In this Nov. 16, 2010 file photo, recording artist Cee Lo Green poses for a portrait in New York. Jeff Christensen, file / AP Photo

NBC’s “The Voice,” the network’s blatant effort to steal some thunder from “American Idol” is on the hunt for judges.

EW reports that they are going for big names (as “Idol” did this past year.). Among them: Christina Aguilera, Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine and Atlanta’s Grammy-nominated singer Cee Lo Green.

Will Cee Lo say, um, “Forget You” to the offer or strike while the iron is hot and get more national exposure?  EW notes that Cee Lo on the Grammy’s dressed up like a peacock, apropos for the NBC network.

“The Voice” is a slight twist on “Idol” and “X  Factor.” Judges turn their backs on contestants when they try out so they are based on voice, not looks. The concept was a Dutch success.

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Continue reading Report: Cee Lo Green eyed as judge on NBC singing reality show ‘The Voice’ »

It’s a slow news day so I checked in with GM Rick Caffey of V-103/Dave FM for a few dangling issues.

1- It’s been nearly nine months since Elle Duncan moved from mid-days on V-103 to mornings. The station has been using fill-in talent, notably former mid-day host Osei the Dark Secret and Ramona DeBreaux, who used to do mid-days at Hot. Ramona, lately, has been on a lot more. Caffey said a decision has not been made yet but he should have one soon. Ratings over the past nine months have not suffered so it’s obvious he has not been in a rush to fill the slot. V-103 in the last ratings book covering January was No. 1 in all key demographics as usual.

2- It’s been more than a year since Joyce Littel was taken off the Quiet Storm at night. V-103 has opted to go with no jock at all and that strategy appears to be holding firm.

3- Dave FM has had the radio rights to the Atlanta Falcons for the past eight years. The Falcons are now pondering bids made by multiple station groups …

Continue reading V-103 mid-day slot close to being filled – finally »

Katy Perry’s “Firework” finally bumped Rihanna’s “What’s My Name?” as the top-reigning song in Atlanta radio after eight weeks.

While Wild continues to give Rihanna top rotational spins (90) for the 11th week in a row, V-103 (45), Q100 (54) and Hot (41) have scaled back.

Perry is six spins ahead thanks to top spins on three stations: Star 94 (48, Wild (91) and Q100 (95), plus four spins on B98.5 (thanks to Delilah at night. The song is not in regular rotation.)

Interestingly, the momentum for the huge out-of-the-box response to Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” song slowed. It  actually lost airplay compared to the previous week, from 113 spins to 97 spins.

New songs adds:

Hot 107.9: Kanye West & Jay-Z “H*A*M” (11 spins from 3), Jamie Foxx’s “Best Night of My Life”

V-103: Ginuwine “What Could Have Been” Nelly w/ Kelly Rowland “Gone” Keyshia Cole “Take Me Away” Lloyd Banks “ I Don’t Deserve You”

Wild 105.7: Far East Movement “Rocketeer” Dr. Dre “I Need a Doctor”

Q100: return of Cee …

Continue reading Katy Perry’s ‘Firework’ ends Rihanna’s eight-week run »

Klinger at Clear Channel Atlanta headquarters Feb. 15, 2011. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

Josh Klinger joined Shaffee last October as a new co-host on the Project 9-6-1 morning show. I met Klinger for the first time last week. Though Project currently airs a “more music” morning show, which underperforms the rest of the station, Klinger hopes over time, they’ll be able to expand it into more of a show.

“Tighten it up, then build it up,” he said. “We’re in our infant stages. It’s a long-term prospect. They’re committed to that.”

Here are some basics about Klinger, who worked several years in Jacksonville:

Atlanta ties: He grew up here, graduating Roswell High School in 1989 and Georgia State University in 1994 with a broadcast journalism degree. “I know Atlanta almost like the back of my hand. I know everything about the city. My parents live here. I’ve been visiting regularly for years.”

99X days: He got his first job in radio at 99X back when the station was taking off in …

Continue reading Meet new Project morning co-host Klinger »

CREDIT: NBC

Atlanta is well represented on the third season of “Celebrity Apprentice,” which debuts on NBC March 6. Both rap star Lil Jon and reality show regular NeNe Leakes (of “Real Housewives of Atlanta” fame) participated last fall.

Without giving away too many details, here are some observations based on watching a preview of that first two-hour episode.

- Actor Gary Busey is crazy in a lovable sort of way. And we learn why one of his eyes bulges out at times.

- NeNe was on her best behavior on the first challenge but as we’ve seen in trailers, she and Star Jones will go at it at some point.

- Actress Lisa Rinna (also an alum of  “Dancing With the Stars”) talks behind Star Jones’ back, sowing the seeds for future conflict there as well.

- Star Jones clearly has the smarts and determination to win this game. And she was only a few months removed from open heart surgery!

