaun asked him.

"I was having fun and then people believed that I was actually Bill Vendall," he laughed. "I'm not Bill Vendall!"

As it turns out, the bizarre hoax was actually commissioned by Will Ferrell for his Web site FunnyOrDie.com.

Ok, all gags aside – it's time to talk business as the "Idols" are gearing up for their big summer tour.

"It's gonna rock," Richardson said.

"Now the pressure is off – we're not competing for anything anymore," LaKisha noted.

No pressure… and no judges.

So who do the "Idols" think received the worst slam from the always candid Simon Cowell?

"Haley," Chris Sligh quickly answered, drawing a laugh from Scarnato. "It was when he was like, 'I can't even remember your name.'"

But apparently Haley isn't the only one who Simon couldn't remember.

"Don't take it too hard," Phil Stacey added. "He came up to me at the finale and said, 'Chris, how have you been doing?'"

Is Rosie O’Donnell vying to be the next ‘American Idol’?

2007-05-29T19:29:00.000-07:00

March 6: South Nyack’s Rosie O’Donnell discusses “American Idol,” which hasn’t had a Lower Hudson Valley resident make the Top 24 since the previous season. On “The View,” the full-figured O’Donnell says “Idol” is “weight-ist” in light of producers’ lenient treatment of the lean Antonella Barba versus its quick disposal of the plus-sized Frenchie Davis.

April 25: O’Donnell, who later is named the country’s sixth-most charitable celebrity, announces she’ll be leaving “The View”; the announcement comes mere hours before the first “Idol Gives Back” charity episode airs.

May 22: On her blog, O’Donnell posts herself singing along with a remix of Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab.” Later that day, “Idol” contestants sing for the last time before producers voters pick a champ.

May 23: O’Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck get into an epic 10-minute argument on “The View.” Another epic battle comes to an end later that day, when Jordin Sparks becomes the new “American Idol”—and inspires singers nationwide to audition for Season 7.

May 25: O’Donnell quits “The View.” Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.

'American Idol' Recap: Christians a Definite Presence

2007-05-29T19:28:00.002-07:00

Looking back at this year’s season of “American Idol,” one thing is quite clear: Christians had a very definite presence on the popular TV talent contest.

The most obvious proof is this year’s winner, Jordin Sparks, who took home the “Idol” crown last week. She has been on the Christian music scene for some time, and will become a positive role model for other Christians out there.

“I want them (non-believers) to know that God loves them, Jesus died for them, and that God has a plan for their life,” explained Sparks in her online e-profile at the Gospel Music Association (GMA) website prior to the competition. “I want them to see and hear that being a Christian and singing about it isn't weird!”

Sparks, 17, has strong ties to the GMA. In 2004, she competed in the GMA Music in the Rockies – a showcase event for aspiring, often unsigned, songwriters and artists in the Christian music industry – and was the Overall Spotlight Winner at the 2004 GMA Academy in Washington, D.C., a feat which she listed on her online “Idol” profile as her “proudest moment in life so far.”

The recent champion has even traveled as a singer with popular artist Michael W. Smith on his Christmastime tour, and listed “God” as the first person she would thank if she won “Idol,” among several other contestants.

Besides Sparks, half of the singers on this summer’s “Idol” tour – five out of ten – have Christian roots.

Third place vocalist Melinda Doolittle was a backup singer in Nashville, hometown to a majority of Christian artists, for some time, and was labeled as this year’s best singer by many critics. She also attended Belmont University – the largest Christian university in Tennessee.

When asked what her personal goals in life were, she responded, “To represent Christ well and do everything 150 percent.”

Other Christian top ten finalists included Chris Sligh, Phil Stacey, and LaKisha Jones, who have all voiced their Christian foundations.

Stacey is a minister of music at First Coast Christian in Jacksonville, Fla., as well as a student at Liberty University – an independent fine arts Baptist university located in Lynchburg, Va.

Sligh, who had several people support his faith early in the competition, also serves as a music minister at his home Seacoast Church in Greenville, S.C., and, like Sparks, had competed in the GMA Music in the Rockies where he took home a first place award. The South Carolina native has even announced plans to move into a Christian music career.

"He's not going to back away from the fact that he's a Christian," said Chris Surratt, pastor of the Sligh’s church, in the Associated Press. "He's going to let that shine through in what he does."

Sligh is also the son of missionaries and attended two Christian universities in the past: Bob Jones University and North Greenville University.

Rounding out the five Christians is LaKisha Jones, who although does not have professional ties to Christian music, has explained how she honed her singing voice from growing up in the church.

Even non-competitors have had a significant impact on this year’s contest. “This Is My Now” was chosen as the winning song for the “American Idol” songwriter competition and was performed by both Sparks and fellow finalist Blake Lewis in the finale. It, too, was composed by two Christian composers: veteran Christian artist and songwriter Scott Krippayne and his pastor Jeff Peabody.

Famous gospel artists, BeBe and CeCe Winans, also had a reunion performance with Doolittle, their former backup singer, during a rendition of "Hold Up the Light" in Wednesday’s finale.

After all the success and fame that comes from “Idol,” it will be interesting to see how each of the Christian finalists will hold onto their faith.

American Idol finalist joins Rent

2007-05-29T19:28:00.001-07:00

Grey finished fourth place on Idol and will don latex pants to play the role of dancer-muse Mimi Marquez in Rent, until November 25, at the Nederlander Theatre.

Since American Idol, Gray had a recurring role on the hit television series Boston Public, guest spots on other shows is no stranger to Broadway, making her debut in the Bollywood-themed musical Bombay Dreams.

She also has writing credits for the songs ‘I Believe’ for Idol winner Fantasia Barrino (who is now on Broadway in The Color Purple) and ‘You Thought Wrong’ for first season champion Kelly Clarkson. Gray also appeared in the film The Gospel.

Scot Dario becomes an American idol

2007-05-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

He collects Ferraris, flies a helicopter, is married to a Hollywood actress, and has won one of the blue riband events of world motorsport.

And he can walk the streets of his hometown Edinburgh largely unrecognised.

But on Sunday millions of television viewers around the world certainly knew who Dario Franchitti was, as the 34-year-old Scot won the 91st running of America's most prestigious motor race, the Indianapolis 500.

Franchitti's win for the Andretti Green Racing team emulates the success of all-time greats such as Graham Hill and Jim Clark, who also both crossed the Atlantic to triumph at the circuit known as the Brickyard.

Clark is such an inspiration to Franchitti that he has a room in his house set aside specifically for memorabilia of the two-time Formula One world champion.

And Franchitti could have followed his fellow Scot into the world of F1 had he not chosen to move to America 10 years ago, having paid his dues in the lower categories of European competition.

Three-time F1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart, who twice raced in the Indy 500 himself, knows Franchitti well from those early days.

"I always saw Dario as a top-flight talent," Stewart told BBC Sport.

"In the early 1990s he was a leading force for Paul Stewart Racing, the team I had with my son.

"When he went to the US I was certain he would be a power to be reckoned with over there."

But when Franchitti broke his back in a motorbike accident in Scotland in 2003, the mere prospect of driving again, let alone winning the Indy 500, must have seemed a distant dream.

"He was out of racing for a while after injuring his back in a motorbike accident and some people thought it might have destroyed his entire career," said Stewart.

"So it's great for him to come back and win after people wrote him off."

Franchitti's father George owned a string of ice cream parlours in Scotland before retiring, and now travels the world watching all his son's races.

And despite Franchitti having entered the world of A-grade American celebrity through his marriage to actress and singer Ashley Judd, Stewart said these family ties ensure his feet remain firmly on the ground.

"He's never lost his Scottishness, his accent, or any of his values," he said.

"Dario's very straightforward, he hasn't changed at all with his fame, and becoming a celebrity.

"He enjoys his life fully, is good with his sponsors and presents himself well - he's one of the nicest men I know."

Collecting Ferraris, attending red-carpet premieres and flying your own helicopter are a lifetime away from the junior karting circuit, where the young Franchitti began his racing career.

He worked and won his way up the junior ranks before entering the Formula Vauxhall Lotus championship for Paul Stewart Racing in 1992.

The following year he won the class, and spent the next three years competing in Formula Three and German Touring Cars before trying his luck in American Cart racing in 1997.

One of his few career disappointments occurred in 2000, when he had an unsuccessful try-out with the Jaguar F1 team.

"I think he was good material for F1 but perhaps he had stayed too long in America before making the approach to get a test drive," said Stewart.

"The drive went well, but because of his canniness he spent the morning getting to know the car, not putting in quick laps.

"But there was a mechanical problem which prevented him doing the laps he might have done later, so the laps he did in the morning may not have met the expectation of those in power. He was definitely worthy of more testing.

"The reality of life is that you play with the cards you pick out of the pack. I'm sure he would have preferred some of his success to be in F1 but it was not to be.

"But outside winning the Indy 500, he can be very proud of what he's achieved in his life."

Even before he could walk, motor racing was already part of Franchitti's life.

As a baby, he watched his father drive karts at the West of Scotland Kart Club, and club vice-chairperson Bill McDonald remembers him as a talented youngster.

"He had good equipment and it was always well maintained and well set-up, which comes from the family background," he told BBC Sport.

"The Franchittis have been involved in motorsport for years and that knowledge got funnelled down to the youngsters early on."

Despite being one of the club's most successful graduates, Franchitti is treated the same as anyone else on his frequent return visits - not that he is the sort to complain.

"He just turns up like anyone else and walks about - there are still a lot of people here who know him from his young days," said McDonald.

"He's a gentleman, a very nice guy - he'll not walk past you, he'll stop and talk to the people in the pits. He's certainly not aloof."

His journey from Bathgate to Hollywood has certainly not been without its setbacks and moments of hardship.

But as the victor's garland was put around his neck last Sunday, Dario Franchitti was living proof that sometimes life really does produce a Hollywood ending.

Our first American Idol-free week in what seems like forever

2007-05-29T03:18:00.000-07:00

Hey, if you're a fan of the show, bless your soul and enjoy EW's all-Idol issue. But for the rest of us: Hallelujah! If I never have to hear the caterwaul of any of this edition's grotesque excuses for ''pop'' or ''rock'' singing, I will be forever grateful. Ditto the name ''Sanjaya.'' Ditto anything from the mouths of Ryan, Randy, Paula, and — yes, I've even tired of the one person in on the cynical joke of it all — Simon.

