American Idol

The Weather Boyz Got Snow On The Ground

Submitted by phletch on Fri, 2010-01-29 09:22
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See video

Here are some weather men doing an awesome re-envisioning of the General Larry Platt classic Pants On The Ground.  While it may not be as great as Jimmy Fallon's Neil Young version, I still would like to compliment their dance moves.  At the very least their flow, I think that's what the kids call it.  These guys really know how to get all up in yo business with their art.  Awesome.  [warming glow]

Ellen DeGeneres Replaces Paula Abdul On American idol

Submitted by phletch on Thu, 2009-09-10 08:48
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I was under the impression American Idol was going to set the world on fire this year sans Abdul by replacing her with guest judges of the likes of Avril Lavigne, Joe Jonas, and Victoria Beckham.  Seriously?  Wow.  Anyhoo I guess 3 judges and some hasbeens wasn't enough, so the producers of American Idol have presumably busted out the big bucks for a five year deal with comedian/actress/talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who had this to say about her new position.

"I love everything about it and I love music, as you know. Hopefully I'm the people's point of view because I'm just like you. I sit at home and I watch it and I don't have that technical . . . I'm not looking at it in a critical way from the producer's mind. I'm looking at it as a person who is going to buy the music and is going to relate to that person." via

I don't really understand this.  While Ellen is actually intelligent and tactful, Paula Abdul was utterly insane.  Replacing insanity with sanity never leads to higher ratings.  In fact I think that's in the Higher Ratings Guidebook, page 2.

Variety article

Cowell Close to New Three-Year Deal With “American Idol”

Submitted by phletch on Tue, 2009-08-11 07:06
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Photo:Furniss/WireImage

Simon Cowell is reportedly finalizing a deal that will ensure the cantankerous Brit’s spot on the American Idol judges’ panel for the next three seasons. While no financial details were revealed, the Hollywood Reporter writes the deal will probably be for $45 million over the next three years. Cowell had previously hinted that he would leave the show after his contract was up at the end of this season, however earlier this summer, he began negotiations to extend his stay on Idol through 2011.

Look back on your favorite American Idol contestants

Cowell’s pending contract was revealed by Robert Sillerman, the chairman of CKX, which is the parent company of Idol’s 19 Entertainment. “We’ve heard from Fox, who has asked us for approval for Simon Cowell to appear for three more years on Idol,” Sillerman said according to THR. “They, in their negotiations with Cowell, have asked us to pre-approve him not only for American Idol ‘09, which has begun taping, but they have also asked us for approval for ‘10 and ‘11, indicating to us that they’re finishing their negotiation with Cowell. We did grant approval for that quite obviously.”

Cowell’s new deal comes just a week after Paula Abdul announced that she would be leaving Idol after eight seasons as a judge, Rock Daily reported. According to reports, Abdul was seeking a contract worth around $10 million, almost double what Idol producers were offering. Guest judges like Victoria Beckham and Katy Perry will fill the Abdul void during auditions while producers seek out a new fourth judge. As Rock Daily previously reported, Kara DioGuardi will return for her second stint on Idol, while Ryan Seacrest recently signed a new $45 million multi-purpose deal that includes remaining the Idol host for the next three years.

Go behind the scenes of Adam Lambert’s Rolling Stone cover shoot

Cowell’s re-up comes at a good time for both parties: Idol producers avoid losing their marquee name and engaging in another last-minute contractual standoff like they encountered during the Abdul negotiations, while Cowell secures a raise as the show heads into uncertain territory with Abdul’s abrupt departure.

Related Stories:

• Adam Lambert on Paula Abdul’s “American Idol” Departure: “She Made Me Feel Safe”
• Abdul Talks Leaving “Idol,” Show Starts Search for Fourth Judge
• Paula Abdul Announces She’s Leaving “American Idol”

Adam Lambert’s “Sexy” November Debut Stocked With Surprises

Submitted by phletch on Mon, 2009-08-10 14:31
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The American Idols Live tour is in full swing, but Adam Lambert still has one eye on his debut album, due in November via AI’s 19 Recordings through a licensing deal with RCA. When Lambert stopped by the RS offices last week to discuss Paula Abdul’s departure from Idol, he stayed tight-lipped about any possible song names, lyrics or the album title — “Nope, can’t tell you yet — it’s all a surprise,” he says — but stressed that assembling the album quickly is only adding to its intensity.

