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It’s Friday and we’ve endured six of the eight episodes. Most of my regulars here are hankering for Hollywood already, which is understandable. But alas, there are two more audition episodes, which features Denver and Victoria Beckham next Tuesday and a mish mash on Wednesday. That means we’ll get more peeks of some of the guest judges. But we’ve seen at least a sample of them all, a couple briefly (Joe who?) and some quite impressively (ah… Katy Perry.)

I personally liked Perry the most. She was opinionated and funny, noting that this is not a Lifetime movie. …

Continue reading Who’s been your favorite guest judge? More Idol hours to deal with judge bloat »

Jennifer Hudson is one of the names included in a list of people who may be involved in a “We are the World”-type song for Haiti spearheaded by Quincy Jones.

Two other names leaked out with Atlanta ties: Justin Bieber and Sugarland.

-And I’m sure this is exaggerated but gossip sites are working the Ellen hates Simon angle. Here’s another one from radaronline.com

“There’s two camps on the show this season,” said an Idol insider. “It’s a lot more tense than previous seasons. It seems as if Ellen has decided to try to take control since Simon is on his way out and that’s created problems.”

Joining the likes of Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson in 2009 and Jordin Sparks in 2008, Carrie Underwood will have the honors this year in Miami for the faceoff between the Saints and the Colts.

source: FOX

EW was sweet enough to count how many words Joe Jonas uttered on last night’s Idol episode, which drew about 24.7 million viewers (up a bit from Tuesday but down about 8% from the same …

Continue reading Carrie Underwood singing Super Bowl National Anthem, Quincy Jones doing a ‘We are the World’ for Haiti may include Jennifer Hudson »

Idol returns to Dallas, where “Idol” found Kelly Clarkson in 2002.

While the crazies were at relatively low ebb, this left the producers no choice but to highlight some good singers. (We heard plenty.) Dallas brought home 31 Hollywood-bound contestants, a very good total.

Julie Kevelighan, 28, did an awful Lady Marmalade season one. She tries again eight years later with “Black Velvet” this time. It was still lousy, just less irritating. Her hideous makeup, as Simon noted, just adds to the pure awfulness of it all.

Lloyd Thomas, with a lousy dock worker and two cute kids, is this season’s Ruben Studdard if he can get that far. He does a nuanced version of Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed.” Neil Patrick Harris wants him to show more personality while he’s singing but everyone else loves him.

Neil shows a little bite against Simon. Kimberly Carver, a school teacher, goes for an original song, a bluesy tune. “You can blow,” Randy said. “I don’t see anything current, anything …

Continue reading American Idol auditions in Dallas with Joe Jonas, Neil Patrick Harris »

CREDIT: Michael Becker/Fox

Katy Perry was more hot than cold as a guest judge last night, certainly far more entertaining than Avril Lavigne. She was as tough (if not tougher) than Simon and smacked down Kara for singing “I Kissed a Girl” (not particularly well.) Thank you, MTV, for the interview:

“I make ‘em cry all the time,” Perry joked to MTV News. “The ‘American Idol’ experience was awesome. If I was offered that job as a permanent host, I would ditch my career and take on that career.”

Perez Hilton is now lobbying to replace Simon Cowell. Note to Simon Fuller: Please no!

“I’d be a great judge,” he continued. “But I’d also happily be a judge along with Simon Cowell on his U.S. version of ‘X Factor.’ Basically, I’m shamelessly looking for work. I’m available. And I’m cheap!”

Joe Jonas told Ryan Seacrest about his guest stint tonight on Idol in Dallas:

“[I was] a little nervous at the start because I was kind of afraid I was going to hurt people’s feelings,” the …

Continue reading Katy Perry loved her guest gig so much, she’d ditch music and be a judge full time »

Welcome to Los Angeles! The city in the past hasn’t always given us great talent, surprisingly enough. This time, 22 made it through and we heard some potential top 12ers.

The first person is usually a joke. And yes, they start with the man with an odd animal on top of his head. Neil Goldstein is his name. He tries to do Meat Loaf but freezes on his first try. He’s not godawful as a singer but he is so ridiculously dorky. “I don’t think you’re suited for this business,” Simon said. (He is not really working very hard with the insults this year, is he?)

Jim Ranger, a worship leader, takes a chance with an original song called “Drive.” He has a little Bo Bice in him. “Authentic,” Simon said. Avril Lavigne keeps grinning absurdly and eventually says no. “I don’t know how you could be dedicated to your church” and do Idol, Kara said. But she and Randy must say yes because he gets through.

Damien LeFavor, who makes sandwiches and likes to do martial arts, tortures us with a bit of …

Continue reading Idol auditions in Los Angeles with Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry »

TMZ said ABC has been chasing after Paula Abdul with a $1 million development deal contingent upon her appearing on “Dancing With the Stars.” Simon Cowell is also chasing after her to do “X Factor.”

