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May 2008
‘Dread heads’ gather in North Texas
Love him or hate him, “American Idol” reject Jason Castro’s a Texan.
And that means quite a bit in this neck of the woods.
Just look at the larger-than-life crowds that turned out Thursday in Rockwall to welcome him home.
The Dallas Morning News found fans who came from across the nation to see the Aggie perform following a parade through the North Texas town.
“He’s so real and genuine. … He’s not, ‘oh-I’m-so-famous,” said Amber Faires, who drove in from Albuquerque, N.M.
Amidst all the kerfuffle — our new favorite word — Jason was his usual mellow self, telling fans he’s not disappointed by his fourth-place finish.
“I got what I came for — for people to know who I was and for people to listen to my music.”
Mission accomplished, dude.
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Look for Jennifer Hudson in ‘Sex and the City’
The “Sex and the City” movie is out today.
Duh.
With all the hubbub surrounding its release, you’d have to be living in a cave somewhere to not know that by now. But one thing you may not know is that “American Idol” alum Jennifer Hudson has a part in the flick, playing Louise, Carrie Bradshaw’s assistant.
Jennifer told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette she hadn’t even seen the show when producers first approached her. So, like any good actor, she did her homework, watching all 94 episodes.
“I watched every single one of them, and I still carry the DVDs around. I mean … it’s addictive,” she said. “At first, I started off just researching my part and then before I knew it, I was just watching it for pleasure. Like, what happened next? And I’m calling my sister, because she’s a huge fan.”
The movie’s not all Jennifer’s been working on lately. She’s got a new album, “Spotlight,” coming out this fall. The first single is set for a June 10 release.
And, unlike other “Idol” castoffs, she’s quick to credit the show for all her success.
“To me, ‘Idol’ is like boot camp of the industry. … Any time I get just out-of-my-mind nervous and everything, I just say, if I can get through ‘Idol,’ I can get through anything.”
Attagirl, Jennifer. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
More ‘Sex and the City’
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Say what?!? Clay Aiken’s gonna be a daddy
Ready to have your world rocked?
Brace yourself. Seriously.
Clay Aiken is going to be a dad.
No, we’re not snorting, shooting or huffing anything. It’s the honest-to-God truth, according to multiple Web sites.
TMZ.com claims Clay’s sperm — ewww! — was used to artificially inseminate 50-year-old record producer Jaymes Foster. The two are reportedly very close friends. She’s worked on several of Clay’s CDs, and he routinely stays with her when in Los Angeles.
The baby is due in August, and sources told TMZ the singer plans to play an active role in raising America’s littlest Claymate.
Digest … and discuss.
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Meet David Cook’s special lady
David Cook’s a busy boy.
The newest “American Idol” champ has been making appearances on every TV show known to man and is gearing up to record and quickly release an album.
But that hasn’t kept him from finding time for a date or two with lovely “Idol” alum Kimberly Caldwell.
David was asked how things were going during this morning’s “Live! With Regis and Kelly.”
His oh-so-manly response: “We’ll probably hang out again.”
Meanwhile, speaking of TV appearances, catch David Wednesday on “The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet.”
The show airs at 9 a.m. on Fox 7.
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Look who’s talking: David and David
Another season of “American Idol” is over and done.
But the journey to fame is just barely getting started for our dueling Davids.
David Cook, this season’s winner, and runner-up David Archuleta chatted it up with reporters earlier today, talking about their plans for the future — and a whole lot more.
David Cook
David C. can’t believe he won by 12 million votes — a figure that shocked lots of folks.
“I think that number is actually really misleading. There’s a lot of conspiracy theories out there. All I can hope is that it was based on my own merit.
“I attribute the finale vote discrepancy just to my fans being awesome. I don’t really know how else to explain it.”
He’s also the first to admit David A. wiped the floor with him Tuesday night.
“I definitely thought if you were basing it off Tuesday that he deserved to win.”
But don’t think for one second that he’s about to hand back the “Idol” crown.
Up next? A record, of course. Possibly featuring a collaboration or two with his younger brother.
“I think it’s going to be a mixture of my writing and hopefully writing with some other people. I just want to come out of the gate with a solid record. Ideal release date is as soon as possible. It’ll probably be a rock record, but I think that’s a pretty vague generalization. I just want to make a record that’s going to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.”
And, oh yeah, he’s going to Disney World.
David Archuleta
David A., nice kid that he is, wants you to know he’s glad the other David won. There is no ill will.
“The fact that (David) Cook won, I think he deserved it so much. He just proved it week after week. He’s such a great guy, too.”
Lots of folks — particularly screaming girls — think David A. is pretty great, too. That’s why his record label is rushing to get a CD done sometime this summer. A CD that, surprisingly, will be heavy on pop instead of the ballads he seemed to have an affinity for all season long. Whew!
“On the show, I was getting a little mature with my songs, even though I love to do that stuff. I still want to be able to relate to kids my age.
“John Mayer and Sara Bareilles are people who have done the more pop side of music, but their music is still real. It has meaning and depth to it.”
One thing all those teenybopper fans won’t be so pleased to hear is that David A. isn’t interested in the whole dating thing. Not yet, at least.
“It just bugs me when kids are like that. All the drama. I so don’t want to deal with the drama right now.”