Go behind the scenes at Adam Lambert’s Rolling Stone cover shoot.

“We did a surprising amount of work before the tour started, we had about a month,” he says. “I got a lot of co-writing done, some great initial vocal material recorded, and just general collaborations with different producers.” His list of collaborators has grown to include OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder (Kelly Clarkson, Beyoncé), along with Lady Gaga producer RedOne, Linda Perry, Greg Wells and Sam Sparro. His only promises: “a lot of surprises” and “it’s going to feel really sexy.” (Watch Lambert talk about his first album in our video interview, above.)

On tour, Lambert reports his David Bowie medley of “Life on Mars,” “Fame” and “Let’s Dance” is “going over really well, and I have a blast doing it.” Fans are clearly having a good time too — the list of objects thrown at Lambert has grown from bras to light S&M gear, he reports. So what should fans do to get his attention? “Just clap and scream and have a good time,” he says. “It’s not about you guys getting my attention, it’s about you living your life in a positive way. If you feel sexy when you hear a song, just be sexy and feel gorgeous. You don’t need to throw a bra in my face to let me know that you feel sexy, though it cracks me up.”

Offstage, Lambert is currently listening to Muse’s new single “Uprising” (”It’s very glam rock and very cool”) as well as the new LPs by Kasabian and Peaches, and the latest from IAMX, one of the former singers from the Sneaker Pimps: “This recent one is gorgeous, it’s just epic and the production’s great, his melodies are awesome.”

Look back at Lambert’s early years, in photos.

After after a month on the road with the Idols tour, Lambert says he has definitely learned a few things that’ll come in handy down the line. “When you dance and move around it creates a different reaction from the audience — they love it,” he says. “And getting a sense of interaction with them, I love that. It’s like a trial run, a test audience for things to come. I would love to do a live show with dancers and fashion and scenic elements — definitely bring my love of the theater to a concert-style performance.”

Related Stories:

• Adam Lambert’s RS Cover: Photos, Video and More
• Adam Lambert, Kris Allen Hit the Stage Again As American Idols Tour Kicks Off in Portland
• Lambert, Iraheta Get Pumped for American Idols Live’s First Gig

Adam Lambert on Paula Abdul’s “American Idol” Departure: “She Made Me Feel Safe”

Submitted by phletch on Fri, 2009-08-07 09:46
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Paula Abdul’s departure from her American Idol judge’s chair has left producers with a hole to fill, but Adam Lambert says it will be difficult to replace the unique qualities Abdul brought to the show in her eight seasons: support, love and heart. Last season’s runner-up tells Rolling Stone, “I love Paula,” that he checked in with Abdul after her unexpected Twitter announcement, and is sure she’ll find success in her future endeavors. But there’s no question she’ll miss her role as hopefuls’ support system.

“She obviously is going to miss interacting with all the Idol contestants, she really loves that process of discovering new talent,” Lambert says. “I think she brings so much heart to the show. She’s so supportive, she knows what it’s like to be a performer and she really provides a sense of safety for the auditioners in the room. I have no doubt her future endeavors will bring her success and happiness. She’s got a lot that she’s capable of.” (Click above to watch our interview with Lambert — and check back next week for an update on his album and the Idol tour.)

Look back at Lambert’s Idol run, in photos.

As far as news that Katy Perry and Victoria Beckham (a.k.a. Posh Spice) will sit in as guest judges during auditions, Lambert says those choices are “Fun! I think Katy Perry is a genius, she’s a sweetheart, a great performer. I haven’t met Posh, but she’s fierce.” And despite criticism that the four-judge format slowed the show down, Lambert says he’s in favor of keeping more voices in the mix. “I think it worked really well,” he says. “I think it was a nice balance this year.”

Lambert, Kris Allen and the Season Eight Idols hit the stage on the Idols Live tour: photos from the show.

The audience and contestants will miss Abdul, Lambert says, adding, “She made me feel safe and loved. It’s hard when you’re facing intense criticism from some of the more harsh judges on the show and you have millions of people behind the camera watching you, it’s nice to have a presence in the room that will root for you and smile. And not only after the performances, but during the performance, she stands up, she claps, she smiles at you — it’s like a safety net.”

