2008 American Idol

I think you're right about all of it, SB

Who thought Paula was drunk/high last night?? At one point, she actually hiccuped rather loudly!! Simon's reaction to her was priceless.

I thought Fantasia couldn't be any more of a freak. I was wrong. Eeek!

By the way, considering that Frank Sinatra recorded The Shadow of Your Smile in the 1940s with Tommy Dorsey, how did it become a song from the 1960s??

Chikezie vs Colton. Probably the right choices. I probably would've given Colton another shot, though.

Pssst, Mig - check out the ShoutBox.

And I feel bad for calling her a crybaby... she's only 16 )

By Ann Donahue Fri Feb 29, 9:43 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - To paraphrase "The Godfather: Part III" -- just when you think you're out on "American Idol," they pull you back in.

Season-two winner Ruben Studdard will perform the "farewell song" used to send off the losing contestants when they depart the top 12. This year, the song will be a cover of Kenny Loggins' "Celebrate Me Home."

It's a significant gig for Studdard, who was dropped by J Records at the end of 2007. He is, however, still managed by the show's 19 Entertainment and under contract to subsidiary 19 Recordings, a link that paved the way for him to return to the show as the song's performer.

"Ruben has never left our fold," "Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe says. "(With) the success that we've had with the play-off song, I wanted to keep it in-house."

The "American Idol" season-five farewell song, Daniel Powter's "Bad Day," went on to sell 1.9 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and was the top digital download of 2006.

As part of the show's new sponsorship this season by iTunes, "Celebrate Me Home" will be made available digitally starting March 12, the day the first of the top 12 will be eliminated. In addition, it is expected to be included on one of the compilation albums annually released by "American Idol," according to 19 Entertainment U.S. head Iain Pirie.

"Celebrate Me Home" was selected after Lythgoe suggested the tune to Pirie and show creator Simon Fuller. "Each year we think about what's going to reflect that really special TV moment," Pirie says. "Musically and lyrically, it fits it perfectly."

Pirie says Studdard was chosen to record the track in part because of the warm reception he received for an appearance on last season's "American Idol" finale. Studdard is in negotiations to perform the song during "Idol Gives Back," the show's midseason charity effort.

Loggins' version of "Celebrate Me Home," originally released on an album of the same title in 1977, has sold 73,000 downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

It's traditionally thought of as a Christmas tune, but the first line of the song -- "Home for the holidays" -- has been excised to make it less seasonal, Lythgoe says, while Studdard has given the track an updated feel.

Reuters/Billboard

Tue Mar 4, 9:16 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "American Idol" producers are shrugging off the latest sex scandal to hit the top-rated U.S. television show, saying contestant David Hernandez can stay in the competition despite his past as a stripper.

"We've had strippers on the show before," executive producer Ken Warwick was quoted on Tuesday as telling the Web site TVGuide.com. "We're never judgmental about people who do things like that.

"If it were some sort of heavy porn, then maybe we'd have to take action. But certainly not on this."

Warwick's comments came as media reports surfaced that Hernandez, 24, had worked as an adult entertainer at a Phoenix strip club where he appeared nude and performed lap dances for a mostly male clientele.

The Fox network, which broadcasts "Idol," declined to comment on the matter. But sources close to the show said Hernandez would remain in the competition until, or unless, he gets voted off by fans.

He was one of eight male contestants to perform on Tuesday's broadcast, two days before the current assembly of 16 semi-finalists is winnowed to 12. He advanced to the current round last week after winning glowing praise from all three judges with his performance of "Papa Was a Rolling Stone."

The circumstances surrounding Hernandez are reminiscent of a scandal in 2003 when contestant Frenchie Davis, whose powerhouse vocals dazzled the judges, was dismissed from the show following the discovery that she had posed topless on a pornographic Web site.

"Idol" producers felt Davis' case crossed a line because she had appeared on a site that purported to feature sexually explicit photos of underage girls, said a person close to the show who was not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.

Last year, another female contestant, Antonella Barba, created a stir after several racy photos of her showed up on the Internet. She was allowed to remain on the show but was voted out by fans.

In 2005, the show was rocked by claims of former contestant Corey Clark that he had engaged in a sexual relationship with celebrity judge Paula Abdul two years earlier. An internal inquiry by Fox found no evidence to support his allegations.

Reuters/Nielsen

I like David A, but he does get pretty breathy

Mancrush.

Ugh, Kady. Terrible voice and dress.

You know you have a Seacrest screensaver on your computer.

Eww, Paula's pits are sweaty

You seemed surprised that he was safe and Syesha was B3.

That song was almost worse than last night. Yikes. And she's a bit cocky, too, isn't she??

I wonder what he's been up to?

I never thought that Simon would touch my heart, but he was actually rather sweet.

Of the ones I saw, I'd have to say the best were Day Tripper and Yesterday.

You must've missed this one, then...

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Carly the first in the Bottom 3 ??!?!?!! WTF??