2. John Wayne, Dean Martin, and Ricky Nelson in the new two-disc Rio Bravo
(Warner Home Video DVD)
There's a slew of John Wayne movies being released to capitalize on the 100th anniversary of his birth, but this, of course, is the best of them. Director Howard Hawks' 1959 ode to a man's-gotta-do-what-a-man's-gotta-do is simply one of the most purely enjoyable Westerns ever made. Richard Schickel's commentary provides a welcome wealth of production detail and exploration of Hawks' themes. Schickel's only flaw? He doesn't really ''get'' Ricky Nelson — what the teen idol stood for outside of this film, and how good the kid was in it.

3. Ultimate Fighters: Rosie, Elizabeth, and Joy on The View
Hoo, boy, last week's O'Donnell/Hasselbeck donnybrook, provoked by Behar, was far more tense than anything on the entire season 6 of 24...and led to the announcement that Rosie won't be coming back to ride out her contract. Does that make Hasselbeck the winner? No — now she has to contend with a freshly feisty Joy Behar, who won't grab headlines the way Rosie did, but will provide the liberal yin to Elizabeth's conservative yang. I'll stay tuned for a while, if only to hear how Barbara Walters spins this.

4. Father vs. son: Which should you buy?
Loudon Wainwright's Strange Weirdos: Music From and Inspired By the Film Knocked Up (Concord) or Rufus Wainwright's Release the Stars (Geffen)?
Rufus: gorgeous voice, overreaching ambition, mosquito-sized sense of humor. Loudon: scratchy tenor, sneakily large-but-underplayed ambition, best sense of humor in the music biz. I declare Dad the winner by a knockout. His album is a hybrid by Loudon standards — I gather that instrumental versions of some of the tunes here accompany the Knocked Up you'll see in the movie theater, and Loudon, usually a solo author, collaborated on a few songs with his producer Joe Henry, and also covers a couple of Henry's songs. Strange Weirdos is nonetheless top-tier Loudon music. Its fretting about middle-age (''Doin' The Math'') adapts neatly to the movie's anxiety about impending parenthood, and parenthood has always been primo subject matter for Loudon (just ask, um, Rufus, immortalized in more of his dad's songs than he'd probably like). The re-recording of an old Loudon song, ''Lullaby,'' is lovely, and new stuff such as ''You Can't Fail Me Now'' and the title track are superb. Come on: Give the old WASP duffer some record sales.

5. The season finale of House
(Fox, Tues., 9 p.m.)
The best thing about this season of House has been the streamlining of its concept. The writers no longer bother trying to give the families of the mysteriously stricken patients personalities — establishing subsidiary characters just gets in the way of what we tune in for: Hugh Laurie being rude and brilliant. And I appreciate the effort, in the second half of the season, to give more screen time to Robert Sean Leonard's Dr. Wilson; until now, Leonard has managed to convey anguished soulfulness almost solely through line-readings and glances — it's good to see him actually handed a storyline now and then, because he's both witty and moving. Oh, yeah: the finale plot is about Omar Epps' plans to leave the hospital (yawn).

For Covington, there is life — and a career — after '06 'Idol'

2007-05-29T03:17:00.000-07:00

"I don't do a whole lot of thinking," Bucky Covington says. "I'm a big believer in not over-thinking. I don't really think about things until it's done. If I thought about it before, it'd probably scare me to death."
That philosophy is serving the native of Rockingham, N.C., well. "American Idol's" most recent transplant to country music phoned from Michigan, where he's busy promoting his new album.
Covington, 29, only made it to the final eight on "American Idol" in 2006, but his album debuted at No. 1 on Nielsen Soundscan's Country Top 75 chart. The performance of the album, released April 17, has turned country music on its ear. With 61,000 units sold, Covington had the best first-week sales for any new male country artist since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992. He was also the only new country act to open inside the Top 5 this year on Soundscan's all-genre Top 200 chart.
"I got to give some credit to 'American Idol,' " Covington said. "A lot of people know who I am because my face rings a bell, and I have some name recognition. But Mark Miller and Lyric Street gave me a lot of help."
Miller, the lead singer and frontman for the hugely popular band Sawyer Brown, praised Covington for his honesty and believability, and came on board to produce the record for Lyric Street, the label made famous by Rascal Flatts. (Covington is Lyric Street's second "Idol" singer; the label signed former Marine Josh Gracin after his Season 2 experience ended.)
Critics are praising the Covington album's diversity. Entertainment Weekly said, "The North Carolinian with the throaty drawl could sell everything from the cheeky to the weepy. And he does."
From the totally twangy first single, to the sweet ballad "I'll Walk," to the Southern rock kicker "Bible and the Belt," Covington keeps the tempo interesting. He even earned writing credit on the sentimental "Carolina Blue," but says, "I just wanted good songs; I didn't care who wrote it."
The first single, "A Different World," is making a solid mark on the country charts, having landed at No. 19 last week on Billboard's Hot Country Songs charts. The video is doing even better.
Lyric Street hired virtuoso video director Trey Fanjoy for Covington's debut video. "We filmed it in 15 hours, all in one day, at the Disney Ranch (in California). It was about 15 degrees at 6 in the morning, and by noon it was 75," Covington says. Of Fanjoy, he says, "She is a sweetheart. She was about seven or eight months' pregnant at the time, when she directed that. She never complained, and she has done an awesome job. I would love to work with her again." Fans like the video so much that it was in the Top 5 on CMT last week.
With such a strong country background, Covington might have auditioned for "Nashville Star," the country version of "American Idol," but he almost didn't audition for "American Idol" at all.
Hurricane Katrina forced the cancellation of the "American Idol" audition at the closest venue for him, 11 hours away in Memphis, Tenn. But then, a new site was chosen, in nearby Greensboro, N.C. Covington thought it was karma, and he went.
"There wasn't a whole lot of thought into it, period," he said. "I thought, 'Let's give it a good hit-and-a-miss,' and it hit."

'Idol' to pack the house -- and schedule

2007-05-29T03:16:00.001-07:00

"American Idol" finalist Phil Stacey is in Wichita to put on a benefit concert for Greensburg.

But tonight's sold-out concert isn't the only item on Stacey's whirlwind agenda.

He's going to meet with concert sponsors. Have a barbecue and reunion with old Wichita pals. Partake in his-and-hers massages with wife, Kendra.

And, per his own request, Stacey hopes to take a tour of Greensburg today.

"We're still hopeful he can do that," Brett Harris, the Wichita disc jockey who organized Stacey's trip, said Monday.

Stacey, a 1997 graduate of Wichita's Northwest High School, will perform tonight in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,900 at Central Christian Church.

Harris is hoping the show will raise $50,000 for the Salvation Army's fund for Greensburg Tornado Relief.

The concert came about after an off-hand comment Harris made to Stacey during a radio interview a couple of weeks ago.

Stacey had just been booted from "American Idol" (tied for a respectable fifth place) and had called in to Harris' morning radio program on B-98, (97.9-FM).

"It was in the middle of the interview, and I flippantly said, 'We need to drag you out here for a benefit concert,' " Harris said. "And there was a pause and then a, 'Sure. No problem.' "

It wasn't quite that simple, though.

For the next week, Harris spent his days on the phone trying to gain approval from "American Idol" people and from Stacey's superiors in the Navy, who had to agree to extend his leave by one day.

Then there was the matter of transportation. Harris, a flight enthusiast and pilot who does part-time sales for Yingling Aviation, discussed the visit with Yingling's president, Lynn Nichols. He promptly offered to charter a flight for Stacey and his family from their home in Jacksonville, Fla.

On Monday, Harris and a crew took a Yingling prop jet to Jacksonville to pick up Stacey, his wife, Kendra, and his two young daughters, Chloe and McKayla.

As soon as tonight's concert ends, they'll immediately board the plane and head back to Florida, where Stacey is expected to report for duty on Wednesday morning.

The concert, Harris said, will feature Stacey singing most of the tunes he performed while on "Idol," and he has plenty to choose from. During his 11-week-run, Stacey sang hits ranging from Bon Jovi's "Blaze of Glory" to Keith Urban's "Where the Blacktop Ends."

Stacey, who will be backed by local cover band Three Ring Circus, also hopes to perform a few hits by one of his Christian music heroes, the late Rich Mullins.

Among the concert attendees will be survivors of the Greensburg tornado and the Greensburg city administrator. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius hopes to attend, Harris said, and Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer will declare this "Phil Stacey Day."

For Stacey's Wichita buddies, the visit feels sort of surreal.

They're used to seeing him when he swings through town and having unlimited access to his time.

This visit is different, though, said one of those friends, Darren Schopf. He's pretty sure he'll see Stacey while he's here, but Schopf bought tickets to the concert just to be sure.

"Normally, when he comes in to visit we spend a good amount of time with him," Schopf said. "But now, he's got a full schedule -- just like when we saw him in Los Angeles."

'Idol' runner-up McPhee projects a new image

2007-05-29T03:14:00.000-07:00

Coupled with her new sex-kitten image, Katharine McPhee's sound suggests that she’d be a strong candidate for the Pussycat Dolls reality show.

Taylor Hicks is headlining in clubs and casinos. Kellie Pickler is opening for Brad Paisley. Chart-topping Chris Daughtry is gigging all over the place.

Last year’s “American Idol” finalists are working it harder than any of their predecessors.

Runnerup Katharine McPhee has hit the radio-concert circuit, Minneapolis, Allentown, Pa., and New Haven, Conn.

McPhee, 23, is promoting her self-titled CD, which was a curveball to “Idol” worshippers. After showing off her big, Broadway-ready voice on TV, she gave herself a musical makeover, serving up a collection of dance pop, R&B and pop.

Coupled with her new sex-kitten image, the sound suggests that she’d be a strong candidate for the Pussycat Dolls reality show.

We caught up with McPhee — her publicist calls her Katharine, not Kat — before she started her radio tour to talk about her single (“Over It”), career and “Over the Rainbow.” She was much more talkative than champion Hicks — and a lot funnier.

Q. What can we expect from you?

A. I’ll be singing four to five songs. You’ll get to know me a little bit more as a personality and as performer. Because on “Idol” you didn’t get to see us perform; it was like one two-minute song and then you were finished. This gives you a chance to let the nerves subside.