Abdul was so devoted to the Season Eight hopefuls, she even hit a parking lot to help them rehearse the choreography for their disco-night performance. “That was wild,” Lambert recalls. “Paula came to the recording studio and rehearsed with us with a car stereo. To me that was the most surreal moment of the entire season — I was like, I can’t believe I am dancing in a parking lot with Paula Abdul!”

Abdul Talks Leaving “Idol,” Show Starts Search for Fourth Judge

Submitted by phletch on Thu, 2009-08-06 12:02
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Paula Abdul made her first public, non-Twitter comments since announcing she was leaving the American Idol judge’s table, telling a pack of TMZ photographers at New York’s JFK Airport, “It’s been overwhelming, what’s going on right now, so I have to really carefully think about everything.” TMZ pressed Abdul on whether she had been invited to join former Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe on So You Think You Can Dance, but Abdul reiterated that she doesn’t know yet what her post-Idol future holds. (Though Abdul jokes that she may take up President Barack Obama on his offer to babysit his children.)

While Abdul isn’t sure about her next steps, American Idol is certain they’ll replace her — and the search for a new fourth judge is underway. According to the New York Times’ ArtsBeat blog, Peter Rice, the chairman for entertainment at Fox Broadcasting, told a meeting of the Television Critics Association, “What we need to find is someone who has great chemistry.” During auditions, Katy Perry and Victoria Beckham will sit in as guest judges, and the plan is to fill the fourth chair with a female pop star during the try-outs. Rice said the show hopes to lock down Abdul’s replacement by the time the show begins its regular live broadcasts in January.

Abdul promises to keep in touch with her former castmates, saying judge Simon Cowell — her frequent sparring partner — “misses me already.” When asked what she’ll miss most about leaving AI, Abdul told TMZ, “My compadres, of course, but also, I love the kids. That’s been the joy for me.”

As Rock Daily reported yesterday, both Ryan Seacreat and Randy Jackson were “shocked” and “stunned” when Paula revealed that she would not be joining them for the series’ ninth season. In the end, Abdul and the Idol producers couldn’t come to terms on a new contract; Abdul wanted a deal that was more in line with the massive deal Seacrest just signed and Cowell is poised to sign when his deal expires after this season, while the producers reportedly countered with a multiyear contract with a 30 percent raise over Abdul’s salary. Even though Abdul’s manager previously said it was unlikely Abdul would return, Paula’s announcement yesterday still came as a shock to most fans.

Related Stories:

• Seacrest “Stunned,” Jackson “Shocked” By Abdul’s “Idol” Exit
• Paula Abdul Announces She’s Leaving “American Idol”
• Paula Abdul’s Return to “American Idol” Unlikely, Manager Says

Seacrest “Stunned,” Jackson “Shocked” By Abdul’s “Idol” Exit

Submitted by phletch on Wed, 2009-08-05 14:44
in

Photo: Winter/Getty
American Idol host Ryan Seacrest took to his KIIS radio show this morning to say he was “stunned” by Paula Abdul’s decision to leave the show after eight seasons, adding that despite whispers to the contrary, Abdul’s abrupt departure is not a publicity stunt. As Rock Daily reported this morning, Abdul announced that she was leaving AI via Twitter after failing to reach an agreement with the show’s producers on a new contract.

“First of all, everyone that I passed today here has asked me, ‘Is it true? Is it a publicity stunt?’ As far as I know, it’s real — at this point, she’d decided to leave,” Seacrest, who recently signed a lucrative new deal with AI though he had a year left on his contract, said on his radio show. “So the news that Paula Abdul is leaving American Idol stunned me last night. She’s a dear friend, I love her to death, and it’s really sad that it’s come to fruition. I’m just bummed and I think if you were to talk to Randy or Simon they’d say the same thing. It’s just sad. It bums us out.”

Randy Jackson spoke to Us Weekly about Abdul’s departure, saying, “I am shocked. Paula is a dear friend and will be missed.” Season Eight champ Kris Allen posted on his Twitter, “We love you. Glad I was able to be a part of your last season on the show. You showed us so much love.”