And, lastly, what about his much-maligned dad?
“He’s a great guy.”
Of course.
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‘Idol’ rules the ratings roost
“American Idol” just keeps setting records.
Despite some erosion in viewership earlier this season, Wednesday night’s season finale showed no signs of weakness. More than 30 million sets of eyeballs were tuned in — up more than 1 million folks from last year.
In fact, the dueling Davids helped Fox attract an audience larger than ABC, CBS, NBC and The CW combined.
Mighty impressive.
Also impressive is Fox’s newly earned title: most-watched TV network during the 2007-08 season, which wrapped up Wednesday night.
It’s a first for Fox — and “Idol” played a big part.
Idol chatter …
- AT&T reports “Idol” voters sent a record-breaking 78 million text messages this season.
That adds up to one really big cell phone bill.
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Video: Last 9 minutes of ‘Idol’ finale
Fox has done it again.
And many of you are mighty peeved.
Wednesday night’s “American Idol” finale ran long — nine minutes long, to be exact. That means folks who were using their DVRs to record the show and watch it later got hosed.
The same thing happened last year. The lesson here: When it comes to live events, set your DVR to run a little longer than expected just to be safe.
Don’t fret, though. A kind “Idol” fan has posted the show’s conclusion on YouTube.
Enjoy.
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And the winner is …
… David Cook.
Believe it, folks.
The other David — David Archuleta, a one-time Leander resident — seemed unstoppable earlier this season but, in the end, lost by 12 million votes. More than 97 million calls and texts were received Tuesday night, a new record. The final split: David C., 56 percent; David A., 44 percent.
“This is amazing,” David C., the show’s seventh winner, told the crowd after wiping away tears.
He was joined on stage by his mom and the brother who dragged him to an audition last year, starting his months-long journey to the “Idol” throne.
Viewers had to suspect something was up near the end of the two-hour finale when judge Simon Cowell tucked his tail between his legs and admitted he didn’t give David C. the credit he was due Tuesday night. (You’ll recall he claimed David A. had delivered a knockout punch.) The uncharacteristic comments prompted cheers from the crowd — and fellow judge Paula Abdul.
David A., meanwhile, took the loss amazingly well. After all that crying and shaking Tuesday night, we were pretty sure he’d pass out when the final tally was announced. Instead the 17-year-old just grinned.
While he didn’t win, the news isn’t all bad for David A. He’ll tour this summer with the season’s Top 10 finalists, Ford forked over the keys to an Escape hybrid SUV, and a recording contract is all but certain.
Discuss. And check out the recap of the live blog we did during the show. It was a real blast. Thanks to all who took part.
Remember: The season may be over, but we’re not done blogging. “Idol” Chatter lives in this space 24/7/365. We hope to see you again real soon.
Later!
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‘Idol’ Chatter: The TV show
“American Idol” is the topic of conversation at offices around Austin — and around the country — today.
Including right here at the Austin American-Statesman.
TV critic Diane Holloway joined us in the studio a short time ago to discuss Tuesday night’s performances and what’s ahead on tonight’s season finale.
Check it out.
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Live blog: ‘Idol’ finale
“Idol” lovers: Be sure to stop by during tonight’s season finale to join in our live chat. The show runs from 7 to 9 p.m. on Fox 7. See ya then!
In the meantime, read our recap of Tuesday night’s performances.
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Dueling Davids take the stage … finally
David Archuleta needs some tissues.
Antacids.
And possibly a heart defibrillator.
Stat.
The 17-year-old with ties to Leander sounded like the next “American Idol” champ Tuesday night — but he sure didn’t look the part. In between performances he got misty-eyed, trembled and appeared to be oh-so-close to collapsing on the Nokia Theatre stage.
Clearly, the pressure’s getting to him. Welcome to Hollywood.
The other David — that’d be David Cook — was the odds-on favorite heading into this week’s show. Survey after survey showed him ahead. And his three performances were great. There’s no disputing that.
But, to us, David A. wants this more. And he just might get it. The odds, at least, have certainly improved.
In other words, this one’s way too close to call. Not like last year, when Jordin Sparks whooped Blake Lewis.
Here’s what we thought, round by round:
RCA exec Clive Davis’ pick
David Cook: “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” U2. There’s a reason Clive’s been in the business since the stone age. He knows how to match up the right singers with the right songs. This was a perfect example of that, giving us a chance to see David C. in fine form. The energy that helped draw us to him earlier this season was back and, for once, he seemed well-rested. Randy: “I think it was a great way to start off this duel.” Paula: “David Cook has arrived. Amen! Amen!” Simon: “I thought it was phenomenal.” Our grade: A
David Archuleta: “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me,” Elton John. Some very “Star Search” moments at the beginning had us concerned, but not for long. This choice allowed us to see a side of David A. we haven’t seen often enough. A side that damn near upstaged Elton John. That’s how good it was. Seriously. Randy: “This is one of the best performances of this whole season.” Paula: “My heart’s still pounding. I’ve got chills up and down my arms.” Simon: “I thought tonight’s performance was arguably the best you’ve done so far.” Our grade: A+
Round goes to: David A. Barely.