Q. We’re not going to hear “Over the Rainbow,” I take it.

A. No, you’re not. I’m sorry.

Q. When was the last time you performed that?

A. Gosh, I don’t even remember. On the “Idol” tour, I sang it every night.

Q. People look at your album cover and wonder if you’re going to wear the over-the-knee boots and sweater for this performance.

A. No.

Q. Is that an outfit you wear very often?

A. Oh, yeah. I wear it out all the time. Heh-heh-heh.

Q. You had a glamorous image on “Idol.” What kind of image are you looking for now?

A. It’s more about what’s in right now. I like little dresses. I still like the long dresses as well. It’s summer so a little bit more cute, sexy. An album cover is really different from what you wear every day. At least this album cover.

Q. Your album had a big first week of sales (116,000) and then has slowed down. How do you feel about the reaction to the album so far?

A. It’s what I predicted it would be with the current single. I don’t think it was one of those songs that was going to drive record sales up to crazy numbers. It’s a good introduction to the new sound. It wasn’t my favorite song off the new record; so I’ll be candid about that. More important, I’m really excited about the next single, which is “Love Story.”

Q. There are a lot of different musical styles on the album. What were you trying to do?

A. My initial approach for the record was to have it in the vein of “Love Story,” “Not Ur Girl,” “We’ve Got Each Other.” Then a few ballads made it on. There are a lot of politics that go on with the first record and a lot of things that you don’t think you have control over and then later you realize ‘oh, I had a little bit more control than I thought.’ ... I think it’ll be a little more my way on the second record.

Q. Your album hasn’t been a blockbuster and either has Taylor’s. How do you feel about that?

A. I think the record industry is in a weird place right now. Considering that Taylor didn’t have anything on the radio, he’s done pretty well for himself.

I have to say I’m very satisfied where I am right now. Coming off a show where everything happens so fast and you rise to the top so quickly, (it’s good) being able to kind of be on the other side now and see how other artists have to start out. I can certainly say now that I’ve had to do things to try to work my way to the top; it wasn’t just all handed to me. I kind of appreciate this way my music is evolving. We have three more singles to go. As far as sales go, I don’t pay attention to the weekly reports nor do I want to know about them.

Q. You have said that “American Idol” saved your life. Could you explain what you mean by that?

A. I was able to be more focused on my career and the possibilities of what could happen as opposed to an eating disorder.

Q. Was being runnerup a blessing or a curse?

A. Everything has been a blessing. Chris will tell you that being fourth is a blessing; he’s doing great. We’re all doing great in our own way. We’re all hitting different markets. If I had won, I’d probably be in the same situation right now. That’s fine with me.

Q. When you appeared on Tyra Banks’ show in February, people wonder about what you thought when she grabbed your breast to determine if it was real or enhanced?

A. Well, she asked me. It was just a fun, cute little show. I didn’t realize that people would make such a big deal about it for weeks to come. That’s how I’m with with my girlfriends — I’m really playful and fun. That’s what it was like with Tyra. I was just having her help me clarify a rumor.

Q. You appeared on the sitcom “Ugly Betty.” What’s your future with acting and dancing?

A. I’m taking ballet. Just kidding. I’m not like: “Oh, the door’s open; I have to get into a movie.” I’d rather take some time to find the perfect project than to just rush into something.

American Idol – Self Improvement Brought to Life By Jordin Sparks

2007-05-28T20:20:00.002-07:00

So, another season of American Idol comes to an end with the crowning of Jordin Sparks as American Idol 2007. On the night, she was a deserving winner, as well as being a beautiful person and a wonderful singer. Only the most cynical and spiteful of observers can argue that American Idol does not produce some great singers, it does; or that Jordin is not one of them, she is. We know already that the top three, as last year, will probably be superstars. So we can look forward to great things and big album sales from Melinda Doolittle and Blake Lewis, as well as Jordin.

Apart from loving music of many types, one of the reasons I enjoy American Idol is the way, when it gets down to the final 16 and the serious singing contest, you can watch as young talented people develop before your eyes. The whole process of American Idol ensures that every contestant, making the final stages in Hollywood, will get coaching and encouragement by professionals in their field; singing, performance, image, dress, movement around the stage, and every other aspect of being a star singer, everything seems to be covered, as you can observe those who are destined to succeed listen watch and learn.

Apart from that, you can observe the pressure mount each week and see how each contestant handles it. To be successful, they need to absorb and grow, just as with any other profession. But in their case, they do so under intense publicity over a four month period; the successful have to soak up more and more pressure each week. Some respond well to the pressure, while others start to fade and cannot move to the next level of performance needed to reach the top 6 and beyond. Most start from obscurity; many come from relatively poor backgrounds.

Self improvement writers can be quite snobbish, and many would dismiss a so called reality show, especially when they see the freak show element of American Idol, as being of any relevance with success or achievement. They would be wrong to do so. Each year in American Idol we see great examples of young people going through a self development process, condensed into a very short period of time.

Transformations can be outstanding, as you observe some singers improve week by week in every aspect of their performance. You also get to see how they respond to set backs, such as having to sing outside of their comfort zone, or incur the wrath of Simon Cowell’s barbed tongue. Others you can see grow for a while and then suddenly fade; it is a fascinating show to observe. To me it is simply a singing or talent contest, not a reality show, which consistently reveals some amazing talents in American youth.

Jordin Sparks has been one of the best examples yet. Although I have always liked Jordin, when the contest first started she seemed far off the talent levels of the likes of Melinda Doolittle and Lakisha Jones. However, by the time she reached the top 10 I was starting to take more notice. “Jordin’s going to make the top 4, even the final”, I began to tell myself.

Of all the contestants, Jordin Sparks improved the most over the period of the contest, and as we reached the top 5 she was running quite close to Melinda in some performances. I was starting to see a Melinda/Jordin final, rather than a Lakisha/Melinda final. In the end, we had a Blake/Jordin final, and it was Jordin who carried the crown.

So, why did Jordin progress so much? Why did she become the 2007 American Idol and not Blake Lewis, Lakisha Jones or Melinda Doolittle?

In the end, her bubbly personality, beauty, and youth may have helped tip the balance in her favor. But they would have meant little if she had not persevered in developing her singing talent as the contest went on. What she was able to do was take her singing ability, and work at it as hard as she could for the duration of the contest. She showed strength of character whenever there was any criticism, and she learnt from her mistakes as she went along. Off screen, I suspect she was one of the keenest contestants when it came to listening to the advice of her advisors, those who were already in the business and knew how to become a star in every respect.

Ultimately, she did just enough to become a deserving American Idol; a beautiful young woman (in all ways) who has star quality written right across her face; but her head and heart have remained exactly in the right place, all through the contest, right until the final.

No wonder her proud parents watched with awe and tears combined. Their daughter, Jordin Sparks, is a star, but a personable and modest one who we will see so much more of over the coming decades.

'American Idol' LaKisha Jones Visits Hometown

2007-05-28T20:20:00.001-07:00

FLINT, Mich. -- LaKisha Jones made a triumphant return to her hometown Sunday night, when an estimated 500 people turned out to welcome the "American Idol" contestant.

Fans, some carrying posters, balloons and roses, chanted "Kisha! Kisha!" as Jones rode down the escalator at Bishop Airport in her first visit to Flint since January.

"Hello, Flint! It's good to be here!" Jones told the crowd swarming around her podium in the airport lobby. "I want to thank Flint for your love, your support, your encouragement and your votes."

The 27-year-old bank clerk became a fixture on the top-rated Fox television singing competition. Jones made the semifinals in February, got an on-camera kiss from sometimes-churlish judge Simon Cowell and remained in the running until May 9, when she was outpolled by Melinda Doolittle, Blake Lewis and eventual winner Jordin Sparks.

Jones flew from Los Angeles to Flint to pick up her 4-year-old daughter, Brionne, who stayed with Jones' mother, Beverly Jefferson, during her "Idol" run. She and her daughter were to leave Tuesday for a visit to Houston, where she lived for six years, The Flint Journal reported.

Jones told the Flint crowd she looked forward to a longer stay in June, when the city will hold a rally in her honor.

AMERICAN IDOL - Why do we watch Dancing and Singing talent shows?

2007-05-28T20:18:00.002-07:00

There a thousands of young adults that can sing and dance. They wait in line, in the rain, in the heat and in the hope they will get picked to be on either of Fox's top rated talent shows Fox Broadcasting Company: So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol: Official FOX Site . They want to be the next Carrie Underwood, or Benji Schwimmer. Their friends and family encourage them to try out, some of them are real good and others ... well then there are others. In the never ending race of ratings, the producers of these shows focus more on the bad than the good in the first weeks. It is not really kind or funny, but they think it is. The good ones stand out and you remember what city they started out in as they carry out the accepting letter to go Hollywood and be in the finals.

So in the interest of time, I skip to the last weeks of the finals, when it gets down to 12 contestants in each show. I root and rave about my favorite. I wanted to be a Broadway dancer, so dancing makes me smile. As far as a singer, that was never encouraged by my family, so I would never have to be profiled on the bad entries. Each week, each show spotlights different genres-- Hip Hop, Waltz and Free Style-- on So You Think You Can Dance. On AI, they have Bon Jovi, Blues, or Pop music. It gives the group of hopefuls a chance to show their range of talent. While one may be great at Hip Hop or the Blues, they don't do well at Waltz or Bon Jovi.

What the producers want is an overall talent that transcends all the genres. They want the American standard. The triple talent. One that can sing, dance and have that special something. The thing that makes them shine. The thing that makes us fall in love with them. Each season, as the final show arrives, the winners from previous years are brought back to show how they fared. Every now and then, there may be someone that fans forgot, but they get their moment in the sun again for 15 more minutes.
This week on AI, voters picked a new winner. With far more votes than in any American Presidential Election that I know of, over 70 millions viewers voted and Jordin Sparks won over Blake Lewis. Two very different singers appealing to different fans. In fact, the last 4 or 5 finalists will do well. Remember Clay Aiken or Chris Daughtry?