I thought last year it was the top 12. Who knows?
....... Hopefully Kristy will be next to leave.

Elliott is so tenderhearted.

MC, you big meanie!! Picking on poor Elliott "I'm half-deaf and can still sing better than you" Yamin.

What I think is funny is that Carrie Underwood, who they couldn't wait to crown, was completely unable to emotionally connect to her songs (see her smiling throughout "Independence Day", a song about an abused woman who kills her man), yet Kristy's stiffness bothers them.

David C. was amazing.

Jason,

Carly was horrible. ......I thought it was funny that Paula said that people would run to buy her CD, considering that nobody bought the LAST ONE...

And I'm fairly sure we'll be saying goodbye to Ramiele. Zzzzzzz once again.

As for Kristy's song choice, it was quite clever, as Simon said. The little country girl is not dumb, that's for sure.

"Idol" fans see Archuleta winning: E-Poll/Reuters
By Dan Whitcomb Tue Apr 8, 3:01 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "American Idol" fans say baby-faced crooner David Archuleta will win the No. 1 television show's current competition, even though they picked rival David Cook as the most talented performer, an E-Poll/Reuters survey found.

As the top-rated U.S. TV talent show entered one of its most-watched weeks when it hopes to raise $100 million for charity on its "Idol Gives Back" program, fans were showing plenty of love for the two Davids.

Archuleta, a 17-year-old native of Utah, was voted the likely winner by 40 percent of "Idol" viewers polled, according to the survey by E-Poll Market Research on behalf of Reuters.

Anointed the man to beat by judge Simon Cowell after he sang John Lennon's "Imagine" in February, Archuleta tied rocker Cook as the one whom viewers wanted to win, with both getting 25 percent of the vote.

But Cook, 25, who has reworked 1980s dance hits such as Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and Lionel Richie's "Hello" into edgy, slow-burning rock songs, topped Archuleta 31 percent to 27 percent when it came to proving his talent beyond just singing.

Irish-born belter Carly Smithson was ranked third most talented followed by folksy Brooke White, Aussie Michael Johns, dreadlock-sporting Jason Castro, country girl Kristy Lee Cook and Syesha Mercado.

Past winners such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, and even those who didn't win such as Clay Aiken and Chris Daughtry, have gone on to successful music careers.

"American Idol," which is hosted by Ryan Seacrest, pits singers against one another in a months-long competition for a professional recording contract.

The weekly show draws nearly 30 million viewers, making it the most-watched program on U.S. television. This season's winner will be announced during a live finale in May.

The survey, which was conducted last week, polled roughly 1,100 respondents ages 13 and over who, perhaps surprisingly, had good things to say about razor-tongued Cowell.

Even though his No. 1 trait is "rude" according to E-Poll's E-Score Celebrity data, Cowell was chosen by 64 percent of respondents as their favorite judge.

His fellow judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul each received about 17 percent of the "favorite" vote.

Some 85 percent of those polled said "American Idol" would be worse without Cowell, and 75 percent considered him to be the judge with the greatest influence over the way the public votes. Jackson followed with 13 percent and Abdul at 12.

But a large majority, 83 percent, said the judges had little or no impact on the their own votes.

Has anyone seen Hells Kitchen? It comes on Tuesday's after Idol. That head chef is one mean S O B.

I'm gay for Gordon, I admit it! No doubt about it... Love his shows!

Next up...

Syesha and Brooke: Brooke is safe & Syesha is Bottom 2 ???!!!?!?! WTF???

Well I wonder what her and her tattoed face hubby will do now?

I can't believe she was able to take notes.

I went back and forth between Idol and the Yanks/Tribe game. I thought David C did great both times.

David Archuleta is... (take a guess)

Gay?

I was on the phone with Best Buy at the time and...... The poor woman was trying to explain how much they charge to install a gas dryer...

Please. A new dryer AND a washer. And when did they get so expensive and so complicated???

If only my daughter was a contestant on American Idol and we had millions of dollars....(nice segue back on topic, no??)

Saturday,10am tickets go on sale for the Idol tour at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, August 2. My daughter has been to the last 4.

THANKS!! I didn't even think to look for tickets locally. I just got my 2 (presale code is POPTARTS at ticketmaster.com). Hurry, cuz even before the "offical" onsale Saturday, best available was Section 2

There are DVRs and VCRs, MC.

It'll be interesting to see what happens next season. It seems most demographics have been covered over the years with each winner, from R & B to Country, to Blues-ish to Rock, etc....

What's next?

By Steve Gorman Mon Aug 25, 11:22 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "American Idol" on Monday added a fourth face to its panel of talent judges, a songwriter and producer who calls herself a "feisty" "straight-shooter" looking to crown a winner who is, above all, unique.

The Grammy-nominated pop composer, Kara DioGuardi, will join veteran "Idol" judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson for the upcoming eighth season of U.S. television's most watched show when it returns in January 2009.