Nikki Finke on Deadline Hollywood said Simon Cowell arrived at the first day of Hollywood rounds 90 minutes late earlier this month. This was Ellen DeGeneres’ first day and she got peeved because she has to do double duty with her talk show. She also said the first choice to succeed Simon Cowell is former Sony music chief Tommy Mottola, who once was Mariah Carey’s husband. Cowell also wants Mottola on “X Factor.” Nikki has built up amazing sources in Hollywood and is often fairly accurate.

And CBS has released some photos of Carrie Underwood as a flight attendant on “How I Met Your Mother.” The episode is set to air in March.

Carly Smithson, former metro Atlanta denizen (briefly at least), is now lead singer of  We are the Fallen , will be at Center Stage May 3. I am looking …

Continue reading TMZ report: ABC offers Paula $1 million development deal, Tommy Mottola latest rumored Simon replacement »

Deirdre just gave me the lowdown of last week. Sounds like I didn’t miss much. I need to 1) read her posts and 2) catch up on news overall. I was virtually completely out of touch last week while eating way too much at an all-inclusive resort in Tulum, Mexico. I was even glad Fox Mexico did not air “Idol” last Tuesday and Wednesday. (My hotel did get the Miami stations of ABC and NBC so I saw the final moments of Conan’s “Tonight Show”).

– Daughtry’s tour includes a stop at Gwinnett Arena June 5.

– An Idol contestant who made the top 24 has been cut because his dad broke the confidentiality agreement. This is the first time I have heard this happen to somebody who made it this far. Here’s a bit from People.com

Michael Lynche (a.k.a. Big Mike) was reportedly told to pack his bags after his father revealed to his local Florida paper, The St. Petersburg Times, that Michael had made the top 24 — a violation of Idol rules requiring the singers and their families to keep the …

Continue reading I’m back! ‘Idol’ contestant cut after father reveals his top 24 status, Larry Platt gets Vikings treatment »

By DEIRDRE

• Jordin Sparks has announced on Twitter that she will be appearing in an episode of the FOX hit “Bones.” There are no details at the moment, but Jordin sounds pretty excited about it.

• Tonight, George Clooney will be the host of Help For Haiti, a charitable event that many of the networks will carry. A large number of celebs have volunteered their time to perform or man phones to take donations. A few former Idols are among the volunteers. Jennifer Hudson will perform while David Archuleta and Katharine McPhee will also be volunteering, although I do not know in what capacity.

• Speaking of Kat McPhee, a recent and somewhat snarky article on msn.com has alluded to the fact that Kat is one of the few second placers who seems to be faring better career-wise than the actual winner. For awhile, Clay was outshining Ruben, and Adam keeps the spotlight better than Kris. msn contends that the same is true of Kat. Citing Taylor’s illustrious career as Teen Angel in …

Continue reading Former Idols and current thoughts »

By DEIRDRE

I guess it’s time to move on from the rather shoddy American Idol episodes that plagued us this week and talk about what’s new for our favorite show.

First:  Randy Jackson, who has been interviewed a lot lately(is he the new voice of Idol?)has stated that Idol Gives Back will return this season with its focus on Haiti.  This doesn’t come as a big surprise to anyone, I’m sure.  And good for Idol!  Millions of dollars are raised during Idol Gives Back and, as we all know, Haiti could use the help at the moment.

In another interview, Jackson tells us that there is no doubt in his mind that a girl will win Idol this year.  He claims he doesn’t have anyone in mind but I say, absolutely 2 billion% I think he’s right.

Keeping up with Larry “Pants on the Ground” Platt, this info comes from TMZ via mj:

“General” Larry Platt — the musical mastermind behind “Pants on the Ground” — hasn’t seen a dime since everyone and their mother started singing his tune … and …

Continue reading Gossip and snippets »

By DEIRDRE

The show begins with the suggestion that maybe Simon, Randy and Ryan partied just a little too much in Miami and are a bit hung over.  And it goes downhill from there.

• Up first, Theo Glitter…um excuse me…Glinton, aka Adam Lambert to the 10th power but without the voice.  He’s definitely loud but inexpressive.

• Seth Rollins is a very nice guy who just wants a job that pays enough to buy the things his autistic son needs.  He’s got a good voice, not a great voice but he makes it through to Hollywood.

• Jermaine Purifoy auditioned for season 7 and was told he wasn’t ready.  Well, Jermaine honey, you’re ready now!  And the judges agree with me and send him to Hollywood.

• Shelby Dressell is a nice little girl with a nice little voice who has a facial nerve disorder that prevents the muscles on the right side of her face from moving.  She gets a golden ticket.

• And that’s all we saw from the first day.  Seriously!  Am I kidding?  NO!  That’s all we saw from the first …

Continue reading Orlando show fails to impress, as well »