- Richard Hatch is an ego-maniacal, mean-spirited man – just 10 years older and better clothed than …

Continue reading Sneak peek at ‘The Celebrity Apprentice,’ season 3, debuting March 6 with Atlanta Lil Jon & NeNe Leakes »

Four years ago, hundreds of “So You Think You Can Dance” wannabes converged upon the Fox Theatre and it was barely above freezing. The dancers were miserable.

This past Saturday, Atlanta weather was far more cooperative and the crowd was far more upbeat. They danced, they made funny faces, they yelled “Welcome to the ATL!” A group spelled out “ATL.” Anything for a few seconds of camera time.

Atlanta wasn’t even originally on the audition itinerary. But due to Nigel Lythgoe’s schedule, they had to move it from Charlotte. This will be the third time the city has hosted “So You Think You Can Dance” auditions in eight seasons. Surprisingly, Atlanta has not had a single representative among the finalists of the first seven seasons.

Acworth hip-hop dancer Kevin Crawford, 26, has auditioned six times and has made it before the judges (including Lythgoe) three times for a solo dance. He could never get a ticket to Vegas, however.

If anything, he’s creative and knows how to stand out …

Continue reading ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Atlanta auditions »

Funny or Die created a fairly spot-on parody of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” using female civil rights icons instead:Betty Shabazz, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, Maya Angelou, and Winnie Mandela. And for comedic kick, Marilyn Monroe.

Shabazz, mocking the Cynthia Bailey bit from season three, forces King to sign a “friend contract.”

Monroe is the Kim Zolciak of the group. Angelou is Kandi Burruss, who wrote a song for Marilyn but Marilyn “can’t get it right.” The song: “Don’t be Tardy for the Rally.” Her Big Daddy? J.F.K., of course!

And here’s a star turn: Wayne Brady plays Martin Luther King Jr.

Continue reading Funny or Die parody: ‘The Real Housewives of Civil Rights’ »

Kim, Kandi (with better hair!) and Phaedra at the reunion. CREDIT Bravo

I’m officially over the NeNe and Kim soap opera.  The producers and Andy Cohen mined the bus argument yet again in the second half of the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” reunion at the Georgia Aquarium. Enough already!  We get it!

Fortunately, both Kim and NeNe are clear the friendship is over for good. Can we please move on? Thank you!

Surprisingly, Kandi was the most emotional one this hour.  She got teary-eyed over how her daughter Riley‘’s father still isn’t in the picture and how sad that is. She also cried later over the “Tardy for the Party” money situation.  Will that ever really be resolved? Who knows? Kim clearly listened to her lawyer and Kandi is still deeply hurt. Andy didn’t get a straight answer when he asked if Kim felt like she was more integral in the success of the song than Kandi.  My opinion: Kandi made the song itself palatable. Kim’s distinct lack of vocal talent ironically made …

Continue reading ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ reunion recap, part 2: baby, baby! »

James Franco, left, and Anne Hathaway will co-host the Academy Awards on Feb. 27, 2011. (Credit: CBS/AP)

The second biggest event of the year is this Sunday on ABC: “The Academy Awards.”

No matter how boring parts of the show can be (Documentary Short Subject!), it still draws 40 million-plus viewers a year, about double a typical “American Idol” or “NCIS” episode. This year’s favorites for best film are between “The Social Network” and “King’s Speech.” And eschewing comics, the organizers opted for actors Anne Hathaway and James Franco (who is nominated for best actor for “127 Hours.”) as hosts.

On the most part, the rest of the week is relatively uneventful. The CW brings back “America’s Next Top  Model” and a new show “Shedding for the Wedding,” which is pretty much what the title describes.

And yet another housewives show is back on Bravo Tuesday, this one focused in Miami.

MONDAY

“The Bachelor” 8 p.m. ABC — Brad visits the hometowns of four of the remaining …

Continue reading TV best bets with the Academy Awards, return of ‘America’s Next Top Model’ »

Carlos Manuel from Atlanta made the final four on "Worst Cooks in America." CREDIT: Food Network

Coming into Food Network’s “Worst Cooks in America” last summer, Atlanta’s Carlos Manuel lived off his panini grill. Kat Rose of Newnan was skilled at peanut butter and jelly sandwiches – and not much else.

But six months later, Carlos can cook a mean chicken cacciatore. And Kat Rose hosted a 12-person dinner party with a roast.

In other words, the show did its job. Chef Anne Burrell, who oversaw both of them (though spent more time with Carlos), is proud of both of them.

But the big question for Carlos fans: why didn’t she pick him for the finals? He had been the most successful cook on the show up to that point, not ever on the bottom.

Instead, Burrell chose the more excitable, less consistent contestant in Joshie Berger. “I really liked Carlos,” she said in a phone interview earlier this week. “Josh was the most annoying student I’ve ever had.But Carlos was too tame with his …

Continue reading Two Atlantans make final six on ‘Worst Cooks in America’ »