ON SYTYCD, last years winner-- Benji Schwimmer-- is not so famous. But he was one heck of a dancer and very much liked by this old gal. Thursday, Fox starts a new season of the dancing show and I will be dancing along with it. But this show can not compare to ABC's Dancing with the Stars. The kids on So You Think You Can Dance have done nothing else but train to dance all their young lives. They eat, sleep and dream dance. They don't have famous friends to cheer them on. They rely of the extra job their parents take to afford dancing lessons. They stay after school to use the Gym. They use baby sitting money and after school jobs to buy their dance shoes.
Dancing and singing is a God given talent, so I stand up and cheer for each one that gets a chance to share that talent with the fans. Each final show brings me joy in seeing a young adult get a chance to make their dreams come true. We watch to see the kid next door make good. To see the pride in their families for all the hard work that brought them to this time and place. We watch because this is reality TV. Nice things happening to nice people. Not like a Jerry Springer show that rips people’s lives apart as the crowd cheers. I only cheer for winners and the talent shows are the ones to watch, for me.

American Idol Jordin Sparks Crush Re: Angelina Jolie Beau Brad Pitt

2007-05-28T20:18:00.001-07:00

Attention Angelina Jolie, Jordin Sparks has a crush on Brad Pitt. American Idol winner is a 'normal' teenager with a crush on the boyfriend of Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt.

Jordin Sparks revealed her crush in an AP interview last week saying, "he's just really cute."

Sparks, 17, hastened to note that she doesn't know the actor also known as Angelina Jolie's main man and baby's daddy.

Sparks took part in a teleconference in which she was asked about everything from her favorite star to what she thought her earning potential might be, reports the AP.

"I don't know. I'm just looking forward to doing the best that I can do," the perky teenager replied. "I'm just a normal, quirky 17-year-old," she said.

American Idol Runner-up Blake Lewis Is A Rosie O'Donnell Fan

2007-05-28T20:16:00.000-07:00

Blake Lewis 'loves' Rosie O'Donnell - American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis admires Rosie O'Donnell for speaking her mind.

In a teleconference last Friday, Lewis, 25, of Bothell, Wash., said that he admires candor. "I love Rosie O'Donnell. She just says whatever she wants," Lewis said responding to a question about the on-air support he got from "The View" hosts O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. "I'm pretty honest and blunt and sometimes a little tactless," he said adding that's his style as well.

Lewis was asked if he thought the hit reality TV contest might be permanently more hip because of him, reports The AP.

"I can only hope that it keeps the contemporary edge," he said, according to the Associated Press.

As a side note, ABC said Friday that Rosie O'Donnell won't be back on 'The View' following her angry confrontation with co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck on Wednesday.

A Second Idol Comes to Riverbend: Phil Stacey

2007-05-28T20:15:00.000-07:00

Riverbend adds one more act to the lineup just a week before the festival opens.

He is American Idol contestant Phil Stacey who is also a graduate of Lee University.

He finished in sixth place.

Phil will open for "jars of Clay" on Faith and Family Night.

He is currently serving in the Navy as a Musician Third Class.. Based in Jacksonville, Florida.

'Idol' has always found R&B to be a hard sell

2007-05-28T03:42:00.000-07:00

Midway through last week's "American Idol" finale, Clive Davis offered his State of the Idol address.

As the man in charge of "Idol" record-making rattled off names of past winners, runners-up, even fourth- and seventh-place finishers, he omitted one of the "Idols": Season 2's Ruben Studdard, the first African-American winner.

Each season, tens of millions of television viewers use their dialing power to catapult some wannabe singer to instant celebrity. But as Studdard and Fantasia, the other African-American winner, have learned, those votes do not translate into record sales.

Except for Taylor Hicks, last year's top vote-getter, the white winners (and runners-up) have outsold the black ones.

"'Idol' has not found its Beyonce yet, the rare, core R&B artist who crosses over and has legitimate pop success," says Jon Caramanica, music editor of Vibe magazine.

To be sure, Studdard and Fantasia have done well for themselves. They've gained entry into a world that, without "Idol," would have been inaccessible. But their success has been confined to a narrower audience than that of more successful "Idol" alums.

The disparity isn't so much an issue of race as it is genre. Studdard and Fantasia sing a throwback style of R&B, which "is in absolute free fall," says Kyle Anderson, assistant editor of Spin magazine.

It doesn't appeal to the young, MTV generation that has made "Idol" a pop juggernaut. Top 40 radio stations don't give it much airplay. And "that's a genre that has always been victimized by bootlegging," Anderson says. "You are able to get records in other places."

Last week, Jordin Sparks won this year's edition of "American Idol." A record 74 million votes were cast, the majority of them going to the bubbly 17-year-old with the big voice.

But as the third person of color to win "Idol" (her dad is African-American; her mother, white), is history any indicator of her record-sales potential?

"There are so many variables," says Keith Caulfield, an analyst with Billboard magazine. "It depends on the act, the songs they collect and how they're introduced into the market.

"Did anyone ever think that Kelly Clarkson would have a really successful first album and then completely break away from 'American Idol' and become a superstar? Come on. That's just nuts."

Anderson says it boils down to the people steering Sparks' career.

"I think the missteps of Ruben and Fantasia will play in her favor," he says. "These are rich people who didn't get rich being stupid. I think they have learned from those mistakes and may be able to package her in a way that will sell records."

I am glad I lost 'American Idol': Lewis

2007-05-28T02:10:00.001-07:00

Blake Lewis, runner up of the recently concluded 'American Idol', says he is perfectly happy he lost to Jordin Sparks.

People.com quoted the 25-year-old as saying: 'I never looked at it as winning and losing. I just tried going out and performing really well each day. In a sense, I'm kind of glad I didn't win just for like contractual reasons.

'I think if you're first you might have to come back for like three years or something.'

It is generally believed that Lewis lost his chances because of the song 'This is my now' which better suited Sparks.

Lewis is in agreement and added: 'The song is definitely not my style, a song I would never sing if I didn't have to. It fit Sparks perfectly. And I honestly think they should have had two songs that were tailored to both of us.'

He says his future plans might include acting.

'If acting comes calling and I get the right opportunities and the right script, or just to do voiceover work for maybe like a Pixar or DreamWorks movie - I think that would be a plus.

'I love being goofy, I love doing different voices. I've been doing it since I was a kid,' he added.

American Idol Judge Simon Cowell to Britney Spears: 'Go Away'

2007-05-28T02:09:00.000-07:00

American idol judge Simon Cowell is offering up his expert advice to Britney Spears. In an interview Simon Cowell gave to Good Morning America, Simon Cowell tells Britney Spears to go home if she wants to save her career. The idol judge has already offered up this advice to Britney before six months ago, which she obviously ignored.

American Idol Judge Simon Cowell to Britney Spears: 'Go Home'
American Idol Judge Simon Cowell to Britney Spears: 'Go Home'

When asked by ABC News correspondent Juju Chang about Britney Spears during the interview, he again re-iterates his advice that she go home saying, "go home to your family, lock the door, don't go out with your stupid friends, have some home-cooked food, and get a sense of reality."

***

The never lacking for an opinion Brit told ABC that Miss Spears still has an enormous amount of popularity, "She's still one of the most talked about pop stars on the planet. She has the X-factor because people want to write about her. She's not conventional, she's not normal."

And in commenting about why it is she needs to go home and get out of the spotlight, he goes on to say, "She can't handle the tension and the pressure. My advice to her six months ago, was to go home to your family, lock the door, don't go out with your stupid friends, get a sense of reality, have some home-cooked food, go lie in the garden, ok, and then say to yourself, there's more good in my life than bad, I'm still a rich talented girl, now I want to get my career back on track. End of story."

Going for the gold: Windham singer wins Binghamton Idol finals

2007-05-28T02:06:00.000-07:00

Alan Vanderpool of Windham Township, known by many in the area for bringing home the winning karaoke titles, time after time, singing country music and Elvis tunes, won the Binghamton Idol Finals after facing three weeks of qualifiers, then the semifinals and finals.
His Binghamton Idol award not only entitled Vanderpool to fly to attend the American Idol Finals, but also to give a concert at the Magic City Music Hall and do the opening for Binghamton's Spiedie Fest in August. Vanderpool explained that he also won some studio time and a professional CD.
Winning Binghamton Idol is not the end of the road for Vanderpool. Vanderpool says he's shooting for the moon, and that he still has some hopes and dreams yet to fulfill.
Although winning a local Idol contest didn't entitle him to perform in the American Idol contest, sometime in the future that may just happen. Vanderpool said he tried out for American Idol last summer in Rutherford, N.J., and is considering trying out for the show again this year.
"It was a fun experience," Vanderpool said. In his description of the tryouts, he said thousands of people were there, filling half of the stadium.
While at the tryouts, Vanderpool said, a local girl from Waverly, N.Y., was waiting in line just in front of him.
Vanderpool made it only to the tryout's first elimination round. He said that because there are so many people, contestants have only 10 seconds to prove themselves, singing whatever song they choose.
After having gone through the experience once, Vanderpool has a bit of advice for those wanting to try out. "You better give everything you got in that 10 seconds." He said that if he goes back, that's exactly what he is going to do.
In the meantime, Vanderpool has been busy competing in and winning other contests, including the Tioga Downs Karaoke Showdown, which was held in February and aired by Binghamton's WBNG TV.
"We used to watch that religiously on Sundays," Vanderpool said.
He also is also a disc jockey and a karaoke jockey through his business Encore Entertainment, which he started two years ago. "We put on a good show," said Vanderpool's girlfriend Krista Miller. Vanderpool said they have to always keep their scheduling book with them, because they never know when someone will ask them to schedule an event.
Whether it's his DJ/KJ business or competing in karaoke contests, the music keeps Vanderpool busy every day.
"I sing every day. I do it because I love it. It keeps me well-prepared," said Vanderpool. "I'm lucky that I have good neighbors and they like to hear me sing," he added.
Vanderpool's love of singing isn't something that just happened recently. According to Vanderpool, his aunt has videos of him singing into bananas and screwdrivers as a kid.
"It's surprising on how people pay attention. It's pretty cool," he said. "I guess they see this redneck and they can't believe I sound like that.
"I feel like I'm home in bed when I'm on the stage. It's better than drinking beer. I quit drinking because I'm singing. It's just a rush," Vanderpool said.
"I just basically get on stage and be me," he said. "If I can get the crowd to scream at me, then I know I'm making them happy."