Songwriters’ competition pick
David Cook: “Dream Big.” We see the showrunners have learned from last season’s mistakes. Thank goodness. Instead of being forced to sing the same song, the finalists this year got to take their pick from the top 10 entries in the songwriting competition. David C., true to form, picked a rock number. It did a great job of illustrating who he is as an artist, but it also showcased that gravelly quality to his voice that we’ve come to hate. Randy: “Dude, you were singing your face off right there.” Paula: “We — millions of us — were mesmerized by you.” Simon: “Using a boxing analogy, I thought it was a bit of a lightweight. … It didn’t feel like a winning moment to me.” Our grade: A-
David Archuleta: “In This Moment.” Ballad Boy is back! And he’s picked a boring, not-very-memorable song. Surprised? Neither were we. David A. has a knack for just this sort of thing. He’s a regular pro at selecting tunes that put us to sleep. Not good. Not good at all. Randy: “Right now, you are so in the zone you could sing the phonebook and it’d be good.” Paula: “It’s like you’re on fire tonight. It’s pure magic.” Simon: “You definitely chose the better song there.” Our grade: B-
Round goes to: David C.
Contestant’s choice
David Cook: “The World I Know,” Collective Soul. Such an odd choice. Mellow music isn’t a David C. specialty. Who’s he trying to appeal to here? Ah, he wants to show us he’s multi-dimensional. Well, buddy boy, the time to do that was earlier in the season. This was your one last chance to hook us — and you failed. Miserably. Randy: “That was a very nice, sensitive side of David Cook.” Paula: “I truly applaud you, David Cook. I do.” Simon: “It was completely and utterly the wrong song choice for you.” Our grade: B-
David Archuleta: “Imagine,” John Lennon. David A. trots out a favorite from earlier this year. A tune that ranked No. 2 on AOL’s list of the season’s best performances. A tune that — months ago — helped solidify his spot in the Top 2. A tune that captures the essence of David A. A tune that just might have cinched things for him. Bravo! Randy: “You are so good tonight. You are exactly what this show is about.” Paula: “You’ve left me speechless.” Simon: “You came out here tonight to win, and what we have witnessed is a knockout.” Our grade: A
Round goes to: David A. by a mile.
Who will win? This one’s tough to call. A lot tougher than we’d expected, to be truthful. Earlier in the day, had you asked, we would have picked David C. hands down. But David A. turned up the heat and most definitely has a fighting chance now. We’re going to stick with David C. — not because we think he was the best performer on this particular night, but because he has a much broader base of fans.
Agree? Disagree? Sound off. And don’t forget to vote in our poll.
Live chat Wednesday night
Be sure to stop by and keep us company during Wednesday night’s “Idol” finale. We’ll be chatting live in this very space throughout the two-hour (ugh!) finale. The fun starts at 7 p.m.
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Polls, polls, polls
Today, apparently, is the day for polls.
Lots and lots of polls.
All about “American Idol,” of course.
Makes sense since tonight’s performances are the last before this season’s winner — either David Archuleta or David Cook — is crowned Wednesday night.
The most interesting poll, in our humble opinion, comes from the folks at USA Today. They surveyed 12,000 people and found an overwhelming majority — 71 percent of voters — favor David C.
But wait … there’s more. Check out these breakdowns by age group:
Ages 13-19: David A., 58 percent; David C., 42 percent
Ages 20-29: David A., 31 percent; David C., 69 percent
Ages 30-39: David A., 22 percent; David C., 78 percent
Ages 40-49: David A., 25 percent; David C., 75 percent
Ages 50-59: David A., 29 percent; David C., 71 percent
Ages 60-69: David A., 36 percent; David C., 64 percent
Ages 70 and up: David A., 48 percent; David C., 52 percent
Yes, you read that right. Pocket-sized David A., once thought to be unstoppable, wins only among teenagers. And even then, it’s not by all that much.
Over at AOL, they surveyed a kajillion “Idol” fans to find the season’s best — and worst — moments.
David C.’s “Billie Jean” was the pick for best performance, followed closely by David A.’s “Imagine.”
Jason Castro’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” the song that helped send the Aggie home earlier this month, rates as the worst performance. He was also named the most-overrated contestant.
Something tells us Jason doesn’t really care all that much.
Idol chatter …
- The two finalists’ hometowns are — predictably — going bonkers with “Idol” coverage.
Check out all things David A. on the Deseret News or Fox station KSTU Web sites.
And find more than you ever wanted to know about David C. courtesy of the Kansas City Star and Fox station WDAF.
- DVR alert: Catch both Davids Wednesday on “The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet.”
The show airs at 9 a.m. on Fox 7.
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Snoozer of a season for ‘Idol’
Why’s “American Idol” so dull this season?
That’s the question lots of folks are struggling to answer right about now.
With the season finale just hours away, there’s little — if any — excitement in the air. Frankly, we’re a bit bored right about now. But we’re powering on just for you …
The Associated Press believes the contestants are to blame, calling them “good but not memorable.”
We have to agree. Where’s the Sanjaya? The Clay Aiken? The Fantasia? You get the idea.
Even the crew over at VoteForTheWorst.com thinks things are getting a touch tedious.
“In past years people would ask, `Do you hate “American Idol?”’ I’d say it’s fun to make fun of, it’s so bad,” said Dave Della Terza, the site’s founder. “But this year, honestly, I’m so sick of the show. … It’s almost a chore to watch at this point.”
