I scanned MJ and the usual suspects and there is really nothing going on. I’m impressed MJ even came up with as many items as she did.

And since it’s now 5:35 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, I’m going to be lazy and just post David Archuleta’s YouTube New Year’s wishes. He just turned 19 but still looks about 12 years old. An adorable 12 year old, of course! He sounds happy as always. He went Christmas caroling during the holidays. He’s performing at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, TX.

Angela Martin, who has made it to Hollywood before and is promoted as coming back again this year, said her mom is missing, according to this story on Fox Chicago.

She got airtime in 2008 on “Idol” after her father was murdered. And here’s the promo she’s in for the upcoming season:

Continue reading David Archuleta wishes everyone a happy 2010 »

“Idol” has been around for most of this decade and two of its alums finished strong in Billboard’s compilation of the decade’s biggest.

Carrie Underwood’s debut “Some Hearts,” which has sold more than 6 million copies since 2005, is the top-selling country album of the entire decade. Amazing! It’s also the 14th biggest selling album of the decade period. She is the No. 10 country artist of the decade based on sales and radio airplay. “Before He Cheats” was the 14th biggest country song of the decade.

Kelly Clarkson, who has had more time than Carrie to compile hits, came in as the 14th biggest radio airplay artist of the entire decade. She’s the No. 2 pop artist. Her song “Since U Been Gone” was the top “Idol” song at No. 47 among Hot 100 songs (which combines radio airplay with sales).

MJ compiled all the rankings here.

-I was watching Access Hollywood last night. The top 9 of the year included Adam Lambert at No. 5. Oprah was No. 3, Twilight’s trio No. 2 and Taylor Swift No. …

Continue reading Top Billboard acts of the decade featuring Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood »

It’s been a week since I’ve reported any real “Idol” news at all. Not that there was much going on per se, beyond Carrie Underwood’s engagement to her hockey playing fiance.

Here are some bits and pieces:

-The New York Post wrote a story noting that “Idol” fans aren’t all that heated about Simon Cowell possibly leaving after the 2010 season. Is he not as important as we thought he was? I may post that as a poll question when more people are reading this blog.

- Hollywood Reporter reports that Fox is ready to sign “Idol” for another three seasons beyond its current contract, which runs through 2011. That means “Idol” into season 13 or 2014. Clearly, Fox is ready to run with the show minus Cowell while he joins “X Factor.”

Fox would prefer to bundle a “Factor” agreement with at least another season of Cowell judging “Idol.” But by quitting “Idol,” Cowell could make his participation on “Factor” a bigger event. One potential compromise is that Cowell could take a smaller role on …

Continue reading Fox ready to sign on “Idol” for three more years into 2014 »

I took a genuine break from the blog world the past few days. I hope you all enjoyed your break, too.

So here are my six most notable personal interactions with “Idol” this past year:

- Running into Anoop Desai at the Amos Lee concert. This was the most random “Idol” moment of the year for me. It was just two weeks after Anoop was elmiminated from the show on May 7. I was walking down the concert aisle and a friend of mine said, “Isn’t that the guy from ‘Idol’?” We followed him to the concession stand and yes, it was Anoop. He was in town to see some friends and was a big fan of Lee. We talked briefly and got our pictures taken with him. But surprisingly, he got to sing “Crazy Love” with Lee during the encore, a song he was familiar with from his college singing group.

- Paula Abdul at “Drop Dead Diva” set. I had spoken to Paula Abdul just once before, during season three auditions in 2004. So it was a treat to catch up in Peachtree City right before she taped her …

Continue reading Top personal ‘Idol’ interactions of 2009 »

I’m on vacation but I will include this press release verbatim from Fox. The 24-person semifinals are back, split men and women. It’s arguably a better system then last year’s but last year still ended up with a pretty good crew. I didn’t mind it as much as others.

The fact “Idol” placed Atlanta second is a good sign for talent there (compared to two years ago.) I’m going to be on my honeymoon for the week of January 17 and will tell you loyalists that Deirdre will be subbing in for me that week. She has certainly earned it and I know she’ll do a great job covering the Chicago and Orlando auditions for me.

The wait is almost over for the return of television’s No. 1 show! AMERICAN IDOL is set to return for its much-anticipated ninth season with a two-night premiere featuring extraordinary talent and outrageous new auditions from Boston Tuesday, Jan. 12 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Atlanta Wednesday, Jan. 13 (8:00-9:15 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

After the two-night premiere, auditions …

Continue reading Fox sets “Idol” dates for 2010 through March »

Here are what I think were the top 10 biggest stories related to “American Idol” this year, in no particular order.