The addition of DioGuardi, 37, marks the biggest format change for the series, subtitled "The Search for a Superstar," since it burst into prime time on the Fox network in 2002.

Self-assured with a matter-of-fact, no-nonsense style, DioGuardi is expected to provide a counterweight to the sometimes gushy, even vacuous on-air persona of Abdul, 46, who first gained fame in the 1980s as a pop singer.

Though hardly a household name, DioGuardi has written and produced songs for numerous recording artists, including pop stars Gwen Stefani and Christina Aguilera as well as past "Idol" winners Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, and has received several awards in recent years.

In a conference call with reporters, she noted a previous collaboration with Abdul, saying they co-wrote a song early in her career, "Spinning Around," that went on to become a hit for Kylie Minogue.

"For the past seven seasons, Paula has had to endure the experience of being the only woman at the judges table," said Mike Darnell, head of alternative programming at Fox. "With Kara by her side, Paula finally has some back-up, and now there is going to be a lot more 'girl power' on the show."

Producers will put that chemistry to its first test on Tuesday, when DioGuardi joins Abdul, Cowell and Jackson for the kickoff of auditions in New York.

DioGuardi declined to critique her soon-to-be peers but said she finds Cowell, known for giving the most unvarnished appraisals among the panelists, to be generally fair. "I think Simon is pretty spot on most of the time," she said.

The record producer and talent scout described herself as "pretty feisty" and willing to stand up for her opinions.

"I'm going to be a straight-shooter," she said. "I'm just somebody who's really honest and gives my opinion, and if I feel the need to be hard with someone in order to get that across, I will be. And if I feel I need to be softer and more nurturing with some of the contestants, I'll be that."

The most important quality she is looking for in singers, aside from a "great voice," is a style that sets them apart.

"It's not about vocal acrobatics. It's about being unique and doing things that are identifiable to you," she said. "What makes an artist is ... when their song comes on the radio, I know exactly who it is."

She said her favorite song is John Lennon's "Imagine," a tune that figured prominently in the show last season as the signature performance of young crooner David Archuleta, who was narrowly defeated by rocker David Cook in the end.

The show averaged 28.1 million viewers weekly last season, compared to 30.8 million at the height of its popularity in 2006. But the finale in May between Cook and Archuleta drew some 32 million viewers, up 3 percent from a year earlier.

Although "Idol" has featured a three-judge panel since its inception, the program was originally conceived as having four panelists, said executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz.

Producers hired hip-hop radio personality Angie Martinez as a fourth member of the team for the second season, but she quit after judging a few auditions because she felt bad about having to reject some contestants and never appeared on the show.

Other international editions of the show, including the original British version, "Pop Idol," all had four judges.

DioGuardi is not a complete newcomer to TV talent shows, having served as a judge herself for ABC's short-lived, singing contest, "The One: Making a Music Star."

(Additional reporting by Jennifer Martinez; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Dan Whitcomb)

Reuters/Nielsen

By Michael Conlon – 2 hrs 23 mins ago

CHICAGO (Reuters) – The mother and brother of Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson were found shot to death in the mother's Chicago home on Friday, according to published reports.

The Chicago Tribune Web site quoted a police source as saying the suspect in the double homicide was in custody, but a 7-year-old boy, possibly Hudson's nephew, was still missing from the house on Chicago's South Side, where the victims were found. Police did not confirm the report or the names of the victims.

The Tribune said the Cook County Medical Examiner's office identified the victims as Hudson's mother, Darnell Donnerson, 57, and her brother Jason Hudson, 29.

Police said neighbors reported hearing shots in the area during the morning, but the bodies were not found until midafternoon.
"A missing child was possibly abducted from the scene ... and may be in the company of William Balfour, a suspect in the double homicide investigation," police said in a statement, adding that the man was "considered armed and dangerous."

The statement listed two vehicles Balfour may be driving. It did not say who Balfour was or whether he was related to the family.

The Illinois Department of Corrections Web site lists Balfour, 27, as having been convicted of attempted murder, car theft and vehicular hijacking. He was released from prison in 2006.

Police said the child was identified as Julian King, adding they believed he was the grandson of the woman found slain.

The Tribune, quoting police, said the killings may be linked to a domestic disturbance.

Hudson gained notice as a contestant on No. 1-rated U.S. television talent show "American Idol" during its third season in 2005. She was one of 12 finalists, but was voted off.

Still, her booming voice and popularity kept her touring in live shows and eventually she earned the role as Effie White in the 2006 film version of stage musical "Dreamgirls."

The role of soulful singer White, who is kicked out of an all-girl 1960s singing group, earned Hudson the Oscar for best supporting actress and made her an instant star in Hollywood.

Since then Hudson has appeared in the movie version of "Sex and the City," and is currently in "The Secret Life of Bees."
Media reports said Hudson was in Florida when she was told of the shootings and was headed back to Chicago.

(Additional reporting by Andrew Stern in Chicago and Bob Tourtellotte in Los Angeles)