The details are trickling in for the Jennifer Hudson concert tour with Robin Thicke. She’s hitting the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on April 15.

This will be her first co-headlining gig in Atlanta. I expect this will sell really really well, no matter how they price it. I don’t have ticket information yet. Will post that as soon as I can.

And here’s a funny video of Carrie Underwood ducking a Jumbotron at a hockey game. She’s allegedly dating some Senators player named Mike Fisher. (She likes her athletes!).

Early ratings for “Idol” last night was in the 25.1 million range. That’s down from 29 million a year ago. What’s interesting is Wednesday ratings have been flat while Tuesday has been doing 13 percent less business. Clearly, “NCIS” and “Biggest Loser” on Tuesday are helping take a bigger chunk out of “Idol” viewers on Tuesday than the comparable weaker competition on Wednesday nights of CBS sitcoms, NBC “Knight Rider” and ABC “Lost” repeats. …

Continue reading 2/18: Jennifer Hudson at Fox Theatre April 15 »

The judges have predicted a guy is going to win. This sampling tonight definitely favored the boys. And there were gobs of bad song choices, too.

Plus, somehow, Tatiana was… pretty good — and pretty calm. Huh? But you know, just bubbling under the surface, was nutty Tatiana just ready to burst out in full regalia.

Danny Gokey guaranteed a spot as the guy leader in votes. I’d say Alexis Grace is the female pick. Who will be the third? I say it’s going to be either Michael Sarver or Anoop Desai. Ricky Braddy was amazing but he simply will be forgotten and will have to go to wild card to get his spot. For prediction purposes, I will pick Anoop as the third after Danny and Alexis. (Early dialidol numbers show Michael with more busy signals than Anoop but both Alexis and Danny are well ahead of both.)

My top 12 in order: 1-Ricky Braddy 2-Danny Gokey 3-Anoop Desai 4-Michael Sarver 5- Alexis Grace 6- Tatiana Del Toro 7-Stephen Fowler 8-Ann Marie Boskovich 9-Brent Keith 10-Jackie Tohn …

Continue reading 2/17: American Idol recap, first 12 of 36 perform »

“Idol,” which has been airing at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, will move to 9 p.m. for the results shows starting March 11, moving “Lie to Me” to 8 p.m.

Usually, there are more eyeballs at 9 p.m. though “Idol” is up against “Lost” on ABC at that time.

EW reports that two former Buckhead residents and “Idol” finalists Carly Smithson and Michael Johns will perform a duet Wednesday during this season’s first results show. Apparently, they had been mentors during Hollywood week but were edited out. This will make up for that.

USA Today caught up on most of the Season 7 contestants. It’s not set up in traditional story form. Rather, there are pictures of each contestant. Scroll over the photo and you have options to read a story or in some cases, listen to a clip of their latest music.

Here’s Taylor Hicks’ video for “What’s Right is Right.”

Katharine McPhee got herself another acting role in a romantic comedy “Wedlocked.” She has been cast opposite “Brothers & Sisters” hottie Dave …

Continue reading 2/17: Results show at 9 p.m. starting 3/11, Taylor Hicks video, Carly Smithson duets with Michael Johns Wed. »

I anticipated a 10 percent drop in ratings and “Idol” has obliged so far. The ratings are down 8 percent overall and 14 percent among 18 to 49 year olds, according to the L.A. Times.

Viewership is averageng 26.8 million so far this year after nine episodes.

Fox’s alternative programming chief Mike Darnell argues that this season’s “Idol” changes — including adding fourth judge Kara DioGuardi, trimming the time for auditions, doubling the time devoted to the Hollywood rounds and even adding a “judges’ mansion” in Wednesday’s episode — were necessary to avoid a feeling of stasis that could alienate core fans.

“Apathy is a killer,” Darnell said. “The audience wants you not to change the core of the show but to make subtle changes, little changes.”

-Billboard spoke with Randy Jackson and he expects fewer mentors this year: “I do think we’re going to have less of them because it’s hard to get people to really chime in with all of these contestants. Not everyone is that vocal. …

Continue reading 2/16: Ratings down 8% so far for “Idol” this year »

Fantasia, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Ruben Studdard, Taylor Hicks, David Cook, Jordin Sparks, CREDIT: AP

The “American Idol” Experience debuted this week at Disney World and yesterday, dozens of “Idol” contestants showed up, including all seven “Idol” winners, plus Ryan Seacrest on the same stage. (The only judge who came by was Paula Abdul.) Hopefully, there will be some cool videos of the event online.

MJ has tons of pictures from the day. Among the other “Idols” who showed up besides the winners include Bo Bice, Melinda Doolittle, Diana DeGarmo, Syesha Mercado, Carly Smithson, Jason Castro, David Archuleta, Ace Young, Bucky Covington, Michael Johns, Justin Guarini and our bud Chris Sligh, to name a few. At a special concert, David Cook performed “Light On,” Carrie Underwood did “All American Girl” and the pair combined for “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac.