-  Kara DioGuardi arrives. The producers decided a fourth judge would shake things up and brought in a pro, someone who has music experience as a songwriter and producer, as well as a solo artist. At first, I thought she’d bring something fresh to the table with talk of artistry and brand potential. But she got boring fast. Sadly, the one thing I’ll remember from her first year is her attempt to out-bikini the Bikini Girl. (Okay, she did, not that the competition was all that fierce.)

-  Dark horse wins! Kris Allen, who nobody (including me) expected to make it past the top 8, managed to win the eighth season of Idol, beating out two more obvious favorites. He was low key, capable of strumming a good tune and an all-around nice guy. He improved over the course of the show and his take on Kanye West’s “Heartless” probably sealed the deal with fans.

-  Viewer …

Continue reading Top ten Idol stories of 2009 »

CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

I attended the Star 94 Jingle Jam last night to see Jordin Sparks. This is the third year in a row Star has had an “Idol” on its lineup. In 2007, it was Elliott Yamin. Last year, David Archuleta. I felt incredibly old, surrounded almost exclusively by 12 to 16 year old girls who were there to scream for Justin Bieber and Cobra Starship and such.

Sparks was her usual bubbly – if slightly awkward – self. (That’s her charm.) I was about 300 feet away so I apologize for the mediocre photograph above. Robb Cohen has better shots here.

She hasn’t been hit by a true sophomore jinx since her first single of her latest album “Battlefield” landed in the top 5. But single #2, “S.O.S,” bombed, peaking in the 30s on the top 40 radio charts. It’s basically a ripoff of Shannon’s 1984 gem “Let the Music Play.” The crowd did love the song and she did it with plenty of energy.

On stage, Sparks wore a more mature haircut (with mixed results) and …

Continue reading Jordin Sparks at Star 94’s Jingle Jam »

Chris Daughtry and his band will join Ryan Seacrest live at Times Square December 31 for “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.” Jennifer Lopez will be there, too.

And Adam Lambert is still all over TV, including “So You Think You Can Dance” finale last night, the “Jay Leno” show and “Chelsea Lately.”

Here is his SYTYCD “Whataya Want From Me” performance. What IS that on his shoulder? Looks like plasticized poop.

And here’s a loose interview he has with Chelsea Handler:

Adam’s a natural redhead, apparently,. and fat in high school. And she won’t mind him having men grinding their heads into his crotch anytime he wants on her show.

Idol Chatter provided the top “Idol” alum album sales in 2009. Yes, album sales are not what they used to be!

Carrie Underwood’s “Play One” : 844,000
Daughtry’s “Leave This Town”: 806,000
Kelly Clarkson: “All I Ever Wanted”: 784,000
David Cook: “David Cook”: 451,000
Carrie Underwood: “Carnival Ride” 432,000
Adam Lambert “For Your Entertainment” …

Continue reading Daughtry joining Seacrest at ‘Rockin’ Eve’ on ABC; more Adam Lambert appearances »

Many casual observers may assume Simon Cowell has some ownership over “American Idol.” He does not. Sure, he gets paid a ridiculous amount of money to judge the show but he has no direct stake in it – unlike “America’s Got Talent” and a British show he’d like to import here called “X Factor.

To confuse matters, the man who does run 19 Entertainment is also named Simon — Fuller, that is.

“X Factor” has elements of “Idol” in it but involves more mentoring and includes both solo acts and groups. Leona Lewis won a couple of years ago.  The Times in the U.K. reports he will bring the show to Los Angeles in the fall of 2011. His deal with Idol ends next year and he might jump ship to “X Factor,” the story says.

MJ dug up the top trending topics on Twitter. Adam Lambert came in No. 3 behind Michael Jackson and Susan Boyle. American Idol was the top TV show.

- Speaking of Boyle, that woman continues to dominate album sales, with 582K more sold last week in its third week and 1.8 …

Continue reading Simon Cowell still eyeing ‘X Factor’ for the United States »

Given the context of what has happened with Jennifer Hudson the past 18 months, I was hoping for a bit more from the Christmas special that aired last night on ABC.

While Hudson herself tried to convey a cheeriness and conviviality, the whole hour felt overly processed and edited. I just didn’t feel any real emotion out of her between songs beyond a slight air of sadness.

The deaths of her mom, her brother and her nephew were barely touched upon. She was the executive producer and clearly, she got to show us only what she wanted to show us. But it almost begs the question — why do a Christmas special back in your hometown now? It seems almost too soon.

Her son and hubby show up briefly in the beginning. Some of her cousins pop in. She visits her high school and the mall she spent a lot of time in as a kid, where she sang by herself. She also did a strange lip-synced solo while on the Chicago River. She did a lovely gospel concert at her church, too.

She did sound great in …

Continue reading Jennifer Hudson’s ABC Christmas special »