So, yes, the magic’s just not there. There’s no disputing that. But you’re still watching. And so are we. What’s that say about us?
Idol chatter …
- Carrie Underwood’s a winner.
Yet again.
The uber-successful “Idol” alum took home top female vocalist honors at Sunday’s Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas.
Check out our photos from the red carpet, plus these shots of winners and performers.
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Danny Noriega not invited to ‘Idol’ finale
Danny Noriega’s invitation to this week’s “American Idol” finale wasn’t lost in the mail.
It was never sent.
The flamboyant Top 24 semifinalist was told by showrunners there was no room for him. Instead, he’ll be forced to watch the show at home — just like the rest of us.
Diva Danny chronicles his fruitless attempts to score a seat in a hilarious video posted on YouTube. Check it out below.
Warning: Some of the language is a bit … spicy.
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‘Idol’ results show slashed to 30 minutes next season
The folks at Fox have finally wised up.
After seeing a steady slip in ratings this season, they’ve decided to trim the bloated “American Idol” results show to a lean and mean 30 minutes next year.
Hallelujah! As regular viewers know, the results could really and truly be delivered in about a minute. Maybe less.
Not that that would ever happen. Not when there’s money to be made.
The announcement came Thursday, when Fox unveiled its new lineup for the 2008-09 season — just two days after “Idol” reported its smallest audience in five years.
And it appears more tweaks are likely before the show’s eighth season kicks off in January.
“The network and producers really want to take a look at the show next year and see what we can do to inject it with new levels of energy and greater storytelling,” network exec Peter Liguori told reporters.
One thing that’s not on the table is a change of judges. “Idol” showrunners have already pledged their support to Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson.
Drats.
Idol chatter …
- Life after “Idol” hasn’t exactly been kind to Taylor Hicks.
With his music career in the crapper after losing a deal with J Records, he’s heading to Broadway next month to join the cast of “Grease.”
- Don’t forget tickets go on sale Saturday morning at 10 for this season’s “Idols Live!” tour.
There are two Texas stops: Houston’s Toyota Center on Aug. 24 and American Airlines Center in Dallas on Aug. 25.
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Syesha Mercado’s still smiling
Syesha Mercado wants to do it all.
And nothing — not even getting booted from “American Idol” — is going to stop her.
“I want to make an album,” she told reporters gathered on the show’s weekly conference call. “I want to star in a film. I want to do Broadway. I want to open up an organic restaurant, a lupus foundation, homeless foundation.”
In other words, she’s not the least bit ambitious. We kid, of course.
Syesha, like most of us, says she knew this was her week to go. That’s why she didn’t seem all that surprised when host Ryan Seacrest delivered the news.
“After I’d got done performing, I was like, ‘It’s over.’ I got too many bad comments from the judges to keep me there. I accepted what was, and I moved on. And I made peace with it.”
That attitude played a big role in helping Syesha get as far as she did — despite five trips to the losers’ circle.
“Every week is new. I think if you want something, it’s going to happen for you. If you want to be top three, you’re going to get top three. If you want to win, you’re going to win. Whoever is the most passionate, they’re going to win. Whichever David’s the most passionate, they’re going to win.”
And that, friends, is as close to a prediction as she’d offer.
Like we’ve said many times this season, Syesha’s a very smart girl.
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Dueling Davids on next week’s finale
To the surprise of absolutely no one, Syesha Mercado has been voted off “American Idol”
That, of course, leaves us with dueling Davids in the finale next week: one-time Leander resident David Archuleta and David Cook.
It’s the lineup we — and many of you — predicted weeks ago. And it’s a pretty darn good one.
Our two finalists have drastically different fan bases, and it’ll be interesting to see who wins it all. David A. has a lock on the teenyboppers — and their parents — while David C. has mass appeal among folks in between: the 20- and 30-somethings.
Polls on this site, as well as others, seem to indicate David C. has the edge. The highly unscientific DialIdol.com, for instance, showed him with a commanding leading over the other contestants last week and again this time around.
Syesha, meanwhile, managed to keep a smile on her face all night long — even after getting the news. (She had to know this was coming, right?)
But when host Ryan Seacrest offered the chance to say farewell to her many fans, Syesha froze.
“There’s too many words,” she said. “I don’t know what to say. I just want to say thank you.”
And the judges? They were uncharacteristically doling out praise to all three of the finalists.
“You guys did an amazing job,” Randy Jackson told the trio. “You should be proud of yourselves.”
Even Simon was feeling kind. For a change.
“I like these three,” he said.
So do we.
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A choice night for ‘Idol’s final three
Life’s all about choices.
Sometimes we make the right call and are rewarded. Other times, not so much.
No pressure, right?
That’s what the three remaining “American Idol” hopefuls were up against Tuesday night. Their five-month journey culminates next week, when we’ll crown this season’s winner. But only two of them will get that far. One heads home Wednesday.
So the choices this time around were more important than ever. The right song. The right dance moves. The right clothes. The right hair. The right … everything.