TV: Thousands miss 'Idol' reveal

2007-05-28T02:02:00.000-07:00

I was at a film screening Wednesday night, so I missed the live broadcast of the "American Idol" finale, which revealed that young Jordin Sparks was this season's winner.
But when I came home, my wife was in the family room and about to punch a hole in our big-screen TV.
She and hundreds of thousands of "Idol" fans like her, who recorded the sixth-season finale and watched it later, experienced the same shocking faux pas. It's a funny but frustrating consequence of 21st-century technology.
The live two-hour finale ran over, and the winner was announced at 10:03 p.m. But nearly all digital video recorders and TiVos stopped their automatic recordings at 10 p.m. because that is when the machines were told the show would end.
For those poor souls watching later via a recording, it must have been like a lightning bolt striking them in the chest when they watched the playback.
"And the new American Idol is . . ." host Ryan Seacrest declares.
Blank screen.
What's worse, as my wife added, is that fans had to sit through two hours of padded fluff, a horrifying Beatles medley and, to top it off, a duet by Sanjaya Malakar and Aerosmith's Joe Perry, to get to the final announcement.
So many angry fans complained the next day that Fox had to apologize. "It was always our intention to bring the show in on
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time," a Fox spokesperson told Broadcasting & Cable. "But just as with any live sports, variety, awards or entertainment event, there is no way to absolutely guarantee that the show will end exactly on the hour."
Maybe they can fix that in the 22nd century.

"Idol" on Idle? The ratings for the "American Idol" finale were down this year, which is like a CEO of an oil company making only $475 million instead of $480 million.
"Idol" will still be the most-watched program of the year. More than 30 million tuned into Wednesday's finale, compared with 36 million when Taylor Hicks was crowned in 2006.
So is "Idol" losing its luster?
Hardly. It likely will be the most-watched program next year, too. But whether it's by 10 million or 20 million viewers depends on the caliber of the finalists.
This was probably the worst year for finalists (though Melinda Doolittle was one of the best the show's ever had), and it was reflected in the ratings.
Don't worry. Come next January, it will be the most-talked about TV show again for four more months. That won't change any time soon.

Special American Idol Issue Of Entertainment Weekly Features Cover Selected By Readers

2007-05-27T22:30:00.003-07:00

For the first time ever, Entertainment Weekly and EW.com allowed four images to audition for the cover of a special American Idol issue of Entertainment Weekly. The public has spoken and the reader’s choice image of Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks graces the cover of the Idol issue. Entertainment Weekly's special American Idol collector's issue is scheduled to hit newsstands nationwide on Monday, May 28.

'American Idol' finalist visits hometown in Michigan

2007-05-27T22:30:00.001-07:00

FLINT, Mich. (AP) -- LaKisha Jones made a triumphant return to her hometown Sunday night, when an estimated 500 people turned out to welcome the "American Idol" contestant.

Fans, some carrying posters, balloons and roses, chanted "Kisha! Kisha!" as Jones rode down the escalator at Bishop Airport in her first visit to Flint since January.

"Hello, Flint! It's good to be here!" Jones told the crowd swarming around her podium in the airport lobby. "I want to thank Flint for your love, your support, your encouragement and your votes."

The 27-year-old bank clerk became a fixture on the top-rated Fox television singing competition. Jones made the semifinals in February, got an on-camera kiss from sometimes-churlish judge Simon Cowell and remained in the running until May 9, when she was outpolled by second runner-up Jordan Lewis.

Jones flew from Los Angeles to Flint to pick up her 4-year-old daughter, Brionne, who stayed with Jones's mother, Beverly Jefferson, during her "Idol" run. She and her daughter were to leave Tuesday for a visit to Houston, where she lived for six years, The Flint Journal reported.

Jones told the Flint crowd she looked forward to a longer stay in June, when the city will hold a rally in her honor.

Dad's life is the story behind Sparks' win on 'Idol'

2007-05-27T22:27:00.002-07:00

It always is the middle of the story that solves the riddle.

Not the beginning, when Phillippi Sparks watched his single mom walk through the door after one of her three jobs with a bag of fried chicken from her fast-food employer. Not the end, when Jordin Sparks looked out at the audience after being crowned the new American Idol and said, "Mom, Dad, I love you."

But in between, where you learn how Sparks grew up in west Phoenix wanting more and found it - in the NFL, where he played for nine seasons, and in a family, where he and his wife, Jodi, produced a daughter who suddenly is more recognizable than all the members of President Bush's Cabinet.

"Two days ago, she was hugging Tom Cruise, and yesterday, Kevin Costner kissed her on the cheek," Phillippi said. "Oh my goodness."

Jordin's weekly exposure on American Idol and the frequent cutaway shots to her parents have thrust Phillippi back into a spotlight, one that dimmed when he retired from the NFL in 2001 after eight years as a cornerback with the New York Giants and one with the Dallas Cowboys.

Locally, his name always has meant something. He was a standout at Maryvale High School and Glendale Community College before his success at Arizona State catapulted him to the pros.

His newly re-charmed life was no sure thing.

Sparks' mom, Guinnetta, struggled to raise her children. She worked long hours but managed "to kick our (backsides) if we got out of line," Sparks said.

"It was tough. I remember when the other kids had Nikes, we had Payless. We had to rely on food stamps and welfare. It made you humble, and it drove me to not want to be like that. I wasn't embarrassed, but I knew there was something else."

Phillippi, too, was a gifted singer as a youth, and his mother frequently entered him in talent shows. His greatest talent was in sports, however, and he excelled as a Junior Olympics boxer and as a standout basketball player. But football opened the most doors.

Sparks' neighborhood was rich in talent. Former NFL players Darren Woodson and Kevin Miniefield lived nearby. After Maryvale, Sparks attended Glendale Community College, where he played football and met Jodi Weidmann.

Sparks went on to ASU in 1990 and was 20 when he married Weidmann. With college studies, football and a new baby, Jordin, life was challenging.

For a while, Jodi hid from Phillippi the fact that she was using food stamps to buy groceries.

"I began wondering how the grocery bags got full," he said. Occasionally, his father-in-law, Jim, would slip him a few extra dollars on the side. Weidmann also helped deflect attention from agents so Sparks could focus on school and train for a potential NFL career.

"I love that man so much," Sparks said. "He made things easier for me."

Meanwhile, young Jordin began to sing. When family friends would visit, she would break out in song.

At school, at church, at local fish fries and any time the opportunity presented itself, she shared her talent.

Because Phillippi's NFL career forced the family to move several times during her childhood, Jordin learned how to adapt effortlessly to new situations. It contributed to the poise she demonstrated so well on Idol.

Phillippi retired from the NFL in 2001, when Jordin was 11.

It wasn't an easy decision. Although he made it to the playoffs twice with the Giants, they didn't advance to the Super Bowl until the season after he left.

Retirement did give him more time to spend with his daughter and son, P.J.

Jordin began singing at numerous competitions and in 2004, a talent manager for Christian singer Michael W. Smith spotted her. Soon, she joined the popular singer on tour.

Meanwhile, Phillippi reminded her of his life path.

"Remember," he said. "Anything is attainable."

When she turned 16, Jordin tried out for American Idol's Season 5 in Los Angeles. A producer told her, "You're not good enough," Phillippi recalled.

Jordin told her father that day that she was going to "pray to the Lord to shut all the doors, and if one opens, that's what I'll do." The next day, a scout for Torrid, a plus-size modeling agency, saw her and asked if she would like to model for the company. She did, and doors continued to open.

In November, she won an Arizona Idol contest on Channel 10 and an opportunity to audition in Seattle for the national show.

"Our lives got crazy, but it was my wife who kept our family glued," Sparks said.

Recently, Sparks has helped coach football at Glendale Community College, but his life is about to become much busier. Even though they will hire an agency to work with Jordin's career, the parents plan to have a heavy role in the day-to-day managing.

In the meantime, Phillippi plans to embrace the moment.

"The highs of playing football don't compare to this," he said. "This is your flesh and blood, and you had a part in making it. Amazing.

"I mean, I never got to the Super Bowl. She did."

American Idol Sanjaya Malakar is not Hung yet.

2007-05-27T22:27:00.001-07:00

American Idol has gone from our televisions screens leaving us with lots of good memories. The faces of Jordin, Blake and Melinda will be with us for a long time into the future because the level of their talent will keep them front and center in the lime light. There is one other face that we will continue to see as well, that of Sanjaya Ma lakar, not because he is of superior talent, but because in his own way he is special.

American Idol learned a huge lesson from William Hung. Hung did no more than audition for American Idol and instantly became a counter culture icon. Hung went on to earn serious money marketing himself and the American Idol franchise didn't get so much as a taste from the money Hung made. Call it a lesson learned for American Idol because it took them a few years, but they created their own American Idol counter culture Icon by the name of Sanjaya Malakar. Now we will have tweenies begging their parents to take them to see Sanjaya and teens showing up just because, and all the while filling the pockets of that American Idol franchise.

American Idol will be on tour all summer long with the top 10 American Idols from this past season, They will all be working for a wage, including Sanjaya. Arguably the tour has to be the best place for all of the Idols to hone their performing and singing skills. Sanjaya may seem like more of a joke right now, but I am suggesting that after a summer on tour with American Idol, he will develop and blossom. It is hard to imagine being out on tour with the behind the scenes people that run the road show, that Sanjaya won't be subjected to lots of tutoring and coaching.

Throughout history there have been a lot of rock stars that couldn't sing worth a damn but lead their bands to gold records based on either the tune being sung or the showmanship of the lead singer and band. Sanjaya has some singing skill and it can only improve, He hasn't yet become a William Hung and he may never become the joke Hung is. I would look for this young man to turn a sows ear into a silk purse.

Simon insult pays off for one zoo

2007-05-27T22:26:00.000-07:00

The Star-Tribune's Carrie Antlfinger reports on how a Simon Cowell' comment netted the Milwaukee County Zoo a cash donation in return for one thing.

"American Idol" has donated $1,500 to the Milwaukee County Zoo to call its only bush baby Simon _ and to poke fun at the outspoken judge, for comparing a wide-eyed contestant in Seattle to the tiny primate.

"American Idol" producers contacted the Association of Zoos & Aquariums to find out which zoos have the animal and only about 10 zoos nationwide do, including the Milwaukee County Zoo, zoo spokeswoman Jennifer Diliberti said. The zoo got the call Monday.

"The producer wanted to make sure the joke was put back on Simon, not the contestant," Diliberti said.

The show approached contestant for his approval, she said.