Even though Abdul’s manager David Sonenberg previously said it seemed unlikely that Abdul would return to the show — he called producers “rude and disrespectful” during the negotiations — after producers locked up a new deal with newest judge Kara DioGuardi, they shifted their focus to Abdul. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Abdul was looking for a new contract in the ballpark of $20 million, far less than the three-year, $45 million contract Seacrest signed and well below the reported $100 million a year Simon Cowell will seek when his contract expires after this season.

Producers countered with a 30 percent raise in the form of a multiyear, eight-figure deal, THR reports, but given that Abdul was getting roughly in the $2-4 million range on her previous contract, the terms represented far less than Seacrest and Cowell would be receiving, and far less than what Abdul had asked for.

“When everyone else was getting such big raises she was hurt,” a source close to Abdul told People magazine. “She did want to go back to the show, of course. She’s upset they didn’t give her what she deserved.” Now that Abdul is a free agent, she’s already a hot commodity to networks looking to chip away at AI’s ratings during this rare moment of weakness. So You Think You Can Dance had previously extended an invite to Abdul, and NBC’s alternative programming executive Paul Telegdy said “Paula is an exceptional piece of talent. We have no specific plans for her but I read the breaking news and I wouldn’t rule anything out.”

Related Stories:

• Paula Abdul Announces She’s Leaving “American Idol”
• Paula Abdul’s Return to “American Idol” Unlikely, Manager Says
• Abdul Twitters About “Idol” Status, DioGuardi Reportedly Returning

Paula Abdul Announces She’s Leaving “American Idol”

Submitted by phletch on Wed, 2009-08-05 06:01
in

Photo: Lovekin/Getty
The status of Paula Abdul’s American Idol contract has been a hot topic for weeks, but last night the singer put rumors to rest on her Twitter, telling fans directly that after eight seasons, she will not be returning as a judge on Idol. As Rock Daily previously reported, Abdul’s manager said Paula’s return was unlikely, noting that negotiations had lumbered along to the point that was “unnecessarily hurtful.” Still, according to Abdul, in the end it was her own decision not to return to the hit show.

“With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to [Idol]. I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day one become an international phenomenon,” Abdul wrote. “What I want to say most is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me. It truly has been breathtaking, especially over the past month. I do without any doubt have the BEST fans in the entire world and I love you all.”

The producers of American Idol confirmed Abdul’s Tweets, saying in a statement that “Paula Abdul has been an important part of the American Idol family over the last eight seasons and we are saddened that she has decided not to return to the show. While Paula will not be continuing with us, she’s a tremendous talent and we wish her the best.”

Abdul had a turbulent tenure at Idol, defending herself against allegations that her loopy behavior was the result of drug abuse and accusations that she had an off-the-show relationship with contestant Corey Clark, who granted ABC’s Primetime Live an interview Idol dismissed as untrue. Even though she was erratic at times, Abdul’s sincerity for “nurturing all the new talent” was unmistakable, as she’d often tear up when a performance moved her. Contestants often cited her as their favorite judge to work with.

Just last week, Kara DioGuardi, who joined AI last season as a fourth judge, signed a new deal for Season Nine. When DioGuardi first joined AI, it was rumored that the move would eventually result in the departure of Abdul. After DioGuardi reupped, Abdul posted on her Twitter page, “Hi everyone. I’ve been quiet as we are trying to work out details of how I can return to #Idol.” Last season, the judges’ table was so cluttered with chatter, the show ran overtime several weeks in a row (notably causing Adam Lambert’s performance of “Mad World” to be cut from a live telecast).

Last year, Abdul loudly criticized AI producers after an obsessed fan named Paula Goodspeed was permitted to audition for the show, even though Abdul had had problems with Goodspeed in the past. Goodspeed ultimately died of a drug overdose while parked outside of Abdul’s home.

No word whether producers will seek a replacement judge — although Abdul herself previously said she “can’t be replaced.”

Related Stories:

• Abdul Twitters About “Idol” Status, DioGuardi Reportedly Returning
• Paula Abdul’s Return to “American Idol” Unlikely, Manager Says
• Paula Abdul Says She Can’t Be Replaced on “American Idol”

Abdul Twitters About “Idol” Status, DioGuardi Reportedly Returning

Submitted by phletch on Thu, 2009-07-30 12:02
in

Photo: Mazur/WireImage
Today Paula Abdul provided a quick update on the status of her contract negotiations to return for the ninth season of American Idol: “Hi everyone. I’ve been quiet as we are trying to work out details of how I can return to #Idol,” she said on her Twitter. On July 21st she Tweeted that producers had still not been in touch.