How’d they do? Here’s what we thought, in order of appearance:
Round 1: Judges’ picks
David Archuleta: “And So It Goes,” Billy Joel. Paula picked this one, and she didn’t do David any favors. It was way too slow and pageanty — two of the traps he’s repeatedly fallen into this season. But this one was even worse than usual. It felt like we were listening to a lullaby. Throw in some warm milk, a Teddy bear and some comfortable jammies and you’ve got the makings of a great night’s sleep. Maybe he’s hoping to snag an endorsement deal with Lunesta. Randy: “Paula chose a dope song for you.” Paula: “It was a pure and stunning performance.” Simon: “It was very good. No surprises. A bit predictable.” Our grade: C-
Syesha Mercado: “If I Ain’t Got You,” Alicia Keys. Randy selects a song by Syesha’s favorite singer. Sounds like a big break, right? But there’s a risk associated with singing something current. Comparisons to the original artist are inevitable. Sure, she did a great job, but Syesha’s no Alicia Keys. Randy: “You did an amazing job on it.” Paula: “I’m very proud that you’re the last lady standing there.” Simon: “You sang that very well, Syesha.” Our grade: A-
David Cook: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” Roberta Flack. Simon said up front that this was a tough one for David. And he was (partially) right. A case of puberty voice near the top made us feel like we were sitting in a high-school assembly, listening to some pimply faced choir kid. Thankfully things got better. The finish was pretty spectacular. Shots of his mom, standing alone in the audience, clutching her heart, were a sweet touch, too. And so very manipulative. Kudos to you, showrunners. Randy: “I wish Simon would have picked something that wasn’t as predictable.” Paula: “That is one of my favorite songs, and now you’re my second favorite person who sings it.” Simon: “I thought it was actually one of your best performances to date.” Our grade: B+
Round 2: Contestants’ picks
David Archuleta: “With You,” Chris Brown. What a freakin’ joke! This one had us laughing — and for all the wrong reasons. When we think of a suave ladies’ man, David isn’t the guy who pops into our head. Instead, he’s the exact opposite — the good kid fathers want their daughters to date. So, yeah, this totally didn’t work. But he sure gets credit for trying. Randy: “I’m not sure that was the right song.” Paula: “I really think you should be singing songs like this.” Simon: “It was a little bit like a chihuahua trying to be a tiger. … It’s not really you.” Our grade: B-
Syesha Mercado: “Fever,” Peggy Lee. We can’t see you, Syesha! The guy running the lights needs to start looking for a new job. Shadows obscured her beautiful face for most of this one. We were, thankfully, able to hear her just fine though. That was a treat, as always. Does sex sell on “Idol”? She sure seems to think so, with all that slinking around the stage and the oh-so-risque … chair. We’ll get our answer Wednesday night. Randy: “You sang it amazingly well.” Paula: “I’m surprised you picked this one.” Simon: “I think you will probably regret that decision tomorrow.” Our grade: B+
David Cook: “Dare You to Move,” Switchfoot. Once again, David went way, way too deep at the beginning and ended up sounding like a stuffed-up patient waiting to see an ear, nose and throat doctor. We don’t want to hear that. Ever. He quickly recovered though. Isn’t modern medicine great? And did anyone see the woman in the audience holding up the “Cougars for Cook” sign? Gag. Randy: “It wasn’t your best tonight.” Paula: “I wanted more.” Simon: “I don’t think it’s the most melodic song in the world.” Our grade: B
Round 3: Producers’ picks
David Archuleta: “Longer,” Dan Fogelberg. Yet another David A. special: the kind of song our ballad-loving boy adores, even if it’s a not-so-wise choice for someone trying to appeal to hordes of screaming teenage girls. Maybe it’d work if, as Simon pointed out, a bunch of 90-year-olds were doing all the voting. We will give him credit for making an attempt to make more eye contact with the crowd, a piece of advice tossed his way a few weeks back. Randy: “You could sing the phonebook.” Paula: “It was a lovely performance.” Simon: “I thought the song and the lyrics were absolutely horrible.” Our grade: B
Syesha Mercado: “Hit Me Up,” Gia Farrell. No, no, no! You want to go out on a memorable note … and that’s not what we got. Not even close. Just when we thought Syesha had found her way, she appears to have taken a sharp turn off course. A turn that likely cost her a spot in the finals next week. Randy: “It was just OK for me.” Paula: “I don’t know if it’s the type of song that defines you as Syesha the artist.” Simon: “It’s a little bit forgettable.” Our grade: C-
David Cook: “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” Aerosmith. Dude, stop doing that with your voice. It doesn’t sound good — and it certainly can’t feel good. Right about now we’re picturing bloody, ulcerated vocal cords. Not a pleasant image. There were things — shock!!! —- we actually liked. For instance, we were digging the interesting arrangement that mixed rock with violins. Let’s just say David’s a smart guy with an all-but-guaranteed spot in the finals. Nice way to end the show. Randy: “It was OK for me. Very predictable.” Paula: “See ya in the finals.” Simon: “David Cook wins the night.” Our grade: A-
Our pick to get the boot: Syesha. Duh.
Let us know what you think, dear “Idol” fans. And be sure to vote in our handy dandy poll. Until Wednesday night …
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Carrie Underwood inks Opry deal
Carrie Underwood and the Grand Ole Opry.
Just kinda makes sense, doesn’t it?
So it should come as no surprise that the two joined forces over the weekend.