"Maybe Simon will soften his personality a bit now knowing the bush baby is such a sweet little animal," Diliberti said. "Or maybe not."

The man behind the 'Idol' cliffhanger, Nigel Lythgoe ups the ante on 'So You Think You Can Dance.'

2007-05-27T22:25:00.000-07:00

ON a warm recent Saturday afternoon, a cold, dark soundstage was being prepared for a taping. Some 40 young dancers scampered nervously around, touching up their makeup, chatting quietly, stretching. Each was getting ready to face the most terrifying moment of his or her life.

The show is "So You Think You Can Dance" — a three-month-long dancing competition, similar in format to (and run by many of the people who bring you) "American Idol." The episode they were shooting is called "The Green Mile," named for the final yards a condemned prisoner walks to his execution. In a few hours, 20 would be on the road to dance stardom (or at least in the race for it) and 20 would find the door abruptly slammed in their faces.

Ready to roll, the contestants stood before the four judges who would decide their fates. The dancers giggled, their nervous energy on the brink of exploding. At the end of the table, the one person in the room wearing a jacket and tie, a Brit with shoulder-length blond hair, addressed them in a voice at once warm and absolutely authoritative.

"Good evening," he opened, sounding a bit Hitchcockian. "We've looked at your tapes. Many of you are going to be disappointed. You may think we were wrong, but we've made our decision and we're going to stick to it." Moments later, they were led off the stage, heads down, the skip gone from their walk. The British man turned to the crew. "Did I frighten them?" he asked.

Of course he did, a bit. But the young dancers knew well that the occasional dose of high-voltage shock therapy was what they signed up for. And the speaker, Mr. Nigel Lythgoe, knows they know it too, because generating these shocks is how he spends his days, not just as judge of "So You Think You Can Dance" but also as an executive producer and co-creator (along with "Idol" warlord Simon Fuller). When not serving as judge and producer of "Dance," Lythgoe, along with fellow executive producer Ken Warwick, presides over the daily production of another little TV franchise, a show called "American Idol."

Soon, the dancers were summoned individually to a solitary walk through a series of spotlights. Looking frail and alone on the dark stage before the four imposing judges, some attempted to maintain a streetwise swagger. Others flashed nuclear-powered smiles at the table. It was an almost painfully raw spectacle to watch.

The first three in quick succession were, with a few words of consolation, handed the bad news. Lythgoe delivered the verdicts with a smooth but incontestable efficiency. There were no tears, no breakdowns, but their bodies told all: The rejected ones flew in but walked out. Those who made it through broke into leaps and twirls with an energy so infectious it filled the cavernous stage, eliciting huge smiles from judges and crew alike.

Finally, one walked in and Lythgoe had a bit more to say. A tall dancer in green socks faced the judges with a cocky expression. "We looked at your tapes," Lythgoe said, "and we have a problem. You don't communicate well." Apparently in the interviews, the dancer was inarticulate and, worse, goofing off. "I hope you don't think that dancing is going to get you through?" Lythgoe said, and assured him that while he is a talented dancer, his attitude would ruin him in the competition. Two minutes in, the swagger had completely vanished.

Soon Lythgoe dispatched him for a time of soul-searching. "I want you to go off and come back and tell me what you're going to do and that you will conduct yourself in a manner befitting this program." It was a bravura performance. Rarely does one witness a person so effectively stripped of his cockiness, and rarely can that moment be so perfectly captured on camera. And then the next victim was led in.

The Nigel Lythgoe universe is dotted with these points where people run into the most momentous moment in their life, and suddenly time slows and stretches out — their fate revealed only after the longest, most horrifying stare they will ever know. It is that moment of being called into the principal's office and waiting to learn why, or sitting in front of the doctor while he fingers the folder containing your test results.

Perhaps unique among the titans of television, Lythgoe, along with Warwick, comes to the pinnacles of prime time from a background in dance. In his native England, Lythgoe began dancing at age 10, working with the Young Generation dance troupe before launching a career as a TV choreographer plotting the moves of, among other giants of entertainment, the Muppets. Eventually Lythgoe dived fully into TV production, joining Fuller's 19 productions as chief executive in 2001, taking on among other duties a judging slot on the British forerunner of "American Idol," "Pop Idol," where he earned the nickname "Nasty Nigel" for his barbed reviews.

But in a way that makes one wonder why more shows don't put dancers in charge, it is the choreographer's sensibility that makes "American Idol" — let alone "Dance" — work, juggling tensions and building to crescendos in every episode and season.

If there is a simple explanation for what makes viewers stay with "American Idol" season after season, it is the spectacle of hidden tensions brought in the raw to the visible surface — people brought to a place where they can realize their greatest dream, stardom, or have their worst insecurities confirmed. And then the show holds that moment.

"We always say 'light the blue touch paper,' " Lythgoe said, speaking in his office above the "American Idol" set several weeks before the "Green Mile" taping, "which nobody really understands in America because you're not really allowed fireworks, but in England we have bonfire night and the kids get fireworks and the blue touch paper is like the firework and it says on it 'Light blue touch paper: Stand back!' That's how we produce the show almost: Put elements in place that will bang up against each other. And then we stand back."

As for his earlier decision to pull out as producer of one other mega-event — the Emmy Awards — "I thought about it over the weekend," he said with a sigh. "I've got four more weeks of 'Idol' to produce. We just finished 'Idol Gives Back,' now we're already preparing for the finals at the Kodak. Plus we're shooting the first episodes of 'Dance.' And then there's the band show … Can you understand why my marriage is breaking up?"

Even in the "Idol" hub of world-conquering superachievers, the nimble, unflappable Brit stands out. In 2003, he suffered a heart attack while toiling in the "Idol" editing bays — and continued to work for two days.

Harvesting the drama

IT was the night that two contestants were to be eliminated from "Idol" after the amnesty granted during "Idol Gives Back" a week earlier. At 11 the previous night, Lythgoe received the most sought-after information in entertainment — who would be leaving the show.

The results show is the true centerpiece of "Idol" stagecraft. Each week, the night after the performance show, Fox audiences return in still-dazzling numbers as the announcement of who lost the previous night's vote is unveiled over the longest hour of the contestants' lives.

"I say to them right at the beginning, 'I'm going to mess around with you in the results show,' " he said. "I'm there to cause friction. I am there to annoy people or make people laugh or amuse people. That's what the show is. We've got one hour to say, 'So and so, you're going home' so we've got to move and manipulate it as much as we can. I always go out and apologize afterwards."

A producer appeared in the doorway and soon after Lythgoe strolled into the chambre de secrets — the room where departing candidates' farewell videos are edited. Unlike the open-door policy of the other bays, only three staffers are allowed in this room, and they discreetly waited until the door was closed before rolling tape. The identity of the fallen remains a secret until moments before airtime.

Noticeable throughout the day and across the production was a curious fact: Among people who must have some of the highest-pressure jobs in entertainment, there is a consistently pleasant tone in the air. One hears no screaming or lost tempers. The courtly Lythgoe doesn't fail to compliment the crew after every viewing or rehearsal. "If it ever, ever, ever feels like hard work," he explained, "I'll lose my entire team. They work every hour God sends, so they've got to enjoy it. But the stress levels here are enormous. We do two live shows a week. And my energy levels are hugely high, but I've got to give them out to everybody on the team, not just keep myself going."

A straight-shooter

ANOTHER shocking element of talking with Lythgoe is his constant and disarming non-defensiveness. In the world of high-stakes entertainment, where executives routinely pronounce themselves "thrilled" with catastrophic weekend grosses, Lythgoe's unapologetic honesty is almost jarring. Among the quotes from one day in his company:

• Of the 500 songs reviewed for "Idol's" songwriting competition by series creator Fuller, "I don't think he liked any of them."

• "It's only a game show. It's not really a ritual slaughter. It is only a television talent show."

• "The characters for me were better last year" although, he continues, "I think the voices are better this year."

But in fact it is this ruthless openness about their flaws that, in Lythgoe's view, maintains the bond of trust between the show and its viewers. It is difficult to think of another show in recent history (perhaps ever) that has been so willing to expose its own controversies on the air. "I think what could hurt the show is if the integrity ever got lost," he said. "You don't turn your back on issues. We never turned our back on the issue when Paula [Abdul] was accused of a number of things. I believe in facing them. And denying them if they're deniable. That's what we do in England. If we ever take ourselves seriously, the whole thing will become so stupid. We can't. If we don't do things tongue in cheek with a smile on our faces, it'll become very serious and then it becomes sad."

An hour later, Lythgoe was on the set for the dress rehearsal of the results show. Stand-ins sat in the judges' and contestants' seats, and Lythgoe took center stage to walk through the show in the role of host Ryan Seacrest.

Stage manager Debbie Williams guided him through Seacrest's lines. Lythgoe joked with the mock contestants, then said to Williams, "You know, I learned last week: Whoever is told they are staying, put them in the back, because otherwise they turn to look at the people behind them, and all we get is the back of Jordin's head." He was referring to the week before, when season winner Jordin Sparks, upon learning she had been saved, turned away from the camera.

As he proceeded to block out the show, staging the slow release of the results to fill up an hour with the maximum possible tension, Lythgoe's dance background was perhaps most evident, making the results show seem like a ballet. Each week presents a different problem, a different set of expectations to play with. Lythgoe decided to bring out the contestants in two groups of three, dismissing one off the top and creating two buildups and crescendos. In the second group, he placed doomed contestant Chris Richardson onstage with Blake Lewis, who ultimately lost out to Sparks.

Later that night he explained, "It was only when we were halfway through onstage this morning that I realized they are the best of friends and by putting them together, they would support each other." Which is exactly what occurred, delivering one of the most touching moments of the season when the pair awaited their fate together, each radiating only goodwill and affection toward his opponent.

Ultimately, it is this paradoxical sense of an exquisitely choreographed reality that makes the show, in its sixth season, continue to enthrall. As Lythgoe explained it, "The story line writes itself to a certain degree. We can play off it and we can do things to add to it, but I believe that the Sanjayas and the Chicken Littles and the Kellie Picklers and the Carrie Underwoods write themselves. That is, you know, the thing that happens. People making friends. The rudeness of some people. The arrogance of some people is all we show.

"And that is the beauty of our editors and our producers. They find it, they don't write it. It's there. Then the country takes over. Then we feel that vibration."