With Abdul’s return to Idol still in question, the show agreed to terms with fourth judge Kara DioGuardi to bring the songwriter back for a second season, a close source to negotiations told E!. “Her deal is done. There are no ifs, ands or buts,” a source said of DioGuardi’s return for Season Nine. “Done. She will be back.” While terms of the contract weren’t revealed, it’s assumed that DioGuardi will cost significantly less than the other three judges, who have been with the program since its debut season, as well as host Ryan Seacrest, who recently re-upped his contract with a lucrative deal.

While neither DioGuardi’s people nor Idol reps would confirm the report, the source said DioGuardi, who helped pen Season Eight’s coronation song “No Boundaries,” will be back at auditions next week. As Rock Daily previously reported, Abdul’s manager said it was unlikely that Abdul would return to AI after failing thus far to agree to terms on a new contract. “Very sadly, it does not appear that she’s going to be back on Idol,” David Sonenberg said, adding that at that point he still hadn’t even received a contract proposal. DioGuardi’s addition to the judge’s table last season had many whispering that it would lead to the departure of the occasionally-unstable Abdul, who later said she “can’t be replaced” on the show.

Still, Abdul has publicly quarreled with AI producers in recent years, especially following the suicide of obsessed Abdul fan Paula Goodspeed, who overdosed outside Abdul’s home in late-2008. Abdul criticized producers for allowing Goodspeed to audition in front of Abdul despite Abdul’s concerns that Goodspeed had stalked her in the past. Plus, AI producers still have to negotiate a new deal with Simon Cowell after this season, so Abdul might be priced out of the budget. Randy Jackson is already under contract for several more seasons.

Following news of Abdul’s contract standoff, both fans and former AI contestants took to Twitter in support of Abdul, starting the #KeepAbdul movement. “If it weren’t for you, this specific time and situation would feel a whole lot worse,” Abdul responded to the outpouring, “I’m actually moved 2 tears upon reading the enormous amount of tweets showing me your kindness, love,& undying support. God bless all of you!”

Related Stories:

• Paula Abdul’s Return to “American Idol” Unlikely, Manager Says
• Paula Abdul Says She Can’t Be Replaced on “American Idol”
• Paula Abdul Criticizes “American Idol” Producers For Allowing Stalker To Audition

Suspect in Idol “Glitter Girl” Hit and Run to Plead Not Guilty, On Suicide Watch

Submitted by phletch on Thu, 2009-07-30 09:19
in

Photo: Becker/FOX

The man arrested in the hit-and-run death of American Idol hopeful Alexis Cohen, or “Glitter Girl” as she was called after auditioning twice for the show, plans to plead not guilty to charges of aggravated manslaughter, death by vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, the lawyer of the suspect Daniel Bark told People. According to reports, Bark’s 2005 Mitsubishi Galant allegedly struck Cohen as Bark was fleeing from police after hitting another vehicle.

“There will be a not guilty plea entered across the board for all of the complaints,” Bark’s lawyer Daniel Glassman told People. “We don’t have anything in regards to the mechanics of how this young woman was killed. There are a lot of unanswered questions regarding how the accident occurred.” Glassman also questioned Cohen’s own sobriety the night she was killed, saying she was at a bar called Hemingway’s in Seaside Heights, New Jersey before her death and suggesting she may have walked into the car as it was driving by.

Bark is currently in custody on $150,000 bail. According to Glassman, Bark is also on suicide watch following the incident. “He’s having a very difficult time being charged with killing someone,” Glassman told People. “It’s an emotional overload.” Glassman also passed along condolences from the Bark family to the Cohen family, saying, “It’s a horrible situation and they want to make sure the victim’s family knows how sorry they are that their daughter was killed.” Cohen, a native of Allentown, Pennsylvania who went on an expletive-laden post-audition interview aimed at Simon Cowell after a failed tryout, was 25.

Related Stories:

• “American Idol” Hopeful Alexis Cohen Killed In Car Accident

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