“This really seems like a great family to be part of,” Underwood said after an introduction by Garth Brooks Saturday night. “I promise I’ll do everything I possibly can to not make you regret it.”
The former “American Idol” champ was later joined by Vince Gill for a duet.
Good things happening to good people. We love it.
Idol chatter …
- Sunday’s KISS FM Big Summer Bash was quite the treat for “Idol” fans.
Ferras, whose career got a big ol’ boost when showrunners picked his “Hollywood’s Not America” as this season’s exit song, opened the night with a great acoustic set before racing off to Dallas to appear on the nationally syndicated “Kidd Kraddick in the Morning” show earlier today. This guy’s uber-talented. So talented we had to grab a copy of “Aliens & Rainbows,” his new CD.
Maroon 5, fresh off an “Idol” appearance, took the stage a bit later. Lead singer Adam Levine was his usual hot self, charming the pants — figuratively, of course — off fans of all ages and sexes.
Click here to read our review and see pics from the show.
- Set your DVRs for two appearances this week by “Idol” alums.
Clay Aiken’s on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” tonight to pimp his new album. Check it out at 10:35 on KXAN.
Then tune into “The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet” Tuesday morning at 9 to see Aggie Jason Castro, this season’s latest “Idol” reject. The show airs on Fox 7.
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Daddy drama for David Archuleta
Poor David Archuleta.
It appears he really does have the stage dad from hell.
First daddy dearest was allegedly booted from the “Star Search” set a few years back. And, now, The Associated Press reports he’s been banned from “American Idol” rehearsals.
Oh, dear!
This latest bit of daddy drama is apparently the result of backstage meddling that cost “Idol’s” producers some big bucks. It seems Jeff Archuleta ignored warnings from showrunners and instructed young David to tweak the lyrics to “Stand By Me” this week, adding a line from “Beautiful Girls.”
That resulted in the show having to shell out extra licensing fees. Because, you know, times are tough and “Idol” just isn’t making any money. Oh, wait …
In any event, Daddy A. will apparently now be forced to watch from the sidelines, just like the rest of us.
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Final 3 ‘Idol’ hopefuls head home
The three remaining “American Idol” finalists are heading home.
For a few hours, at least.
David Archuleta, David Cook and Syesha Mercado hit the road after Texan Jason Castro was eliminated Wednesday night, filming segments we’ll get to see next week. Then it’s back to Hollywood to practice, practice, practice.
In Utah, hordes of screaming teenage girls — shock!!! — greeted David A. at each stop: his high school in the town of Murray, a Salt Lake City shopping mall and even an NBA playoff game, where he delivered the national anthem before the Utah Jazz played the L.A. Lakers.
“This is the biggest thing ever for Murray,” said 12-year-old Marnie Hartbrecht, one of many who packed the Murray High School football stadium to catch a glimpse of the pint-sized singer with ties to Leander.
Several states away, David C. made the rounds in Kansas City, Mo., greeting fans in the oh-so-trendy Power & Light District, where he performed before a crowd.
“Guys, thank you, seriously. … I don’t know what else to say,” he told the assembled masses. “This is the coolest day of my life.”
Another concert followed later in the day. Then he tossed the first pitch — and performed “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” — at a K.C. Royals game. So much for all that rest he so desperately needs …
Bradenton, Fla., is home to Syesha Mercado. Or is it?
There’s apparently a turf war brewing with nearby Sarasota, which also claims the lovely and talented songstress.
Syesha isn’t taking sides and wisely decided to spread the love. She performed in Downtown Bradenton before heading to a Sarasota museum and, later that night, a Tampa Bay Devil Rays game.
Whew! Get all that?
Photos courtesy of Fox
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Jason Castro speaks … in complete sentences
Jason Castro wants you, his loyal fans, to know he never threw in the towel.
Even though it sure looked that way.
“As of yesterday I wanted to win and the day before,” the Aggie told reporters during “American Idol’s” Thursday conference call. “I think what it came down to is just my inexperience. Once we doubled up on songs, I wasn’t really being able to focus on both my songs, my mind was just split and I couldn’t deliver either/or. I think that’s what it came down to.”
That inexperience — he didn’t start playing guitar till freshman year at Texas A&M — was painfully obvious earlier this week when he botched the lyrics to a classic, “Mr. Tambourine Man.”
“I definitely did not do that that on purpose. I couldn’t believe I forgot, like, such a popular line, something that’s, like, written on your soul. Somehow it slipped my mind. But I definitely didn’t do that on purpose.”
Stress, he says, was the likely culprit.
“This whole time, I’ve had a blast and I was trying, but it’s just really been hard. And that night I remember before we found out the results, I was just thinking, I was really starting to fear the week ahead, like, if I made it, how am I going to do three songs? I can’t even do two right! And with the hometown visit, it was just going to be a lot of work, even though it would have been so much fun. I was just freaking out about it.”
What’s up with all that yawning?: “I am a chronic yawner. Every week before my song I’m yawning, and I don’t know where it comes from or why, but I’m always yawning.”
Are his speaking skills really that bad?: “I’m an awkward conversationalist. I’m trying my best now! What you see is what you get. I didn’t change at all coming here.”
Did we see his true personality?: “I am pretty relaxed about everything.”