American Idol Simon Cowell Stunned By 'This Is Your Life' Honor

2007-05-26T22:11:00.000-07:00

Music mogul Simon Cowell was left speechless when he was presented with a This Is Your Life honour while filming American Idol.

The reality judge was stunned when he was handed the famed red book by veteran British newscaster Sir Trevor McDonald on the American Idol finale on Wednesday (23May07) night.

American Idol Runner Up Blake Lewis: Ready to Focus on Acting, Singing

2007-05-26T22:10:00.001-07:00

No one expected Blake Lewis to win American idol. The funky beat boxer from Washington state was fortunate to make it to the finals. But the 25-year old has been all class throughout the competition, especially in the finals when he helped Jordin Sparks keep her composure by whispering support in her ear as it was announced by host Ryan Seacrest that Jordin Sparks was the next American Idol.

American Idol Runner Up Blake Lewis: Ready to Focus on Acting, Singing
American Idol Runner Up Blake Lewis: Ready to Focus on Acting, Singing

And he says he's perfectly fine with his second place finish. "I never looked at it as winning and losing. I just tried going out and performing really well each day," the 25-year-old says. "In a sense, I’m kind of glad I didn't win just for like contractual reasons. I think if you're first you might have to come back for like three years or something."

***

Smart guy. He will be much better off being able to guide his own musical future and he will has a good start now. And don't expect Blake to go diva and diss the show as some have done in the past. American Idol is such an amazing show and experience," he adds. "I honestly didn't care one bit [about] winning or losing, because I call myself a winner just by getting into the top 10."

Blake said he's focusing on the future, which he hopes includes acting as well as performing music. "If acting comes calling and I get the right opportunities and the right script, or just to do voiceover work for maybe like a Pixar or DreamWorks movie – I think that would be a plus," he says. "I love being goofy, I love doing different voices. I've been doing it since I was a kid."

***

People Magazine reports that in the meantime, Lewis will focus on his singing career and he has a specific type of music in mind for his first album.

"My music. I've been making it for seven years," he says. "[It's] very electro-pop, hip-hop music in a sense of Duran Duran [and] Michael Jackson. I'm a child of the '80s, so it's definitely going to have very advanced thing to it with more of a melodic jazzy, like Maroon 5, Jamiroquai, but definitely more on the hip-hop and electronic kind of thing."

Asked which previous American Idol has a career that he would like to emulate, "None of them," says Lewis. "I want to set my own path."

American Idol Sanjaya Malakar is not Hung yet.

2007-05-26T22:08:00.000-07:00

American Idol Judge Simon Cowell Tells Britney Spears To Go Home

2007-05-26T22:07:00.002-07:00

Music mogul Simon Cowell has urged Britney Spears to take some time out and go home to Louisiana - to save her career. The British svengali is convinced Britney will find a way of reviving her career after motherhood, marriage and rehab because she's "still one of the most talked about pop stars on the planet."

But Cowell insists she needs some serious down time with her family and friends in Kentwood, so she can re-connect with the star she was when she last hit the top of the charts.

American Idol Jordin Sparks' Crush On Angelina Jolie Beau Brad Pitt

2007-05-26T22:07:00.001-07:00

American Idol winner is a 'normal' teenager with a crush on the boyfriend of Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt. Jordin Sparks revealed her crush saying, "he's just really cute."

Sparks, 17, hastened to note that she doesn't know the actor also known as Angelina Jolie's main man and baby's daddy.

Sparks took part in a teleconference in which she was asked about everything from her favorite star to what she thought her earning potential might be, reports the AP.

"I don't know. I'm just looking forward to doing the best that I can do," the perky teenager replied. "I'm just a normal, quirky 17-year-old," she said.

American Idol Runner-up Blake Lewis 'Loves' Rosie O'Donnell

2007-05-26T22:06:00.000-07:00

Rosie O'Donnell has a fan in Blake Lewis. American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis admires Rosie O'Donnell for speaking her mind.

In a teleconference Friday, Lewis, 25, of Bothell, Wash., said that he admires candor. "I love Rosie O'Donnell. She just says whatever she wants," Lewis said responding to a question about the on-air support he got from "The View" hosts O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. "I'm pretty honest and blunt and sometimes a little tactless," he said adding that's his style as well.

Zoo gets its own Simon, the bush baby

2007-05-26T20:30:00.001-07:00

MILWAUKEE -- Simon Cowell meet your namesake - Simon, the bush baby. "American Idol" has donated $1,500 to the Milwaukee County Zoo to call its only bush baby Simon - and to poke fun at the outspoken judge for comparing a wide-eyed contestant in Seattle to the tiny primate.

"American Idol" producers contacted the Association of Zoos & Aquariums to find out which zoos have the animal and only about 10 zoos nationwide do, including the Milwaukee County Zoo, zoo spokeswoman Jennifer Diliberti said. The zoo got the call Monday.

"The producer wanted to make sure the joke was put back on Simon, not the contestant," Diliberti said.

The show approached contestant Kenny Swale beforehand for his approval, she said. It also gave Swale and another contestant the Golden Idol award for best buddies during this week's season finale.

The controversy started during auditions in Seattle when Cowell critiqued Swale, who had compared himself to Justin Timberlake. Cowell said: "You look a little odd ... you look like one of those creatures that live in the jungle, with those massive eyes ... a bush baby."

Swale, who went by Kenneth Briggs on the show, said he wasn't offended. He has talked to Cowell since then and thinks he's a great guy who was just having a bad day, he said.

"I think this was to remind Simon what a real bush baby looks like," he said by phone from Seattle. "Clearly, it does not look like me."

Swale, of Bothell, Wash., said he has an agent and is trying to get into acting and singing.

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has sent a letter to Cowell offering him a permanent pass to the zoo and plans to send one to Swale as well, said spokesman Rod McWilliams. Swale said he has never been to Milwaukee and would someday like to meet the new Simon.

Cowell's spokesman Matthew Hiltzik said his client also looks forward to visiting the bush baby in Milwaukee and thought the name change was made in good fun.

Representatives from "American Idol" didn't immediately return a call.

Diliberti said the tiny, gray animal, originally named Boing-Boing, fits in the palm of a hand. Bush babies are native to central Africa. There are only eight males and three females in captivity in North America, she said.

The newly renamed Simon is an 8-year-old male who was born at the zoo, Diliberti said. Zoo visitors have been interested in seeing their "little star" since word got out about his "American Idol" connection, and he's loving it, she said.

"He was kind of jumping around and leaping around and whatnot, and I think he just tired himself out and he was just resting for a couple of hours," she said.

Simon's demeanor is particularly sweet, she said. He allows caretakers to come and go from his cage, and he grooms and plays with two springhaas, with whom he shares a cage.

Diliberti joked Cowell might be able to learn a thing or two from his namesake.

"Maybe Simon will soften his personality a bit now knowing the bush baby is such a sweet little animal," she said. "Or maybe not."

American Idol's Entertaining Finale

2007-05-26T20:29:00.001-07:00

Just a few observations regarding the American Idol finale.

First, what a lot of people who dismiss Idol perhaps don't realize is that the show is actually quite entertaining. It is, perhaps, the best produced musically oriented show on network television. The finale boasted some top talent, both old and new with the likes of Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight (sans Pips,) Tony Bennett, Bette Midler, Aerosmith's Joe Perry on his guitar and others, some performing with the contestants, excepting Bennett who performed solo. Keep in mind that this was a live telecast (the seven-second delay notwithstanding.) It has long been my opinion that few people in the business know how to do live telecasts of entertainment fare. They usually seem slow, unsure, and clumsy in their execution. Just think of any awards show you may have seen in the past 20 years or so. Not so with American Idol, except perhaps when they gave out some "special" awards which provided some laughs, but was for the most part awkward at best.

While watching one of the production numbers, it occurred to me that everyone seemed on the edge of delirium, all sporting effusive, broad grins, perhaps owing to the fact that virtually everyone on camera either had and/or will be making a great deal of money. I suppose that is cause for a smile or two.

But I will hand it to the producers. Idol was, in its infancy, virtually the antithesis of Wednesday evening's program. The first year or two it was painfully obvious that the show was being produced on a shoestring budget. The show's great success since has opened the network's checkbooks and production values have soared.

A few notes about some of the special performances by the guest artists noted above:

Smokey Robinson and Gladys Knight were grand. They don't seem to have lost a beat, even if Ms. Knight has added a pound or two. Their voices were familiar and strong.

Tony Bennett was in unusually good voice. Ya gotta hand it to the guy. He's eighty years old! Nevertheless, in recent years, I have found some of his performances to be lacking in the vocal department as one might expect. Last nite, however, he nailed his performance, and he certainly does not look anything like 80 years old.

Joe Perry was very deft with his pickin' and not grinnin'.

Bette Midler. Bless her heart. Bette has always sung painfully flat. It is less irritating when she is doing some of her upbeat, campy stuff which represents her true calling, and I generally love. Unfortunately, she sang the god-awful "Wind Beneath My Wings", a dreadful song under any circumstances, but her voice constantly coming up under and not quite reaching note after note was harrowing to listen to. The only other performance I heard on Idol this year that was worse - and it was far worse - was Diana Ross's. She should give it up. She is so fucking impressed with herself that it makes just watching her a chore, let alone hearing her reveal just how much of her voice is history. I know I'm being uncharitable, but, man, listening to her now is not for sissies.

As to the actual purpose of the show - the contest results: Jordin Sparks is very good, indeed and deserving of the title. It is difficult to realize that she has spent only 17 tender years drawing breath on this planet. She has great range, control, and depth. She can sing big, only occasionally going shrill - which should pass assuming some vocal maturation and proper training and maintenance of her instrument - and she can pull it in and be intimate. She is a very attractive young lady who should become a star, and will likely make a great deal of money for herself, and probably even more for others.

I don't know what to say about Blake Lewis. He obviously has an interesting facility in doing vocal percussion, and his voice is decent. I don't know that he has real star quality, but I suppose that will work its way out in the coming months and years for good or ill.

My true favorite in the competition was Melinda Doolittle. She is downright great! She can absolutely nail a song, very much in the Gladys Knight tradition. I truly hope that she gets the right handling and goes on to be successful. She is cute, almost demure, and yet, when belting out a big song, she can rock the house.