USA Today covered the event.

The carpet: LaKisha Jones is thrilled to see so many former finalists in one …

Continue reading 2/13: American Idol Experience opens in Disney World »

This press release buried the news that so-called “Plant’ Joanna Pacitti (who has had a record deal before) was not eligible for the competition after all. TMZ said her former manager at Geffen is now a 19 Entertainment, which operates “Idol.” If that was the case, why was this only announced now? Felicia Barton was given her spot.

We also get little bio snippets of the 36. Not a single Georgia person in sight though like Michael Johns and Carly Smithson last year, someone might have lived here at some point. If anybody knows any of the folks below and knows that they have some direct Georgia connection, email me at rho@ajc.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009

“AMERICAN IDOL” TOP 36 SEMIFINALISTS REVEALED!

VOTING BEGINS NEXT WEEK AFTER FIRST GROUP PERFORMS LIVE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, ON FOX

Three Finalists Advance During First LIVE Results Show
Wednesday, February 18

Auditions ended tonight for the eighth season of AMERICAN IDOL as the Top 36 …

Continue reading 2/12: Top 36 bios revealed, Joanna Pacitti cut for Felicia Barton »

We now have our 36. Honest to god, I think this is a solid, interesting crew, even without Jamar Rogers. (And despite Tatiana Del Toro).

My early take is the guys left more of an impression on me as I watched the montage of people at the end. My early favorites include Lil Rounds, Stephen Fowler, Scott MacIntyre, Danny Gokey and Michael Sarver.

This was a wonderful two hours for us “Idol” buffs. The sing offs were a great addition. And the pairings were created for extra dramatic effect. The final one was an annoying red herring, especially if you already knew the top 36, thanks to JoesPlace blog, which for the second year in a row, got it 100% correct.

The top 12 performing next Tuesday is a pretty talented group: Casey Carlson, Stephen Fowler, Jackie Tohn, Ricky Braddy, Anne Marie Boskovich, Brent Keith, Alexis Grace, Michael Sarver, Stevie Wright, Danny Gokey, Tatiana Del Toro, Anoop Desal. I’d say poor Casey and Ricky are in trouble unless they step it up cos they were …

Continue reading 2/11: American Idol recap: Hollywood rounds, the final 36 revealed! »

The Los Angeles Times report says the final 50 contestants forgo the building with the elevator and long gym floor set up. And some of them will have to sing again for their lives.

In fact, there will be “sing offs” between some singers. That should be fun!

The Academy of Country Music award nominations came out today. Carrie Underwood was nominated for the prestigious “Entertainer of the Year” with usual suspects such as Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, George Strait and Keith Urban. (Toby Keith and Alan Jackson have popped up here in the past but not this year.)

Underwood’s video for “Just a Dream” was nominated and she is up for top female vocalist. Miranda Lambert, Heidi Newfield, Taylor Swift and Lee Ann Womack are the others.

Continue reading 2/11: Expect some sing-offs tonight! Carrie Underwood garners ACM noms »

More cuts, more pain, more joy. And yes, Tatiana survives, tears and all. She was almost cut but you have to think the producers intervened.

Good fun episode. Sure, the judges really need to stop milking the rooms with sullen faces and sad words. But whatever. We got to see a few newbies and some of the alleged 36 got zero airtime, though most do get at least a few seconds.

Every person gets to sing a solo. No judges’ comments. The 72 will be split into four rooms and one of include the no’s.

Adam Lambert, the rocker, goes for Cher’s “I Believe.” He’s got a great voice. He’s a bit theatrical.

Matt Giraud, the soulful white singer that reminded Simon of Elliott Yamin, does a pretty version of “Georgia on My Mind” with a keyboard. The other contestants love it and it’s obvious the judges are into him, too.

Jamar Rogers (”Hey There Delilah”) has some strange intonations but a truly unique sound to his voice. He’s almost certainly through in top 50. Danny Gokey, his buddy, …

Continue reading 2/10: American Idol recap, Hollywood rounds part 3 »

Tonight is time for the 74 to get cut to 50.

Otherwise, not much news going on in Idol land. I see Disney World is about to debut its “Idol Experience” set up with Carrie Underwood, David Cook, David Archuleta and Jordin Sparks showing up.

Paula Abdul, whose predictions are meaningless, says she thinks a guy will win. We know for sure she’s got a 50% shot of getting it right!

Jennifer Hudson is going on a tour this spring which includes an Altanta stop but no details yet. I’ll naturally post date and locale when I get it.

And Nick Lachey told Access Hollywood he had done a duet with Kara DioGuardi.

The new guy over at Idol Chatter is now posting a top 50 Idol chart based on radio airplay. For a chart geek like me, it’s fun stuff.

Continue reading 2/10: Paula Abdul predicts guy will win, Jennifer Hudson coming to Atlanta »