What kind of music does he like?: “I’ve listened to a lot of Texas country just being around there, the likes of Pat Green. I’m just a big country fan. I just love the heart behind it.”
Has he been keeping up with all the media attention he’s attracted?: “I really don’t read anything like everything y’all are probably about to write.”
And there, in a nutshell, is the essence of Jason. Not-so-complex dude that he is.
Digest … and discuss.
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Aggie Jason Castro gets the dreaded boot
America got it right.
For once.
Jason Castro is now “American Idol” history. And not a moment too soon.
Sure, it would have been oh-so-cool to see a Texan go the distance but, this late in the season, it’s time to face the facts. The Aggie from Rockwall just wasn’t as good as the three remaining hopefuls. At least in this particular forum.
After turning in some tremendous performances earlier in the year, Jason’s been phoning it in lately. Take last night, for instance, when he royally flubbed the lines to a Bob Dylan song. A song he allegedly knows and loves. You just can’t do that and expect to survive.
“Somebody told me that I shot the Tambourine Man yesterday,” he told host Ryan Seacrest. “That was funny.
“It’s just getting tough for me. I think my inexperience is coming in.”
Indeed it was.
While “Idol” never releases actual breakdowns of how America voted, the folks over at DialIdol.com say Jason was a distant fourth. David Cook was first, according to their stats, followed by David Archuleta and Syesha Mercado in a virtual tie. Then a big gap. Then Jason.
So Aggies, there’s no reason to flock to campus tomorrow wearing your school colors. There will be no film crew from Fox on hand. Don’t expect Jason, either. Not yet, at least.
But you know he’s itching to head home soon. Everyone does. Even Ryan alluded to it, saying Jason seemed relieved to get ye olde heave-ho. And when Jason gets here, he’ll have plenty of fans waiting to cheer him on in venues big and small across the state.
Us excluded, of course.
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Final four ‘Idol’ hopefuls take the stage
The end is near, “American Idol” fans.
We’re just two weeks away from crowning this season’s winner.
Can you believe it?
And, after Tuesday night’s performances, one thing’s very clear: There’s no way in hell Jason Castro’s got a shot at going all the way. To label his two performances “atrocious” would be a compliment. So much for that big party later this week down in Aggieland …
Fortunately the others stepped it up this week, nailing songs from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock list.
Here’s what we thought, in order of appearance:
Round 1
David Cook: “Hungry Like the Wolf,” Duran Duran. Something’s clearly not right here. His brother’s continuing health problems are really taking a toll on David. He looks tired and lost. And he sounds hoarse again. A date with a razor wouldn’t hurt, either. The performance itself wasn’t horrid, but it didn’t have us jumping up and down. A little more originality would have gone a long way. Randy: “That was an OK choice, and it was a solid performance.” Paula: “To watch you grow and flourish over the past several months has been truly remarkable.” Simon: “I thought it was good.” Our grade: B
Syesha Mercado: “Proud Mary,” Tina Turner. She looked and sounded like a true pro. Great interacation with the band. What a dramatic transformation in such a short span of time. It’s great to finally see the real Syesha. Let’s just hope it’s not too late. Randy: “What a difference a couple of weeks make.” Paula: “You look like a star.” Simon: “I thought it was just a bad, shrieky version.” Our grade: A
Jason Castro: “I Shot the Sheriff,” Bob Marley. Karaoke … at its absolute worst. There’s just no way around it. Jason, when forced to deviate from the norm, clearly has no clue which songs to pick. That … or he’s ready to head home to Texas. And after tonight, we wouldn’t at all be surprised if that’s exactly what happens. Randy: “That was a really karaoke Bob Marley.” Paula: “I wasn’t crazy about the performance or the song, really.” Simon: “That was utterly attrocious.” Our grade: D
David Archuleta: “Stand by Me,” Ben E. King. David confessed to singing this song to himself on a somewhat regular basis. If he’s that familiar with it, it had to be good. And it was. Excellent, in fact. He seemed a little naked up there on stage all by himself, but David totally made it work. It’s nice to see the shining star we saw at the start of the season make a return appearance — and just in time. Randy: “I loved that, dude. That was hot.” Paula: “You’re seasoned already.” Simon: “You could have whistled a song and it would have sounded better than the last song.” Our grade: A-
Round 2
David Cook: “Baba O’Riley,” The Who. A drastic difference. So much better than his first outing. This is the true David Cook. Keep it up, and you’ll cruise on into the finals. Randy: “You were great.” Paula: “I just want more. I want more Dave Cook.” Simon: “Welcome back, David Cook.” Our grade: A
Syesha Mercado: “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Sam Cooke. One of the best “Idol” outings EVER. She researched the song. She understood the song. And it was so incredibly obvious before, during and after her performance that this song meant so much to her. It even brought her to tears. Us, too. Show biz is so very fake and plastic, but nothing — absolutely nothing — was fake or plastic about this number. What a beautiful sight to behold. Randy: “It felt all disconnected to me.” Paula: “You turned this into a superstar performance for me.” Simon: “I thought you sang that really, really well.” Our grade: A+
Jason Castro: “Mr. Tambourine Man,” Bob Dylan. He forgot the words, but handled it fairly well. Better than Brooke White for sure. We’re getting that coffeehouse vibe again, but that seems to be Jason’s comfort zone. Hey, it certainly was an improvement over his trip to the mic in Round 1. But it also illustrates his narrow range. Randy: “Jason’s not in the zone tonight.” Paula: “Obviously it didn’t blow us away, but you blow me away.” Simon: “Jason, I’d pack your suitcase.” Our grade: C+
David Archuleta: “Love Me Tender,” Elvis Presley. David’s back to his old ways. The song was too slow, and he just sat there. Vocals alone will only get you so far. Some showmanship is needed, too. Definitely not the one to end on. Randy: “Another great performance for you.” Paula: “That was one of my favorite performances from you.” Simon: “You didn’t beat the competition tonight. You crushed the competition.” Our grade: A-
Who will head home?: Jason and Syesha will be the bottom two. Jason clearly deserves to get the boot, but will it happen? Fingers crossed.