LaKisha Jones also should have a bright future. She, too, can belt out a song with the best of them.

There are a handful of others who could make some noise in the business. Names that come to mind include Stephanie Edwards, Gina Glocksen, Chris Sligh, and unfortunately, Sanjaya. He is very weak vocally, but obviously appeals to thirteen-year-old girls. There is something about Sanjaya that I think might be cause for the pre-pubescent girls to be ultimately disappointed. Overall, the guys in the competition were much weaker than most of the girls this time around.

Haley Scarnato may also make a bit of a splash, but not so much for her singing. She's got a good face and a fairly great body. They might earn her a dollar or two. We'll see.

In a final note, it appears that the ratings for the finale were down considerably from last year. Critics reporting in USA Today gave the show a "1" on a 1 to 4 rating scale - 4 being the highest or best. That is unfortunate in that the talent level of virtually all the dozen or so finalists was, overall, much better this year than any of the previous competitions. There were a considerable number of really good performances throughout the competition with far fewer of the painful renditions that often prevailed in the past even in the late rounds.

Lakisha, more of Idol cast, get on Larry King

2007-05-26T20:26:00.000-07:00

The Top 10 American Idol contestants made it on to the May 25 Larry King show, where they talked about being on the show, the challenges, being nervous and other subjects.

LaKisha Jones, fourth place finisher on "American Idol" season six told King "It was a wonderful experience. I've always wanted to sing and "American Idol" was that platform to allow me to do that. So I was just grateful for the opportunity."

She also told him that she didn't feel like a loser.

"I kind of knew a couple of weeks into it, probably the last three weeks, I thought that Ii couldn't win anyway, so I was like, I'm not going to win, and my confidence went down a little bit. But, no, I don't feel like I've lost anything. I've gained so much."

KING: How did you know you couldn't win?

JONES: I just felt it in my spirit that this wasn't going to be it but it was not the end of the road, so ...

She told King that the most difficult part of being on "American Idol" was the schedule.

"I have never been used to like being like working like 12-hour days and running and getting up. It was just the schedule probably would be the toughest part for me."

She also told King that rehearsing and all the activities, the intensity added to the pressure.

"I have never done so much singing in my life. Because once you rehearse like on Thursdays and Fridays.

Then, a lot of people don't know we do a full run through of show before the show is actually on ..."

Nerves also was a big part of the discussion and here's LaKisha's response:

"I'm always nervous because I'm just trying to do my best and then I worry about, OK, what are the judges going to say this week or how is the song going to sound this week? Are people voting? So I kind of overanalyze a lot of things."

Blake Lewis Didn't Care About Winning American Idol

2007-05-25T22:57:00.001-07:00

Leading up to the American Idol, indeed as far back as the final four, many Blake Lewis supporters suggested that the unique performer probably did not care about winning the contest. The presumption was that a performer as unique as Blake would be underutilized by American Idol’s pop saturated producers, and like Chris Daughtry, Lewis would be better off to channel his uniqueness into a more creatively compatible venue.

In statements published at realitytvworld.com, Blake proved those supporters right by downplaying his loss and, more specifically, showing some relief about not having to go through the PR cuisinart that American Idol pushes its champions through.

"I never looked at it as winning and losing, I just tried going out and performing really well each day," said Lewis during a Friday conference call with reporters. "In a sense I'm kind of glad I didn't win just because of contractual reasons... I think if you're first, you might have to come back for years or something and do stuff. Which is great, at the same time because American Idol is such an amazing show and experience. I honestly didn't care one bit about winning or losing because I called myself a winner just by getting in the Top 10."

With the national exposure of American Idol behind him, and the subsequent experience of the pending American Idol tour, Blake has a fantastic foundation from which to launch a successful career built around his unique talents.

"'This Is My Now' is definitely not my style. It's a song I would never sing if I didn't have to. It fit [Jordin] perfectly, Honestly I think they should have had two songs -- one that was tailored to both of us -- but I'm so happy with being in second place. I never thought I'd get here in the first place.”

Poppie Couture Outfits Jordin Sparks for American Idol Season Finale

2007-05-25T22:56:00.001-07:00

LOS ANGELES, MAY 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Poppie Harris, LA based fashion designer and celebrity stylist, announced today that Jordin Sparks sang her way through the American Idol Finals decked out in three custom Poppie Couture designs.

With only a week's time to create the custom pieces that Jordin would wear in the Finale, Poppie worked closely with the young artist to achieve just the right look for America's newest Idol. "It was important to get to know Jordin, to make sure that we created designs that didn't just look good on her, but that Jordin felt good wearing -- because that confidence would come through in her performances," stated Harris.

In Part 1 of the American Idol Season Finale, Sparks performed Christina Aguilera's "Fighter" in a stunning black-and-green Poppie Couture minidress/top which featured vintage Venetian lace, silk ombre, and intricate hand-beaded details. Harris then paired the top with black denim jeans to complete the feisty yet feminine look Jordin wanted for the song.

IMAGE: http://www.poppiecouture.com/store/americanidol.html Jordin wore two Poppie Couture creations in Part 2 of the Season Finale:

In the opening duet with runner-up Blake Lewis, She sang the Beatles' classic "I Saw Her Standing There." Poppie designed an eye-catching empire waist dress with a metallic charcoal silk satin bust and a flowing, sequined lace skirt.

IMAGE: http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?navtyp=gls====275524&nbc1=1

For her second duet of the night (Marvin Gaye's "You're All I Need to Get By" with Ruben Studdard), Poppie dazzled Jordin with a fresh, flirty halter- top dress in bright pink silk chiffon with a sparkling, bejeweled waistband.

IMAGE: http://www.poppiecouture.com/store/americanidol.html

American Idol stylist Art Conn said, "Poppie's designs for Jordin were perfect! They looked amazing on-screen, and she felt so comfortable in all of them."

In fact, after being named this year's American Idol winner, Jordin couldn't wait to change back into the gunmetal minidress for the press interviews which followed the performance, saying the shimmering, hand-beaded dress made her feel "like a princess."

Designing for American Idol's newest star has been an amazing experience for Harris: "It was wonderful working with Jordin -- she's such an amazing talent and a genuine, kind person. Jordin and I aimed for high-fashion, exquisite pieces that would reflect her great taste, style and personality -- and I think we hit the right note."

Poppie Couture can be found on the web at http://www.poppiecouture.com/.

Poppie Couture is the brand name for designs by Poppie Harris, a Los Angeles based fashion designer and celebrity stylist. Poppie's designs can be seen adorning many of Hollywood's top celebrities. Poppie Couture's lines include handbags, clothing, and Poppiebaby, a line for infants and toddlers. Her designs have been featured in the New York Times, People Magazine, and USA Today, as well on E! and Access Hollywood, among others.

American Idol Winner Comes to iTunes

2007-05-25T22:55:00.002-07:00

If you don't already know, Jordin Sparks won this year's American Idol with a great performance of her first single "This Is My Now." Apple has made available the studio recording of the single on iTunes.

If you really liked the season's finalists you can buy a five song EP of past performances from Sparks or Idol finalist Blake Lewis. The EPs cost $3.99 and are available immediately.

Songs available from Sparks are "I Who Have Nothing," "A Broken Wing," "To Love Somebody," "Wishing On A Star," and "This Is My Now."

Lewis' songs are You Give Love A Bad Name," "Time Of the Season," "I Need To Know," "Love Song," "This Love," "You Should Be Dancing," and "When The Stars Go Blue."

A Pro-Life American Idol: Idol Winner Jordin Sparks Known for Pro-life Advocacy

2007-05-25T22:55:00.001-07:00

HOLLYWOOD, CA, May 25, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – It seems that Jordin Sparks, the winner of the sixth season of the hugely popular “reality TV” show “American Idol,” is not only an example and inspiration to aspiring musical artists, but also those who are fighting for the Culture of Life.

Whisperings have abounded in the so-called “blogosphere” for some months now, with blog posters speculating and presenting evidence for Jordin Spark’s Christian and pro-life stance. Since Jordin has gone from merely one contestant amongst many, however, to winner of the widely-viewed talent contest, those whisperings have taken on new significance.

J SparksAlthough Jordin has remained neutral onstage and in the public spotlight when it comes to matters of religion or politics, focusing instead on her music, she has a past of pro-life advocacy, and of outspoken Christian faith.

Several photos have circulated online that show Jordin participating in pro-life and Christian events. One in particular, which allegedly originally came from Jordin’s personal MySpace page (it is no longer there), shows Jordin holding up a popular pro-life sign—a red stop sign with the words “Stop Abortion Now”.

Several other photos show the 17-year-old, home-schooled Idol winner performing at an annual pro-life rally in 2006 in downtown Phoenix. Several blogs also indicate that she has performed at other pro-life events as well.

Jordin Sparks at pro-life eventThis comes as no surprise, since Jordin’s artistic career was largely begun in the realm of Christian music, singing at her own home church, Calvary Community Church, and at other Christian festivals. In 2004 she finished second at the Music in the Rockies competition, which is a competition for aspiring Christian musicians. She has also toured with and recorded songs with several other well-known Christian artists.

On her official page on the American Idol website Jordin responds to a question, saying that before she goes on stage she “prays and breathes”. She also says that if she were to win she would thank God and her parents before anyone else.

Pam Wiedmann, Jordin’s grandmother, was interviewed about her granddaughter in January of this year by the Arizona Republic. She told the newspaper that Jordin’s "faith is so important to her, and she wants to maintain that throughout this whole process."

"American Idol" Viewers Down Sharply from Year Ago

2007-05-25T22:54:00.001-07:00

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Is "American Idol" losing its touch, or did people care more about Taylor and Katharine than Jordin and Blake?

Nielsen Media reports Wednesday's finale of "American Idol" was watched by 30.7 million people. That's a sharp drop from last year's finale, when 36.4 million people saw Taylor Hicks win over Katharine McPhee.

It's pretty much the same number of people who saw Carrie Underwood win in 2005 -- 30.3 million. It beats out the 28.8 million who saw Fantasia Barrino win in 2004, but doesn't come close to the juggernaut of 2003, when 38 million people tuned in to the Ruben Studdard-Clay Aiken finale.

This year's season of "Idol" started off strong, beating out last year's early-season ratings, but started to falter mid-season. Call it the Sanjaya Effect. Ratings started to dip when Sanjaya Malakar was voted off in April.