Let us know what you think by casting a vote in our poll. Leave a comment, too.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]Tuesday night’s performances
Here are video clips of this week’s performances, courtesy of the “Idol” fans over at YouTube:
David Cook’s “Hungry Like the Wolf”
Syesha Mercado’s “Proud Mary”
Jason Castro’s “I Shot the Sheriff”
David Archuleta’s “Stand by Me”
David Cook’s “Baba O’Riley”
Syesha Mercado’s “A Change Is Gonna Come”
Jason Castro’s “Mr. Tambourine Man”
David Archuleta’s “Love Me Tender”
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Aggies show support for Jason Castro
This week’s performances are still hours away, but it seems folks in Aggieland are fairly confident their man Jason Castro will cruise on through to the final three.
The top three “American Idol” finalists, whose identities will be known after Wednesday’s results show, will return to their hometowns at week’s end to tape segments that will air later this month. And Jason’s fellow Aggies — he’s a construction science major, believe it or not — have already made plans for a “Maroon Out” this Thursday to show their support.
Fans — preferably dressed in the school’s colors, of course — are encouraged to greet Fox’s film crew at the Jack K. Williams Administration Building at 7 that night. A video and fliers promoting the event can even be downloaded free of charge from iTunes.
The Battalion, Texas A&M’s student newspaper, reports a number of campus organizations are planning viewing parties this week to help build support. Some are even giving away prizes to students who vote.
But not all the locals are convinced Jason’s got what it takes. As of late Monday, a poll being conducted by the Bryan-College Station Eagle showed 55 percent of voters don’t think he’ll be the next “Idol” champ.
Who’s right? Who’s wrong? We’ll find out very soon.
Idol chatter …
- “The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet” has had amazing luck snagging “Idol” castoffs this season.
That string of good fortune continues Tuesday, when newly booted Brooke White stops by for a visit.
Catch it at 9 a.m. on Fox 7.
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‘Idol’ exec: Paula’s here to stay
Wacky behavior can get you fired from most places.
Not “American Idol,” though.
The show’s executive producer says there are no plans to toss Paula Abdul overboard after Tuesday’s now-infamous “Who am I? Where am I?” meltdown — an incident that spawned more buzz than that night’s performances by the five remaining hopefuls.
Even David Letterman joined in, creating a list of the “Top Ten Reasons Paula Abdul Needs a Vacation.” No. 1 on the list: Amy Winehouse called her and said, “Dude, you’re nuts”
“I love that everyone was talking about it,” Cecile Frot-Coutaz told The Associated Press. “It was so unexpected. It was something that took up 2 seconds of airtime. You’d think there was no other news on television.”
The showrunner went even further, saying we should expect the same cast of characters — Paula, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest — back next year, even though ratings have dipped somewhat.
“They’re a great cast,” she said. “They work very well together. If it’s working, don’t fix it.”
But other changes could be in the works, including a hiatus for “Idol Gives Back.”
Stay tuned …
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Brooke White: Leaving’s ‘kind of a relief’
Brooke White knew it was her time to go.
In fact, she told E! News she’s been packed and ready to head home to Arizona for two weeks now.
Still, she found herself overwhelmed by emotions when “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest delivered the crushing news Wednesday night.
“Boom, it hit me,” Brooke told reporters assembled for the show’s weekly conference call. “This is done. This is over. It was sad. The fear of going back in the real world and ‘what does the future hold?’ and excitement. It was just a lot of feelings I guess I was feeling. It was emotional and I hoped so much I could have been stronger (but) I’m an emotional girl.”
Echoing what we heard last week from Carly Smithson, Brooke’s all but certain a guy will win this season.
“The boys are awfully popular this year,” she said. “Their fan mail (comes) in great, humongous stacks, and us girls got like three letters a day.
“The boys are very talented, very charming. But yeah, oh, to be a boy this year. It probably would have been helpful.”
She’s not bitter, though. In fact, in an odd twist, it seems we might actually be hearing more from Brooke now that she’s gone from the “Idol” stage. “Songs From the Attic,” a demo album she previously recorded is available — starting today — at BrookeWhite.com.
“I had shopped Brooke to practically every label in town and no bites,” former manager Tim Simms told the Los Angeles Times. “No one thought you could shop the good girl.”
Now that good girl’s got quite a following — including singer extraordinaire Carly Simon — and the sky’s the limit.
See, good things really do come to those who wait.
